Roland Aerophone AE-10G Unboxing

[@OGBizzy]

Used this video as a part of my purchasing decision a little over a year ago. It is now just as important to me as my microphone. 23 years ago, I put down my alto sax along with any musical aspirations. 2 years ago, I filled in on a gig with a band whose singer was auditioning for The Voice. Needless to say, I was bit by the music bug. I played AN alto on that gig for a solo (I've Had the Time of My Life.) I decided that I would be a front man that plays a few times during the gig. Enter the Aerophone! Now I can duplicate Feels So Good on trumpet, an entire sax section on Peg, Tenor WITH ranging octaves for songs like Careless Whisper, Heart to Heart, Just The Two of Us, FLUTE on Can't You See.....man, the list just goes on and on! The BENEFIT is at the end of the show, I usually have a LINE of musical enthusiasts standing in front of me asking WHAT IN THE WORLD that instrument is, and why they've never seen one! Other than my microphone, it's the most important part of my gig arsenal. Thanks for a great unboxing review on this! @funn_e_bizz_muzik

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Brilliant to hear this Chris!

[@wentbackward]

Apart from being a generally fun instrument, a great thing about the aerophones for my situation, living in an apartment + being a total beginning to sax, I can actually put in hours of practice to learn fingering without disturbing other people. It really does translate over to my sax and has helped me being able to practice at times when I couldn't otherwise. Of course does nothing to learn embouchure but can also use it to help steady breathing, at least for me as a noob to wind instruments.

[@robertp2934]

Great review. I just bought the same exact instrument and can’t wait to try it. Probably as close to an actual saxophone as you can get and yes, the AKAI EWI I have is very sensitive to touch as you mention. I have a lot of woodwinds vintage and new. My main reason for purchasing the AE-10 is to play whenever and wherever along with the ability to stay up all night without disturbing family or neighbors

[@3kingkool]

Same here

[@kramsirrahyt]

I've been playing a tenor for 6 months practicing maniacally. I went to Hawaii for three weeks on vacation and decided to buy an Aerophone to take with me because at 68 years old I was afraid to lose ground. It was magical. I was able to progress my fingering skills and base knowledge of the scales and chords. I used earbuds and backing tracks all the time and it bothered no one. I will say that you don't get the same feel of a cane reed and I needed a couple of practice sessions to get back my comfort there, but the fingering is so close and that is valuable. It's an investment, but for me it was worth it. You can adjust the sounds almost infinitely to your preference. The mouthpiece rises off with water just like a rubber one. The mechanics underneath can be dried off with a towel and you can blow down the end to merge water vapor that comes out the bottom. I found leaving the battery case cover off helped prevent moisture at the end of the batter case from building up.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

That’s brilliant Mark - I think taking it on a trip like that is a great idea. Glad you’re enjoying it.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Thanks for the write-up, Mark - have pulled the trigger on one myself, now ... does yours have the older mouthpiece (thinner reed), or the newer one (thicker reed)?

[@nagomizik9358]

Wow man..such an inspiration tou are bro. I've always wanted to play the sax, specially the soprano, but always thought I was too old for that.

[@dsprags2012]

Don, Sax School student. I have one. I play the soprano, now I can compose music for my soprano without disturbing others, and late at night. Before, I was using my keyboard.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

My favorite usage of the EWI is Michael Brecker playing it n concert with Paul Simon in 1991. I think what we heard during that concert was a combination of the EWI’s internal engine and an Oberheim Matrix 12 at Michael’s left. Glorious sounds! I miss Michael. Can’t believe it’s April 2020 and 13 years since he passed away. Thank you Mr. McGill, for helping me finally learn that melody is “In a Sentimental Mood”. The melody and the title never connected in my mind. Never gotten my hands on any electronica woodwind. Tempted by the budget version of this one though (the AE-05), since I’ve got a couple of different traditional saxophones but don’t feel comfortable trying to teach myself how to play them with my three roommates always looming.

[@Valero7]

Very good! Not many people understand that this is NOT a Sax, its just like an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar, two completely different instrument. The Electronic Sax does not imitates a Sax, its a separate instrument in its own right!

[@etiennepolle5646]

Sefardí Granted, but what is the versatility of the techniques learned on such a digital saxophone?

[@PrinceSwaggy]

Not to separate

[@creepofreek4853]

I love my Aerophone. Play it on my recliner for hours and hours . It’s so Light and so versatile. Along with my Korg PA 900 arranger - it sounds like a little Orchestra. Love the flute Violin and Harmonica sounds the most.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cool. Lots of my Sax School students also play Aerophone. Thanks for watching.

[@NormBoyle]

Have been working from, and wife working from home, plus daughters in school from home. I have not been able to play sax much, since everyone thinks it is too loud. I can play guitar in the basement and have been working on flute, which isn't as loud generally, but even with that I work on higher octaves which are loud. I finally bought a used aeropbone on ebay and can practice without disturbing anyone. This is truly a great development.

[@louisj6406]

You outta be an endorser for this! Literally just bought one after watching the video. Looking forward to expanding my creative side! Thanks for sharing this with us! 😁

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hey Louis - Great to hear you’re enjoying it (I’m not an endorser by the way, I just think it’s a fun instrument)

[@jillytiffen6305]

So glad you’ve got one of these Nigel like me! It will be interesting to watch more videos explaining it all! When I’m really tired it’s a godsend as it’s so light! 👌

[@niknok9141]

I've had my Yamaha WX5 and a matching sound module plus a wireless Midi beam TX02... I can switch to any sound, It is awesome!

[@thesultanmerchant]

you should have mention about the maintenance procedure for longer lasting of equipment.

[@Vicnsi]

especially seeing as you can feed in a backing/play-along track via an mp3 player, WOW! awesome! 👍👍👍 it would be absolutely terrific for practicing through headphones, and thereby not worry at all about disturbing the neighbors... which is the one BIG thing that is really, really holding back my development at the moment (i.e. I find there's hardly any real way to practice a 'normal' sax properly without alienating all my friendly neighbors )

[@Giljabrar]

I'm heavily considering buying this. I was a Bari Sax player for 8 years, but after high school no longer had access to one. And prices on a proper Bari are really out of my budget. So I see this as a great alternative. A medium I can express my music through that I'm very comfortable with. I've been learning guitar, but I still have years of work to put in there. I'd love to play around with both the instrumental sounds, and the synth stuff as I'm into a lot of electronic indie/jazz

[@ozzoid]

Ultra-smooth and super-versatile fingering on an EWI4000/5000 vs clickety-clack and 'palm' keys - no contest.

[@RandyResnick]

Paul, thanks for all the great lessons you post, but also, thanks for making me want to spend yet more money on one of these! A travel instrument is something I really crave. You can warm up a little backstage and then sit in on a mic or plugged into the guitar amp. Just put some sheet music in front of the guitarist and he'll let you use his amp. I know, I'm a guitarist. But following your lessons, I need to read, so, cool.

[@marcelosoto-quiroga1965]

I think it could be very helpful for the advanced student to practice w/o too much noise or while traveling... however, I'm not so sure it would benefit a beginner whose embouchure is still in developing phase.... I think I'll wait 2-3 more years to approach one of those.

[@TooSlowTube]

If you have somewhere you can practise your sax without having to worry about the neighbours, I'd say lucky you, and definitely just stick with the sax. It can help with practising fingering, but the fingering system it uses is quite sparse - there are fingerings that work on a real sax but not on the Aerophone, unless you add them yourself. Possibly worse, for teaching a beginner bad habits, there are fingerings you can do on the Aerophone that just wouldn't work on a real sax, especially being able to use ANY of the right side keys to play a Bb. There are ten custom fingerings you can set, but that's only enough to improve the situation, not enough to make it completely realistic.

[@muchmusicmcquade]

Good show. Yes I'm a avid Aerophone layer say everday a few hours anyways. Sure has enhanced mplaying. I'd say the tenor sax tone better than the flute tone. The Synth tones wild! Violin great

[@paulfairchild3461]

Just ordered one , I so much looking forward to its arrival , going to be a bit like you Nigel , like a kid on Xmas morning.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Awesome, if it takes a while to come, it will be a Christmas present!

[@sammyhood7379]

Love the videos! I’ve been a baritone saxophone player for 10 years! This may be in my future

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cool.

[@cluxseltoot]

Many Thanks - another one of your excellent useful and instructional videos.

[@ggauche3465]

I used to have an Akai back in the early 90s, but I didn't play sax then. I wish I had something like the Roland now for practicing when my neighbours are asleep!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cool, The Akai has got a lot better since the early 90s (that model was a beast) but I think the Roland gives it a run for it's money.

[@libuazkowdiar5584]

Sir what is the diefference between ae 10 and ae 10 g

[@pryce4267]

Mine arrived yesterday. Not had much time to play but impressed so far. More user friendly than EWI which needs some tinkering to get the best sounds. The breath control on this instrument is much better. I m sure I ll make use of it on my computer with backing tracks.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+pryce4267 Cool!

[@wilkey02i4]

This would be a great way to help sax players with their home studio. Many, like me, cannot play piano. I can play brass, but I don't own all the instruments (wouldn't want to either!). This would be an excellent way to may backing tracks and such at home. Sure, it may sound almost like a Casio keyboard from the 80's on some sounds, but it would work, and it would be so much easier than having to write music out for other musicians to play. I think it even sounds a bit better than my Sibelius software I use for writing out music. If I ever get back into having a home studio, I'm almost positive I'd get something like this before I got a keyboard.

[@ScottPaddock]

Can you plug it into a DAW and use it as a controller?

[@pinkypromise111]

Which one is better for a beginner learning the sax tenor? AE10 orAE30 Thanks!

[@ian_s7481]

No ones ever got the Sax sound sounding real apart from Adolph Sax. Great synth sounds though but it still doesn't make me want to run out and buy one.

[@danball4410]

The SWAM products have nailed it. AudioModeling now sells them. They have great expression and control just like an acoustic sax. Aside from SWAM, I agree that no one else is even close. I hesitated to buy it because of the prices (something like $159 a couple of years ago) but as I thought about it, that is very cheap for an instrument. The saxophones and the cello are worth it. I use an EWI, and after the steep learning curve it is amazing. I don't know about the Aerophone because the best I can tell from reviews, the mouthpieces doesn't give the same vibrato control as the Akai EWI. This is SO important for the SWAM sax sounds.

[@thesultanmerchant]

left handed can play like right handed?

[@stevenstamour6007]

I've been thinking of purchasing one but I never see anyone using it in practical applications, such as using brass section sounds. And also not connecting it to standard midi sound modules.

[@86larsonrd]

That was exactly my frustration with the EWI....not sure if I have a spare $800 to drop on this, but I am going to see if I can find somewhere to try one.

[@marselmusic]

13:42 skipped to that part and thought u played 'ornithology' 😂 😂😂 😂 😂

[@RickySweum]

Great review. I've been considering purchasing one of these.

[@g.rayhowell4289]

You will learn the fingering with this, but it obviously cannot duplicate the breath and mouth controls available to the sax, but, I want one.

[@V1E1G1Y2]

Hi, thank you for the video! I've been learning the alto sax for about 1 year and then I stopped (that was about 2 years ago). Now I live in the building where I don't want to disturb my neighbours with the loud instrument like saxophone. I am very interested in buying the instrument like "digital saxophone" like Roland Aerophone GO, so that I could play it with my headphones. It is clear to me that the dynamics and other stuff are not 100% the same as on real saxophone. Do you think it is the good idea to practice the fingering, notes, melodies etc. on Aerophone or is there any negative side-effect on learning to play the saxophone on Aerophone? At least it should be beneficial for learning notes, fingering and such things, right?

[@billreed1889]

i tried the AE-10 and it was mostly for use with headphones and i liked it and the sounds but the key clicks seemed so loud. I could not play it at night as the clicks were so loud.... returned it and got a Akai ewi solo, that plays silently though headphones.... also think the solo has the better speaker... its good that we now have Akai, Roland and Yamaha with new wind instruments, all are very good and have there own place...

[@danball4410]

Nigel, I'm not seeing any other videos on your site about the Aerophone. I play the EWI with SWAM saxophones and love it. But due the steep learning curve, I am thinking about getting an Aerophone instead for my niece. My particular question is about the vibrato control of the mouthpiece. The best I can tell from reading is that the aerophone sensor is either on or off, and not variable like the bite sensor of the Akai EWI. Would you comment on this? Thanks.

[@eldarhelsinki]

Does it has same fingering as saxophones? Very interesting..

[@lelpep1]

Have you seen the new Aerophone AE-05 (GO) ? A smaller version of the AE-10. Cheaper but with less internal sounds, but has Bluetooth capability.

[@tomkent4656]

Would it be useful for a novice to learn sax fingering prior to moving on to the real thing? I don't want to start with a real sax because of neighbor problems!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Good question Tom. You could do it that way - the fingering is the same for the Aerophone and all saxophones (plus you can use headphones!)

[@tomkent4656]

Thanks for that. Your 'tube site is excellent.

[@atomicrhythm1342]

@@tomkent4656 Hi Tom I see this is over a year old, I wanted to give you my two cents. In my case I learned the Yamaha wx5 over a year ago. I am a trumpet player, but was suffering from a chronic illness and couldn't play the trumpet. I picked up the wx5 and with out any prior knowledge of the sax with in weeks i was playing it well. I decided in a few months to get an alto sax. Big Mistake! Although I was able to play it with retaliative ease and not squeak, the Alto sax did not have the range that I was very accustomed to playing with. Not only with my trumpet but with the EWI. The lowest note on the alto is low A. I am not a highly trained musician, i'm home grown. Bottom line is I'm selling the alto, and looking forward to getting the areophone

[@blueeyedsoulman]

At this point would you share your settings you've come up with?

[@ph2738]

Seems like the side keys for the right hand are placed a bit high. Can you reach them easily?

[@brucechamberlain5042]

Still happy with the AE-10? IS there a big difference between the 10 and the 05?

[@chrisbee9164]

Hi Nigel I know this was a while ago, but just wondering - I have a Yani AWO1 and I'm sure there's an extra key on my right hand than is on this Aerophone. Is that something Roland addressed in a later model? Cheers

[@halfabee]

What makes the (EWI) hard to play. Both use Saxophone keying?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi Paul. I think the hardest thing about the EWI is that the keys are touch sensitive. They don’t move at all like the Aerophone. So, you need to be very accurate with your fingers.

[@papik1965]

Thanks heaps! Really useful advice. I'll give it some thought:-)

[@papik1965]

Looks great fun, quite impressed for something electronic. I guess my question is, is it something that will assist in learning to play the (real) sax overall, or is it something that will cause confusion and therefore make learning more difficult? Put another way; will it compliment my current learning? Because definitely there's an attraction there for me. In that I play same time everyday, not bitter neighbors etc. But having that would give me option to play whenever I want outside normal practice. What you think Nigel? And thanks for the review!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+keith plunkett Hey Keith, great question. I don’t think there is any substitute for practicing a real saxophone, but I think if you are interested in technology like this, then it’s an Aerophone is a fun way to expand your learning experience. For me the different sounds inspire me to play in different ways, plus depending on your situation, it might encourage you to pick up and play more often (late at night etc). I’m not sure it will help you to learn saxophone faster from a beginner, but it will push you to explore your finger technique and creativity in ways you might not do just on a real sax. Hope that makes sense.

[@BlooDruNe92]

looks cool. but how do we clean it inside after playing?

[@matros8607]

The mouthpiece can be cleaned easily but after playing you just gonna have to leave it standing so the extra drops comes out from the speaker end... and preferably drink only water while playing.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Good question! Actually after I finished filming this I had to work that out - the mouthpiece just pulls off for cleaning, everything else is sealed so doesn't need any care at all. Easy, peasy!

[@toanjuan]

Whoooooo!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

:)

[@Valero7]

I have owned 7 different EWIs and before selling any of them (I've sold 4) I sterilize them (in the case of the AE 10) by taking the mouth piece off and using a plastic syringe (like the one they use to give babies medicine)and running 2 syringe full of vinegar thru the flat hole (left one) until it all drains thru the bottom. For the last 10 years I have had no problem with this procedure. I do this every 3 months to get rid on any dried up saliva in the air ducts. You can tell the difference right away!

[@maxoskarsson8125]

What song is that harmonica part???

[@d1oftwins]

12:07 You went full Vangelis' Blade Runner style there, now didn't you? ;)

[@santiagocarrillo464]

cual es el precio por favor ?

[@joelpierson2628]

Can it be connected to a DAW and be used as a midi controller to only produce the sounds of a FX instrument on a track?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hey Joel. Sure, loads of people use it that way.

[@skatersaxman]

when i plug my ipad into the aerophone, the sound do not come out of the aerophone speakers, what am i doing wrong please?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi if you are connecting the Aerophone with the USB cable, then the sound output will be from the iPad instead of the speakers.

[@TooSlowTube]

There's a global setting for it. If you want it to always come out of the speakers, go to Speaker on the main menu and set it to On: Speaker OFF, ON, AUTO - Default: AUTO Speaker Setting When Using Headphones OFF: Sound is not output from the built-in speakers. ON: Sound is output from the built-in speakers. AUTO: Sound is not output from the built-in speakers if headphones or a cable are connected to the PHONES/OUTPUT jack. - Alternatively, if you wanted to listen to the iPad through headphones plugged into the Aerophone, you've plugged it into the wrong socket.

[@gustavocabrera3878]

What's the difference of the lower version, the Aerophone AE 05? Just being curious. By the way I'm playing with tge AE 05

[@gomezadams9900]

So I'm assuming that if you have never played a wind instrument before be it sax or clarinet it would be like learning from scratch?

[@camelCased]

Wondering, how does it compare to Akai EWI? The price of Roland's AE seems to be kinda too big to buy this thing for a student who wants to play electronic music using woodwind approach instead of more traditional MIDI keyboards.

[@ph2738]

I suppose you can access some of the instrument sounds in iOS GarageBand, or some of the synths like Sunrizer, Sample tank, or what’s the other one I use with my USB EWI?

[@ph2738]

Thor, by Propeller Head. That’s the other one.

[@josemanuel2244]

What do you think for practice when you play sax?

[@troyrodrigue6172]

What is the difference between Roland Aerophone AE-10 and AE-10G?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hey Troy. I haven’t tried the Aerophone Go but I think it’s a smaller, more compact version. Roland has some info here: www.roland.com/uk/products/aerophone_go/

[@robertp2934]

AE-10 is white, AE-10G is graphite dark gray. The GO is a smaller variant of both

[@kezg64]

So awesome makes me want to learn sax. Pity the keys are so wobbly and noisy but

[@saxjonz]

This is cool as if you are on a train or a plane or in places where you can't practice. It's also very cool as auxiliary sound for whatever or gigs/practice where maybe a player is MIA. I'm still struggling with my Yamaha WX. I just don't like the complexity of setting up the box and how to tweak the sounds to be more realistic. That is, in and of itself, hugely time consuming till you learn. I'd rather spend the time making my sax sound much better. I love the idea and try as much as I can to look at the Yamaha. This looks like a world of improvement over both of the akai and yamaha models but you're right, Michael Brecker is the guy that made me want to mess around with this in the first place. lol I'm definitely interested in trying this one out. Looks like it may a HUGE improvement over the old model with the setup and speaker and not needing a clunky box and stuff to carry around. I think if it has bluetooth it would be much better. Thanks for sharing.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cheers for your comments Lawrence. I like the simplicity of the AE-10 too.

[@saxjonz]

Oh and the sax sound is...yeah, leaves a bit to be desired of, right? I guess that is a good thing. lol

[@ph2738]

Yes, “dodgy” fingering on an EWI. You have to be careful that each finger lands directly on a key and only that key, can’t brush a neighboring key, and also fingers need to come all the way off when not intending to play that note

[@danball4410]

I have been able to adjust both the sensitivity and the delay so that this goes away. The trade-off is that if you set too much delay, there is some added latency. But you should be able to find a good balance.

[@richday2117]

Can it be powered via USB?

[@joelpierson2628]

Both the WX and EWI were difficult to finger. The WX was made for Japanese kids or women. The EWI was difficult also to play. I bought a Synthophone and happy with it except I have had 2 mouthpiece failures.

[@thesultanmerchant]

you did not mentioned about maintenance.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Good point, but maintenance is pretty straight forward. Just wipe down when you are done.

[@brianmason9803]

Is it true that not all of the voices are loaded when you first get the instrument?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hey Brian, mine had all the instruments preloaded when I got it.

[@brianmason9803]

Am looking at one of these to add to my EWI4000s. I am worried about the 5000 version battery problems.

[@erginyilmaztenor]

can it be used for fingering practise to support acoustic sax? I have many free time in my work and i want to practise scales, arpegious, transcribing etc. does it help? Keyboard is really same with sax? what's bothering you when we compare it to a real saxophone, especially about keys?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+Ergin YILMAZ Hi, great question. I like that it feels like a sax under your fingers, so you could practice through tunes, scales etc and get some benefit to your playing in my opinion.

[@simonmurley8721]

Got my Aerophone last week and am really enjoying it. However, I have noticed a certain distortion from the built-in speakers, this distortion happens also when plugged into my Roland AC33...annoying as the sound is far from 'pure'. Any thoughts...thnx in advance!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

That's interesting Simon. Not sure what to suggest there - the inbuilt microphone is quite small a - do you get the distortion when you use headphones too?

[@kierenmoore3236]

Internal speakers on these things are always a last/in-a-pinch option/resort ... You can't get around physics, and a bigger/better speaker is needed for really good, clear sound ...

[@Luxhound]

Ive seen some pretty cheap saxophones on the app wish and i was wondwring if you could look at them and let me know if that would be a good stater sax

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great suggestion. I'm actually planning a video like that soon, cheers.

[@bcdigital_au]

Seeing this makes me super keen to pick one up, but they're a bit pricey. I think this instrument would serve well in a rock setting, with electric guitar sounds.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

The Aerophone is pretty versatile Ethan. I was watching a video of one being used with a prog rock group the other day.

[@scrapstreams]

This may be a silly question, and perhaps I missed it when I fast forwarded through the box opening and set up... can you switch between type of sax sound, ie alto vs tenor, etc... and therefore, does it play in the various keys?

[@danball4410]

Yes and yes, but the sax sounds do not give the expression needed to make the instrument sound and feel real. For this you need the SWAM sax VSTs which gives great expression control and a great sax sound.

[@เลนกรกวี]

I'm have owned my akai ewi5000 wireless Yeah it's harder than playing Roland aerophone because the sensitive fingerings and overtone note But I think it gotta be great so I ask my mum to buy them for me ;unlike Roland aerophone, aero. Has the same fingers as saxophone but 2 things I just doesn't like was a clicking butto sound and the shape of the aero. Um the shape it looks like "Indian recorder"(for snake dance) Thin mouthpiece and big ball in the middle! But I'm a sax student so I'm prefer to use my ewi And the other thing is Akai EWI5000 : 28,000 baht vs Roland Aerophone : 34,000 baht so what was u choose?!

[@เลนกรกวี]

Sorry (button)

[@thesultanmerchant]

keys similar like Indian wooden flutes?

[@Vicnsi]

does it use proprietary reeds? ...or are stock sax reeds OK? and if so alto or tenor reeds?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi. it has it's own reed - you can tongue it like on a sax, but of course it doesn't need to vibrate like a normal sax reed. Not sure how you get on with replacements though...

[@ph2738]

The reed doesn’t vibrate or it doesn’t need to vibrate? Can you do some of the tonguing tricks, like slaps tongue? Don’t suppose it will do overtone tricks or air column physics tricks like the Eb wobble.

[@adzuiderwijk5965]

I bought same and am crazy about it. Still learning. BUT... the keys are NOT THE SAME AS ALTO SAX!!!!The manual fingering doesn't even show the octave key!!!Often i have really high notes squeeking in when playing a tune. That doesn't make me happy. I want to learn more but don't know where to go. Roland does give buckley's support!!

[@jaxophone7219]

Can you use this with an amp

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Yes I think so. There is an audio out jack just like a electric piano or guitar etc.

[@etiennepolle5646]

is the button for changing octaves well conceived? i read that it is too easy to go two octaves up or down by mistake. also, can i improve my mouthpiece technique using only this? thanks for the good demo!!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi, great questions. I think the octave mechanism is simpler to use than the roller mechanism on the EWI, and possibly feels more like a real saxophone. like any new instrument, you need to spend some time getting used to it. Also, I don’t think you can develop your sax embouchure by only playing on the Aerophone, but it is a great tool for practicing your fingers and general musicality (ear etc) if you need to practice somewhere that you can’t make any sound. Think of it as a “complimentary” tool, not a replacement.

[@marieke4521]

Nigel, do you still play the Aerophone?

[@christopherlindsay83]

What key is it pitched in?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi Christopher, the different patches are in different keys - synth patches are in concert pitch, alto in Eb, Tenor in Bb etc by default. You can change the key of patches though.

[@anthonyseneca6834]

but does it djent

[@dylandormuth5255]

Hey can you put headphones in it?

[@PaoloLeva]

yes

[@edpias7881]

I play the Native American flute. Can I change the notes/ fingering so I can play it like a native american flute?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi Ed, great question. To be honest I’m not sure on that one, perhaps check with Roland.

[@lalocejas83]

how hard do you have to blow? I would imagine not as much as a real sax, am i correct?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi, you don't have to blow super hard, but you can adjust the sensitivity of the mouthpiece to suit you.

[@JimJamThePianoMan]

I'm assuming it's in the same key as an Alto Sax, correct?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Good question. You can change the turning so it could be like alto, tenor or in concert pitch (piano/guitar key).

[@GreyishSoul]

Hi Nigel, excellent video mate!! I am a absolute beginner. I have a saxophone tenor that I bought a while back and played a few times, but my practice had been few and far between, mainly because it is very loud. I was intending to buy a Saxophone Aerophone to tackle this issue and allow me to play a night with also the added benefit playing with other sounds which wouldn’t usually be available for saxophonists. I have two questions though for you: 1.Would the Aerophone be good for a beginner? 2.Will you be adding Aerophone content to your channel? (There isn't much out right now, Alistair Parnell has done a bit but hasn't release anything in a while) Much appreciated.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi, thanks for checking out this video. I think the Aerophone is a good thing to help you learn alongside playing an actual saxophone. You'll be able to work on your fingering and all the music related stuff with it (reading music / develop your ear / timing etc). Plus, it does feel like a sax in your mouth, although I would suggest still practicing your saxophone to properly develop your embouchure. I won't be adding any instructional videos for the Aerophone - Alastair Parnell has done a great job of that, but may add a couple more fun ones with tunes etc - not sure yet. The good thing with the Aerophone though is you can use any other saxophone material to practice on it. Hope that helps.

[@GreyishSoul]

Thank you very much :D

[@madmadrigal66]

Nothing like the original plain old Saxophone 🎷

[@atomicrhythm1342]

Every tool has its purpose

[@TooSlowTube]

Have you checked the lip bend using a tuner, Nigel? On pre-2.20 firmware, I found I could bend a note either way, but it wouldn't stay there - it kept automatically returning to dead on Equal Temperament. I use ClearTune, on an iPad. In the new 2.20 firmware, there's now PIT1 and PIT2 settings - I think PIT2 is what PIT was before. PIT1 seemed like it was going to be better - you can bend the note down and hold it there, but you can't bend it up at all. There are settings for how far you can bend, in each direction (PitUp and PitDown) but Roland disabled the one to bend up, for PIT1.... I hate that. Maybe it's a Japanese thing? They seem to be obsessed with Equal Temperament. Playing this thing in Just Intonation is just not possible, as far as I can see. Trying to lip it into tune with other players isn't going to work either - unless they're all playing Aerophones. Roland made a big show of asking for feedback about what people wanted from it. I have to wonder who they asked. I'm guessing keyboard players. I'm really frustrated by it. They could very easily have given us complete control over the pitch through the bite sensor, but they chose not to, and came up with a dumbed down, idealised version of how a sax should behave, in their opinion, instead. They could easily have enabled PitUp but set it to zero by default - so the option would be there for people who want it.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Interesting point. I haven’t experimented with the settings for the pitch bend - really I just liked the responsive of the bite sensor for vibrato.

[@TooSlowTube]

Fair enough. It is better than the EWI4000s, for vibrato - though not so much on the new PIT1 setting, unless you only want vibrato to go below the pitch, which sounds weird, to me. When I read about the changes to the bite sensor, in the 2.20 firmware, I thought they'd finally fixed it, and got all excited... then tried it, read what it said again, and got really disappointed. If it was a keyboard, I'd think the pitch wheel was broken. As it's meant to be a sax, I'm thinking it was designed by a committee of people who've never actually played one, and only had it described to them. I'm wondering if that's part of why it doesn't sound like a sax - saxes don't play in tune. You have to try to make them play in tune. It's part of the fun, as far as I'm concerned. Maybe it's part of the sound too.

[@bernierossi8062]

Hi Nigel, I have the ewi 5000 and got it out a week or so ago for the first time in a couple of years. I have really smashed the sax over the last few months and figured I was ready to expand on the ewi again. It was surprisingly easy to play this time around and the touch pads only took a few minutes to master. Lots of work to do before it can come out in public but it won’t take long this time. The thing I like about the Roland from your video as against the ewi is the batteries (ewi is an odd one you can’t get at the supermarket) and the lack of a bag for the ewi is a major oversight by Alain and one they should fix ASAP. I am making a classy looking wooden one but that is more for fun than the practicality. Take care mate, always like your videos.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+Bernie Rossi Cheers Bernie - I agree, I was always amazed that the EWI didn’t come with a case. Perhaps there are aftermarket ones available. After I made this video I was playing on my EWI to compare it with the AE-10. The EWI definitely feels sturdy and well made in comparison to the plasticky feel of the Aerophone. Pros and cons both ways.

[@normanski5074]

I use own a WX5 and VL70M. By Yamaha. Great sounds, but still not a proper sax. Being a midi controller was great fun, But not for me. Would love you to try Hanson Saxophones (Yorkshire UK) for your view and opinion, I won't play anything else.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi, Hanson Saxes are really nice - I've tested a few of them and was really impressed. Nice company too.

[@nagomizik9358]

Do you have to be a sax, horn player for this thing? Can you just pick it up and just learn ? I like it, but the closest I ever got to a wind instrument was a few years of recorder fun.

[@matthewstevenson7452]

I want one so bad.

[@hunteralexander9791]

I’m guessing that there is no low A key?

[@PrinceSwaggy]

Nope but you can bring the octave lower to reach the sound of a low a on a Bari sax or that

[@thesultanmerchant]

Aerophone made from which country? I hope it is not China? you should have mention the country and specification too.

[@guywithdogs]

Nigel - what do you think you'll use this for? I've got an old WX7 and an EWI USB - both gathering dust. It turns out they aren't great MIDI input devices (which may lay a lot with me more than the tool), and to use them live in a band as a backing instrument is a bit of a chore since they need external sound devices, amps, etc. But you weren't thrilled with a lot of the sounds on the device, so what can you see yourself doing with this? A lot of sax players I know that got wind synths were hoping to use it to play string pads or horn stabs to fill out a band's sound. But many of these devices just don't lend themselves to do that easily. And using it as a lead instrument depends heavily on what sort of lead tone you want. If it's not going to be a more traditional sax/trumpet, then do you play enough tunes that call for weird electronic sounds? If it was about half its price, I'd have one already. But I'm not sure what I'd do with it once the novelty is over.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+guywithdogs Good question. I don’t see it as a gigging tool for me personally, but I have been experimenting with using the AE-10 along with Logic Pro using it as a midi device - works quite well, better I think than the EWI. Mostly though I just enjoy it as a different instrument that makes me want to play in new ways. It inspires me to write different types of melodies. So,I guess it depends what sort of playing / recording / writing you are doing as to whether it will be useful to you.

[@palusmusic8560]

HOMBRE ACHARIA MEJOR USAR-LO PEDAIS DE EFEICTO DE BOSS, CON MUTCHOS RECURSOS EN SAXOFON NORMAL, DARIA MUI REALES RESULTDOS.......

[@TownHouseFilms]

Best review of this device I’ve seen. However all it does is put me off buying one. All the sounds just resemble a cross between a crap keyboard and a child’s trumpet.

[@marciosaxs]

Great demonstration. I’m thinking about getting an aerophone but it looks like the palms keys are not very well designed. I never noticed anybody using it. What is your opinion? Do you think it is possible to use it to practice e.g. Charlie Parker omnibook. I honestly don’t care very much about the sound. I’m more interested on the fingering practice. Since it is not possible for me to play a lot in my apartment, that is at least something I can work on. Thanks in advance!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hey Marcia. I think the Aerophone is a great tool for practicing. It feels very “saxophone like” and is fun to play. Like any instrument it does take some getting used to but it is definitely easier to get along with than the EWI.

[@andrewculley1132]

I have an EWI and an aerophone. I prefer the sounds in the Aerophone but prefer playing the EWI. I find the side keys problematic on the Aerophone. I prefer the shape of the EWI. I like the quick light touch that is possible on the EWI and I prefer the roller system for changing octave on the EWI. I have found the Aerophone too wide to play smoothly, particularly if use of the side keys is required. I play soprano and alto sax regularly and tenor occasionally and, obviously, the saxophone sound of the electronic instruments is very poor in comparison (I tend to avoid using the sounds approximating a saxophone on my electronic instruments). I'm not sure that the mouthpiece is better on the Aerophone than on the EWI; it's just different. I've managed to get some extraordinary sounds out of the EWI by biting and bending the mouthpiece in various ways.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Thanks for your comments Andrew, there are definitely pros and cons for both. I must admit, I like the build quality of the EWI - it feels more solid than the Aerophone, which feels a little "plasticy". I also agree that the roller system on the EWI has it's benefits, but I have less issues with glitchy notes on the Aerophone than the EWI. Fun to compare them.

[@brianmason9803]

I am torn between the two. I have a 4000s and can't upgrade to the 5000 because of the Lithium Ion problems.

[@45zapatero]

Can I use your course to learn to play this instrument ? I'm primarily a guitarist who wants to expand his horizons ( also for recording) but do not want to invest too much time in learning about embouchoure etc. since my first love will always be guitar.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi Denis, you can use any saxophone lessons to learn the Aerophone - the fingering is the same. I’ve got loads of lessons and courses inside Sax School that can help you. Try them out here: www.mcgillmusic.com

[@nagomizik9358]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Thanks, I got next for sure..

[@mattglass782]

The Lick: 12:37 You're welcome