Roland AX-1B

ARGH! THis controller is frickin' awesome! WITH ONE BIG FAT FLAW. Why the heck can't you assign the Ribbon Controller to anything? ITS COMPLETELY UN-MIDI ASSIGNABLE! Imagine a Ribbon controller like that tweeking the cutoff on a fat synth exploding out of your JP-8080 and you have to turn a little knob with your thumb?

Message to Roland - Make the ribbon assignable!

Well, since it is just a contoller, it sounds as good as whatever your controlling. But as a MIDI controller it has awesome edit capibilities. Set up does require some time but a one time set up is all that's required. The manual, like most, was likely written in japan, translated to german, then, eventually to something similar to english and, as always much is lost. But set up and understanding the manual is doable and this is not just a cute controller but a very versitile and powerful one. It was much easier to master than my prophet 5.

The action leaves something to be desired but what can you expect from plastic and rubber. Touch sensitivity is very good compared to most controllers that I've used. Effects are a nice, easy to use feature. The GS compatability is especially nice for playing one patch on the AX and another simutainiously on the keyboard that you are controlling in effect giving you another board for the price of a controller.
If it comes down to it, you can just change pacthes maually on the master and enjoy the AX. MIDI paramaters and functions are great and, once masterd allow you to do all editing, midi and otherwise, from the remote. It has a "Start/Stop" sequencer feature...never used, don't know. I guess it would be nice for a canned gig.

I am currentlt controlling a XP-80 keyboard, a Motif module and a Micro Piano. So my sounds are decent and the AX seems to control these units as well as anything that I have tried. No MIDI "sticks" (for you kids, that was a issue in the 80's) I have had the HOLD button stick..that was scarey...just like old times.

Depenability ...so far so good...haven't had to change batteries yet..my RK-1, korgs remote controller, use the same battery pack but for quick change purposes (during songs, etc), I just started using 9V's. I am hoping I can do the same here.

Support, Roland...I guess it could happen...They've been OK in the past, personally...heard horror stories but I've had good luck.

I just got mine, 02/03. I was going to get the AX-7, but opted for the AX-1B after I found a (covited) black one. Should the need arise, I would like to use it to play bass lines. I currently use it to crawl out of my keyboard crator and walk around stage, prasie God. I enjoy useing it for jazz synth solos. I really like it for expression. Why doesn't anyone incorporate breath controllers anymore!?! I know yamaha has a couple of pieces but this one definitly needs one for more expression. ANd how do you expect me to be a Donald Feagan clone without that chromatic harp patch with breath control? Also, a sustain pedal jack is needed so when it is in the stand I don't have to tie up a whole hand just to sustain a note?
Stage set up: I use a Prophet 5 (not midi) for some retro leads, a Yamaha CP-70b electric grand (sometimes) , XP-80 expanded out including retro synth card, Motif module, MicroPiano and a VK-7 drawbar organ synth. I mainly play original jazz, or that's what I call it, improv around interesting rythmns and changes.
In summory, I think I really like the AX-1B and would buy another if it were lost or stolen. (it's the only one on the market that I'm aware of)

Everyone who said editing patches is hard is a moron. My technically inept mother was reading the instruction manual to me and I had no problem at all setting it up for my next gig. All you have to do is do what the manual says. After you get your patches set up correctly, using the AX-1 is very easy and very intuitive. Every button is very well placed.

The keyboard action is pretty good, about as good as you could expect from a strap-on controller. The octave up/down buttons are especially useful, and very easy to get to. The programmable transpose feature is also great. Modulation bar can be set to either modulation or aftertouch (nothing else though... I was hoping I might be able to set it to cutoff... but I can set up whatever I'm controlling to interpret modulation/aftertouch in that way anyway). Pitch bend ribbon is great fun to mess around with. It would be nice to more flexibility as far as what you can set the bar to control, but other than that... everything is very well thought out.

This isn't really an issue seeing as the AX-1 doesn't have any sounds of its own. The keys are velocity sensitive (no aftertouch, except with the mod bar), and are pretty responsive. Pitch bend ribbon is very expressive. If the keys had aftertouch, this would be a 10.

The first one I got had something loose rolling around inside, so I had to send it back. Apparantly it's a problem with the nut on the backside of one of the strap buttons. Supposedly it's an easy thing to fix though. The plastic case is a bit flimsy feeling, but it helps it remain lightweight.

N/A

The AX-1 is great, there's really nothing else like it out there (except for the new AX-7, which is ugly). It's especially good for electronic styles of music; techno, dance, stuff like that. Besides the fact that it frees you up to move around, it's just a great all around controller. Only 45 keys, but people are buying little dinky two octave controllers all the time for just a couple hundred dollars less than the AX-1. I find that the way it practically forces you to play one-handed actually inspires stuff that you never would have dreamed of playing while sitting down at a "normal" keyboard. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for everything, and I don't plan on getting rid of my 88-key synth any time soon, but the AX-1 is a great addition to my rig.

As everyone will discover, creating patch changes is a pain. The presets don't talk to other GM devices without re-programming them. It would have been nice to simple hit "up" for the next number but that just isn't the case. You have to assign each number on the AX to coorespond with a patch on your sound device.

The manual is in 5 languages on each page so it's quite conveluted and not written well. I don't think English was the original scipt.

There is no MIDI in so you can't store you're presets and once your batteries die, your sunk. You can plug in the power supply (which comes with the unit) to change the batteries.

Reverb and Chorus are on the unit which transmits over MIDI very nicely. The actions is fast for those of use used to a weighted keyboard. There is no sequencer on board but there is a start/stop which can trigger one. You can actually control everything your heard desires, the problem is it takes quite a bit of time and if you're playing a live gig, it's impossible. I change patches on my sound module most of the time.

Remember, there are no sounds at all. This is a MIDI controller only.

So far it workes fine. The batteries last a long time. If you've never used one before, you have to get used to a MIDI cable coming out of your gear. I stepped on it a few times and pulled it out. Get at least a 20ft MIDI cable or a wires MIDI cable - very cool! Also, it's a little tricky playing in a tux. The jacket tends to block the upper keys. Isn't that odd?

The AX-1 is really great for what it is. I enjoy playing it on gigs because I feel more part of the band with the mobility it allows. Most guitar stands don't support the awkward size so take it with you when you buy a stand. A standard guitar strap will work, however. I prefer the black color to the red as the red looks more like a toy. There are many used versions of this keyboard on Ebay and other types of internet auctions. The manual is absolutely necessary and Roland will send you one for about $8.00 if your buy this model used and the seller doesn't have a manual.

As far as using it to change patches with anything other than Roland gear, its a pain, ad programing is nearly impossible to figure out. However, it is easy to shut off the pitch bend and modulation funtions by simply choosing the right user program, which comes in handy when your not using them, as you WILL acidentaly hit them otherwise.

It comes with strap locks, which are wonderful, and makelife easier, the keyboard action is identical to a Fatar controler that has semi weighted keys.

I havn't had any reliability problems at all, the batteries last a long time, and it has fallen over more than once and still works the same, beyond the fact that the keys get pounded on pretty hard durring live shows and some rehersals, and it is still in perfect working order.

All I have to say on this one is, its Roland, and I don't mean that in a good way.

This really is a great peice for live use, I use it for some composition, but not much, just because I don't need anymore extra wires in the studio, I've got enough already. In short, if you don't mind walking over to your rack and changing the manually, rather than using the program buttons (which are near imposible to program) it is incredible, if you don't want to do that you won't like it much. I love mine and would replace it if it were lost or stolen in a heartbeat.