Roland E-15

Very good ease of use, a few basic moves that are easily mastered allow you to quickly change patterns and instruments even in-play. I never used the manual past getting the basics down for selecting the sounds (no need).

Excellent polyphony, never dropped a note even with long aftersounding instruments. Handles up to quite complex arrangements over midi without fail. 2 basic effects to enhance the presets, configurable in detail only through midi parameters but that's fine.
The onboard sequencer is no more than a recording function, not meant to be used for more than basic storage of a riff or so. Excellent responsiveness in pressure sensitivity keys with smart adaptation of the instruments.

The sounds are magnificent, especially the piano sounds and strings. Works well for classical, rock, pop. Not good for electronic music or synth. Traditional instruments mainly.
The drum set is a bit limited but sounds good.

Extremely reliable. Moved across the globe without fail, been in all kinds of environments, been banged, scuffed etc. not a single time has it failed on me in it's 10 year life. Definitely top reliability!

N/A - never needed any support for this instrument.

Since it's a rather old keyboard, and the technology has progressed, I would not buy the same keyboard. But I would stick with Roland (probably go for one that is more pure synth to have more flexibility in the sounds)
The sounds and reliability are excellent and it's a good MIDI keyboard overall. Basic sound needed for a gig? this keyboard will do it.

Very easy to use. It has not too many settings that can be altered, so you can't do much wrong :-)

24 polyphonic, keys react well, keyboard sensitivy is good, even after 12 years (!!) of using the board. Effects are only reverb and chorus, pressing reverb off and on again makes it longer. I think that's stupid, since you can't go back to the short reverb without resetting the board.

I liked the sounds when I first heard them, and still like them, even though there are only the standard 128 sounds. Drums is only one kit, and I think that's far too little. But, if you can pick one of these boards up for a friendly price and use it as a keyboard for studying, it will be fine. All sounds are static, velocity will only change the volume of the key, not the sound/expression.

I bought the E-15 in 1992 when it was just on the market here in The Netherlands. It's still here, I still use it very often, and in all those 12 years I've done numerous gigs with it, it's been in humid conditions, cold, heat, you name it and my E-15 has been there. In all these 12 years there has not been a single malfunction!

I had some questions about the MIDI-implementation back in 1993 or so, and placed some calls to Roland Benelux (in Belgium) Back then, they had true nitwits on their helpdesk. It would not be fair to judge them by that experience since it's been quite a while since :-)

I will not buy it again if it would break down now, or get stolen. It has done its job very well, but enough is enough. I own several other instruments and modules now, so there won't be a need to replace the E15.

Very easy to use - just turn on he thing and start playing. The E-15 has just the 128 GM-compatible sounds which cannot be modified. I think the manual is not too bad, i didn't use it very much.

The arranger has 32 patterns x4 variations. One thing i don't like about the E-15 is that it has no options to save anything - but on the other hand it has no features except midi-settings that could be changed ...

I don't use the sounds of the E-15, but compared to other keyboards in the same prize-level i think they are quite good

Never had any problems with it on several live gigs

Good for beginners and for hobby-musicians hwo only use it at home. I wouldn't buy the same keyboard again (maybe sometime later on when one of my childen wants to learn playing keyboard).

The E-15 is simple and easy to use. Changing presets are a simple one or two affair, volume controls for individual parts are easy to use and accessible.

You cant do much sound customization unless you have an external midi controller to adjust lfo, envelopes, etc.

Polyphony only limits you if you are doing a massive MIDI arrangement but otherwise its good enough. It has basic Reverb and Chorus (on and off) effects that are activated by one button.

It accepts and transmits MIDI just fine. It has a very basic onboard 'sequencer' which is actually just a recorder. You record something and play it back or loop it so it will go through the whole song and then repeat it. Can't save sequences - once you turn it off, all you recorded is lost.

Pianos are excellent. It has the standard Roland GM sound set. Good for simple rock, classical. No good at ALL for dance music.

Only one standard drum set.

The Reverb and Chorus effects are good and you can adjust amounts by using an external controller. But onboard control is limited to turning either one, both or neither on.

Good velocity sensitivity. A lot more consistent that Yamahas I've played.

I used it for 8 years at home, on the road, in the rain, by the beach. This thing is tough. Towards the end of that eight year span it started giving me some trouble so I had to take backup. I've now given it for repairs so it should be back to normal in no time :)

I am getting it repaired now. The dealers thought they fixed it, but it started giving them trouble beofre they delivered ti to me so they have asked their suppliers in Japan to send them a service manual. Helpful guys - and they are confident they can fix it.

its definetely worth what I paid for it becuase it has given me good sounds in a tough reliable package. If lost or stolen, I would buy something else that has more features. But this keyboard has made me a fan of the Roland sound and I would probably go in for another Roland.

I've been playing for over 10 years. I've had crappy Casios and some fairly decent Yamahas, but I still like this one the most.

THe sounds are great although limited. I woud love something with more sounds and more features.

Music is easy to make - just switch it on and play. This is probably out of production now, but if you get a second hand one for a good price and you're looking for something simple that sounds good, then the E-15 is great!

I'm a "live" music player, so I use the E-15 pure and simple, without further electronic processing, in combination with a Hammond XB2 and Boss DS-330 module. Most of the time I use the piano sounds of the E-15, these are very good, specially in comparison with a lot other synths. Editing of patches is very limited, but this is not too important for me being a live player. Manual is clear and easy usable. Also for home amusement: this instrument is ready to use within 15 seconds (contains little amplifier + speakers)

You can not expect to find a lot of fantasies in this price category. But the effects and possibilities it has are easy usable: chorus, reverb, split-function, ... Specially if you like to play with the auto-arranger, this keyboard has the same possibilities than the big expensive brothers in the Roland E-series.

Piano, synth-horns, strings, organs ... are very usable for all kind of -not-techno- music. Going from one sound to another goes easy and fast. Velocity works surprisingly well, can even be turned off... Also split function -although split point can not be changed- has easy usable functions, eg different volumes for 2 left-hand-voices...

Easy to use, never had problems with it; because I play live music I also use Hammond XB2(because of the typical Hammond sound) and a Boss DS-330 module (mostly in order to add brass sounds to the piano in fill-ins); as I said before, I use this synth most of the times for its piano-sounds, and it's performing well...

no experience

Price / quality very good buy; if stolen and with the same budget limitations, I would buy the same one; I have it approx one year; what me made decide to purchase it is the piano-sound;

Presets sound reasonable, easy to access. Piano sound good
Owners manual hard to figure but has all you need
except a midi expert.
Unknown software version

24 note poly, keyboard splittable, midi in,out no thru.
On board sequencer,cheap no download. Touch sensitive, adequate.
Very simple to use.

First bank piano is good. Rest of the 127 gs sounds are ok, Drum set ok. Touch sense fine (two settings), no aftertouch
Built in arranger with 64 music styles.

Had it nine years, constant use. Never failed

Not needed any for this instrument.

I would replace it if lost or stolen. Mainly bought it for its piano sound. The thing uses TVF sound genearation with 24 notes poly. I own a Yamaha CP-60M piano with midi. I use the CP-60M as a controller. It has a true piano action but a lousy acoustic sound (strings against peizo pickups. I have a Yamaha P50m piano module, the thing sucks, very nasally around mid C. The roland although not sampled has a more pleasing sound to my ears, maybee they have been corrupted over the years. I would like to find a Roland sound module with the same sound
The E15 is the low end of the E35,E70 series of intelligent syths.