Hey BetterSax players, today I’ve got a real treat for you – the BRAND NEW Roland Aerophone Pro AE-30 wind synth. I’m going to unbox it and give you my first impressions.

UNBOXING

First of all, you have a very large, well-designed case. Immediately, the case indicates to me that this is PRO instrument. With a nice outside pocket, straps, and plenty of storage this is a very impressive case. Feels like I’m going to a gig.

The case is soft on the inside, with some padding on the inside to protect the instrument. Feels like a soft-shell guitar case.

With a black and silver finish, the sleek shape of the instrument definitely has more of a stage look to it. It comes with a variety of accessories including a cup for the bottom of the instrument that catches your spit. Looks like we won’t be leaving a trail behind!

It also comes with a thumb rest, mouthpiece cap, and a sweat band to help protect the electronics inside, from the spit you produce.

Examining the Roland Aerophone Pro

At first, the instrument feels really slim and slender compared to the Aerophone AE-10 or the Aerophone Go. It’s more streamlined. While the keys are a little loud, when you press them down, the movement feels smoother compared to the AE-10. But really, the clacking shouldn’t be a problem since you’ll be playing this instrument in an amplified situation – that will drown the key movement out.

The palm keys and side keys feel more like the keys on a real saxophone compared to the other models. They are larger and have more surface area which is an improvement however I find myself missing the palm D key now. I may need to add an extension to that key.

On the back are two great knobs that will help us have more control over the sounds we produce. On other wind synths, sometimes you’re fighting with a tiny screen and these knobs are going to make things a lot easier. I really like this so far.

The Sounds

What’s different on this is that the synth sounds are listed FIRST, instead of the normal wind instruments like a clarinet, saxophone, or trumpet. This is designed really well for those who are professional synth players. Plus many of the sounds that have been programed for the AE-30 are fantastic and could be used as is.

Right out of the box the first sound we get is a grungy, distorted synthesized sound. I’m digging it. To hear more of the sounds and hear my play-test, watch the full video above.

Final Thoughts

This is just an initial look at this instrument. I literally got the instrument and immediately did this video for you all, but I am going to take some more time to play around with this instrument, check out the sounds, and get a better feel for how this instrument plays. I will be doing another review of the Roland Aerophone Pro AE-30, so be on the look out for that!

Interested in more reviews on wind synths? Check out “Sax In Your Pocket? Roland Aerophone Mini AE-01 Review.” and “Want to Practice Quietly? The Roland Aerophone AE-10 Can Help.”

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