Last night was the first gig I took my Aerophone AE-30 on. It was pretty solid. I used a duduk patch and a synth patch for a cover of "Easy Lover”. Switching is simple using the iOS app I had running on an iPad mini. Also used a slightly modified 60s String patch for background parts for a couple of songs. And two harmonica patches for two harmonica solos (Reggae Woman was one of them).
Generally worked really well.
@ehler I have SEVERAL.My first was a WX11, then I got a Akai 3020, then an Akai 4000S, and now a Roland AE-30. Mainly, I got it when it came out because I thought it would be a great augmentation for the cover band I was playing in. And now that seems to be true.
Now I COULD use pedal effects. And I have a way too complicated pedalboard for sax, but in small/tight gigs, the feedback issue is huge. So it's easier to use the AE30 to make me sound like a horn section rather than a pedal.
@ehler As for a FIRST EWI……I'd avoid Akai. The stuff they are making is garbage. Same for Yamaha. I'd look at getting an AE20. It's like $1k-ish, but it has all the major, usable features that the ae30 has.
Roland's AE-30 really a great, playable, expressive instrument even though it feels like it is made by Fisher-Price.....wish they used some METAL in the body…..
Eric Dannewitz
Ehler