Roland AX Synth

[KrosanBeast315]

I can't play a guitar. I tried to learn it once, and beat the hell out of my fingers. Guitars are based on feel. I need to see notes to play them first, then I don't need to see them once I have the range nailed down. I have played Piano since I was 14, and this instrument is spectacular for playing Rock and Roll piano on, or playing Rock that needs a guitar. I recommend an Ax Synth to any musician who can play piano and wants the harmonics and tonal range of a guitar.

[sangolt88]

Dear Santa...

[eveready311]

Wow, looks dumb as fuck, sounds dumb as fuck. why would anyone even bother. computers are ruining music, in a sense. although i will admit this guy sure knows how to play it.

[abominableslothman]

This is one of the reasons why i want a keytar!!!! i dont care what anybody says, keytars are amazing if you know to play them, and this guy knows how to play them!!!! :D

[Nealtjj]

superlike

[markwatsonmusic]

@Nealtjj thanx heaps :-)

[Natedroid111]

I like real guitars, but you nailed it!

good job

[markwatsonmusic]

@Natedroid111 thank you!

[embalsadokallen]

hello there i'm from Philippines, where and how can i purchase a roland ax synth?

[markwatsonmusic]

@creativelyCHOCOLATE sorry for the very late reply! what country are you in?

[DrawbarPete]

Great work Mark!! Awesome. I think I'll need an AX-1. You're the proof that it ROCKS!!:) Take Care and thanx //Pete

[markwatsonmusic]

@DrawbarPete Thanks heaps my friend! I really appreciate your kind comment! cheers, Mark!

[jetsparks17]

i want a keytar now

[MarinVillalpando15]

I always play with the guitar setting :D

[MikeCanFly1]

Dude i saw you in brisbane a couple years ago, finally found this awesome song again! Rock on Mark!

[rodolfmm]

@psychedelicguy9 You're kidding, right?

[Kaleitarius]

Ugh. Synth badassery, I love it.

[abra2004]

wowww!!!! damn!!! fuckin awesomee!!! never seen nothing like this!!!

[bestdale]

awesome

[Ulizz009]

aprende a tocar guitarra, deja eso para la cumbia ;)

[SilverAsakura]

@Ulizz009 y luego porque nos estereotipan a los que hablamos español...

[Angel94angel94]

Does that keytar have the "split" function?

[estoyaqui85]

GREAT

[markwatsonmusic]

@estoyaqui85 thank you :-)

[markwatsonmusic]

@estoyaqui85 thanks! :-)

[Monkey8954]

I really want one of these. If I just closed my eyes I would think that was a guitar!

The AX-Synth doesn't need one of those midi things that I'm really confused about right?

Was that tune all on the piano? So It's basically just a really expensive Rolland Piano that hangs from your shoulder?

[markwatsonmusic]

@Monkey8954 The Ax Synth has a built in Roland Fantom synth engine and I'm using one of the Guitar presets here, although you can use it as a midi controller as well. The backing track is something I created on my computer. thnx! :-)

[tokewarming]

lol im a drummer x) and i loooOOooove it ^^ :D

[markwatsonmusic]

@tokewarming :-D thanks you

[TheGangstaAsian]

you make that thing talk!

that's amazing, now I need 2 grand to get one haha

THAT WAS AMAZING!

[markwatsonmusic]

@TheGangstaAsian

[skoorbwerd]

your incredible! i am very inspired. keep it up! :D

[markwatsonmusic]

@skoorbwerd thanks

[markwatsonmusic]

thank you 

[JazzBass420]

whoa! badass

[markwatsonmusic]

@JazzBass420 :-)

[Savstad95]

Is there a sustain button it this devil? I got one, but when i play synth, the hold button or the sustain pedel holds the note too long, or what im playing is to hard to think of the notes and the hold... Any sugestions?

[Passioneista]

Fantastic!

[iKeyboard15]

Very good!

How did you record the sound of the ax synth? Like was it hooked to anything? Or was the amp hooked to anything?

[ighip]

that was awesome. but can you do more vids showing te variety of leads on the synth? are there organs and clavs?

[ThisOneObserver]

How many people can say their father is this cool? ;) Lovin' it Dad!

[markwatsonmusic]

@ThisOneObserver Nick? :-)

[ThisOneObserver]

@markwatsonmusic

Of course! Looking forward to seeing you jam in person and photograph the awesomeness ;)

[ThisOneObserver]

How many people can say their father is this cool? ;) Lovin' it Dad!

[kwd007]

Ok class...Lets review what we've witnessed here! Can you say: Total ass kicking domination of this instrument!!? I know you can!....Now let practice our asses off...so we can be like him! Yay!

[markwatsonmusic]

@kwd007 Thank you my friend, appreciate the comment!

[deenigeechteannapipo]

I got one!! Just bought it! And it's even better in real life than every review/demonstration on youtube!

I recommend it to everyone! It's worth every penny.

[lou85190]

omg!

Now I want to buy this instrument,but I do not know where to find it(in France).

[JoaoCarstens]

gonna get mine sooooon YEAHHH

shame that only JM Jarre has a black one... but what the hell, it's GOOD!!

[xXokcoolXx]

Ugh.... I thought I got over this last year but now the G.A.S. is back.. damnit xD

Gonna have to start putting some money away for this...

[voxel486]

Incredible keytaring!! you totally shredded that up!!

[markwatsonmusic]

@voxel486 Thnx so much !!! :-)

[markwatsonmusic]

@voxel486 THNKS :-)

[rockonmady]

I was just looking at this moddle in a music shop today, reminded me of when i saw the human league at a music festival last year, its impossible for someone to not look in anyway flashy or outlandish with one of these

[ApolloGOSK]

Great Vid your Amazing!!! Im Wondering if it has its own built in speaker or do you need an amp or pa system???? thanks :)

[JoaoCarstens]

@ApolloGOSK yep, in needs an amp/speaker, but that's not a problem at all, it's ten times more fun with a amp! and it has a headphone socket too.

[markwatsonmusic]

@ApolloGOSK Hay, thanks heaps...and yeh, you do need to plug it in to an amp , p.a. or similar. It's very, very cool!!

[ScarsofEagle]

Great solo! I just have a quick question on the Roland AX Synth...Do you need a guitar amp? If so, how much does a cheap one cost.

[markwatsonmusic]

@ScarsofEagle Hay, thanks heaps...and yeh, you do need to plug it in to an amp , p.a. or similar.

[JFCarterIII]

@markwatsonmusic Nice riff! For that solo did you use a guitar or a keyboard amp?

[Savstad95]

@ScarsofEagle

you'll get a great amp for 'bout 200$ or most likely less. Mine cost me 200$, and work like hell with my Ax-Synth!

[sebastian080954]

HI. I've just bought an ax-synth. Can you tell me what preset you're using here? It's very impressive

[mrrrks39]

amazing and awesome. something tells me you also play a mean guitar

[gamekillanyc]

can someone i beg please tell me were i can learn riffs like that please please please please please please please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bmstylee]

dude tat was down with the sickness

[DalekThey09]

thats mad!

[themanwithoutaplan]

cool dude. check out my keyboard video. features AX-1 through a FANTOM g8 and SH201 i also play a sp404.

[dvamateur]

That's kind of cool that the remote MID controllers (I don't like word "keytar", sorry) become popular egain. The 1984 Yamaha KX5 is still m old favorite, and I am internally orgasming when I hear Chick Corea playing it.

[RapeAllRayPaul]

THat cost $1349.98 or 1199.97

[animemangalover11]

Does anyone know where I could get a good backing track? Maybe assorted genres?

The AX Synth is ALOT of fun, like everyone said. Bu it IS a lead instrument, and I think I'd have alot more fun w/ a backing track.

Thanks,

-Dan

[56iceiclez]

Were could I get one in Scarbrough??

[sshewfelt1]

am writing too all ax synth owners out there we should have our own festival

[MrBrandonPeoples]

agreed, that would be the best festival ever

[zinckoff]

@sshewfelt1 instead of just the ax- synth, it should be all keytarists

[JFCarterIII]

@sshewfelt1 That would be fun! You should contact Roland and see if they would like to help out!

[DurandRhisham]

@sshewfelt1 Hell yes.

[tootibrushi]

AWESOMEEEEEE

[3eneboy]

how much is it in pounds (£) and were can i buy it i the uk?

[MusiqueMeltdown]

@3eneboy probably like 1300

idk

[ifirox666]

@3eneboy it's 1200 us dollars, which probably is something along the lines of 850-900 pounds...

[MrBrandonPeoples]

800

[Pevets3]

It would be interesting to see if the same realism could obtained with a bass sound (& technique playing too).

[odt1985]

Why didn't you buy a guitar instea of playing on a synth with guitar effect? Just kidding :) It's really cool!

[MusiqueMeltdown]

Anybody know if the ax-synth has midi capabilities?

[ShufflestormMedia]

@MusiqueMeltdown The AX-Synth has the capability of being a midi-controller as well as being of its own independance due to its on-board sound engine.

[ifirox666]

@MusiqueMeltdown yep, it has MIDI in and out sockets, and it can be plugged to your PC as well with a USB port.

[1880Chris]

where can i buy the roland ax synth for 300 euro?

[BrolySuperSaiyen]

No,... I mean, I have 700 euro's.

I Needed 300 euro's more to buy it.

[Savstad95]

@1880Chris

in your dreams

[MrBrandonPeoples]

no where

[DoctorWoodstock]

mind blowing sweet playin bro

[BrolySuperSaiyen]

Man, I can't wait to buy it, I only need 300 euro's more xD

DAMN I CAN'T WAIT! I love the Roland AX-Synth!

[BrolySuperSaiyen]

Hell yeah! My dad wan't to pay the 300 euro's!!!!

Next week, then I have my Roland AX-Synth!!!! =D

[BrolySuperSaiyen]

Yay! =D I have the Roland AX-Synth now!!! =D IT IS AWESOME!!

[jackassqwe1]

wats the cheapest keytar

[MrBrandonPeoples]

fisher price has one

[ammofuzztone]

@jackassqwe1 I bought a vintage Yamaha SHS-10 on ebay for $300US a few months ago. Played it at two gigs, but when this unit (the black model) showed up in a local music store, I tried it and fell in love with it. Price has gone down to $999 +GST Cdn. I still like the SHS-10 with the mini keys, it sounds great thru my sound module synths and it's light and easy to play. The AX Synth is more like a real instrument - less like a toy; but the SHS-10 is not a toy; keys the same size as accordion.

[mattliebl6199]

can you hook this keytar to a keyboard amp and still play through the amp or do you have to play it via midi?

[iCharleyStudios]

i hooked one up to a bass amp lol its lyk a guitar all u need is that aux chord nd it hooks up to lyk, anything that its able to hook up to

[mattliebl6199]

sweetness. ok now i just have ro decide what my main workstation will be

[cumbianene]

awesome

[keyboardarctica]

I want one now!! No, wait.. I'm getting one tomorrow <3 Hah! ^^,

[satpler34]

these things are awesome. i saw one of them in a best buy near me, totally awesome. nice use of magic garage band btw. haha.

[iCharleyStudios]

i saw it at best buy too.. i jizzed when i played lol

[albytor]

Great!!!! the best guitar emulation on a synth I've ever heard.... really believable

[ChrisPlaystheSynth]

I've got a better sounding on the X50. Took a lot of tweaking, but I got an awesome guitar sound that's velocity sensitive so that it allows pinch harmonics. also allows for a crunchy sound but still clean for fast sweeps and the likes.

[MrJohnnyGalt]

Awsome sound and great hands. I want an AX Synth too!

[luisninfant]

This really makes tough competition with the real guitarrists, doesn`t it?

[socialguy995]

Hey does any1 one no wat backing track he's using, pm me if you do

Thanx!

[pheenixlord]

Sounds a ton like Diggin' on James Brown by Tower of Power

[amerikansound]

hi ...is there percussion on any of these? can someone please tell me...i want a model like this but to have percussion so i can dance and give a better show on stage

thanks

[DeanoPiano]

Percussion!? what like? have you tried looking for the Zen Drums? look on Google it might make you smile ;)

[MonsieurSteven]

yeah, I want an AX Synth too... :)

[taiajam]

i nkow, i can see that. but i mean the backgrond music.

[taiajam]

hey, whats the name of that song? we would like to play that with our band!

[areyoureallyy]

its improv, says right there in the in the description

[Mithedhel]

Hi all, i'm a keytarist. A lot of people is requesting keytar videos and covers, I do them for you so if you subscribe to me you'll recieve your requested covers. The more suscribers I have, the more keytar videos I'll able to upload. If you want an specific cover, leave me a comment in my channel. Thank you :)

[Ernireg3]

I NEED ONE!!!

[zezinhogatoso]

sem comentarios!!!! simplesmente animal!!!!!!

[rom1w]

the guitar for pianist lol

[Emanuel127]

I'm so want it!!!!! It's mine :D:D:D

[arakno1]

man,i can't find a good demo of that shit,

i don't understand why people that are interested in keytars apparently have very bad music tastes,man,there are other styles than crappy-fake prog rock with vomited solos with fake guitar sounds!

[TVoneiro]

Excactly what I'm thinking... This is the type of music that only appear on demo-cds on different synths and stage pianos. So boringly moderate.

[keytarrocks]

Agree 100% percent.

Herbie hancock is the way!

[hatimone]

Sounds like searing cosm fron fantom s- synth.. Right about today I'll get my own AX.. Looks like that there is no modulation wheel, that the modulation is made with the ribbon controller. That sucks! And the vibrato is made with the modulation bar under the ribbon?? That never sounds very natural, because if you bend with a guitar, you can only bend the string higher. But that sounds like violin-vibrato. I hope there is a way to change the bend to be made with the modulation bar..

[Kahva123]

Thats basically the only and for sure the best place to put that mod wheel. Otherwise you couldn't bend and do the modulation at the same time. Besides where would you put that so it would be easy to reach? :O

[hatimone]

Korgissa, joka mulla oli 90-luvun alussa, oli benderi ja modulaatio kontrollerit toisella tavalla. Siinä oli vierekkäin kaksi pyörylää, joita sormella ylöspäin työntämällä saatiin aikaan bendaus. Kun esim kitaralla tehdään vibrato, työnnetään sormella kieltä ylöspäin. Liike oli korgissa hyvin saman näköinen, ja kuulostikin suht aidolta. Jos särökitarasoundissa tehdään vibrato AX:ssä olevalla modulation -painikkeella, saadaan aikaan hyvin epäaidon kuuloinen vibrato.

[Kahva123]

No joo mutta eikös se vibrato tehä sillee manuaalisesti että bendiä vingutellaan? :D

[CDkid23]

There is a bender mode on the back of the keytar so the guitar bending is more realistic!

[mattliebl6199]

I want to get this once i get the money but do you need to buy another synth to hook it up to or can i just get a keyboard amp?

[Larrv]

It has it´s own built -in sound engine so you just need the amp!

[CDkid23]

it has the L/MONO and R amp hookups. it has the sounds built right in so u just need an amp and a patch chord

[mattliebl6199]

patch chord?

[CDkid23]

it plugs in from to the keytar to the amp. just like u would plug a patch chord in from an eletric guitar to an amp to get sound from

[mattliebl6199]

Ok. Well the price on this keytar is over 1000. Is it worth the price or is there a better keytar out there?

[CDkid23]

This is DEFINITLY the one to get. It is the new and improved keytar and is the only one with sounds built right in, instead of running through a computer. It is $1300 but it is worth it!!!! Check out my video called, "Roland AX-Synth - Hang Up your Hang Ups - U of Manitoba Jazz Camp 09." It shows me playing this keytar with a band, playing one of the best herbie hancock songs!

[mattliebl6199]

I know it already has 8 pre installed sounds on it but is there a way to get more sound installed to it?

[CDkid23]

There is over 270 sounds already built in actually. Then you can run it through a MIDI program on the computer, to get even more sounds.

[mattliebl6199]

Awesome. Thanks for all the info.

[CDkid23]

no prob

[mattliebl6199]

Oh crap wait there one more thing. I have a korg m50 so what happens when i plug the roland ax synth into the korg m50?

[arakno1]

well in this case you can exchange midi datas,means that you can play the m50 sounds with the ax synth or play the ax synth sounds with the m50,an many more...

[CDkid23]

I am not totally sure but I have heard that it just plays the sounds from the korg m50 you just have to press a certain button on the roland ax-synth, you would just have to read the manual!

[CDkid23]

im pretty sure it plays the sound from the korg m50, just press a button on the ax-synth, its in the manual

[mattliebl6199]

Awesome. Once i become a rich man i will get one of these bad asses

[Savstad95]

it dosent need to, but it can

[Aardcore]

God that looks like so much fun. I want one SO bad man!

[mattliebl6199]

Do you need an amp with the ax synth to make it sound properly?

[rolandpl]

ax the best...

[Skaul]

! Just got my AX-Synth, but whatever happened to the "software" that was supposed to be shipped with these? A case or a stand would be nice to right? ^_^

again, great playing, i'll be posting up something soon

[Skaul]

kk, i found a download to the software, not sure if it was supposed to come with the package or not though... =/

still a case would be cool.

where do you store yours for transportation??

[Misfire39]

It reminds me Steve Vai, I know it's strange, but it really do it! Amazing, man, 5/5

[markwatsonmusic]

Wow! Thanks for the compliment, a great honor!!!

[Misfire39]

it's the pure truth! those pitch games and that "wha" effects are very very similar to Vai's! ;)

[leachables]

@Misfire39

dude, if you had'nt said I would have said the same exact thing. It does sound like a Steve Vai song. By the way Mark, you pretty much rocked it.

[BrolySuperSaiyen]

Wow, AWESOME man! I wanna have one to =P

Do you maybe know how much it costs in Euros?

[Misfire39]

I found it for 990€

[DeanoPiano]

Is there an headphones input on this? man I so need this right now!!!! sigh..

[markwatsonmusic]

Yes, it has a headphone output. Cheers! Mark

[zzzxtreme]

Roland AX Synth is now shipping

[apachiomg123]

hey dude i wanna ask because i'm getting one of those what speakers a re you using ?

[metalhead6777777]

your really good by the way, can you do dragonforce-through the fire and flames with that keytar? let me know. If you dont know what band or song that is look up the full version. Thanks.

[apachiomg123]

i would give my house for one of these ... heck id give a kidney for this! And really great improvisation there man sweeet :P

[markwatsonmusic]

Thanks, more coming really soon. Mark

[metalhead6777777]

saw on an online store tha theyre selling for $1000-$1300,be worth it.

[crazyjc15]

omg i thing i just jized at the sight of this o.o

[markwatsonmusic]

LOL!