Roland Aerophone AE-20From real comments

Verdict distilled from 32 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment59%
PROS 59%
CONS 41%

Rank based on 32 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a quiet EWI with sax-style fingering for practice or gigging without disturbing neighbors
  • You plan to pair it with an iPad/DAW and third-party apps like SWAM for realistic instrument sounds
  • You're upgrading from an AE-10 and want quieter keys and a friendlier interface

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need convincing onboard acoustic sax/brass/string sounds without external apps
  • You don't own an iPad/iPhone, since the companion app reportedly only supports Apple devices
  • You're budget-conscious, since the AE-10 is $300 cheaper and covers similar ground for many players

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

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1Mid
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Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
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Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
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Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
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Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
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Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
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4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
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Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Roland Aerophone AE-20
Quiet Practice InstrumentQuieter Key MechanismFamiliar Sax FingeringWeak Acoustic Sax/Brass EmulationPrice Relative to AE-10App Compatibility Limits
Roland Aerophone AE-20
Quiet Practice Instrument
Quieter Key Mechanism
Familiar Sax Fingering
Weak Acoustic Sax/Brass Emulation
Price Relative to AE-10
App Compatibility Limits

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sax players consistently praise the AE-20's familiar fingering and quieter key mechanism. Multiple commenters coming from real saxophones or the AE-10 note how easy the sax-style fingering is to pick up compared to older synths with unfamiliar key layouts. Several also specifically call out that Roland fixed the loud, distracting key-click noise that plagued the AE-10, making the AE-20 whisper quiet and more pleasant for silent practice or living with neighbors nearby.

Onboard acoustic instrument emulations, especially sax, disappoint many experienced players. Long-time saxophonists and brass players repeatedly describe the built-in sax, unmuted trumpet, and trombone sounds as weak, synthetic, or lacking warmth compared to real instruments, though muted brass, pan flute, clarinet, and certain synth patches get more favorable mentions. This has pushed several users toward external apps like SWAM or Audio Modeling via MIDI for more convincing tone.

Software and hardware compatibility issues surface for some new owners. Reports include the companion Pro App reportedly working only with iPhone/iPad (frustrating a Samsung tablet owner), SWAM/Logic Pro not recognizing the AE-20 as input despite working fine on an AE-10, an octave-button mishap causing endless scene-scanning that even firmware updates couldn't fix, and a battery/charging design that requires six non-rechargeable-by-default NI-MH cells with an AC adapter that can't charge them.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?