Roland Aerophone mini AE-01
Compact Digital Wind Instrument
- Allows quick learning thanks to simple fingering based on a traditional recorder
- 6 Integrated sounds (saxophone, flute, clarinet, violin and more)
- Reverb effect
- Integrated speaker
- Battery operation (4 x AA Mignon)
- 50 More sounds and 11 tutorial songs via free app (available for iOS and Android)
- Bluetooth 4.2 for audio and MIDI transmission
- Stereo headphone output (3.5 mm jack)
- Micro USB B port
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 451 x 43 x 81 mm
- Weight: 500 g (including batteries)
- Includes mouthpiece cap, strap, USB cable and user manual
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Available since September 2019
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Item number 473836
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Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Digital wind instruments: Versatile and easy to play
With the Aerophone mini AE-01, Roland offers a compact digital wind instrument that is designed to provide an accessible introduction to playing and combines simple fingering with an interactive smartphone app. Its fingering system is based on the recorder, a familiar instrument often used for introducing children to music, while the digital pressure sensor responds to the player's breath rather than relying on a traditional acoustic mechanism. Six built-in sounds can be played through the built-in speaker or headphone output, with the "Aerophone mini Plus" app for iOS and Android providing access to additional sounds via Bluetooth. The app also includes a selection of exercises designed to support the learning process and make it easier to become familiar with the instrument.
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Excellent sounds with digital technology
The responsive touch sensor works together with digital sound processing to provide a clear and consistent playing experience, with a PCM synthesizer at the core of the Aerophone generating its sounds through digital sampling technology. Compared with traditional wind instruments, the digital design is less dependent on specialised breathing techniques, making it easier to approach for players who are still developing their technique. A built-in reverb effect adds the ambience of a concert hall, while the built-in speaker faces the player so that the notes remain easy to hear while playing. The Aerophone can also function as a MIDI controller for use with DAWs, sending MIDI data either via USB or wirelessly through Bluetooth, and the package includes a USB cable, mouthpiece cap, strap, and user manual.
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Perfect for beginners
The six-key fingering system used on the Aerophone mini AE-01 makes it particularly approachable for beginners, with the left hand covering B, A, and G and the right hand playing F, E, and D. Two additional keys operated with the left little finger allow the pitch to be raised or lowered by a semitone, while a control on the rear of the instrument extends the range by shifting the pitch up or down by an octave. This gives the Aerophone a total range of three octaves, while its weight of just 500g keeps it comfortable and easy to handle. The mouthpiece can also be replaced with compatible Roland models such as the OP-AE01MP or OP-AE05MPH, available separately, and the accompanying app offers a variety of exercises with adjustable tempos to help beginners gradually develop their playing skills.
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About Roland
Roland was founded in 1972 in Osaka, Japan, and has been designing and building electronic musical instruments ever since. During its successful history, Roland has launched many ground-breaking instruments, from legendary drum machines such as the TR-808 and the TR-909 to synthesizer classics like Jupiter-8, SH-101 and the iconic TB-303. Besides synthesizers, Roland's workstations and electric pianos are also very popular. Equally well-known is Roland’s subsidiary Boss, under whose brand name it designs and sells principally guitar pedals and effects units. Under the Roland Professional A/V label, the company additionally develops and distributes professional equipment for virtually every branch of audio and video production – from home studios through to commercial applications.
Learn to play via smartphone app
To use the Aerophone mini Plus app, the corresponding mode first needs to be selected on the instrument, after which a wide range of functions becomes available. In addition to more than 50 sounds, the app includes 11 pieces of music and numerous exercises designed to support the learning process, with the correct fingering displayed visually for each note. Exercise tempos can be adjusted to suit the player, making it possible to begin slowly and gradually speed up, while individual fingering patterns can be customised and stored in up to ten presets for later use. The pressure sensor sensitivity can also be adjusted so that the instrument responds to a lighter breath, and music from a personal library can be streamed via the app with the volume of the vocals lowered for karaoke-style accompaniment. The audio is transmitted wirelessly to the Aerophone AE-01 via Bluetooth and can be monitored either through headphones or the built-in speaker.
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