Roland’s Aerophone mini is the digital wind instrument that anyone can learn to play
Easy breath control and no complicated fingerings
For a product that we initially thought might end up being a bit of a novelty, Roland’s Aerophone is showing some serious staying power. Following the releases of the Aerophone AE-10 and Aerophone Go models, we now have the AE-01 Aerophone mini - a portable digital wind instrument that Roland says anyone can learn to play.
With this model, Roland says that it’s eliminated complicated fingerings and difficult breath control, though more advanced users do have the option to personalise their breath sensitivity settings and fingering layouts.
The Aerophone Mini comes with six different onboard sounds, while a further 50 can be accessed via the companion app for iOS and Android. This also includes interactive lessons and tutorials.
The Aerophone Mini offers Bluetooth audio and MIDI connectivity - you can use it as a MIDI controller for your desktop DAW - and has both an onboard speaker and a headphones jack. It runs on battery power so can be played anywhere.
A price and release date are TBC, but you can find out more on the Roland website.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.
“Training a model based on the 13-year-old Brenda Lee, using original masters, was both a challenge and a creative breakthrough”: BT on the new Spanish version of Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree that was made possible by his SoundLabs AI MicDrop plugin
"Manipulate any audio source into a hauntingly immersive soundscape": SSL releases Halloween-themed free plugin X-Orcism II: Voices from the Crypt