Roland Ax-Synth Dual / Split Functions?

[Kebbel]

I'm a 50-year guitar player who's spent the last 3 years learning to play keyboards. All my keyboards and keytars so far have been Yamaha. I bought a Roland Ax-Synth on eBay that should arrive in the next week. I'm reading the PDF version of the Ax-Synth manual so I can hit the ground running when the instrument arrives. That's the background; here's the question.

QUESTION: Yamaha synths let you Split the keyboard into two separate voices at a point of your choosing (e.g., sax with your left hand, piano with your right). You can also choose to layer two voices together using the Dual setting (e.g., Honky Tonk piano layered with Sitar to get a really "ambient clinky" sound). I couldn't find reference to either function in the Ax-Synth's manual. I'm also halfway through the manual and haven't found any indication these features exist. If anyone here is an experienced Ax-Synth user, could you EITHER confirm the Split/Dual functions are not available OR point me towards their different names and how I can access them?

 

[Skyjumper]

I have had the ax synth since the start. unless there is a hack, it does not support splitting.

 

[Kebbel]

First, thank you for replying.

Second, I came across a line in the manual that said the AxSynth is not multi-timbral. I’m assuming that confirms what you’re reporting about Splitting the keyboard and probably also rules out layering voices with a Dual function.

 

[Kebbel]

I have had the ax synth since the start. unless there is a hack, it does not support splitting.

BACKGROUND: I’m a 50+ year guitar player who just took up keyboards about 3 years ago (mostly Yamaha). My AxSynth should be arriving by the 22nd. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos about it and am psyched about playing a big Keytar (I’ve been playing on a Yamaha SHS 100 and a Yamaha SHS 300).

QUESTIONS: Our band plays, predominantly, black gospel music that most people have never heard of, so I’m free to lay the keyboard on a keyboard stand and scale down two-handed arrangements from 61 keys to 49 keys for SOME songs. Do you play with two hands, and if you do, do you play everything standing up or lay the keytar down like a regular keyboard for some songs?

 

[TedS]

Hope you're able to figure this out.

I want to build my own keytar using velcro to attach a 1x3 wooden beam to a lightweight 37- or 49-key MIDI controller. I was even going to mount MIDI trigger pads on the "neck" of the beam. Along with being much more affordable than commercial models, this type of keytar could be played left- or right-handed. All of the processing would take place in outboard hardware modules like a Roland BK-7m, Yamaha QY-70, etc. These are light and small enough to be powered by batteries.

My other idea was to wear a carrier for marching quads (drum carrier) and use a very light controller or keyboard as backing for Christmas caroling in the neighborhood. The speaker and MIDI module would be towed behind me in a wagon.

IMO, guitars outsell keyboards because guitarists are the "front men" that everyone sees. We need to try harder to be visible!!

 

[Kebbel]

It seems like you could accomplish this with …
1. A Yamaha SHS 100 with a ..,,
2. WIDI (Wireless MIDI connector) in its MIDI Out port talking to a ….
3. MIDI Tone Generator hooked to an …
4. Amplifier

OR

Just recreate Edgar Winter’s original Keytar—attach guitar strap pegs to a keyboard and plug a 1/4 plug or a wireless transmitter in the audio out/ headphone port.

 

[happyrat1]

If price is the only thing keeping you from looking like a hillbilly tool onstage, then consider an Alesis Vortex 2 Wireless and an ipad. The wireless junk is already built in for a very reasonable price and you can do splits and layers to your heart's content with a program like mainstage for IOS.

 

[happyrat1]

This is the ONLY keytar demo video I could find that wasn't hosted by a child.

Personally I've always considered the keytar to be a kid's instrument for metal heads.

 

[Skyjumper]

BACKGROUND: I’m a 50+ year guitar player who just took up keyboards about 3 years ago (mostly Yamaha). My AxSynth should be arriving by the 22nd. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos about it and am psyched about playing a big Keytar (I’ve been playing on a Yamaha SHS 100 and a Yamaha SHS 300).

QUESTIONS: Our band plays, predominantly, black gospel music that most people have never heard of, so I’m free to lay the keyboard on a keyboard stand and scale down two-handed arrangements from 61 keys to 49 keys for SOME songs. Do you play with two hands, and if you do, do you play everything standing up or lay the keytar down like a regular keyboard for some songs?

If Im on the keytar and have to use both hands on it, I have a cheap xstand I set it on. Best thing for the keytar is a 900mhz wireless sytem, especially if there is 2.4 being used. Stay away from the 2.4 ghz garbage if you can. That way you can move it from shoulder to stand without cables and you can move around.

 

[TedS]

All of the commercial keytars that I've seen are designed to be played with the right hand. What if you want to play LH bass? What I proposed (attaching the beam/neck with velcro) would be a fully reversible arrangement. If you paint the 1x3 black, from 15' away no one would know that it's a home-built rig.

 

[happyrat1]

All of the commercial keytars that I've seen are designed to be played with the right hand. What if you want to play LH bass? What I proposed (attaching the beam/neck with velcro) would be a fully reversible arrangement. If you paint the 1x3 black, from 15' away no one would know that it's a home-built rig.

It doesn't matter which end you stick the neck on. The keyboard only plays one way. It's not like a guitar or a bass where you can reverse the strings.

But if you are playing a midi controller you can have as many split points or layers as your software will allow.