My first impression of Roland E-A7...

Well, it is small...it is light...looks like a toy..

and a lot of fun to play..

The keys ..yep , like the BK5, although they feel a bit stiffer..
after you play a while , you get use to them,,they are more playable than my
Edirol PC80 controller..

The operating system became second nature after a couple hours,
playing and editing..

All the buttons are rubberized, feel good and perform perfectly..
The sliders are firm and smooth..

This E-A7 is loaded with goodies, just as many features as the
BIG boys..

Coming from a week with the Korg PA4x, I can tell you the E-A7
competes favorably,,

Same features, and they work just as well as the Korg..

Many of the sounds , edge to Roland, drums strings, E guitars, choir,
scats, EP and Acc piano for starters..

The sound is surprising..I was told they were shorter samples than the BK9 etc..
Others on YouTube state they were as good or better than PA4x and Tyros5..

Styles are plentiful and nicely done,,easy to edit on the fly while
performing..Realtime mixing with the sliders..

The new OS with two displays turned out to be a great idea, they work in
conjunction with each other...and direct tabs on the display border, help navigation..
The six assign buttons for pads, phrases , tones, work great...ande are in sync with
styles and songs..

The 3 upper and one lower tones are easy to access and view..volume level via sliders ..
Favorite tones section, also user tones and styles..UPG section that saves all panel settings..

There is no sequencer, but make up tools do the job we normally do in the sequencer..

The playback for SMF,Kar, MP3 and wav..works great, and feature chain play
tempo change and transpose,,Parts mute also covered, as is center cancel..

Search feature works great for any data , song, styles, Upg etc..

Song play is easier and smoother operation than Korg..one button to play.

SMF play sounds best of any board...

Sampler improved with update 1.10....samples increased from 512 to 2,048...



I will follow up after a few days...but it looks like a keeper..

BTW: It looked like a toy, but anything but.....this is a very capable keyboard...
ready for the stage, and a light traveler..

Congratulations use it well Fran.

Fran
Nice review on this and the Korg. Now go get a BK9, you know you want one ! LOL !

Will it display text files? And link to registration?

Hi Fran
Certainly sounds like it's packed full of goodies.
Great price range.

I've been watching E-A7 video's all week and wondering why nobody's talking about this peripheral keyboard in here. The instrument sounds are OK, but the styles are fantastic.....well-thought out...versatile....creative.......authentic, etc. So.......what's the reason no one else is discussing this keyboard when TOTL arrangers are talked about?

Roland E-A7 videos

Not sure I'd buy one but for me, being a "styles" person, it would definitely be in the running alongside the PA4x and the Ketron.

One thing puzzles me. Why the odd name for this keyboard? It looks more like a chord progression than a keyboard!

Don,I would say no..but there is more then one way to skin a cat..
You could record a style that you play, and save it as an SMF..Add lyrics to the file..
Add 4 markers..

Now as you play the file,filter the parts that get in the way of your realtime play..
Use the realtime phrases ..6 of them.variation of guitar strums etc..As you play left hand chords, the phrases will follow in sync....Chords will show on the display.
You can save this file as part of your User program..
This would give you all the flexibility of a style, with total control for your performance..

I have something like a thousand text files in my PA4X. Why would I want to do all that? It's the main reason I didn't keep the BK9. Too bad, but a deal breaker for me. Also no vocal harmony, right?

Well....If it looks like a toy, can't bring it on stage. Just not in my nature. That said, I am seriously considering a 2nd arranger with speakers to just leave set up in my studio. Are the keys full size?

Don, No harmonized.
Steve, they are full size, but shorter in lenght.
Measures 5 and 1/8 th. Compared to 5 and 3/4 on most top models.

Guys we are talking $1,299 selling price.

I bought it as a specific use..Senior centers, one hour shows..but it offers a lot, and it is fun to use..also sounds great.
It wasn't going to replace my G70..If I am playing a 4 hour job, I"'ll be behind the G70.