With the recent news that Roland has expanded its line of E series entertainment arranger keyboards with the launch of the E-X10, and not so long ago the E-X50, we take a look at the four current models in its lineup, what their main features are and how they compare.
Roland E-X10
Billed as an entry level arranger keyboard, the Roland E-X10 is aimed at inspiring beginner musicians with a core set of sounds and arrangement options. This 61-note full-size keyboard has onboard stereo speakers, strong acoustic piano samples, over 600 other tones, auto-accompaniment features, 140 onboard songs to play along with and develop musical skills, the ability to record songs, metronome and lesson mode, a microphone input, USB, and AC or battery operation.
Roland E-X50
The E-X50 is a step up from the E-X10, still with a five octave keyboard but with over 700 sounds, a more advanced sound system, auto-accompaniment with additional fingering options, hundreds of styles plus custom styles available with style converter software, recording, Bluetooth audio, microphone input, and stereo outputs.
Roland E-A7
The Roland E-A7 is an expandable arranger keyboard, the 61-note keyboard initially coming with over 1500 tones but with the ability to import WAV files and manipulate audio samples onboard. There is a more powerful arrangement engine with direct control buttons and versatile, one-touch performance options, 156 dedicated buttons for access to common functions, a dual-screen layout with backing styles on the left and sounds on the right, a microphone input, plus access to the E-A7 Tone Manager software for Windows and Mac for creating user tones, drum kits, importing and editing samples, and organising setups.
Roland E-09
The Roland E-09 is a cut-down arranger keyboard for those wanting to explore the world of arranging, much like the newer E-X10. The 61-key keyboard features 870 tones and 70 drum kits, multi-FX, a 16-track recorder, one-touch settings, music assistants, and a high performance speaker system.
Specification Comparison
Here are the main specifications for all four models for comparison:
|
|
E-X10 |
E-X50 |
E-A7 |
E-09 |
|
|
Keyboard |
Number of keys |
61 |
61 |
61 |
61 |
|
Velocity sensitive |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Touch sensitivity |
3 types, fixed |
3 types, fixed |
– |
– |
|
|
Sound |
Polyphony |
64 |
256 |
128 |
64 |
|
Parts |
– |
16 |
4 keyboard / 16 song |
16 / 1 keyboard |
|
|
Tones |
601 |
433 |
1500 |
614 |
|
|
User Tones |
– |
– |
256 |
– |
|
|
Drum Sets |
9 |
9 |
100 |
61 |
|
|
User Drum Sets |
– |
– |
128 |
– |
|
|
Favourite |
– |
– |
50 |
– |
|
|
Melody Intelligent |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Effects |
Reverb: 10, Chorus: 8 |
EQ: 6, Reverb: 11. Chorus: 12 |
Master EQ: 6, Reverb: 8, Chorus: 8, MFX: 84, Compressor: 6 |
Multi-FX: 47, Reverb: 8, Chorus: 8 |
|
|
Mic Effects |
– |
3-band EQ, Reverb: 11, Chorus: 12, Delay: 2, Other: 5 |
Reverb 6, Delay: 2 |
– |
|
|
Arranger |
Styles |
207 |
300 |
600 |
130 |
|
User Styles |
– |
30 |
Unlimited |
100 |
|
|
Tempo |
5-280 |
30-280 |
20-250 |
20-250 |
|
|
One Touch Setting |
4 settings/style |
4 settings/style |
4 programmable registrations per style |
2 setting per style |
|
|
Band Orchestrator |
– |
– |
– |
3 types: Drum |
|
|
Quick Memory |
4 memories |
8 banks x 4 memory |
Per style |
– |
|
|
Style Makeup Tools |
– |
– |
Instrument-oriented editing |
– |
|
|
Style Composer |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Controls |
START/STOP, INTRO/ENDING, FADE IN/OUT, FILL A, FILL B, CHORD, SYNC |
START/STOP, INTRO/ENDING, FADE IN/OUT, FILL 1/3, FILL 2/4, CHORD, SYNC |
Intro x 4, Main x 4, Fill x 4, Break, Ending x 4 |
start/stop, sync start, intro original, fill in, variation, ending, tap tempo |
|
|
Songs |
Internal Songs |
140 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Recorder |
1 song |
Standard MIDI, 10 songs |
16-bit linear, 44.1kHz WAV |
16-track |
|
|
Data Playback |
– |
Standard MIDI Files (Format 0, 1) Audio File (WAV: 48 kHz/44.1 kHz/22 kHz, 16-bit linear format, MP3: 44.1 kHz, 32 kbps–320 kbps, requires USB flash drive) |
|
– |
|
|
Part Mute |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Song Chord Extractor |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Lyrics Display |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
SMF Makeup Tools |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
SMF Mark & Jump |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Scale Tunings |
Scale Recall |
– |
12 user scale memories |
3 user scales and equal temperament |
N |
|
User Scale Buttons |
– |
Quarter-tone tuning Tuning range: -50–+50 cent |
Instant quarter-tone tuning of each note of a scale (C–B) / Adjustable tuning range (-64–+63 cent) for each button / Tunings can also be saved to User Program memories. |
N |
|
|
Audio Pads |
– |
12 pads for Audio playbacker via USB flash drive, MP3: 44.1 kHz, 32 kbps–320 kbps WAV: 48 kHz/44.1 kHz/22 kHz, 16-bit linear format |
6 pads for triggering phrases and tones and Stop Pad |
– |
|
|
Sampling |
Format |
– |
– |
16-bit linear, 44.1kHz, WAV |
– |
|
Wave Expansion Memory |
– |
– |
128MB |
– |
|
|
Number Samples |
– |
– |
512 |
– |
|
|
Multisample Function |
– |
– |
Y |
– |
|
|
Bluetooth |
– |
Audio: Bluetooth 5.0 |
– |
– |
|
|
Other Functions |
Metronome |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Transpose |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Dual |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
|
Split |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
|
Lesson |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
|
|
Speaker Auto Mute |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
|
Auto Off |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
|
Style/Song Finder |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Speakers |
Type |
Speakers: 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) x 2 |
Speakers: 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) x 2 Tweeters: 3 cm (1-1/4 inch) x 2 |
10cm x 2 |
10cm x 2 |
|
Power output |
2.5W x 2 |
10W x 2 |
12W x 2 |
7.5W x 2 |
|
|
Connectors |
Phones |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Aux In |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Output |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Mic In |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
|
Pedal |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
USB |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
|
DC IN |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Controllers |
Pitch Bend Wheel |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Assignable Lever |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Assignable Switch |
N |
N |
7 |
N |
|
|
Assignable Control Pedal |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Part Level Slider |
N |
N |
6 |
N |
|
|
Display |
Custom LCD |
Custom LCD |
Dual Graphic backlit LCD |
Large backlit custom LCD |
|
|
Power Supply |
AC or 6xAA |
AC |
AC |
AC |
|
|
Battery Life |
3 hours |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
Power Consumption |
10W |
30W |
1,500mA |
2,000mA |
|
|
Accessories |
Owner’s manual Leaflet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” AC adaptor Music rest |
Owner’s manual Leaflet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” AC adaptor Music rest |
Owner’s Manual Music Rest AC Adaptor Power Cord (for AC Adaptor) |
Music rest, Owner’s Manual, AC Adaptor (PSB-1U) |
|
|
Options |
Pedal switch: DP series |
Pedal switch: DP series, Carrying bag: SC-G61W3 |
Keyboard Stand (*1): KS-18Z Pedal Switch: DP series, FS-5U Expression Pedal: EV-5 USB Flash Memory (*2) |
Keyboard Stand: KS-12, Pedal Switch: DP Series, Foot Switch: BOSS FS-5U |
|
|
Dimensions |
Width |
947 mm 37-5/16 inches |
1,048 mm 41-17/64 inches |
1,045 mm 41-3/16 inches |
1,045 mm 41-3/16 inches |
|
Depth |
317 mm 12-1/2 inches |
391 mm 15-25/64 inches |
318 mm 12-9/16 inches |
320 mm 12-5/8 inches |
|
|
Height |
100 mm 3-15/16 inches |
141 mm 5-35/64 inches |
136 mm 5-3/8 inches |
128 mm 5-1/16 inches |
|
|
Weight |
3.9 kg 8 lbs 10 oz |
9.6 kg 21 lbs 3 oz |
7.9 kg 17 lbs. 7 oz. |
7.3 kg 16 lbs. 2 oz. |
|
Conclusion
These are not the most feature-laden arranger keyboards available by any means, but for the prices and given the target market, they pack a punch and come with a host of Roland’s renowned high quality sounds.
The new E-X10 and the existing E-09 are aimed more at the beginner musician, while the E-X50 and E-A7 can both deliver a decent amount of functions for more aspiring performers who need a decent automated backing band.
They can’t offer the highest levels of control and wealth of sounds and styles as something like the FANTOM or FA series, but then you don’t need anything like as deep pockets, or have to master a much steeper learning curve.
