Most keyboardists that play live are buried behind their keyboards, off somewhere in the back, anchored to their instrument, but the day of the keytar is back as Roland brings the new AX-Synth to Winter NAMM 2009. This remote, shoulder-worn keyboard isn't just a controller, like previous incarnations of Roland keytars, it's packed with sounds selected for their takings to soloing from all of Roland's latest models.

The 49-key, velocity sensitive board is capable of producing 128 voices with eight spacial tones, four of them SuperNATURAL. You can control your sound via several methods including D-Beam, Ribbon Touch, Modulation Bar, Volume Knob, Aftertouch / C1 Knob, Portamento on and off, hold button on and off and Bender Mode, which functions between Normal and Catch+Last operation. You also have two 1.4" phone outs, a stereo 1/4" headphone out, a foot pedal output, USB and MIDI In / Out connector.

Fast Features:

• Built-in sound engine with voices from Roland’s latest synthesizers
• Ribbon controller, D Beam, modulation bar, knobs, and easy-to-see display for stage
• USB MIDI for easy connection to PC
• Dedicated V-LINK button for video/visual control
• Innovative bender mode for expressive solos
• Long battery operation (approx. six hours)