saving files

Yes you really should read part of the manual by now or start looking up your particular query in the index and at least read that before asking.

A project is like a folder.. Once you are working within that folder you can save what you want.

So you have a project on a usb stick that you are working off. Just make new song and save it and it saves within that project. I do not work off the internal projects at all.. I have 2 projects on my USB stick.. One for first half containing 12 songs and one for second half containing 16.

This is not the limit on songs per project but makes it easier for me to handle the songs from the pads.

In my defense, I have read parts of the manual. Sitting down and reading it beginning to end would seem like a waste of time. Matter of fact, I have looked all of my questions up in the manual or at least tried one time or another. Most of the manual is written for folks with SOME experience with sequencing and as I have mentioned many times, I have none. It is easier to ask and have it explained in layman's terms- push this button then that button. So when I say "I should read the manual", it is basically my attempt at sarastic humor or my way of covering up the fact that maybe I 'just don't get it'. Again, thank you for all of your wisom, and advice.

The Project concept (especially internal vs. USB) confused me for a bit too. Once I "got it" I really like the idea.

Now, I have separate projects for myself, my wife, and each of my children. That way we don't step on each others' toes.

Additionally, for myself, I keep separate projects by genre (ex. "dad prog", "dad jazz"). This allows me to "load up" lots of drum patterns, studio sets, and patches specific to the musical genre I'm working in.

As the previous poster advised I no longer use the Internal project at all.

The project concept is in my opinion one of the many problems with the G.

Why not a regular file-system with folders and files??

Almost everyone is familiar with that concept. Why do I have to figure out a new way to handle files? I've been handling files and folders on pc/mac for so many years.

It's plain stupid.

The project concept its a nice feature, not bad at all. What's not good, its the file management, that is mostly absent on FG. In the past even load samples are a problem, because we cant select what samples we want load. In the new 1.2 OS at least we can do this...

File copy, folder navigation, patches shared between projects, still a great gap in our definitive workstation.

lisandro: I totally agree with all you say. A decent file system is absolutely necessary. There is absolutely no doubt about that part. I strongly believe we'll finally have something like this on a future OS update.

But right here I feel the need to suggest to anybody that find their Fantom-G stupid to sell it and buy themselves something smarter...

Agree with Lisandro.

The problem is file management, particularly, sharing songs and related phrases and samples, EASILY between projects. But the "Projects" concept is a good feature and quite useful, depending on your needs. In addition to the benefits mentioned... using different projects for different bands, or keeping things safe if you share your keyboard with someone else, I was also thinking, that it would be a GREAT way of collaborating through the internet. You simply create a project for the song or songs you want to collaborate on, and you can email the project to anyone with a Fantom G, and they have all your settings and whatnot, and add their parts quite easily, and email it back. As opposed to trying to make things work between various DAWS where people have different plug-ins or settings or may not use the program in the same way you would. Seems like Roland's "Projects" would be an easy way to collaborate.

Craig Maxim

Southern Mischief ™
http://www.myspace.com/southernmischiefband

So back to actually saving files... If I have a SONG stored in a Proj INTERNALLY (because I didn't know better) am I able to copy it or move it to my EXISTING Proj on my EXTERNAL usb storage?

Are you sure you saved it internally? When you hit save, it saves to whatever Project was loaded already, whatever Project you were working in. Otherwise apparently YASE does this kind of thing.

But I'm wondering about another potential solution...

What about finding which open sample and phrase locations are available in the NEW project, and then re-saving the applicable phrases and samples to THOSE numbers or places, in the OLD project, and then it seems you could transfer the song and it's related phrases and samples to the NEW project, without interferring with anything on the new project, but it would then be necessary to rebuild the song, putting the new phrases to replace the old ones. So, maybe this is not that easy?

But it should be possible. You just have to delete an old phrase in the song, and replace it with the new one, or rather, the new name or number.

Craig Maxim

Southern Mischief ™
http://www.myspace.com/southernmischiefband

If I had to, I could just redo the songs. Its just a matter of writing down the patches and settings (I download MIDI files from the net and change the patches, add click etc. 80's cover band.. and I'm a bass player)

I think here's my big problem- for future songs- I downloaded the 'ready-made" songs to my PC, then import them and load them from the SMF list. I don't think you can import them to USB. If I have the project on USB open, then go to load another SMF, the SMF folder is empty. If I go to an internal project, then want to load an SMF, the list is there. Seems like there is no way around this one....

This is one of my last 2 major issues. If I can get this ironed out, I can tackle the other one!!!

sjl2725: are you sure you're placing the SMF files in the right folder in your USB stick?
Once you place the SMF files in the right folder (---> USB:\\SNG\SMF), they all are there.
If you want to add more SMF files to the project, you must save your work and RELOAD the project, because when you are working with a project, you have it loaded to temporary memory. You have to make the Fantom-G see the project again, so a reload is necessary.
The same procedure is needed when you do any other change to your project from the computer, like if you want to delete unwanted samples etc.

Sorry if I sound like an idiot here- do I load the SMF's onto the usb stick while its IN THE COMPUTER???
I had been trying to load it while its in the FG, via usb cable and I don't think thats an option. I guess I never considered loading the stick in the computer cuz my usb port isn't 2.0 and my stick is. Yes. I need a newer, faster PC.

I believe the project concept is fantastic, and it is INDISPENSABLE for one special feature:
- SAMPLES!

Samples, in order to work, need to be loaded in memory... therefore, as I see it, if you need to share Samples between songs, they belong into the same project.

If projects were thought differently you would need to either:
a. Load your samples manually (a pain in the but!)
b. Have the FG load them on-demand, which would mean that if you want to play a 200MB piano you would need to have the waiting time you have at the beginning right before you can play a patch.

I, for one, would rather wait on start up, rather than have the unit freeze for about 5 minutes in the mid of changing to a patch or song that uses a particular set of samples.

I think the Project idea is very well thought of. I do agree that some file management system is in order though, and would be nice for it to be consistent: be able to delete files, whole projects, etc.

Rafa.

sjl2725:

Sorry if I sound like an idiot here- do I load the SMF's onto the usb stick while its IN THE COMPUTER???
I had been trying to load it while its in the FG, via usb cable and I don't think thats an option. I guess I never considered loading the stick in the computer cuz my usb port isn't 2.0 and my stick is. Yes. I need a newer, faster PC.

No, you can do it via cable as well, you'll just have the computer see the Fantom-G's USB memory, not the internal one.
So, you go and press Menu > F3: USB Storage > F2: USB memory.
Then a new folder window will pop up in your computer. It will show all your USB stick's projects, so you will go into the corresponding project folder and put all the SMF files you want.
Remember to put them into this folder: \\SEQ\SMF.
Then reload the project and all your SMF files will be there for you.

Remember to save everything in your project before doing everything.