Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

9 Jun 2009, 23:18

I wanted to buy the Fantom G but I got concerned when I saw
that people don't seem to have much praise for the Fantom G's
acoustic sounds-
People really praise the Motif's acoustic sounds a lot, so am I making a mistake if I buy the Fantom G?
I still think I want very much to buy the Fantom G, so I hope people can calm me down that I don't really have anything to worry about...

Thanks!

ysyehoshua@gmail.com

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

10 Jun 2009, 02:48

Don't make the mistake of listening to what others say. Let your own ears decide. Visit your local store and try them out for an hour or so.

Good luck!

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

10 Jun 2009, 04:30

I totally agree with JG. The Motif XS may have some very good presets, but I tend to not judge any instruments only from its presets. The Fantom-G doesn't have so good acoustic sounds, but this is only due to bad patch programming. Once you hit the Edit button and give the instrument some creative time, you will come up with some very useful sounds.

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

10 Jun 2009, 06:40

Yeah there are over 200 user patches available for free that prove how good the fantom G can sound. Plus you can import samples so overall its a versitile instrument, tho the motif also has advantages the arps in particular are much better on motif.
You need to go to the music shop a few times and compare and see how you feel, but don't rush the discision is a lot of money either way....

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

10 Jun 2009, 10:52

The whole concept of synth workstations is having useful sounds.
You can have this by having ready-made ROM-based sounds, AND you can do this by using the multisamples of your liking. The Motif XS and Fantom-G offer both, with the Motif XS being slightly better in the first aspect.

I don't have any problem using my favorite sample libraries with the Fantom-G. I prefer the its GUI better than the Motif XS's and the overall power that the Fantom-G posseses.

This is not to say the the Fantom-G is a perfect machine, though. We've pointed out many times what needs to be corrected and added, so we all know what the Fantom-G can really be, as long as Roland people want to make it really big.

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

10 Jun 2009, 13:12

not sure vs motif, but my G8 has some dynamic acoustic
sounds that i use frequently... piano, alto sax (arx03), muted
trumpet, brass section, acoustic guitar.

you can get more out of the G if you are willing to sit down
and edit some of the presets to make it your own.

not acoustic, but some of the electric guitars i have in there
are quite nice, along with ep's, organs are real nice from the
getgo. nice selection of basses and drums, percussion too.
all very dynamic.

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

10 Jun 2009, 13:59

well what everyone has said is true .u have to go and check it out yourself .i have big three workstations its all up to u which one fits your music .

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

10 Jun 2009, 16:22

I like both. Out of the box, Yamaha is all ready to go on most of their presets. I prefer the G cause I like tweaking things and mostly its easy to work with and a lot of tracks to even play with. I am looking forward to add on a motif either module or full key next year.
I say get the FG and wait till next year on whats next for motif. Both will do. If your picking up the FG, I totally recommend the ARX too. all sounds awesome at least to my taste anyways. But do go in to your local music store and check em out yourself. Make sure to play with the ARX sounds too if they have it installed.

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

14 Jun 2009, 03:46

I have the Motif XS. Since there is a dedicated 3 band EQ for each channel, and then 2 effects processor for up to 8 parts, Yamaha has used the effects processors more effectively. In Roland presets loose the IFX to compensate for EQ.... This is one reason most of the presets on Motif XS sound better, plus there is a wow factor created by four arps.

In addition to this, MOTIF's patch is based on 8 elements... so there is more velocity switching....

But, as others have mentioned, sounds are subject and you must check and compare both yourself.

Sampling is easier on Fantom, so you could easily get any sound that you think needs imporvement. Plus you can get this TweakBook for fantom..

--------------------
Fantom-G6, Motif XS6, Korg M3-m, Korg Z1, Roland MC808 and MC909.

live a musical life

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

14 Jun 2009, 05:08

shakil:

Since there is a dedicated 3 band EQ for each channel, and then 2 effects processor for up to 8 parts, Yamaha has used the effects processors more effectively. In Roland presets loose the IFX to compensate for EQ....

I prefer to have my effects intact when I dial ptches into Live sets and Studio sets. I could use some more flexibility for the FX system though, especially in Studio mode.

shakil:

In addition to this, MOTIF's patch is based on 8 elements... so there is more velocity switching....

On the contrary, the Fantom-G delivers 8-part or 16-part layers/splits in Live and Studio mode respectively. That's 32 and 64 elements respectively. The Motif only delivers the 4-part master mode for live playing.

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

14 Jun 2009, 10:34

FG

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

14 Jun 2009, 11:23

>>>Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

there is no comparison.

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

14 Jun 2009, 15:36

cyclops..

Motif XS now has 8 zone master mode. It's different than having 8 part layers....

In pattern and song mode, you get 16 part layer/split with each part upto 8 elements, so that's 16x8 .. 128 elements...

Motif's master mode is not equal to Live play mode in Fantom G.

The master mode allows you to control MOTIF from a zone and external boards from other zones... so you could have split/layer right in MOTIF XS, unlike Fantom where the layer/splits zones only apply to internal synth parts.

--------------------
Fantom-G6, Motif XS6, Korg M3-m, Korg Z1, Roland MC808 and MC909.

live a musical life

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

14 Jun 2009, 16:52

shakil:

...unlike Fantom where the layer/splits zones only apply to internal synth parts.

Wrong again. Just like Studio mode, Live mode offers 16 external parts along with the 8 internal parts (and additional ARX parts). The difference in Studio mode is that you have 16 internal parts instead of 8 (the external and ARX parts are the same as in Live mode), plus the different main screen, minus the seamless switching found in Live and Single modes.

If things like save tempo and better Arp get their way to the Fantom-G via an upcoming update, this will take the FG miles ahead from the competition as far as live playing is concerned, something that is truth now, but it is not that obvious.

Re: Acoustic Sounds, Compared to Motif how is Fantom G's

14 Jun 2009, 20:49

cyclops....

As I said before, don't compare Live mode on Fantom to Master mode on Motif XS. They are different things.

There is no 'live' mode on Motif.... Live mode on Fantom is unique.

Motif master mode lets you save settings for the whole system. In one master program you could have zone 1 defined as first three octaves for motif internal 16 part pattern mode, and other zones playing something on external modules... the next master program could have zone 1 set to select a 4 part performance on internal motif, and something else on external midi.... It's just different....

I agree that Fantom's mixer settings are really powerful and it's much easier to deal with than motif xs.

--------------------
Fantom-G6, Motif XS6, Korg M3-m, Korg Z1, Roland MC808 and MC909.

live a musical life