New Roland Synthesizer Workstation Coming at Namm 2014

piaknowguy wrote:

Something I did find interesting - The Roland Specs state that the Master Comp effect can be alternately used as an insert effect! (accessing from a selection of 78 effects) :-)

Hummm... missed that, but it is surely interesting...

Effects Multi-Effects: 16 systems, 68 types (Vocoder can be used only on part 1.)
Part EQ: 16 systems
Drum Part COMP+EQ: 6 systems
Chorus: 3 types
Reverb: 6 types
Master Compressor (This can be changed to Insert FX (78 types).)
Master EQ
Total Effects (TFX): 29 types
Mic Input Reverb: 8 types

Connectors Headphones Jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
MAIN Output Jacks (L/MONO, R): 1/4-inch TRS phone type
Sub Output Jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type Now we know that the SUB-OUT is STEREO, awesome!!!
AUDIO INPUT Jacks
LINE: Stereo miniature phone type
GUITAR/MIC: 1/4-inch phone type
FOOT PEDAL Jacks (CTRL 1, CTRL 2, HOLD)
MIDI Connectors (IN, OUT)
USB FOR UPDATE Port
USB COMPUTER Port (USB Hi-Speed AUDIO/MIDI)
(Use a USB cable and a computer with a USB port that support USB 2.0 Hi-Speed.)
DC IN Jack

This is definitely getting better ;-)

shame that usb is still only 2 parts stereo
would be nice tware multi channel
and as i guessed quite a while back, roland dint have much room to manauver for bringing out a workstation and i did predict it would be some what cutdown version of what was with some kind of trick.
Aka.. sp404 sampler
so whats next.??
I will make another prediction

late 2017
integra/FAX now with all srx and sample based patches :)

how about a different skin for the FA rather than glassy
(below) :)

I'm sure Roland will release their flagship workstation synth after this, either at next Namm or Namm 2016, this is not enough to compete against Yamaha or Korg flagships.

These are great $1000 dollar synths, but give me the $2,300 workstation synth to spend my money on.

It goes like this for me personally, I got this $2300 to spend on a workstation. I thought Roland would have released their flagship, and I was ready to buy it. Now, since they didn't, I'm now forced to seriously consider Yamaha or Korg for their very next flagship workstation to debut. I wanted to support Roland, but if Yamaha come out with a successor to the Motif, then Roland may have lost my $2300. The new synth is great but I need a flagship right now.

Roland's balance sheets need to get out of the red, and I think they have made a wise choice to focus on 'affordable' instruments, i.e., instruments in the low- and mid-range.

The new FA series is a worstation with the affordability factor in mind, as well as making sure it does not end up cannibalizing existing Roland products such as the Integra module.
As such it is limited, but even within the limitations there's still a lot of possibilities for creative expression, and it looks like a really fine workstation, easy to operate, thus allowing for unhindered musical interaction.

On other hand, the MOXF ALSO has a lot to offer, especially when you consider that Flash memory can be added so that you can use your own samples and let them be processed by the Motif synth engine.
Then there's the Krome with its beautiful detailed pianos, so there's a lot to choose from in the midrange, and each workstation has its own unique possibilities/limitations as well as its own characteristic sound.

I just hope that Roland will not forget about its presence in the high end.
They have the technology and skill to make it happen, and I for one would have loved to see the integration of the V-synth with the Integra in a workstation format.
If they would succeed in producing a flagship at a price which is 1000 Euros below a KRONOS they'd have a very strong flagship workstation priced right in the current gap between the typical mid- and high end range prices.

Quinnx. wrote:

...so whats next.??
I will make another prediction

late 2017
integra/FAX now with all srx and sample based patches :)

how about a different skin for the FA rather than glassy
(below) :)

Different skin? Humm seems nice, like the colorful Kromes and the fancy Kronos?
;-)

Roland has a history of producing first generation synthesizers before the flagship. Just like with the original Fantom, to the Fantom S, to the X then to the G model. So I look at this as the basic model, probably in 2 years we'll get the full blown upgrade, then onto the Final flagship somewhere down the line. But the longer they take the more market share they lose out on to their competitors who are eating up all the high end dollars.

I suggest everyone who wants a new synth, to buy this one, support Roland it's a great synth and we need them to stay in the high end flagship business because they have some brilliant synth ideas they could release in their next flagship.

Roland are very cautious with investments in the high-end segment because they have been in the loss zone for years and still assess the world economy critically regarding the market for expensive synths. So it really depends on the global market development and on Roland itself whether they will return to the high-end instruments. I hope the FA will be a success in order to make it more likely.

specialplant wrote:

Roland are very cautious with investments in the high-end segment because they have been in the loss zone for years and still assess the world economy critically regarding the market for expensive synths. So it really depends on the global market development and on Roland itself whether they will return to the high-end instruments. I hope the FA will be a success in order to make it more likely.

Fully agree with your statement specialplant.
Roland has the technology before anything they need to SELL equipment and make money in order to continue in the frontline, and only after consolidating they could be in a position to take higher flights.
This is my opinion on what Roland is maybe doing...but of course only their executives know for sure what their business plans are.

With FA series, all you need is a laptop with a few decent plugins. You'd have more power than a workstation could provide plus flexibility over your "engines" and built in battery backup! For about the same money as a flagship-whatever yet is still light weight. This is the future, Roland sees it too.

kday wrote:

Roland has a history of producing first generation synthesizers before the flagship. Just like with the original Fantom, to the Fantom S, to the X then to the G model. So I look at this as the basic model, probably in 2 years we'll get the full blown upgrade, then onto the Final flagship somewhere down the line. But the longer they take the more market share they lose out on to their competitors who are eating up all the high end dollars.

I suggest everyone who wants a new synth, to buy this one, support Roland it's a great synth and we need them to stay in the high end flagship business because they have some brilliant synth ideas they could release in their next flagship.

What u talking about Kday? You named all flagship synths!

Eubanks22 wrote:

What u talking about Kday? You named all flagship synths!

I meant entry level flagships before the final perfected version of the same synthesizer , meaning we may expect to see the FA evolutionize to a final perfected major flagship synth somewhere down the line. Unless they plan to have a new Fantom flagship that will replace the G model.

kday wrote:

Roland has a history of producing first generation synthesizers before the flagship. Just like with the original Fantom, to the Fantom S, to the X then to the G model. So I look at this as the basic model, probably in 2 years we'll get the full blown upgrade, then onto the Final flagship somewhere down the line. But the longer they take the more market share they lose out on to their competitors who are eating up all the high end dollars.

I suggest everyone who wants a new synth, to buy this one, support Roland it's a great synth and we need them to stay in the high end flagship business because they have some brilliant synth ideas they could release in their next flagship.

Not really the same thing. Roland thought the Fantom-76 was it's flagship, but soon learned they missed the boat. The repsonded with the Fantom-S, & learned they still came up short. The Fantom-X they finally caught up, but it was time to evolve again. Roland finally released a workstation designed for the times with the Fantom-G.

I'd have to see how this instrument integrates with a DAW before I can say if the FA improves on the FantomG's weaknesses. But with a 16 track sequencer, no audio tracks, & no multisampling I think I'll be safe in saying..... no.

This doesn't seem, feel, or look like a Roland flagship. It may be a new approach to the product life cycle though. Roland would come out with their flagship, then introduce lesser, lite versions..... the Fantom Xa, the Juno-G, & there was another one I can't think of. This approach only serves to irritate the high end user as he's stuck with a synth for 5-6 years while the bedroom warrior gets a new instrument every couple of years.

Maybe Roland is releasing their entry level unit first. Some people are going to "upgrade" from their G, or their X & buy this thing (I might, I don't need 24 audio tracks, 128 midi tracks, or multisampling; my main concern is how it interfaces with my DAW). Then when Roland introduces it's next tier product, many of those same users are going to "upgrade" again. then when they finally release their flagship, some of those same users are going to "upgrade" yet again.

So we'll see.

thunderkyss wrote:

This doesn't seem, feel, or look like a Roland flagship. It may be a new approach to the product life cycle though. Roland would come out with their flagship, then introduce lesser, lite versions..... the Fantom Xa, the Juno-G, & there was another one I can't think of. This approach only serves to irritate the high end user as he's stuck with a synth for 5-6 years while the bedroom warrior gets a new instrument every couple of years.

This could be seen as a positive, Roland have to continue supporting the older products In that class until a new one is released, too many companies now drop support of their old products once the new one comes out. If it wasn't like this then you would be forced to upgrade far more often, costing customers more money.

before I can say if the FA improves on the FantomG's weaknesses.

The FA appears to be more of a performance synth than a workstation.
and no i dont see it as a G replacement, rather a cheap complementary addon.

Quinnx. wrote:

before I can say if the FA improves on the FantomG's weaknesses.

The FA appears to be more of a performance synth than a workstation.
and no i dont see it as a G replacement, rather a cheap complementary addon.

Sure is not a G replacement, but a performance workstation for the masses price and ease of use wise