The Next Fantom (Roland) Workstation?

I base the following on the consensus of opinion I've gotten from Fantom owners on this forum who've graciously responded to my many queries regarding the use of the Fantom X as an all-in-one recording device.

As it is, a guitar-playing non-keyboard-enthusiast such as myself is almost willing to shell out thousands of precious music-stuff dollars for a Fantom to avoid having to buy a digital recorder, drum machine, keyboard and bass seperately and torture them into working together, and with a PC.

The "almost" could be eliminted from that sentence by the following:

Hard drive recording, or at a minimum, USB2.0 of the type (I forget the term) that allows direct connection of external devices like burners and portable hard-drives. That, and the implementation of a vastly improved file system would make it my dream machine.

I'm no marketing genius, (or any kind of genius) but I'd imagine Roland would be pretty much printing their own cash if they could capture the market of guys like me, and maintain the Fantom's popularity with true keyboardists. They could do that by unshackling A.T.E from the constraints placed on it by the speed and file organization issues I've heard so much about, thus making the Fantom a true, practical all-in-one workstation. I know I'd be camping outside Guitar Center on the eve of the release date.

That's just my very uneducated opinion though. I could be wrong.

I wish i could connect my laptop to Fantom X and using a software could get the control of FantomX on my laptop.

It is really hard and discouraging for me to do everything on fantom X too complicated!

But maybe still this can be done and im not aware of it.

Any info will be gratly appreiciated! i do love this forum. you guys are great!

firewire or rbus would be nice. I'd like more outputs for live performance.

chikitin

Don't tell me you never installed the "Editor" you have on the CD bundleded with your Fantom...


o - ...just could not afford the 8
(
\_/
hear what I've done with the 7

I actually hate using the Software Editor. Found editing onboard to be faster and the interface very intuitive. I always find it funny when people compare the FX to the Motif and Triton and say the FX is harder to use, when I find it harder to wrap my head around the Triton or Motif.

I agree with a previous poster. The next workstation would have to be significantly different for me to justify upgrading. I love my X8, and I can think of very little wrong with it. Even when I go to a Dealer, I always end up sitting down at a Fantom X and playing (Even though I own one at home.) When you're at a store and you play the machine you already own instead of all the new boards, thats how I know I made the right choice when purchasing a workstation.

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Roland Fantom X8
Yamaha EX-5
Roland JP-8000
Korg M1
Nord Lead 3

Amen, Eric.



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Roland Fantom X7, Alesis Fusion 6HD, Novation X/A-Station 25, Alesis Micron

Actually to really sum it up I would like to see Roland jump back into the Controller Market. With a layout similar to the V-Synth, but with the 16 drum pads, and the option of 76 or 88 keys. Unfortunately it seems they gave up on doing Professional Controllers years ago.

Too bad the Novation Remote SL doesn't come in 76 or 88 key models.

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Roland Fantom X8
Yamaha EX-5
Roland JP-8000
Korg M1
Nord Lead 3

I want one that I can plug DIRECTLY INTO MY BRAIN.... no buttons no menus, just a chip in my head!!!!!

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A couple'o'quarts'o'beer makes it so the intonation does not offend yer ear!

and that "chip in your head" would need to run off of Does Beers! instead of electricity

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When most people go to work they work. When musicians go to work they play. Which do you prefer?

Realisticaly:
the next workstation would need to the following
Lets assumed they fixed the file system (NOT!)

finaly DROPED the dbeam
dedicated analogue modeling synth capabilities
512 poly
64 track midi
16 track audio
Independant channel EQ
4 independant sequencers (sync and non sycing modes)
Real External usb connectivity
Internal 40GB HDD
pc slot at the front.
independant or at least 8 routable mfx
realtime Arp editor
realtime rhytm editor
16 assignable controls
angle adjustalble screen
2 sets of pads (one set on each side)
8 routable outs

I think that abouts covers it...

the problem is
this is realy just more of what you already have
would it be enough to drop the current one and get this one or would we need something realy extra in there?


X-Bugs.org
(Become part of the solution)

Results not Excuses




QuinnX universal tranlator below:-
(lets not be misunderstood)

!!!!!! Emphasis not anger
!!?? Confusion or Stupidity
ABC are you getting the point
&*$% Anger (but rarely seen)


Fantom-X6 with Audio Track Expansion (OS 2.0)
Windows 2000/XP
Intel P4 2.4g
512/1Gb

How about a VGA output and mouse/keyboard input so you can do true software style sequencing? This would be the same concept as the VS2480 and a few of the other recording workstations. I love my VS2480!

next Fantom X already was released this year!

IT'S JUNO-G !!!!!!!!!!

Your already halfway there with the FX Editor
its a pitty it dont have the sequencer.
now THAT would be something..


X-Bugs.org
(Become part of the solution)

Results not Excuses




QuinnX universal tranlator below:-
(lets not be misunderstood)

!!!!!! Emphasis not anger
!!?? Confusion or Stupidity
ABC are you getting the point
&*$% Anger (but rarely seen)


Fantom-X6 with Audio Track Expansion (OS 2.0)
Windows 2000/XP
Intel P4 2.4g
512/1Gb

More audio outs!!!! 4 is LAME. This issue has made me go out and by a Fantom XR though - so maybe Roland are evil geniuses .

Also the file system and data transfer - computer to keyboard to computer - I have found to be strange, weak, and not user friendly at all. I'm still kinda a noob though, but as of right now thats my opinion.

All in all, Fantom still rocks though. If compare all the workstations for "out of the box" BANG, Roland is still superior to anything - other than maybe the Oasys - which costs about as much as a frickin car!!!

Ma 2 cents.

Guys, if you want THAT much, the lowest-cost solution is:

Apple MacBook ~$1500
MIDI keyboard ~$400
Logic Pro 7 ~$1000

This gives you several time more than most of you listed, for under $3k. And this still is 3 times cheaper than OASYS.

As for me, a more simple but all-in-one solution like the current Fantoms is really great. They will never compete with software for what *you* want, but for me a less capable but a *dedicated* solution is really great.