Re: New keyboard from Roland???
18 Aug 2012, 21:23Interesting points. I have to agree that the software solution for live performance is vastly overstated, and I have that view because I went the full monty about 3 years ago and tried it and it seriously didn't work out. I was of the view as well that hardware had had it's day and workstations were an overpriced waste of time as a computer could over far better and more detailed sounds/instruments to work with. Back in 2005 I started introducing my laptop to gigs to take advantage of Logics EVB3, EVP88 and pianos live. which were much better that my other sounds. I still used my JP-8000 for synths. Anyway I eventually ended up on Mainstage and a MIDI controller for gigs and it never worked out very well. Mainstage worked fine and it was extremely flexible but in the live situation even a simplified setup of Laptop/MIDI controller was a hassle to setup, Mainstage is not fast for splits and layers and the latency while workable was noticable compared to hardware, but the real deal killer are the MIDI controllers. They are awful substandard things to play. Since going over to the Fantom G (and even using my Roland D-70) for a bit, live my musical enjoyment has come back and really realised how much I missed hardware. I was already familiar with the Roland system and liked the way it worked so I chose the G over the others. I won't go back to a laptop based solution for live any time soon. So I think the Fantom G has a long life ahead of it for me. but if Roland released a fifth Fantom with a Supernatural sound engine and the improvements we're all wanting, I would be very interested. The Fantom is just more "direct" creatively. I find myself just switching it on at home and only using it, depsite a full blown Logic Pro system sitting right next to it. So I have really changed my views.
In the studio the situation is less clear. I think Logic with an A-80 and fast audio interfaces would be quite good, maybe a bit of hardware to supplement, but in that area the G may get used a lot for it's sounds sources or not at all for some people... that's the area I think the new sound engine is needed. I've had my G for a year and am still finding new ways to use it in the studio and haven't settled on what sounds from it I really want to use. The drums and brass and some romplered sounds plus the sampler meaning I can load stuff in and have no latency offer a point of difference... It's also quite a good controller I find, and the RPS system has found a new use for me in being able to record sys-ex and then become a set of buttons for functions on my hardware. So I think a best of both worlds approach is what works for me.
The G has really filled a gap for me, but a new version of it would be interesting to me. 5 years is a long time in music technology and I would hope a new one would be very very powerful. Roland have developed a lot of great technology and the G frustrates because some things they have done well in other instruments didn't quite make it to this one intact. It must be very hard to make an all in one instrument that satisfies everyone, but the the G is frustratingly close for many of us. A new one following the same ideas, but with a new sound engine, improved sampler, proper file management, large onboard flash RAM and maintaing the build quality, pads, sliders, screen, MFX structures, even maybe a few more control pedal inputs and it would be a serious machine. This is all speculation of course and in the here and now, the G fits in with my world nicely.
In the studio the situation is less clear. I think Logic with an A-80 and fast audio interfaces would be quite good, maybe a bit of hardware to supplement, but in that area the G may get used a lot for it's sounds sources or not at all for some people... that's the area I think the new sound engine is needed. I've had my G for a year and am still finding new ways to use it in the studio and haven't settled on what sounds from it I really want to use. The drums and brass and some romplered sounds plus the sampler meaning I can load stuff in and have no latency offer a point of difference... It's also quite a good controller I find, and the RPS system has found a new use for me in being able to record sys-ex and then become a set of buttons for functions on my hardware. So I think a best of both worlds approach is what works for me.
The G has really filled a gap for me, but a new version of it would be interesting to me. 5 years is a long time in music technology and I would hope a new one would be very very powerful. Roland have developed a lot of great technology and the G frustrates because some things they have done well in other instruments didn't quite make it to this one intact. It must be very hard to make an all in one instrument that satisfies everyone, but the the G is frustratingly close for many of us. A new one following the same ideas, but with a new sound engine, improved sampler, proper file management, large onboard flash RAM and maintaing the build quality, pads, sliders, screen, MFX structures, even maybe a few more control pedal inputs and it would be a serious machine. This is all speculation of course and in the here and now, the G fits in with my world nicely.