FANTOM S

[JackJens]

Wow......

I've tried this keyboard just a couple of hour ago.....

It's GREAT !!!!!

Great sounds !!! (Great patches in every category !!!!!)

The only think i didn't like so much is the INTERFACE !!!!

What do you think about this new Gear by ROLAND ????

[Drusillus]

I'm planning to replace my current "regular" Fantom (the 76 key version) in for a 61-key Fantom-S. The integrated sampling features are kick-ass, it'll be awesome to be able to trigger samples right from the pad bank on the synth... I've wanted to get into sampling for a long time but didn't want to mess with MIDI onstage. The skipback sampling feature is awesome too, never will a cool improv idea be lost again... This should rock!

Did you get to play with the D-Beam solo synth? I always found the D-Beam pretty useless, but they've added a dedicated Solo Synth button right under the D-Beam with turns it into a ranuchy Theremin kind of lead thing... instant Keith Emerson! It kicks ass :)

EDIT: By the way, be sure to visit the Mecca of Fantom-S sites, http://fantom-s.info - tons of info and downloadable files!

[JackJens]

Yeah....The D-Beam solo synth is funny.....
...but not so usefull !!!!!!

However that synth KICKS !!!!!

I'm waiting to Try MOTIF ES......

Than I'll choose with which one (FANTOM S or MOTIF ES) I'll
replace my Korg Triton LE61 !!!

[Over The Edge]

Here is a link to a Fantom - S discussion.
Hope this helps.


http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=008435




FL
www.franklucas.net

[Scrap]

I am weary of the current Fantom S series from Roland. There is a sort of controversey going on at Harmony Central, regarding it being buggy, crashing/freezing often, eating up absurd amounts of polyphony when it shouldn't, etc. Below is a link to that topic. After a public relations nightmare such as this, I personally would have a hard time deciding on whether or not to pick up a Roland keyboard.

http://www.harmony-central.com/Synth/Data/Roland/Fantom-S88-01.html

[Drusillus]

For some reason, there seem to be a lot of people trying to sabotage the Fantom-S 's name on the Harmony Central boards. There seem to be alot of immature, "1/10" reviews on that site seemingly just to try to drag the average rankings down. Not to mention there are just plain incorrect statements in some of those reviews. Don't get me wrong though, some of the 10/10 reviews are pretty useless too :)

Keyboard Magazine and Sound On Sound have both given it very good reviews, and I'd tend to take their opinion a bit more seriously.

The Fantom-S board is very positive, but they're not "fanbois", they have some honest discussions about the limitations. The polyphony is a popular one, but if you're only using it for performance and not for sequencing whole songs, I don't think it would be a big problem. Even if you ARE sequencing whole songs, you can resample sequencer tracks into audio tracks right on the synth, so you can get around that.

- Rick

[Tigerfolly]

For some reason, there seem to be a lot of people trying to sabotage the Fantom-S 's name on the Harmony Central boards. There seem to be alot of immature, "1/10" reviews on that site seemingly just to try to drag the average rankings down. Not to mention there are just plain incorrect statements in some of those reviews. Don't get me wrong though, some of the 10/10 reviews are pretty useless too :)

Keyboard Magazine and Sound On Sound have both given it very good reviews, and I'd tend to take their opinion a bit more seriously.

The Fantom-S board is very positive, but they're not "fanbois", they have some honest discussions about the limitations. The polyphony is a popular one, but if you're only using it for performance and not for sequencing whole songs, I don't think it would be a big problem. Even if you ARE sequencing whole songs, you can resample sequencer tracks into audio tracks right on the synth, so you can get around that.

- Rick

One of the big reasons for the anti-Roland sentiment is the feeling that they're not doing anything new, but continually rehashing old ideas and sounds with a couple pieces of recent technology. When I was still in sales, this was the number one thing we had to defend with Roland gear.

The Fantom's got some great features. I'm glad Roland took that D-beam idea and did something with it.. At my store, we were telling the Roland reps that's what they needed to do. Apparantly quite a few people felt the same way. If nothing else, the D-beam gives you an excellent visual effect to add to your live performances. Triggering it to bend the pitch an octave up like Jordan does with the ribbon controller would be a pretty cool thing to have.. "With a wave of my hand.."

Enough tangents! I think the Fantom, like most Roland gear, is subject to "Your Mileage May Vary". On the surface they don't seem like much, but once you really dig into them you can find some incredible features. How many of us here are fans of the JD-800? Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis -still- mainly work on XP-80s. The TR-808 and TR-909 sounds are -still- being used today! The VP-9000 is absolutely incredible for working with samples. I've seen hip hop producers who swear by their MPC2000s go slack jawed at the MC-909. The Fantom is no exception. I wish Roland would take a little bit of a larger leap into the future with their keyboards, but it's still an incredible board.

[Shreddy]

I would love to own that board.

Ed

[Over The Edge]

...and now you can!!!


Roland has just lowered the price of both Fantom S
models. Probably great news for those in the market for a killer board.


FL
www.franklucas.net

[synthguy]

I have to second what was said about Harmony Central. Half of those people are drug casualties. It's the curse of the internet these days, people are free to say anything, and a few go out of their way to do just that. If anyone trashes any piece, don't believe them unless it's universally agreed on, as in magazine reviews and stuff. There are people out there who say "Don't get a Motif, the interface is total crap and you won't be able to use it." It's just a little convoluted, but you wouldn't know it if some people who didn't like it pumped that line of bias into you during an afternoon at a music store.

[Tigerfolly]

I have to second what was said about Harmony Central. Half of those people are drug casualties. It's the curse of the internet these days, people are free to say anything, and a few go out of their way to do just that. If anyone trashes any piece, don't believe them unless it's universally agreed on, as in magazine reviews and stuff. There are people out there who say "Don't get a Motif, the interface is total crap and you won't be able to use it." It's just a little convoluted, but you wouldn't know it if some people who didn't like it pumped that line of bias into you during an afternoon at a music store.

You just have to take everything with a grain of salt. Most people seem to formulate an opinion before they're fully comfortable and knowledgable with a piece of equipment.

I personally have added two reviews to Harmony Central's website. I bought two nearly identical guitars from two different manufacturers, and at the time I felt that one was far superior to the other. Now, after having both guitars for two years, I almost never pick up the one I felt was superior.. I played the other one so much, that I'm so much more comfortable with it. But, my opinions about the two didn't change, I just grew more comfortable with the one I liked less.

I personally think the Motif interface is a pain in the ass, mainly because of the small LCD screen, but I could see how people would think it's total crap.. but regardless, even IF the Motif interface was universally considered total crap, it might just be a perfect interface to you.. and that truly is what matters.

But those reviews are helpful to see what other people have difficulty with, so when you go to a music store to check out the piece for yourself, you can see if it's also difficult for you.

As a former salesman, the most frustrating thing in the world to me is when someone comes in to look at a piece of gear completely unprepared. They don't know what they want, they don't know what they like, and you have to try and read their mind to find out what it is that they're looking for. And you feel like you're wasting your time, because you have to show them every single feature, of every single keyboard or module that you have until they figure out what it is that they're truly looking for. On the flipside, when a person who has obviously done his research comes in and asks you questions about a board, it's absolutely wonderful for you, because you can narrow things down and show them what -they- want, not what you think they want.

So by all means, use Harmony Central as a source of information, but take everything that you read with a BIG grain of salt.. just as you would a magazine article that praises a product as the best thing since sliced bread. Sometimes those product reviews are merely paid advertisements for products, and ONLY tell you the good things.

[Over The Edge]

The Fantom S is a great sounding board.
I loved the piano sounds and the keyboard action.
I thought the interfact was really nice and easy to navigate,
and the drum sounds were really punchy.



FL
www.franklucas.net

[Over The Edge]

I have the October issue of Sound on Sound magazine and
the featured review is the Fantom 88S.
Seems very favorable.



FL
www.franklucas.net