My View of Fantom G7

[algaen]

Background: I currently have a Fantom X7 maxed out with 512MB and 4 SRX boards: 01-Drums, 04 Strings, 09-World, 11-Piano. I use this as my only keyboard for live use w/MIDI sequences, live play along, and I run vocals through the Fantom FX in real time. I make particular use of the Piano board and the Drum board. Styles of music: Early Rock, Jazz, Blues.

Fantom G7: I just picked mine up on the weekend with the ARX-01 board. My early comments:
•Most drum sounds are in mono unlike the great Stereo sounds on the SRX-01 board. This is a problem for me.
•Some of my favourite sounds from my SRX boards are missing. Eg SRX 11 piano. I like it a lot more than the G7 main piano. I have no recourse with the G7.
•Multisamples can’t be setup like in the Fantom X. This is a problem for me as I use some custom multisamples.
•Songs from Fantom X cannot be easily loaded. Requires a major conversion effort and lots of time.

ARX 01 board:
- The 24 note #’s assigned to tones seem to be locked. Is this true? BTW it appears to roughly follow the GM mapping although I realize it can be customized.
-The tones are all mono. Is this true?. I have to admit I really liked the huge variety of stereo samples from the SRX01 Drum board with up to 4 way v-sw. They sound way better to me.
-Is there a way to layer or combine a patch from the ARX01 with another standard patch with percussion keymapping so thay can used together on channel 10 in a song? I have many sequences that have all drum and perc sounds in a single channel 10 track. I don't feel like splitting all my drum tracks into 2 separate tracks just to accommodate this.

It would be great to hear what experiences others have had.
Thanks, Alan
Currently undecided on whether to keep the G7.

[Scotte]

Algaen, I'm new to this forum, and just bought a G6. You still there? wondering if you kept your G. I use an X in the same way as you. I sequence tunes and play over them live. I'm considering sending the G back as I have over 300 sequences and am finding it really frustrating getting them set up in the G.

[firstlovedan]

Yes you can assign the ARX 01 to midi channel 10, and also use the G's midi channel 10 for a G kit. This is very helpful, as I too use a lot of percussion and appreciate the "extra" midi channel.

[phil_]

its really a shame that threads like this are possible. roland needs to step their game up. very half ass approach to design and implementation for such a highly touted flagship model. whats sad is you havent owned it long enough to bump into the other ugly blemishes on this potentially great board.

[Artemiy]

Scotte, why are you bring up such an old topic? We have been though THREE operating system updates since that. Plus, the original topic was almost only speaking about the ARX-01 board and not the G itself. I think I should lock this one. If you have any particular questions, please start a new topic.