G for a gig and some questions

[CV]

Hi everyone!

I'm about to become an owner of a Fantom G6, never had a synth before. Currently I'm using a laptop with a Novation SL 61 midi controller and a maudio sound card and a Yamaha stage piano. I'm satisfied with the piano sounds from my stage piano but I want to add some hardware for my synths. I've been reading some of the posts on the forum for the last 2-3 weeks to make up my mind and watched every available video on the net about Fantom G and I've tried the instrument in a store to check it out my self.

It's obvious to me that the G excels in some areas in comparison with the alternative choices (Motif, M3) and I'm also aware of some of the disadvantages. I really liked the sounds and the friendly interface but since I don't own the instrument and never having test it in a gig I can't be sure about the problems which may appear afterwards. My questions might sound naive but as I said never owned a synth of any kind before.

So,

1) When I split the keyboard (a Live Mode function?) can I adjust the octave or transpose each one of the instruments or are they bound to a certain octave and pitch? For example: a piano for the right hand and a pad to the left and I want the pad to sound an octave or 2 higher.

2) When I have finished editing my instruments (filters, ADSR, FX etc) can I save the presets and recall them at any time or the adjustments will be lost after changing to another sound?

3) The main reason I need the Fantom is to use it on stage and I need to handle 2 or 3 sounds either split or simultaneous in many songs, how easy is it to change between these programs?

4) When I play with my band I often use arpeggiators and the drummer takes the tempo from a metronome. So, if I choose an arpeggiator can I also save the tempo?

5)Is it easy to use the Fantom to playback loops live from its sequencer or is it time consuming?

Thanks and sorry for the long text.

[daztickle]

I have a Fantom G, and use it live with a Kurzweil PC2X, I previously had aFantom X.

Both the x and the G are the best keyboards i have used live, ( and ive used a few!!). Can do all the things youve asked, no certain about saving tempos for apregiator though.

The Live Modes and Favorites modes are brilliant for live playing.

In favourites mode you can have all the sound you are going to use displayed attached to the soft buttins at the bottom of the screen and call them up seamlessely and without the sound gltiching when you change patches. you can even create a text file for the screen and have the chords for the songs shown, or lyrics for song.

[fismoll7]

1) possible and easy to handle
2) possible and easy to handle - you just have to write your patch
3) It´s easy switching between the programms. The favorite mode is perfect for this. Just one click and you have the new sound (without stopping the last one!)
=> The only thing that´s not good at the moment is the fact, that you have to change the tempo manually and activate manually a dedicated part of your live set to controle it with the beam or switch-buttons.

4) not possible at the moment. We hope, this will be implemented in the next update.

5) Don´t know because I don´t use the sequenzer.

[kenchan]

i donno about you guys, but if you're going to be playing live often and going run only one keyboard and split it, dont
you want minimum 76 keys? (ie: G7)... unless you're a DJ or something...

[fismoll7]

That´s exactly the reason why I bought the G7.
It suits very fine to the 88 weighted Keys of my Kawai MP8

[Wilhelm]

CV -> 4) When I play with my band I often use arpeggiators and the drummer takes the tempo from a metronome. So, if I choose an arpeggiator can I also save the tempo?

I work around this problem saving the live set as "empty" song (without any recordings). You can call those from the favorite menu very quick - and you can save controller changes and tempo etc.

[CV]

Thanks a lot everyone! You've been very helpful!

kenchan: A G7 seems more suitable indeed.

Wilhelm : Very interesting! I hope by the end of next week I will have my Fantom G and once I get familiarized with the instrument I'll give it a try!

[FSP]

Hi,
I am planning to buy a Fantom X or G
It seems very handy having a text attached to the favorite sounds you use for live playing.
Still I can’t understand well, is it possible to have a different text saved with every sound/ or “step” as it is called in the manual/ on the Favorite Menu or it can be only one text for the entire bank of 16 steps.
Since the number of songs I will play with it is more than 120. I have to be able to recall any of these at any time during a live performance. It is hard to remember all of them and the list is getting bigger. So having a big screen that will show me my notes from the rehearsals will ease my life a lot and get rid of that annoying paper notebook.
So please share if you know something about this situation
Regards

[jessej]

Please someone record a video tutorial on how to use the favorite mode + text for to be used live. Also how you switch sounds, either manually with hands or with foot pedals.

I haven't looked at this at all, since I have only done home studio pre-productions and studio recordings, but 'soon' it will be time for live and a bit of touring me thinks..