The SAXiest expansion of the world

[fismoll7]

Is it possible to marry an expansion card?
ARX 03 is the SAXiest card in the world
Never had so much fun playing a sound on a workstation.
WOW!

[Jimknopf]

Then we are at least two who enjoy the card.
Isn't it cool how easy it is to "phrase" brass sounds with that card?

[V-CeeOh]

You guys are making me more and more curious.
ARX-03 is arriving at the store and I surely will take a good listen a it

[Nik83]

I can't wait to hear some posted soundfiles! I know a lot of folks were bummed that ARX-03 was brass, but that's actually the board I was hoping for most. I play jazz-influenced stuff and am hoping that it can play some really convincing, natural-sounding sax and flute. =)

[Jimknopf]

It's the first time I see ARX making sense. It does not work wonders and is not perfect, but it does a good job and is very, very useful.

Most of the articulations and tweaking paramters simply work in practical use, and the basic sound is much more flexible in everyday play from warm/breathy to bright/funky, than pure sampled brass can ever be.

@Nik: no flute
Instruments on board are
- trumpet
- mute trumpet
- flugelhorn
- trombone
- baritone sax
- tenor sax
- alto sax
- soprano sax

With these you build sets from solo up to 6 "players", and in each instrument slot you use, you choose one of the instruments to your liking.

[Diametro]

That's great to hear ...

................................

So now all Roland has to do is release about another 20-30 ARX cards to cover what istruments are left ... and a Fantom model with about 10 slots for the $4,000 in cards it can hold ...

I guess it's all about picking and choosing ...

[Jimknopf]

Yes, Diametro, we all know how much you are missing the G each day. At least you stay close to it by posting here...

And now, after all this half-baked G use by hasty G buyers, still calling it better than any previous X use, now even fun with an ARX board??? Where shall all this end?

At least we both hope it might end in a twothirdsbaked G OS...

[Diametro]

[keysme]

Can I solicit this idea to Roland and company? Since ARX is basically a dedicated synth in a 'box' would it be too difficult for Roland to "update" the ARX cards with "additional" patches through an OS update procedure? Take ARX-03 for example. There are only "50" patches total on it as it now stands. And there are, in my opinion, certain "essential" Brass instruments conspicuously absent from it i.e. Tuba, French Horns, etc. Would Roland consider adding these "essential" Brass instruments to the new ARX-03 card through an OS update? I mean if Korg can add additional Combi's to the M3 through an OS update what precludes Roland from doing the same thing with the Fantom G, and in this particular case, with the ARX cards?

Clavia is also well known for providing additional sample patches for the Electro, Stage, etc. And they do it all for "free" (as well as Korg too with the M3) and they are also very willing and diligent in this outreach to support their keyboard products with the provision of these additional updates to their customers.

$500.00 (including = tax) for an ARX card is one fifth the price I paid in total for my entire Fantom G7 keyboard, yet Roland gives us only "50" patches for ARX-03 and also leaves out what I consider "essential" Brass instruments to boot!?!?

I realize with the world global economy in a downturn that some manufacturers may resort to "skimping" to make ends meet and to remain profitable, but in so doing they don't realize (apparently) that they are being penny wise yet pound foolish by neglecting (skimping) on the very products they try to push off on consumers? For in the end, the results will no doubt speak for themselves with the loss of sales because people start to realize that the "price/performance" ratio just doesn't justify the 'exorbitant' cost of the accessory product itself...

The ARX-03 has some very good sounds, no doubt, but in the meantime "where's the beef" so to speak? 50 patches 'total' (besides missing of what I consider 'essential' Brass instruments e.g. Tuba(s), French Horns, etc.) for $500.00?? My $200 SRX-07 card, on the other hand, has a total of "475" patches; all of which are fully customizable by being fully editable too by the way.

Am I complaining?? Yes, I guess you could call it that. Now, before I get too 'one sided' though I also realize that the ARX cards have their own DSP processor(s) and are dedicated synths, and the patches are customizable in fresh new ways too. So one would expect the ARX cards to cost somewhat more than their SRX siblings. I am just trying to point out some "discrepancies" that I perceive too be lacking in ARX and that can hopefully be corrected through an OS update i.e. adding additional patches (plus other enhancements too perhaps??) to existing ARX cards, thus benefiting not only Fantom G customers as a whole, but also Roland as well by providing excellent customer support "in the eyes of the onlooking world", and in which ultimately yields untold dividends "now" and into the "future" by gaining and/or retaining valuable customer loyalty in your product Brand.

I know it's probably just wishful thinking but if nothing gets asked nothing usually ever gets done. So I'm asking.. Now the ball is in Roland's court and we'll have to wait and see if they want to 'volley' it.

PS: I would think there is plenty of "headroom" on each ARX card to "add" to the existing presets if need be, no?? What a great opportunity for Roland to extend the 'usefulness' of ARX technology in my opinion. By being able to supplement existing ARX cards with additional "goodies" Roland would undoubtedly create much more excitement for ARX card purchases. It's a win win situation any way you look at it in my opinion.

[Diametro]

Wait ... These babies are $500 now ... ???

If so, that's getting fairly expensive, even if it were something really hot and exciting like ARX-4 Sizzling Orchestra ...

[Anton]

$500 ?! There must be something really very special about to come. I'll never spend that much for an expansion card.

[Jimknopf]

I completely agree that the ARX card are definitely too expensive. Roland will not be able to sell too many of them at that margin.

Aside from that I don't regret having bought ARX-03. Even if it is not very special it at least it is special.

[jessej]

I'm not looking for a brass solution, but:

Arturia Brass is 259€
ARX-03 is 398€
Wallander Wivi is 449€

[keysme]

To be fair, ARX cards (in the U.S. and online) are $445.00 at the places I've checked e.g. guitar center, sweetwater.com, 8thstreet.com, musiciansfriend.com, etc. So Roland has the MAP set at $445.00 apparently. But with tax in California U.S.A. at 7.75% (and soon to be raised even higher by our Governor Ahnold S. too by the way - the ARX-03 would be $480.00 out the door at a Guitar Center retail store for instance. Which I have two of close by where I live in So. Calif. I'm not sure if online stores would charge a tax if shipped to California though. I'd have to check that out and make certain. Petrol and wear and tear on a vehicle figure into the equation too, if you have to drive somewhere to pick the ARX card up. So "roughly" 5 C notes for the privilege of owning the ARX-03 or one of the other ARX cards...



Thanks Gov!

PS: Apparently ARX-03 won't be available in the U.S. until around mid-April. I'm indeed intrigued with ARX-03 but with only 50 patches and no Tuba(s) or French Horn(s) I am a little reluctant. Even SRX-10 Brass had 99 patches. Essentially twice the patches at less than half the price to boot. I understand where Roland might want to try and be a little frugal during this dire global economic meltdown, but this strikes me as being rather miserly in my opinion. And if I understand it correctly there are not really any Brass "sections" on ARX-03?? You have to manually "create" your own sections?? Preset "sections" would have been nice too. Plus it would have added to the skimpy 50 giving it more. >> Just observations worth noting in my humble opinion. But what do I know eh? Roland does whatever it wants to regardless... I'm still holding out hope for possibly some additional patches to be added through an OS update, etc. We'll see.. I won't hold my breath waiting though.

[fismoll7]

You can´t compare this ARX-Board with a simple wave-expansion!
It´s more a kind ov virtual instrument. You can adjust breath-noises, feelings, articulations and so on.
You will understand this when you play it.

But You are right in one thing. I wished I could store more then 5 own patches.