New Workstation? New Evidence?

[TSUMO]

SamAsh.com has recently been advertising the Fantom X6 in "Limited Quantities". Does this mean that Roland is announcing a new workstation at NAMM? Or is it simply a back order problem caused by the recent rebate? You decide.

[2TIM316]

Most likely a new workstation at NAMM. Fantom-X announced/shown at 2004 NAMM. That's 3 years. Time for the replacement. Of course somewhat strangely the Fantom Xs have just started to gain critical mass via onstage appearances with Madonna, and now Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. Nevertheless most likely the $200 rebate and limited quantities you mention point to a new Roland workstation at NAMM.

Unfortunately, unlike Yamaha, where leaks always reveal the new instrument before its time, with Roland we will know absolutely zero until 10:00 AM PST on January 18, 2007, when the Roland website will reveal and present the new offerings. So more or less 2 weeks and counting!

[province]

evan if there is a new roland workstation it will probably be very similar to the fantom x maybe with a touch screen a cd burner or something.

[mrcpro]

My guess is that Roland will do one more Fantom before abandoning the current line.... maybe an XP-30 style board with a bunch of SRX boards bundled inside at an attractive price. XP-30s sold like crazy but it's really "giving away the store" so it's the last Fantom they'd do.

A Fantom X replacement this year would be compressing Roland's time line, but maybe... because that Yamaha looks great and I'm sure thay knew it was coming. But my bets are on next year.

[Quinnx.]

What could you possibly need in a new workstation?

you already got a fairly decent one already
its not only wave table synthesis but its also a sampler.

if you want more synthesis power get a soft sysnth and sample the results.

if you want more audio tracks get a DAW

if you want more midi tracks use your PC

if you want more controls, buy another controler

if you want something extra special (buy that too)

Dont be looking to abondon what you have for what I feel will be very little return in a newer model and dont forget all the new bugs and crapy file system too..

Exapand your horizons dont stagnate them.


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[jgore]

I second your thoughts too Quinnx.

I wonder why is it people are never happy with their workstations. It´s like they´re part of this commercial never-ending circle of always keeping up to date without spending the right amount of time to deeply discover and exploit the potential of a workstation which takes at least 5 years.

Regards

Roland Fantom X8

Event TR8 Studio Monitors

[mrcpro]

What could you possibly need in a new workstation?

I got lotsa needs!

Faders for mixing
10 key pad
More MFX blocks and more flexible routing (series in patch mode please!)
Dedicated effects on-off buttons

Oh yeah... more waveform rom! Always nice to have.

[Oleq]

Honestly, I'd prefer a step forward -
$200 rebate without buying anything!

For the next purchase.
'Cause they design the future. ©

[Quinnx.]

I think i covered all of them in my previous post
read it again..


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[wudsiba]

I believe that is the first time I'VE seen you, QUINNX., stand up for the Fantom x. I agree that the Fantom X has everything you need, but I can't wait to see the new workstation. It may have nothing new that you need, but it will be the latest, most advanced machine yet. It's kind of like peeking into the future. You don't need to, but why not...Mark my words. There is a new workstation being introduced from all three... Three years is a long time in technology, plus all of the amazing deals...All three...

wudsiba
Fantom X6

[Quinnx.]

Unfortunatly i can already see the future

This is based on previous incarnations including the fantom and v and other roland gear i have experienced.
So far i have not seen any historical replacemnts for a previous or current roland line.

As i have stated more than once, i see that roland always releases what can only be considered additions to what you have and not replacements.
I have several roland gear and they all have there uniqueness.
where none replaces the other.
you will always notice that the later version are lacking in what made the previous item unique and the new one has some new trick.
but these trick are not beyond your current gear.
So its not new technology its old software updated as new software in a different box
once again you will find yourself Locked in to rolands way of doing things and not your own

I still recoment Expansion
break out of the box, it will give you more flexabilty than being kept being locked in all the time.


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[2TIM316]

Fantom-X is great, no doubt. But technology marches forward. True, Roland could go the "cut-down" route and try to come up with 17 ways to slice and dice the Fantom such as they did with the XP/JV series. But I so hope they don't go that way.

It's time for a new Roland flagship. That's the plain truth. If they come out with a Fantom lite (which they already have with the Fantom-Xa and Juno-G), I think it will just be more white noise.

It's going to be really interesting in 2 weeks, that's for sure!

[robbie50]

Is an UPDATE for the Fantom.....
A better File-system and some bugsawaythings!

That;s all, I'm happy with my X7...
look at;


Bugs!!


rob

[threesixty]

roland are so fustrating!!

I sold my Fantom X6 because I just couldnt live with the compromises (And I needed the money!!). But IMO it could have been the machine to completely destroy the MPC + synth market. It could have been the modern day ASR 10 but Roland f'd up.


Why have one of the best samplers around but cant save files properly?

All the Fantom needs to be the best is ..

A Typical DOS folder structure , nothing fancy.

all links to sample data should be saved with a song so that a song loads with the correct files. This would save so much time its not even funny!

faster disk access is essential.

more than one song/pattern in memory like the mpc.

better song/pattern chaining like the mpc is so neccessary.
(everyone is the world works on songs in sections, if you dont have a mouse
to easily select sections then pattern based sequencing is the way to go).

8 outs. (in fact adat 8/16 outs would be amazing).

far more MFX, at least 8, 16 would be amazing.

transport controls should send midi to other sequencers.

Divorce the rigid 16 channels/16 tracks philosophy. Any number of midi tracks
should be assignable to any of the 16 midi channels. If I want to try out 8 different piano parts it shoulding take up 50% of the tracks I can use.

Rex or beat choping with midi info would be the icing on the cake.


Other than those point, the machine was amazing. I think that because roland wanted to sell the mv8000 they limited the Fantom X. Forget the mv8000, it's a joke compared to the mpc. Offer a contrast (i.e. the fantom) don't just copy someone else wrongly (mv8000)...
I guarantee if Roland did these changes every new MPC sale would go to the Fantom. Drop the MV and make the Fantom what it should be.

[Diametro]

"transport controls should send midi to other sequencers."

My Fantom X does this just fine ...



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Roland Fantom X7, Alesis Fusion 6HD, Novation X/A-Station 25, Alesis Micron