SMF (midi file) player

[dojec]

I bought the fantom 7 last week, but I don't find the 16-track midi file player (sequencer) as it was on the precious fantom X-7.
Am I missing something or is it just not there? If not this is a huge disadvantage.
Is there a contact where we can mail to as whishlist to re-enable this?
Thx.

[mostinif]

Hi dojec:

Sequencer on new Fantom, it's totally different. As a concept, a complete change. It's based on a set o patters, groups and song. Ableton style.
If you try to compare with (as in my case) a Fantom G, you will be lost.

It's one of the most controversial feature in this new keyboard.

In this forum you will get a complete discussion about new Fantom's sequencer.

In my humble opinion, a huge mistake. But Roland aims to a "new generation" of creators.

Best regards,
Flavio

[dojec]

Hi Mostinif,

I don't have the gear long enough to already complete understand the way it works. Only some jamming.
Even if the patterns are a nice (but different) way of working, they still should have at least a standard smf player in the fantom.
It's like aiming for a new generation and dropping the old generation for it.

Rgrds.

[nagyzoli76]

SMF playback is possible with Fantom, but since the new sequencer is clip-based like Ableton, there is no linear sequencer, only clip-based. If you want to load SMF files, the maximum 64 measures makes loading the complete song a bit time-consuming. The new sequencer builds the structure of the song from parts (8 Patterns). They will be connected into one song, so the SMF files must also be divided into parts. All sounds are loaded in the default piano sound because there are no GM standard sounds like in the old Music Workstation. That's why they don't call the Fantom a Music Workstation, like the Fantom G used to. I wouldn't have named this synthesizer Fantom, because people always compare it to the Fantom X and G versions, but the new Fantom is a different line. Many things have been simplified or simply taken out of it. The sequencer in Fantom G has all the knowledge of a Music Workstation, but Fantom is also a Synthesizer category on Roland's website. They added everything that belongs to a Music Workstation, but the last Music Workstation was the Roland FA.

[dojec]

Thanks for the explanation Nagyzoli.
For now it 't a bit more complicated as it's totally new. ( and a bit unexpected ).
I think I have to split the SMF into 64 measures and then put the different A,B, C,... tracks behind each other in the song?
Will that work?
When I have more experience with the patterns system, I can maybe split the patterns according to intro, strofe, chorus,....

[dojec]

I succeeded.
Import midi, cut it in the different patterns.
Make a group.
Then assign the groups on the song.

It's a bit more complicated, but probably get used to it after a while.