A sign of what's to come...

[cello]

I've always said that the Fantom is a platform - and here is a sign of what is to come... Roland was kind enough to let me use it over the weekend and it's great! The future looks amazing for this powerful instrument - and it's only just started... ;)

Let me introduce you to OSv1.10... :) (Allows for up to 16 EXZ virtual cards to be loaded simultaneously!)

https://www.roland.com/uk/support/by_pr ... d6e442f74/

Link for the EXZ (Expansion Zencore) - http://axial.roland.com/category/fantom/

Link to updated manual - https://www.roland.com/global/support/b ... 145160e8e/

Please refer to the "FANTOM Version 1.10 Supplementary Manual" for detailed information in the [ Owner's Manuals ].

[ Additional Functions ]
A TONE addition function (EXPANSION) was provided.
A PATTERN-EDITING function using the piano roll was added.
A SCENE search function was added.
"ZONE assign" and "PLAYBACK level" functions for the sample pads were added.
A NOISE SUPPRESSOR function was added to the analog filter.
A function for setting the timing of pattern switching was added.
A copy function for TR-REC was added.
A Playback/Stop function for TARGET PATTERNS was added.
A Normalize Function for Sample Editing was added.
An End-Point preview function for WAVE editing was added.
ZEN-Core and System parameters were added.

[ Functionality Improvements ]
Recording at high-resolution velocity during pattern recording is now supported.
The list view displayed when a Tone Name or the like is double-tapped has been improved.
The operation of the TONE CATEGORY buttons at the SCENE SELECT screen has been improved.

[ Bug Fixes ]
The following bugs were fixed.
Operation of the TONE CATEGORY buttons
Knob operation with enable of "Transmit Edit Data"
Problems when importing a Standard MIDI file
Functioning at the time of slider operation

[RichardT]

This is great news!

Do we know if any of the bug fixes address the lock up problems that some people have experienced?

[theshine]

I'm wondering if the "functioning at the time of slider" fix was something do with it... but not sure.

[kday]

Still no multi-sampling.

So that's a bummer!

[cello]

Still no multi-sampling.

So that's a bummer!

Like I said above, this update is a sign. A sign of commitment and listening and getting on with the vision for the full potential of the Fantom ;)

[synthguy99]

As a non-owner - yet - I'm happy to see Roland supporting this product and working to make it the workstation of my dreams. Just having that ZEN-Core engine as well as that knobby little control panel off to the right were two of my bullet point wishes for a Fantom successor. Well, three, as I wanted it to carry on the tradition with the Fantom name.

I'd rather they put these expansion sample sets into ROM, and have most of the functionality of the earlier Fantom-X and G, and more, but not only do I not design products and get them to market, I'm not privy to info of what other companies are doing. It's entirely possible that KORG is about to drop a Kronos successor, Kronos III? So why not get Fantom to market as soon as possible? You trade a more finished instrument with a chance to enjoy a new synthesizer early, and make a splash doing it. I think that's a good deal.

[Benis67]

For New Multisampled sounds now you have 16 slot in flash Rom. Sooner or later all 12 SRX expansions will surely be available. It will be interesting to see the quantity and quality of NEW expansions in the future. For example, if we consider the strings, the EXP-08 Strings Collection will be nice too, but we are talking about a library of 15 years ago, for example very limited in terms of frequency response on high (magarì will have been sampled at 24-32 kHz for save space). For example when a new library of strings .. worthy of 2019?

[Chrisk-K]

Roland, please add linear sequencing! And I'll buy a Fantom 6 or 7 in a heartbeat!

[kday]

Still no multi-sampling.

So that's a bummer!

Like I said above, this update is a sign. A sign of commitment and listening and getting on with the vision for the full potential of the Fantom ;)

That's great to hear. I know this is not the final update. I expect them to release a nice O.S. upgrade by NAMM

[RichardT]

Do we know if any of the bug fixes address the lock up problems that some people have experienced?

To answer my own question - No, it hasn't fixed the lock up problems. I just tried to save a Tone and the screen went blank and there was no response from any of the controls (including the power switch). I had to pull the power cable again.

[Per]

I'm not happy that Roland want to charge us for those sound packs at some undisclosed point in the future. If they were exceptional than I could maybe see it but they're not, they only play catch up with their older Fantoms from the 90's and by todays standards that's very mediocre. We've already paid up to four thousand dollars for this unit it's a bit rich to try and charge us for beta testing and for completing the product to the level it should have been at launch.

If that's the sign of what's to come then I see storm clouds on the horizon.

We'll see if they're really listening to users in the next updates, there's a lot of good feedback both on this forum and in the many other forums out there that I hope Roland will heed.

[zombietactics]

I'm not happy that Roland want to charge us for those sound packs at some undisclosed point in the future. ...

It's how all of the Axial packs have been labeled for some years now. They've yet to charge for anything. I have a suspicion that it's some legal department nonsense so that they don't give up copyright "in practice" or something similar. I've seen riders to that effect in other cases.

[neomad]

Still no multi-sampling.

So that's a bummer!

Like I said above, this update is a sign. A sign of commitment and listening and getting on with the vision for the full potential of the Fantom ;)

Let me challenge this Cello. I cannot imagine Roland not giving signs of commitment within the 90 days of an official realease... that means really the minimum I would expect for a board of this price.

[neomad]

For New Multisampled sounds now you have 16 slot in flash Rom. Sooner or later all 12 SRX expansions will surely be available. It will be interesting to see the quantity and quality of NEW expansions in the future. For example, if we consider the strings, the EXP-08 Strings Collection will be nice too, but we are talking about a library of 15 years ago, for example very limited in terms of frequency response on high (magarì will have been sampled at 24-32 kHz for save space). For example when a new library of strings .. worthy of 2019?

+1

In the other hand, I do also expect a lot of this board in the months (years?) to come. I just believe that release happened way too early... (the definitive workstation/platform without a linear sequencer? can give more examples).

I am keeping my FA till further notice.

[dobrojoe]

Do we know if any of the bug fixes address the lock up problems that some people have experienced?

To answer my own question - No, it hasn't fixed the lock up problems. I just tried to save a Tone and the screen went blank and there was no response from any of the controls (including the power switch). I had to pull the power cable again.

Yes, this has happened to me too when trying to save a tone.