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Without comments.
fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
Seriously
What would you expect from a guy that claims to be making music with a Motif for the last 7 years, that bought a Juno-G without listening to it first and says there isn't a single usable piano sound comparing it to Matels toys?
On the top of this he claims to have spent $2.400 on a G on the day of release, again without listening, I presume, and still thinks Microsoft MIDI banks sounds better. Give me a brake.
For someone that started playing keys in an acoustic piano I could never take this so called "reviews" seriously.
I guess there are way too many scared people on Yamaha keyboard department.
What would you expect from a guy that claims to be making music with a Motif for the last 7 years, that bought a Juno-G without listening to it first and says there isn't a single usable piano sound comparing it to Matels toys?
On the top of this he claims to have spent $2.400 on a G on the day of release, again without listening, I presume, and still thinks Microsoft MIDI banks sounds better. Give me a brake.
For someone that started playing keys in an acoustic piano I could never take this so called "reviews" seriously.
I guess there are way too many scared people on Yamaha keyboard department.
re fantom G Review
I happen to agree with pretty much all this guy is saying. I realize the G may be great for the dance crowd, but I returned my G7. One of the biggest reasons is my dislike of the all the piano sounds. FYI I am staying with my Fantom X7 loaded w/4 SRX boards. Personally, I still find the SRX11 sounds preferrable to anything in the G7. To each their own!
Alan
Alan
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
In US, as far as I understand it, one can buy & return or on free loan for a week or whatever it's called, so buying=0 commitment if you can return it & pay no penalties. So, why not? Ideal way to check whether you really need that gear or not. I haven't heard MMBs neither do I know what is a Matel toy.
I think he's been a bit harsh on pianos, I would give them an overall 3 out of 5, but I do see & totally agree with his view, that Roland needs to improve dramatically. BTW I would rate XS's piano at same 3 out of 5.
I think he's been a bit harsh on pianos, I would give them an overall 3 out of 5, but I do see & totally agree with his view, that Roland needs to improve dramatically. BTW I would rate XS's piano at same 3 out of 5.
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
This review is just plain idiotic, and the reviewer shows his complete lack of competence by claiming that any Microsoft GM midi piano sound should be better than the G's. How should anybody take one single word of such a reviewer serious? Just a little Yamaha fanboy who tries to blow himself up like an oxfrog, but in fact totally disqualifies himself.
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
Say you don't like a piano sound is one thing. Comparing the Fantom G piano with Matel toys or Microsoft sound banks is another. It's pure nonsense. Probably that's what happened. He forgot to plug the outputs and was listening to his PC sound card.
I could write the very same "review" about the XS. Would you believe me?
I could write the very same "review" about the XS. Would you believe me?
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
Agree...Idiotic Review!
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
A very unfair and biased critique, in my view. Can't be taken seriously, but damaging material for novices out there who are not familiar with Roland gear.
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
i think what should be done is to put critique of the review on that page, not on this page.
Sammy
Sammy
What was this person SMOKING???
Ok,
I do not own a G (still in love with my X8), but I can still comment on this review.
1. Prior to the G's release, the X's Ultimate Grand was widely hailed as one of the best in the business. Now, since the Juno-G basically SHARES the same patches as the X, this person is in essence saying that the Ultimate Grand is worse in his view than the Fantom G. Now, I know we have a Julliard graduate who also owns a Steinway grand and has said he loves the piano on his X8. Now, considering that the G has better DACS, it would seem to me that the pianos should be as good. Maybe this person never considered TWEAKING just a little bit??? Correct me if I am wrong my friends, but isn't the idea behind a synth or workstation to tweak or CREATE your own sounds???
2. This person states that the G would appeal to the top 40/dance crowd. But, he implies that it would appeal to that group ONLY. This is completely wrong!! Again, forgive me for referencing the X, but it still bears my argument that this person is CLUELESS. I play in two different types of projects and NEITHER are top 40 OR dance oriented. One band does ROCK covers like middle and late period Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Judas Priest, etc., etc. you get the picture. The other project is 95% original material that uses more eclectic sounds like harpsichords, orchestral sections, and more experimental type stuff ala George Martin and the Beatles. The X is PERFECT in both projects. Now, since the G has some of the best of the X patches, PLUS the best of the SRX cards, PLUS all new waves on top of all THAT, how can this person even THINK that the G cannot do blues, classical, rock, metal, folk, country, jazz, etc.??????
3. ANYBODY who goes into a shop and buys ANY instrument without auditioning it is a MORON. Every shop I go to I find that salespeople will bend over backwards to make sure you have a set up IN STORE to your liking to audition a piece of kit. They will happily retrieve the owner's manuals and will answer any questions. Hopefully even novices will realise that ANYBODY who has not auditioned available kit LIVE in the shop is not even qualified to write about the instrument!
4. The GM piano sounds in Microsoft are BETTER???!!! Did this person completely MISS the point of General MIDI??!!!??!??!?!?? How can any GM patch - which is supposed to sound the SAME across multiple platforms sound BETTER than an instrument specific patch that CAN be edited??????
5. Read the person's text closely. The person admits to having preconceptions about Roland instruments when he states that he always thought of Roland as having great vintage synths of yesteryear and cheeky ROMplers after that. Now, the first part IS true. The Jupiters and Junos are STILL breathtaking instruments. As to his second statement, how does he answer to the fact that TONS of big time musicians have played and recorded with these so called "cheeky ROMplers"? Enya's main board for MANY years was the D-50, one of the largest selling keyboards of all time! I think Enya is eminently more qualified to talk about Roland than this putz. Let's see, according to his defintion, the JD-800 and JD-990 are cheeky, and yet these two models are still widely sought after. What would one POSSIBLY find cheeky about an XV-5080?? I have seven synths and four are Rolands. I am not a fanboy, but the Rolands I own were purchased by me after VERY carefully auditioning each and every one live in a shop against other synths. Some people have looked down on the SH-32, but just peruse the Harmony Central user reviews and you will find a SLEW of people who love this beast! I am STILL finding stunning sound possibilities in this white monster - and this is a LOWER priced VA! The SH-32 can spank your speakers if you are not careful and it ROARS. Cheeky? FAR from it!! My XV-88 is a crystal clean instrument that is simply a joy to play and is VERY sonically pleasing. What do I need to say about my Juno-106? It is a classic.
Overall, he wrote about his own prejudice toward Roland gear. Now, since he has that prejudice about Roland gear, it makes no earthly sense why he would even CONSIDER the G in the first place. In his estimation, it must logically fall into his self-proclaimed category of a cheeky ROMpler. Case in point for me: I love most genres of movies, but all in all I HATE Westerns. But my wife really wanted me to give Tombstone a chance. So, I opened my mind and put aside my general loathing of Westerns and watched the film. It is one of the BEST films I have EVER seen. (I'll be your huckleberry).
Yes, we have all discussed that sound is purely a subjective matter. I chose an X8 over an M3 because I thought the Fantom sounded much better than the M3 to my ears. The piano on the X for me literally blew the M3 out of the water.
A WISE reviewer looks at a product in relationship to itself first. She listens to each patch, does some tweaking, runs the sequencer through its paces,and should also try to make the instrument succumb if possible. THIS so-called reviewer gave no professional assessment of the G's piano. Saying that your child's toy piano sounds better does not exactly give you street cred among serious musicians. Why didn't he say that he felt that the sympathetic resonance parameter was not helpful? Because he didn't TRY it I wager. Yes, he praised the pads, leads, and guitars, but any keyboardist knows that piano is one of the most difficult instruments to emulate, the others in my opinion being violins, violas, and cellos. Did he try to tweak the cutoff and resonance? Did he try working with the TVF and TVA? I bet not.
I read and respect the opinions of people here like JimKnopf, Audacity Works, Artemiy, MadaHorn, howardS, Quinnx, Solitary Man, Andy Keys, and quite a few others. None of the above mentioned people would have written such rubbish because they are TRUE musicians, thus they are incapable of composing such dross.
I don't even OWN a G and I am TRULY upset at this "reviewer". I think I will go on Musician's Friend or Daddy's Junky Music and get him a present. Last time I looked they had a Miracle Teaching Piano for 40.00 USD. Then he can play all the Liszt, Chopin, Art Tatum, and Keith Emerson (and Jarrett) he wants, on a piano that he would feel to be superior to a 3500.00 USD workstation.
IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vlad
I do not own a G (still in love with my X8), but I can still comment on this review.
1. Prior to the G's release, the X's Ultimate Grand was widely hailed as one of the best in the business. Now, since the Juno-G basically SHARES the same patches as the X, this person is in essence saying that the Ultimate Grand is worse in his view than the Fantom G. Now, I know we have a Julliard graduate who also owns a Steinway grand and has said he loves the piano on his X8. Now, considering that the G has better DACS, it would seem to me that the pianos should be as good. Maybe this person never considered TWEAKING just a little bit??? Correct me if I am wrong my friends, but isn't the idea behind a synth or workstation to tweak or CREATE your own sounds???
2. This person states that the G would appeal to the top 40/dance crowd. But, he implies that it would appeal to that group ONLY. This is completely wrong!! Again, forgive me for referencing the X, but it still bears my argument that this person is CLUELESS. I play in two different types of projects and NEITHER are top 40 OR dance oriented. One band does ROCK covers like middle and late period Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Judas Priest, etc., etc. you get the picture. The other project is 95% original material that uses more eclectic sounds like harpsichords, orchestral sections, and more experimental type stuff ala George Martin and the Beatles. The X is PERFECT in both projects. Now, since the G has some of the best of the X patches, PLUS the best of the SRX cards, PLUS all new waves on top of all THAT, how can this person even THINK that the G cannot do blues, classical, rock, metal, folk, country, jazz, etc.??????
3. ANYBODY who goes into a shop and buys ANY instrument without auditioning it is a MORON. Every shop I go to I find that salespeople will bend over backwards to make sure you have a set up IN STORE to your liking to audition a piece of kit. They will happily retrieve the owner's manuals and will answer any questions. Hopefully even novices will realise that ANYBODY who has not auditioned available kit LIVE in the shop is not even qualified to write about the instrument!
4. The GM piano sounds in Microsoft are BETTER???!!! Did this person completely MISS the point of General MIDI??!!!??!??!?!?? How can any GM patch - which is supposed to sound the SAME across multiple platforms sound BETTER than an instrument specific patch that CAN be edited??????
5. Read the person's text closely. The person admits to having preconceptions about Roland instruments when he states that he always thought of Roland as having great vintage synths of yesteryear and cheeky ROMplers after that. Now, the first part IS true. The Jupiters and Junos are STILL breathtaking instruments. As to his second statement, how does he answer to the fact that TONS of big time musicians have played and recorded with these so called "cheeky ROMplers"? Enya's main board for MANY years was the D-50, one of the largest selling keyboards of all time! I think Enya is eminently more qualified to talk about Roland than this putz. Let's see, according to his defintion, the JD-800 and JD-990 are cheeky, and yet these two models are still widely sought after. What would one POSSIBLY find cheeky about an XV-5080?? I have seven synths and four are Rolands. I am not a fanboy, but the Rolands I own were purchased by me after VERY carefully auditioning each and every one live in a shop against other synths. Some people have looked down on the SH-32, but just peruse the Harmony Central user reviews and you will find a SLEW of people who love this beast! I am STILL finding stunning sound possibilities in this white monster - and this is a LOWER priced VA! The SH-32 can spank your speakers if you are not careful and it ROARS. Cheeky? FAR from it!! My XV-88 is a crystal clean instrument that is simply a joy to play and is VERY sonically pleasing. What do I need to say about my Juno-106? It is a classic.
Overall, he wrote about his own prejudice toward Roland gear. Now, since he has that prejudice about Roland gear, it makes no earthly sense why he would even CONSIDER the G in the first place. In his estimation, it must logically fall into his self-proclaimed category of a cheeky ROMpler. Case in point for me: I love most genres of movies, but all in all I HATE Westerns. But my wife really wanted me to give Tombstone a chance. So, I opened my mind and put aside my general loathing of Westerns and watched the film. It is one of the BEST films I have EVER seen. (I'll be your huckleberry).
Yes, we have all discussed that sound is purely a subjective matter. I chose an X8 over an M3 because I thought the Fantom sounded much better than the M3 to my ears. The piano on the X for me literally blew the M3 out of the water.
A WISE reviewer looks at a product in relationship to itself first. She listens to each patch, does some tweaking, runs the sequencer through its paces,and should also try to make the instrument succumb if possible. THIS so-called reviewer gave no professional assessment of the G's piano. Saying that your child's toy piano sounds better does not exactly give you street cred among serious musicians. Why didn't he say that he felt that the sympathetic resonance parameter was not helpful? Because he didn't TRY it I wager. Yes, he praised the pads, leads, and guitars, but any keyboardist knows that piano is one of the most difficult instruments to emulate, the others in my opinion being violins, violas, and cellos. Did he try to tweak the cutoff and resonance? Did he try working with the TVF and TVA? I bet not.
I read and respect the opinions of people here like JimKnopf, Audacity Works, Artemiy, MadaHorn, howardS, Quinnx, Solitary Man, Andy Keys, and quite a few others. None of the above mentioned people would have written such rubbish because they are TRUE musicians, thus they are incapable of composing such dross.
I don't even OWN a G and I am TRULY upset at this "reviewer". I think I will go on Musician's Friend or Daddy's Junky Music and get him a present. Last time I looked they had a Miracle Teaching Piano for 40.00 USD. Then he can play all the Liszt, Chopin, Art Tatum, and Keith Emerson (and Jarrett) he wants, on a piano that he would feel to be superior to a 3500.00 USD workstation.
IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vlad
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
achyeboah,
With all due respect, after reading that clueless verbiage, do you really think that this reviewer would HONESTLY engage in an intelligent discussion?
As for posting critiques here, I think it is appropriate because many more people considering a Roland have and DO come to this board. Almost every music dealer I know tells people about this forum. What's more, this forum is linked from a ton of music sites all over the web. Who is linking to this guy?
He clearly wrote of his assessment of Roland instruments and he allowed his prejudice to colour his review. And bear in mind that this person went into a shop and bought a Juno-G without hearing it. If there is anything conclusively damning about his judgment I think that the fact that he bought the Juno-G unheard should pretty much reveal that no matter how many critiques we post to him, he is not going to budge. Just my opinion of course so please achyeboah, do not think I am flaming you in any way.
Best to you,
Vlad
With all due respect, after reading that clueless verbiage, do you really think that this reviewer would HONESTLY engage in an intelligent discussion?
As for posting critiques here, I think it is appropriate because many more people considering a Roland have and DO come to this board. Almost every music dealer I know tells people about this forum. What's more, this forum is linked from a ton of music sites all over the web. Who is linking to this guy?
He clearly wrote of his assessment of Roland instruments and he allowed his prejudice to colour his review. And bear in mind that this person went into a shop and bought a Juno-G without hearing it. If there is anything conclusively damning about his judgment I think that the fact that he bought the Juno-G unheard should pretty much reveal that no matter how many critiques we post to him, he is not going to budge. Just my opinion of course so please achyeboah, do not think I am flaming you in any way.
Best to you,
Vlad
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
hello vlad....i take your comments well.... i think the problem is that you misunderstood me. whether or not a potential buyer comes here first, i think the right thing to do is tell the fella that he's wrong, and the best way to do so is on his own site...that way, any guys who find the site will know that he's alone in his impression.
thanks
thanks
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
If you grew up with a Yamaha Piano, forever a Yamaha piano you will like.
If you grew up with a Korg Piano, forever a Korg piano you will like.
If you grew up with a Roland Piano, forever a Roland piano you will like.
so on so on.
If you grew up with a Korg Piano, forever a Korg piano you will like.
If you grew up with a Roland Piano, forever a Roland piano you will like.
so on so on.
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
I thought the review was right on from the 6th paragraph on down... The first 5 paragraphs was him just ranting but then, I'd have to agree. only fanboys would disagree... I like both the XS and the G.. I think both have strong points and both have many WACK points... Get over it already..
I'm pretty sure if one of the many Roland fanboys here were to review a motif XS it would have the same tone of this review of the G. "Oh the G is sooo much better than an XS" and that simply is not true... Different, maybe, but not any better because what is great about one is what is wrong about the other, and vice versa. There's no way either are "Better" than another. Prefered maybe, but not better..
I'm pretty sure if one of the many Roland fanboys here were to review a motif XS it would have the same tone of this review of the G. "Oh the G is sooo much better than an XS" and that simply is not true... Different, maybe, but not any better because what is great about one is what is wrong about the other, and vice versa. There's no way either are "Better" than another. Prefered maybe, but not better..
Re: fantom G Review (mainly piano related)
"If you grew up with a Roland Piano, forever a Roland piano you will like."
This is not true to me at all...
I and others own more than one brand and make fair comparisons to what actually works for us.
The Features and the Sound that work for me.
I like the way my Motif Rack sounds in live situations better than my Fantom X. I like my X better in the studio.
The G now gets a better live sound rating than the X for me.
I think if we were all rich and could afford one of every brand, we would be less critical of each brand.
I am not rich, but I find things as cheap as possible and sell what I no longer need...
This is not true to me at all...
I and others own more than one brand and make fair comparisons to what actually works for us.
The Features and the Sound that work for me.
I like the way my Motif Rack sounds in live situations better than my Fantom X. I like my X better in the studio.
The G now gets a better live sound rating than the X for me.
I think if we were all rich and could afford one of every brand, we would be less critical of each brand.
I am not rich, but I find things as cheap as possible and sell what I no longer need...