The coming Fantom G Rack

[dansgold]

The new Roland/Cakewalk V-Studio includes something called a 'Fantom VS' synthesizer which also has the facility for adding ... wait for it ... 2 ARX type expansion cards.

This indicates to me that a 'Fantom GR' is probably on the horizon.

Please-oh-please-oh-puleeeeeez let this be a 1U device !!!

[Rainman]

Pleeeease don't let it be a 1u-device. Put in a V-Synth XT-Case with touchscreen and some knobs ... just make it useable

[The Audacity Works]

They say it's a "Fantom" but don't specify Fantom-G. 1400 presets are included (not 1750 like in the G), so I'm assuming it's a Fantom X engine with maybe Sonic Cell presets.

I'm rooting for a 2U device, like my trusty 5080.

[RevP]

Here is what they have done with Sonar. this is very intriguing to me.

http://www.sonarvstudio.com/index.php

[musicman100]

the synth is built into the I/O box and does not appear to be rack mountable....
they tout you can expand the synth buy purchasing another I/O box

[RevP]

Can the Sonic Cell or Fantom X engine handle the ARX technology? My guess is it must be on the same at the Fantom G because of that.

[Dan Krisher]

This is an example where we at RUS know nothing about what some of our divisions do. Today was the first time I'd even heard of the V-Studio 700, AND, I use to be one our main VS demonstrators back in it's heyday.

So a lot of us here at RUS are drolling over this thing, with stuff like ADAT, and other goodies on board, wondering why we can't have it in a Mac version. (We're mostly Mac at RUS.)

As far as the FANTOM VS, I have no idea what is up with that. Cakewalk does it's own thing so I haven't heard about this version of the Fantom. I am going to email Brandon at Cakewalk and ask him about it. It's compelling as it must have some G engine in it, or, it would not be able to drive the ARX cards. But don't quote me on that please. I'm just as surprise and confused as everyone else at this stage. Though, I plan on digging for some dirt on this.

[Artemiy]

I wonder if this thing will be compatible with the Fantom-G patches... And should we start a forum for it?

[Diametro]

It's $4,000 (I've read) ... and PC (Cakewalk) only ...

next ...

[dansgold]

The main point here is that it indicates that the Fantom G tech is able to be right-sized for a rack application.

Personally, I like the idea of a 1U better, as I want to choose/assign my own control surfaces. I completely understand those who fell differntly, however.

[2TIM316]

Sorry, I started a new thread about this. I didn't realize this was what you were talking about. What seems promising is the ability to expand via the ARX format boards. This would make it seem logically to be the "G" engine as opposed to the "X" engine. Plus, you would think for a flagship product, Roland and Cakewalk would want to put their best foot forward with their best sounding hardware.

BTW, I don't think this can be construed as being a "G" rack in any way. But what I think you're saying is that assuming this is a "G" in a box, then it shows it can be done, and thus a "G" rack can't be far behind.

The interesting thing about that will be to see if, like the Motif Rack and Cubase 4, Roland will allow the "G" rack to be seen as a VST/DXi in Sonar, in other words the rack would function just like any other softsynth, but only in Sonar, just like the Motifs can appear as softsynths only in Cubase.

Art - I vote for starting a new forum for this technology. As a long time Roland user and now Sonar user, I've been waiting for a "bridge" from Roland hardware to Cakewalk software. This looks to be it. I'm going to guess that assuming it's the "G" engine, that it will read "G" patches. You would think the company would want people to stay within the "family" using this system for production and then the "G" for live performance.

[javaj_]

Correction- only 1 ARX slot.
It will be interesting to see the interface for the Fantom VS- can it simply be the same editor vsti interface- or more as you don't have the lcd to aid in added controls. Now you can add a second IO unit- thus 2 Fantoms (and 2 ARX slots)- so can the Fantom's work in tandem as well (and use eachothers ARX cards- I am thinking no).

I wonder what the lower models will include (as the Sonic State video alludes to- there will be more models)

I wonder what makes it a $4000 system- since you still need a computer involved- it is very pricey for us normal people.

Also, wouldn't it be cool if they plan on releasing Sonar 8 as the G's DAW interface- not sure if it can be done- probably will be in a G's replacement though.

[shakil]

Dan... this shows why Roland didn't include the sample streaming technology from SP sequencers in Fantom Audio tracks, maybe the Fantom designers didn't even know about the SP series samplers. The audio tracks could be much more useful, if Roland used the SP technology in Fantom. We didn't have to load the audio tracks into RAM, and it would have it's own dedicated polyphony... even 16 notes poly will cover 16 tracks realtime.

[The Audacity Works]

Nope, SP technology is limited to 12 notes of polyphony mono, and only 6 stereo... and this is after data compression! If you wanted stereo samples at Fantom-level sound quality, could you deal with only 3 to 4 notes of polyphony?

USB memory sticks are even slower.

[shakil]

Yes,.... For the audio tracks, Fantom quality with 4 to 8 tracks streaming from the Card, just like a true digital audio recorder, is more desirable than having 8 stereo tracks loaded into RAM everytime you turn on the machine..... and then limit of 512MB..... With the streaming audio tracks 512MB limit is not there anymore.