fantom G Review (mainly piano related)

[Hi, I have been fantomized]

anyways there is not really this "need" to tweak the sounds: many of them (MANY) are really cool as they are. I just noticed the lead sound is the SAME used by the black mages in skies above !! (pure sin ld 1 its IDENTICAL) Sure, it could use some tweaking to improve some of the sounds, but really, you can take it out of the box and play with it and still enjoy the pure sounds.

[michael japan]

Concerning the Fantom piano which is so highly spoken of for the Juno Stage---I have written other places on this forum in desperation for a better piano. I have an S90es, Synthogy, Quantum Leap, Akoustic Piano. I don't use the Juno Stage in the studio but got it for live because I do a lot of left hand bass/keyboard with drum loops (via USB--) and love the 76 keys and 10 kilo weight as I am near 60. The piano sounds are simply just not good--not enough decay. I have now found someone on this forum who states that the SRX 11 sounds are better so I will probably buy that (got one for sell cheap?) I understand that maybe the original poster was upset and compared the piano to a Casio but hey--it's true. I own Korg, Yamaha, Roland, Kurzweil, and Ensoniq ZR76. I am not bias to company but to sound. The pianos on the juno stage are not good. The rhodes and basses are nice and the organs for live (not in a studio). Should I get the SRX11? It just surprises me that I paid this much for a keyboard and can't get any support, I understand the guys frustration. Is there a piano sound I can buy at any price that will turn my Juno Stage into something I enjoy playing piano on? I am just a little leary to buy an expansion card that is a few years old while the Stage iis basically new this year (end of last year.) I would love to see a new piano developed for it.

[michael japan]

I wrote another post and am in total agreement with you. I need a better piano. So you think the SRX11 pianos are better? I am so surprised how bad the piano on the Juno Stage is and am a little leary to buy an expansion board that is a few years old for $250 or therabouts but if it has decay so be it.

[madAhorn]

All I can say is that I played the S90es at guitar center the other day. That is the most fun I have ever had playing piano!

Oh well, still not worth it to me just for the piano yet...
I am not into heavy and big either...76 keys is enough for me.

I would try the srx-11.

[michael japan]

isn't it the bomb. I played one in a shop and bought one the same day. The rhodes sounds are excellent as well and the touch. I have just ordered the SRX 11. Just amazes me that they would put a lesser piano on a new keyboard that costs almost $1500 (Juno Stage. )

[keysme]

Who is this guy other than a professional reviewer wannabe? In other words he is an amateur and it obviously shows. He can also say anything he wants to and as long as he chooses to remain anonymous who would know the difference or his real "true" credentials?? For all we know he could WORK for Yammie.

If you want a real and honest and expert opinion about the Fantom G, pick up the latest addition of "Sound On Sound" magazine and check out the Fantom G review there, not on some lonely blog site from an "anonymous" person spouting his nonsense to whoever will listen. On the other hand, the Sound On Sound reviewer generally gave the Fantom G Pianos good marks across the board. All of this from an expert, who does this kind of thing i.e. "reviews music related gear" on a full time basis and is an expert in his field of vocation; which happens to be music production and sound engineering, amongst other things.

Could the Fantom G AC.Pianos be better? Sure! But that can be said about each and every keyboard currently on the market. >> Except maybe the new V-Piano eh? Another thing this guy failed to mention is the ability to edit the factory sounds into one's own custom sounds which can, in some cases, greatly enhance the factory preset sounds, including ac pianos or any other patch category of sound for that matter, if one chooses to do so. The ability to yield gold nuggets from the keyboard is one of the privileges of owning the Fantom G in my opinion. It is a "workstation" you know..

[West]

The piano sounds are simply just not good--not enough decay.

That's the beauty of the Fantom-G. If the piano sound isn't to your liking, modification of the sound is exceptionally easy. I found that in my live setup, the reverb applied to the default G Piano just didn't sound right in our live setting, so I jumped into the Pro Edit screen, made a few tweaks to the sound (including decay/attack) and turned down the reverb a bit. Now, when playing the piano in my live setup, it sounds great!

We have two keyboardists in our live setup, me with the Fantom-G (and a VK-8, which I absolutely love) and the other on a 9' Acoustic Yamaha Grand. This week, we needed a transition so the other keyboardist could get in place, so I fired up my modded piano patch and played as the pianist got into place. When she was set, she began playing and I called up another live set -- totally seamless transition! You couldn't tell the difference between the digital piano in the G and the 9' Grand... so before slamming the piano sounds on the G, experiment with modding the on board sounds -- you may find that very little tweaking will go a long way!

[madAhorn]

Oh..michael japan was talking about the Juno Stage, as was I...This thread is about the G...ok..i get it.

I like the G pianos, especially the nice variety. I use different piano patches for different songs and really love it!

[kenchan]

werd... i happen to like the NY Piano's in the G8 and made my own version tuning the EQ, Reverb, and added a touch of master compressor. imho, sounds great, very expressive too.

the keyboard action plays a HUGE role in the quality of how the dynamics of the piano is played back.... what you might play on a G6/G7 does not sound like the G8 even if it's the same piano sound. it's just the way it is.

[spybar]

Dear West, Kenchan, MadaHorn,

Unfortunately I have still a lot to learn about tweaking/creating sounds etc... And I am craving for good pianos.

I would be grateful if you will be kind and share your own good piano sounds in Fantom G Patch Archive.

http://fantomg.navarin.de/

MadaHorn, I'm already using your "AC NY Grand 8", and grateful each time for you sharing it with us.

Thank you mates, I appreciate it.

SpyBar

[secret Roland agent]

Hey Spybar!

I like your name! When I am not involved in secret Roland agent activities, I occasionally work part-time hours at one. (It's not easy keeping my girlfriend Bernice clothed! . . . Hmmm . . . Somehow that didn't come out right. What I meant is that she likes to shop!)

[spybar]

Secret Roland Agent,

We should have a drink sometime... I'm curious to see the secret lady.

P.S.

I don't know if she's working in your bar...

And I'm not sure if it's an Analog Rack...
Mmm... I prefer small analog racks... something like Dave Smith Instruments' MoPho.

[Pharlopez]

GOD DOES KNOBS! All kind of knobs, very well indeed


...but I'm afraid this workstation has little to do with God, but more with human science; so, Roland, you should take note for your next one


P.S: sorry God for take your name (and thanks for give us your appereance)

[Lewis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaLNCTFjBC8

Enough said!

[sambasevam]

after reading more and more reviews like his, I become more satisfied with stickiing with software. If i spend $2700 on something, it better replace everything I own.