Fantom G Sequencer

[MC808ter]

Hi Guys,

I already own an MV8800 and love the way this works it suits my flow perfectly,however I'm looking to maybe replace it with a Workstation,and was kind of hoping someone can tell me how the Fantom G sequencer compares to the Sequencer on the MV,I'm not about to drop the MV but was hoping I could get a G and everything would be the same in terms of workflow so I could eventually wean myself off the MV and rely on the Fantom for sequencing duties.

Does anyone use or has any experience with both and if so would I be right in thinking they are similar in how they allow you to create songs,I don't want to port to any other brand as there sequencers are poor in comparison and the MV8800 is my Holy grail of sequencing so was hoping the Fantom is the same without too much time having to be spent digging in the manuals,I have looked on You tube and such but cannot find any videos which go into detail of the Fantom G sequencer that I can see any compatible editing and menus to that of the MV8800 so how do they stand side by side.

its not a case of I will use both I want to get a G to replace the MV so am looking for a definitive answer as to how they compare not which is the best or the pros and cons of each,any help would be greatly apprecciated

[MC808ter]

Fantom G forum and not one person can chime in with any pointers??or am I a newbie that is going to be ignored or told to use the Search function!!!!

or perhaps I'm the only person left who hasn't abandoned the idea of a Fantom G in favour of a Korg Kronic!!

[markWar]

>perhaps I'm the only person left who hasn't abandoned the idea of a Fantom G in favour of a Korg Kronic

I'm a guitar player and about a year ago I decided to give in and finally learn keyboards. I considered, back then, a Fantom G but decided instead to go with a Yamaha PSR-S910. I love this keyboard and it does everything I've ever wanted to do EXCEPT--so far as I know--it can't actually do oscillator-level manipulations of voices. I can't experiment with waveforms and such. So lately I've been looking around for a keyboard that would let me learn about traditional subtractive synthesis. I couldn't think of selling my PSR-S910 even though its "only" an arranger keyboard, so when I looked around again, I considered, again, the Fantom G and the Kronos and thought, screw it, my keyboard already does sequencer and audio recording. So I decided I'd save my money and get a Gaia.

So, I've abandoned the idea of a Fantom G TWICE--once for a Yamaha and once for a Gaia.

[Mystic38]

I really dont know what you are wanting anyone to say.. If you like the sequencer and workflow of the mv8800 then i cant see why you would want to convert to the sequencer in the FG regardless of whether you buy it or not...

@markwar.. Your post makes no sense to me.. Lol

[MC808ter]

Mystic38:

I'm just after some sort of insight into the two machines and the comparisons of the operations in the sequencer Modes,I do love the MV workflow,but am looking for a Workstation/Synth that basically has the same sort of concept inside a single unit,I'm hoping to migrate to a G so that it gives me several of the bolt ons that the MV lacks.Its great as a standalone sequencer but I'm hoping to off load Hardware peripherals that I need to get the best out of the MV and use a Workstation environment instead

The MV is perfect for sequencing however it would be nice to have an onboard Rompler rather than have to rely on the sampler aspect,and again it means connecting Extra Hardware both sound devices and a keyboard whereas the G is basically all that in one box of tricks.

I'm happy to sacrifice using the MV for a Fantom G(I don't want to sequence on the MV as well as have the G,if the G is what I'm after then this will replace the MV sequencing duties) but I am worried it may not be what I'm after in terms of workflow as I've heard all sorts of rumours that its Sequencer on the G is still halfbaked and lacks what the MV has,so sort of looking for some reassurance from users who have experience of both in that its what I'm hoping it is,what I guess I'm hoping is that the Sequencer of the G is the same guts as the MV and would I take to it without sacrificing anything and if so what are the things that the G has the MV doesn't and Vice versa

[markWar]

Mystic38 >@markwar.. Your post makes no sense

Sorry to waste peoples' time. I probably phrased things stupidly. (Or thought things stupidly! Or both!) Like I said, I'm a guitar guy just learning about keyboards. And I don't know much.

[Mystic38]

I guess i would feel that the sequencer would be different.. The fantom g is phrase based and not like a typical linear sequencer..and takes a bit of getting used to.. There are also some shortcomings in detail editing in the fg also.
While its always nice to offload gear the mv has a great reputation and you could always hook them togethere via midi, using the fg for input and output..then (if you play live) load the songs into the fg to play out...
Just an idea..

Mystic38:

I'm just after some sort of insight into the two machines and the comparisons of the operations in the sequencer Modes,I do love the MV workflow,but am looking for a Workstation/Synth that basically has the same sort of concept inside a single unit,I'm hoping to migrate to a G so that it gives me several of the bolt ons that the MV lacks.Its great as a standalone sequencer but I'm hoping to off load Hardware peripherals that I need to get the best out of the MV and use a Workstation environment instead

The MV is perfect for sequencing however it would be nice to have an onboard Rompler rather than have to rely on the sampler aspect,and again it means connecting Extra Hardware both sound devices and a keyboard whereas the G is basically all that in one box of tricks.

I'm happy to sacrifice using the MV for a Fantom G(I don't want to sequence on the MV as well as have the G,if the G is what I'm after then this will replace the MV sequencing duties) but I am worried it may not be what I'm after in terms of workflow as I've heard all sorts of rumours that its Sequencer on the G is still halfbaked and lacks what the MV has,so sort of looking for some reassurance from users who have experience of both in that its what I'm hoping it is,what I guess I'm hoping is that the Sequencer of the G is the same guts as the MV and would I take to it without sacrificing anything and if so what are the things that the G has the MV doesn't and Vice versa

[Mystic38]

I guess it was more of "if you were looking for a decent va to learn and develop on then the fantom g isnt even on any list" :)
alesis ion, korg ms2000 nova, supernova, virus, jp8000 and gaia would be the list.. I have nova and korg ms2000 ..also check out welsh's synthesize cookbook...
Cheers

Mystic38 >@markwar.. Your post makes no sense

Sorry to waste peoples' time. I probably phrased things stupidly. (Or thought things stupidly! Or both!) Like I said, I'm a guitar guy just learning about keyboards. And I don't know much.

[G-Man]

I just looked at the specs of the MV and I noticed a few interesting common specs: 128 midi tracks, 480 TPQN resolution and tempo ranging from 5 until 300. Perhaps the MV was some source of inspiration in terms of sequencer specs.

[MC808ter]

Dupilcate post!

[MC808ter]

When you say not a typical linear sequencer are you saying that the Fantom does not allow you to record a single track in a whole pass from start to finish,orthat your need to build up Phrases and copy and paste???is this the case for the Audio tracks,does it not work like a typical Audio Multitrack,this is one of the issues I have with the MV in that you cannot record linear audio tracks in this way,I was hoping with 24 Audio tracks to play with on the fantom I could ditch my Akai DPS16 Too.

The way i work with the MV is that I usually start in Pattern mode and build up say a 4 bar or 8 bar loop,kind of like a section of the song say like a Chorus or Verse section,usually made up of several Midi tracks,(bass,drums,keys etc,etc)then record every pattern or section in the song like that,once all the Sections have been created I will either chain them together using the pattern track in the Song mode or paste them into a song or trigger them live from the MV pads and jam over the top with other synths,I guess the Fantom doesn't have a Pattern mode in this respect(or does it),but does it allow you to build up a song in sections like this and copy and paste as desired does the Phrase option allow you to work like this??is it possible to assign these phrases or sections to the Trigger pads??

Am I interpreting the phrases terminology as a "Phrase" per midi track or is a phrase built from several midi tracks,like a section of a song or I suppose like the pattern mode in the MV,I guess what I'm saying is that is the Phrase one tracks midi data so every track has a phrase or is a phrase like a section in that it can contain many midi tracks data ie,the data of drums,Bass and any other instrument so a phrase could be called a "Chorus" or "Verse"

I suppose its also possible to have like the MV allows to have several seperate tracks on the same midi channel,I like to keep all drum sounds seperate on their own track but they still use the same midi channel and Kit setting,Would suspect with 128 Midi tracks its possible to do this on the Fantom?and once happy with the song would bounce those down into a single midi track,I just keep them seperate for easier editing until the songs done

The local Music retailer where I live doesn't stock the Fantom G so I can't demo it and go through the Functions to get an idea of how it works so i have had to try and find the info from Videos on the net all of which don't really go into graphic detail of how it works so was hoping someone could enlighten me.

[Mystic38]

you can record everything in a single pass, my reference to a "linear" sequencer was that once you have made a recording you cannot extend the length of that particular recorded item (in fantom this is a "phrase") you need to record another then place it at the end.

actually the FG works more like how you use your workflow..
In the Fantom, you record and save phrases, which seems to be like a "pattern" from the MV.. phrase can be any length and contain any number of midi track events. So in the Fg you would record and save the phrases, then put them into place in song mode...your intro/chorus/verse analogy works here

What the Fantom LOST from the X to the G was pattern mode (aka GRID) input for drum tracks and for arpeggiation patterns.. if you use grid mode i the mv8800 you have lost this in the FG

hope this helps

When you say not a typical linear sequencer are you saying that the Fantom does not allow you to record a single track in a whole pass from start to finish,orthat your need to build up Phrases and copy and paste???

The way i work with the MV is that I usually start in Pattern mode and build up say a 4 bar or 8 bar loop,kind of like a section of the song say like a Chorus or Verse section,usually made up of several Midi tracks,(bass,drums,keys etc,etc)then record every pattern or section in the song like that,once all the Sections have been created I will either chain them together using the pattern track in the Song mode or paste them into a song,I guess the Fantom doesn't have a Pattern mode,but does it allow you to build up a song in sections like this and copy and paste as desired does the Phrase option allow you to work like this??

The local Music retailer where I live doesn't stock the Fantom so I can't demo it and go through the Functions to get an idea of how it works so i have had to try and find the info from Videos on the net all of which don't really go into graphic detail of how it works so was hoping someone could enlighten me

[MC808ter]

Mystic

Drum grid is no big deal if its not been ported over to the G,I don't use it to a large degree,anyway so wouldn't miss it.

Seems the Phrase mode works like the Pattern mode in the MV,thats kind of what I was hoping and seems to be what I'm after

In respects to the phrase lengths,what your saying is that once I have commited to a 4 bar loop,I cannot alter the number of measures if I decide to change it after,I have to record another phrase and cut and paste ??is that right?,the MV allows you to alter Pattern lengths in the parameter options even after your recorded,I don't think having to record another phrase and bolt it on afterwards is too big a deal but certainly a little odd given the MV comes from the same Roland Camp?..

Another thing I'm curious about in the G..Can you record a midi track and keep the record in standby whilst your phrase is looping and flip to another Midi track to record,so your not having to stop the machine and reselect another channel,I like to build up tracks without stopping the flow,the MV allows this,so too does the MC808,It something I don't think I could do without if the Fantom hasn't got this,its one of the great things on the MV that it allows me to keep the groove going without stopping and its a fast workflow idea that I really like

Thanks for your input its helped shed some light on the Fantom Sequencer

[tranztek]

The MV8800 sequencer is much more akin to the Fanom X rather than the G, in that you have both linear and phrase based sequenicng and the ablilirty to chain the phrases together into a song. The Gs sequencer has some copy and paste limitiations when in song mode. It is difficult to copy and paste across mutliple phrases. You can copy and paste within a phrase and build up that way but it is annoying. I've used both and think the MV is better as regards to its sequencing abilities.

[Mystic38]

a bit of a red herring there sorry, in phrase edit, you actually can insert or delete measures to change the length of the phrase, then either add data in microscope mode or record mix mode..a bit fiddly but can be done..

as far as laying down tracks, you can loop record in either mix or replace mode on a per phrase basis but you cannot stay in record and skip to the next track.. you need to stop, save the phrase then go back into record mode and change the track..of course your other tracks will play tho as you layer it up.

Mystic

Drum grid is no big deal if its not been ported over to the G,I don't use it to a large degree,anyway so wouldn't miss it.

Seems the Phrase mode works like the Pattern mode in the MV,thats kind of what I was hoping and seems to be what I'm after

In respects to the phrase lengths,what your saying is that once I have commited to a 4 bar loop,I cannot alter the number of measures if I decide to change it after,I have to record another phrase and cut and paste ??is that right?,the MV allows you to alter Pattern lengths in the parameter options even after your recorded,I don't think having to record another phrase and bolt it on afterwards is too big a deal but certainly a little odd given the MV comes from the same Roland Camp?..

Another thing I'm curious about in the G..Can you record a midi track and keep the record in standby whilst your phrase is looping and flip to another Midi track to record,so your not having to stop the machine and reselect another channel,I like to build up tracks without stopping the flow,the MV allows this,so too does the MC808,It something I don't think I could do without if the Fantom hasn't got this,its one of the great things on the MV that it allows me to keep the groove going without stopping and its a fast workflow idea that I really like

Thanks for your input its helped shed some light on the Fantom Sequencer