New Roland Workstation during (2011) ?

[Mystic38]

the thread is "workstation 2011" so your pipedreams wont happen by august ffs.

regardless, the above would be a total fail to me...

an iPad interface for patch creation and editing is unintuitive, unimaginative, cost cutting trendy crap...

there is a good reason why old VA with lots of knobs and buttons have very high resale value... they are ergonomically sound, inspiring instruments to play

[special-k]

You don't abandon the knobs and sliders for the ipad, you use the ipad for the display and an additional input.

[Mystic38]

i read "i-fantom would have a gorgeous touchscreen to mod and manipulate the synths " so i am sorry i have not read the manual for your mythical synth..

You don't abandon the knobs and sliders for the ipad, you use the ipad for the display and an additional input.

[keysme]

Media mogul experts have predicted the demise of the workstation keyboard for over a decade now yet Korg and Yamaha are still producing them currently e.g. the Motif XF and the new Korg Kronos. There has been speculation since Roland announced the Jupiter-80 (sans a sequencer, sampler, and expansion capability) that perhaps Roland is through producing any more workstation keyboards ever again. Computers are now much more pervasive than they were a decade ago too, so in order to keep costs "down" manufacturers at some point might eliminate the workstation keyboard in favor of the JP-80 concept i.e. a synth keyboard with acoustic sounds combined into one keyboard minus a Sequencer, Sampler and/or expansion capability add-on(s), since computers are now vastly improved and can be integrated with keyboards on an expanded level where all the hard work e.g. sample creation/editing, midi track creation/editing and VST'i implementation can be utilized in a more thorough and comprehensive manner than could be done on any workstation keyboard itself.

That said, the convenience of having a true workstation keyboard for keyboardists to use when access to a computer may not be available is hard to deny and therefore the reason workstations are still very popular with the masses and because of it it has put a dent in the Media mogul experts theory of a soon demise of workstation keyboards and they have acknowledged as much just recently in fact.

Yamaha and Korg are still making them e.g. the Motif XF and new Korg Kronos and if Roland has indeed pulled the plug on producing anymore workstations I would be very surprised if that's really the case.

What I expect from Roland in the near future will be a new workstation keyboard with cutting edge features that are on the same level as the JP-80 (e.g. 256 note polyphony a touch screen and adaptive behavior modeling, etc.) but will also include a Sampler, Sequencer (maybe dual Sequencer) and also Expansion opportunities as well. I would expect the announcement at either winter NAMM '12 or possibly Musikmesse '12 but it could be longer such as summer NAMM '12 or perhaps winter NAMM '13.

In the meantime, keep enjoying the Fantom G but if you're really antsy and can't wait that long then go ahead and get that Kronos you've been drooling over and then you can always get the new Roland workstation when it comes out later if you decide. :)

[jahrome]

In the meantime, keep enjoying the Fantom G but if you're really antsy and can't wait that long then go ahead and get that Kronos you've been drooling over and then you can always get the new Roland workstation when it comes out later if you decide. :)

I bought the Fantom G based off what the Fantom X could do and to me there wasn't a better option. I didn't realize the M3 and even the Fusion was capable of doing the sampling chores I needed mainly because they are "fugly." Definitely happy with the Kronos. There are things it doesn't have that I can live without. If Roland can produce a keyboard that rivals it and includes the sampling/sequencing capabilities of the G-Synth, MV-8800, Fantom X....I wouldn't hesitate to give them $3000.

[Quinnx.]

If Roland can produce a keyboard that rivals it and includes the sampling/sequencing capabilities of the G-Synth, MV-8800, Fantom X....I wouldn't hesitate to give them $3000.

they already have.. its called the fantom G..
all they need do is revamp the software and if need be bundle an ARX enhancement

and as far as a workstation being more convenient when there is no computer...

Those days are gone..
practically everyone and their grandmother has a laptop/pc these days.

the only thing that differentiates between a keyboard and workstation is a sequencer..
so we are paying $3000+ just for that?
you get get a laptop for $200 to do this and much more

The biggest complaint with the G has always been the Sequencer and file system..
when you start to add a computer, those limitations go away and the G becomes much more than the sum of its parts.

[Jan_nl]

I agree with keysme's post to some extent.
The hardware workstation has been declared obsolete for many years now, and still people continue to buy them, including yours truly.

Why?
Because in terms of direct intuitive musical operation the hardware workstation still has its place.
For me the hardware workstation is not a replacement of the software DAW, or vice versa. They are two different platforms, each with its own strength and weaknesses.

So I highly doubt if Roland has abandoned the workstation market. The Jupiter-80 for instance could be a great tool for songwriting if only it would have a built-in sequencer.

I know that there may be hope for a great revival of the Fantom-G in the form of a major software update, but I think the best anyone can hope for is a maintenance update. It simply does not make any sense to invest resources in upgrading a workstation which is almost 4 years old.

Anyway, with the focus on developing their supernatural technology I am very interested in seeing what Roland will come up with as the successor of the Fantom G.
But I think Summer NAMM may be too soon for this successor. Probably 2012.

[jur451c]

I for one DONT WANT a laptop on stage with me. I want one board that can do all my sounds/sequences etc. The G pretty much fits this bill, however an update would be appreciated.

[Quinnx.]

For going on the road its nice to have a workstation power house that will allow you to bring your music to the masses in a single unit..

However at production level I think its more productive and flexible do it at the computer level rather than putting all your eggs in to one basket like a workstation.
your workflow will always be restrictive to some degree at that level and then you get trapped because all your production was workstation based not pc/DAW.
When your production level is pc/daw based its much easier and flexible to remaster at any time in so many ways..

Where as when its workstation based your kinda stuck there.

Thats how i see it anyway.

[dark_knight_x3]

not that I'm over complaining.. but an OS update would really be nice.

[Vlad_77]

I am curious and I wonder if anyone could satisfy my curiosity. I have read a number of posts stating that people are waiting for an OS 2.0 update for their G. I am ALSO reading that Roland would CHARGE for an update! Is this TRUE??!! I have never heard of such a thing and if Roland WERE to charge 200.00 USD for an update then I would think long and hard about buying ANYTHING new ever again from Roland. I mean, you folks shelled out a pretty penny for your Fantom Gs and I would think it unconscionable that Roland would CHARGE you for an update.

Kurzweil just released version 2.02 for the PC3 series - for free of course - and it has transformed an already insanely powerful instrument into something even greater!

If Roland needs a LOAN, I will chip in a few bucks ;) I don't own a G but I want to see Roland release this update so that you can make GREAT music as you have been but with an apparently much needed update. But let me ask all of you this as well: could it be the case that like the M3, Roland R&D have realized that perhaps the G, as good as it is, is not what a lot of musicians had hoped for? The M3 was advertised as a "distillation" of many of the features of the OASYS. I have not seen a great love for the M3 at Korg forums, Harmony Central, Gearslutz, or even here in the bastion of Rolandness. So, Korg have released the Kronos (mine is on the way) and I am seeing naturally the prices plummeting on the M3 because the KRONOS is essentially an OASYS at one third the cost.

Out of the gate, the G faced a long and arduous battle. The lack of multi-sampling seemed to be the most glaring omission. I could never understand why Roland would OMIT an important feature that was implemented on their earlier flagship.

So, is the rumor true that this G OS update is something you folks would have to pay for IF it ever becomes reality?

Best,
Vlad

[Mystic38]

there is NO rumour that an OS update is on the way,
and there is NO rumour that we would have to pay for an update that is not coming anyway.

So, is the rumor true that this G OS update is something you folks would have to pay for IF it ever becomes reality?

Best,
Vlad

[muziksculp]

Going back to the main topic of this post.

Will ROLAND release a new Workstation during 2011 ?

From the overall-vibe of various posts on this thread, it seems very unlikely that this will happen. (Although I hope it does happen).

There are more posts requesting an OS update for the G rather than a new, much better sounding workstation (than the G) for 2011. (Which surprised me).

imho. ROLAND needs a brand new workstation. With better built-in sounds ! Which is the main reason I went with YAMAHA Motif XS instead of Roland G. the sounds.

I owned various ROLAND synth in the past, i.e. D-50, JV-80, JD-990, XV-5080, S-770 , they were NOT workstations, but had great sounds.

G-Series Workstation sounds imho are pretty weak, and flat (Sorry!). Hence....

A new ROLAND Workstation that has some cutting-edge modern features, and sounds Wonderful (AGAIN) would be great to see come to existence during 2011. If it does not, ROLAND will simply be lagging behind in the Workstation race.

Cheers,
Muziksculp

[jabberwocky]

Why are these wonderfull sounding patches , not possible with the Fantom G ? I agree that they are not there as a preset, as these are a HUGE mistake from Roland. - actually maybe they intended to program these patches so weak , to give supernatural a benefit ;-) (and the sequencer is so weak for .... )

Just a decent OS is ok . , anyhow ... I'm done with buying Roland stuff , their customerresponse is not existing and I'll be looking in other directions.

(even some fanboys are selling their G's now ;-) haha .... wondering what they get in place, ha , a kronos maybe)

[muziksculp]

By the way, I attended a Korg Kronos clinic recently. Honestly... I was NOT impressed by the sounds of the Kronos. The exceptions are the Pianos, Drum-Kits, and some of the Pad sounds. Most of the synths were average, and the acoustic instruments were ... Oh well, let's say they did not impress me. I think it has more great-specs than great sounds that fit my needs.

I will be receiving a Motif XF7 in a couple of weeks (Upgrading from XS7, which I already sold).

If Roland had a new and great sounding Workstation I would have seriously re-considered getting the Motif XF, but... so far imho, the Motif XF is the best sounding workstation to my ears.

ROLAND was a leader in making wonderful sounding modules, and keyboards in the 90's. The FANTOM line has never clicked with me. The older XV, D, JD, JV, Series were the best in the market (During the 90's) . It's 2011 and ROLAND is not delivering. Hopefully this will change in the near future.

The Jupiter 80 is not what I'm looking for. and is quite a limited live performance targeted product.

For Synths my Virus Ti, along with Motif XF offer a powerful combination. (VA + Sample Playback).