well i bought the X8 today and I am not impressed

[samrisio]

i think i will be returing it for a korg triton extreme and a motif es module...the piano sucks and the organs suck...not enough sounds...for 2900$..anyone want to try and talk me out of it?

[PoloGuitar]

After you have changed ES8, you can regret why leave X8 originally ,I have used ES and X ,I think the sound of X much better than ES .

[samrisio]

i returned a triton extreme which had killer sounds and i miss it..the piano on the roland X8 is really thin in the middle and there are no jazz drum patternns

[bassman]

Why talk you out of it. ?. .I don't think anyone here is on commission to Roland.
Creating music is about creating music. And we all have our own individual ears. If the sounds suck to you, then the obvious thing to is to go try other boards and find what you like. Then start making music.


Bassman

[nsheldon]

Hi samrisio.

No, I'm not gonna try to convince you otherwise. I'm personally happy with my choice. The fact that others may not hear things the way I do doesn't bother me. But I would like to point out that there is no such thing as a Motif ES module, only a Motif module (based on the original Motif). Be sure of what you're getting.

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

[samrisio]

i have a yamaha P200 88 keyboard and a roland XV2020...there is just not much that the fantom has to offer other than newness...the triton would complete my sert up ..no? a little help?

[nsheldon]

Hi samrisio.

I've not heard the P200, but I've tried a number of Yamaha's 88 key controllers and they're usually pretty good with decent piano sounds. You can get a lot of good sounds from the 2020 as well and add sounds via expansion board. It does sound as though a sound set from a different manufacturer would be helpful. Triton Extreme may just be what you're looking for. Or perhaps a Kurzweil, depending on your tastes and requirements.

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

[samrisio]

i spent 2800 bucks for the roland XR 88 key fantom and i just dont see what the big deal is? i can get sounds from sample tank..use my pro tools and power tracks and the triton extreme groooves are killer ..organs are great compared to roland..and the roland piano is really weak

[nsheldon]

Hey again.

Well, if you didn't have any of that other stuff, the Fantom-X would probably be worth the $2,800. It sounds like you've been listening to too much Roland advertising and got your expectations way too high. The Fantom-X8 is not a miracle workstation, just a tool like all the other workstations out there. It has some differences from the others just as they have differences from the Fantom-X. I personally think the Fantom-X piano is the best you'll find in a ROM-based sample playback workstation (without expansions). If by "weak" you mean that the low frequencies don't stand out as much as some other pianos, yes, this is true.

It sounds like you would have perhaps been more happy with the XR rather than the X8, unless you like the pads, D-Beam, and weighted action on the keyboard (and that fancy color screen, ha). Then again, if you don't like the sounds on the X8, you won't like the XR sounds unless you get some expansion boards. If you do a lot of sampling, the XR might be useful for you too (especially if you plan on using more than 96 MB of RAM and don't want to use your computer to do the sampling).

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

[samrisio]

the piano is awful in the middle ranges...i have pro tools and other sequencing software..i have never sampled in my life..so i dont know what i am missing..i am just looking for a board i can be inspired with for songwriting and playing...can you not hear the tinny sound of the middle C?

[GregC]

sam- your amp or speakers might be the weak link in the mid range of the Fantom piano.

Also go to master effects, the eq section and bump up the gain in the middle. Do the same with Sympathetic Resonance.

My XR is in the shop and I can't be more specific.

Plus nate can advise you on improving the decay on the 4 tomes on the Ultimate Grand

Plus you might be expecting too much, I don't know. I have the Extreme 76 and the XR module, a great combination.

GregC

[dkpcola]

$2900 for X8 is overpaid. FX sounds more "complete" if you have ROM waves expansion boards installed. X8 is usually $300 cheaper than competitors and difference maybe reserved for ROM expansions.
Which sounds better is always subjective too. FX8 keys are better 'feel' to me than the others.
If you are not happy, get something else.
I am curious that you returned tritonEX and you said it has "killer" sounds(???) .. and why??
If you are looking for an "ultimate workstation", it is simply not out there yet and never will be.
Instruments don't do anything without musician's artistic skills.

[The_Magus]

The roland ultimate grandpiano is IMHO the best piano sound
i ever listened from a keyboard.
(having both listened to the triton and Es ones,
they really sucks in comparison).
Besides, you are not going to buy a 2500 $ or so
workstation just for the piano sound, so if you don't
feel the X8 fitting to your needs, then the best choiche
is to change it.

greets

[rbarkhouse]

Man the guys at the music store must love you... buy a Triton, return it, buy a Fantom, return it, hmm maybe now I'll try a Motif...

Maybe you should try out these keyboard for a while in the store to see which one really suits your tastes better.

Rick Barkhouse

[samrisio]

thru the headphones the XR sounds nice...thru the behringer UB1832 FXPro mixer and thru the KRK's it sounds really thin..(piano) acoustic guitar and drums sound great...so i guess i need to tweak the piano...organs suck compared to the triton..and there are not enough pre set patterns on drums or combos..and you know what? i spend 3 grand and the music store guys can get pissed? i spent 6 grand there already this year...sorry...i guess i will have to buy a riton extreme rack when it comes out...and the ES motif for the piano sounds...my P200 kills the XR thru the speakers...what gives?