How many members use the Fantom Sequencer?

[Jost]

BigBoi, its interesting what you are saying. I also got the whole rig (Digi 002 etc), but somehow I am beginning to loose interest in it. ProTools is obviously an amazing recording system, but somehow it seems to 'dampen' my songwriting creativity, which is why I am toying with the idea to ditch ProTools and to look for alternatives.

I can see that many people use the Fantom sequencer and speak highly of it which actually surprised me as I never considered it a serious facility (maybe due to my bad experiences with the sequencer from the XP 50 days). ...but then, maybe times have changed

[BigBoi]

I think for me it would be different if I just recorded other people but I play for a living and it seems I can bang out a track much quicker with the FX. Not saying at all that ProTools isn't hot but I think I might have to say it's not as hot for me as others. One thing I know for sure that alot of the big names (I don't do name dropping) that I have had the pleasure of working with or meeting use pro tools but later on in the creation process. I still see akai mpc's, mv-8000's, emu MP7's and then the tracks are taken to protools. I was using reason for a while because I liked the workflow but have you tried to get a good piano, yeah right. I really like the idea of just turning to a patch I like and hitting record. If most of us think about it that's how it all started any way.

[toom driver]

Bassman,

Just got a Tascam 2488 and slowly getting to grips with it. Its my first recoredr/mixer so nothing quite like jumping in at the deep end eh? Conscious decision not to buy Roland/Boss after they dropped th FS so quick...

Toom! (Forum Member #120)

[btdvox]

Jost I tottally agree with you, I have Digi 002 Rack and a PC (yes PC) I also have a Mackie onyx board- and one nice CAD condensor mic but I must say i stopped using it and am looking forward to the Audio Upgrade so i wont stop my creativity, I find working in a studio even makes me lose my creativity but theres so much to do there then in my house- so much to use in a mix-

[Jost]

bigBoi and btdvox, have you worked with Logic Pro 7 yet?

I meet a lot of musos lately who also experience this 'creativity block' when working with Pro Tools and who have changed over to Logic Pro 7 to regain their creativity. They argue that ProTools is too 'clinical', that it isn't 'songwriter friendly' and that it is made primarily for Audio Tech-heads.

btdvox, I also look forward to this Audio upgrade, but I have heard that it is awesomely complicated and not simple, straight forward at all. Have you met anyone yet who has worked with the upgrade.? I am really keen to know if it is a 'usefull' upgrade. By the way, here in Australia we pay $200 for the upgrade.

[The_Czar]

Give me a crack at it first.

Do you have the rack or the board?

Smoke Club!

[The_Czar]

On the sequecer, topic. I find it to be pretty cool. It takes a second to get used to it, but it doesn't hinder my process too much. Not nearly as fast as reason, but at the same time, I'll accept a little more time in exchange for the vast difference in fidelity, as someone else pointed out.

Smoke Club!

[Jost]

The_Czar, I have got the board, but I live 'Down Under' in Australia, mate - so shipping would be a bit of 'job'.

Also, I'd say the Digi002 board is cheaper in the States than in Australia, as a second hand unit trades here at around $3000, while a new unit can cost you up to $5000 - a lot of dosh, mate. For example, the OS upgrade is $200 in Australia, but $49 in the states. A brand new Fantom X7 cost anything between $4400 to $5500, depending where you buy and who you are.

Music and Cars are dirt cheap in the States, eg Porsche and BMW are cheaper in the US than in Germany - a fact that surprises me everytime I visit the states. The US is definately a funnny country.

[btdvox]

I have the Rack.... I actually am just getting into Synths so i am a so called Audio Tech Freak. Much more known to using DAWS and Mixing- but I think the Audio Upgrade will be easy to use once use to

[Migamix]

...prices in aus......ahh so the Korg Oasis prices are aus. listings the :-p

[The_Czar]

German imports are cheaper in the states?

jeez. Yeah and the digi costs......holy crow. That's a lot. especially when you consider that our dollar is taking a nose dive.

If you have any cool plug-ins, I might be willing to make an offer for those.

Smoke Club!

[Jost]

The_Czar, I have got Spectrasonics Stylus and Atmosphere, but I didn't know that you can sell Plug-ins? I thought you can't pass them on due to 'owners registration'.
Also, I'd say you are better off buying in the US because Spectrasonics Atmosphere costs you $780 in Australia!!

[thunderkyss]

I'm trying to use the sequencer in the Fantom-S more and more. The whole reason I got the Fantom-S, and my AW4416, was to get a way from the computer.
Of course, coming from sequencing in Sonar, I'm a bit spoiled to the way recording is handled. For instance, when I hit record, I expect to start recording, instead of having to approve my recording settings every time. The undo doesn't need to be a three button four pushes ordeal. I push undo, I'd be happy with an "R U sure?" then one more button.
Then when I hit record, and play something on the pads, it'd be nice if it would record to the track that the pads are assigned to.
The auto quantizing of the input, is way cool, can't do that in Sonar.


Fantom-S
AW4416
Now all I need is talent.
Anyone selling any talent??
member # 55
registered 21 May 2003

[Mexico]

"The auto quantizing of the input, is way cool, can't do that in Sonar."

No, you can't, but you can apply a Quantize midi effect to the track in real time, which I think is even better. Don't like how it sounds quantized? Change the settings or get rid of the effect. =)

I've used the sequencer on the Fantom X6. My very first sequences were made on a Yamaha PSR-XXX (not even a synth - it was the keyboard with the big blue percussion pads!). Then a Yamaha V50. Then I graduated to an XP80. Then an FA76. Obviously, the Fantom X6 is a great step forward in terms of flexibility and user-friendlyness.

However, the kind of control and ease of use you get from a software sequencer (Sonar for instance) will never be quite matched by a synth due to the user interface. When you have a mouse (or a tablet), a keyboard, and a screen ten times as big, editing is quite easier.

I guess a lot depends on the user. A lot of people find software sequencing difficult to set up and use. I, on the other hand, find it extremely powerful and efficient. But let's say that if my options were limited to only using the X6's sequencer, I wouldn't complain at all. Well, maybe just give me a faster way to access locate points (markers) and to undo.

Peace!

Mexico
EDIT: If you're using a software sequencer, do yourself a big favor and get a control surface - Tascam US-428's are extremely cheap nowadays! =D

[Hesh_]

The Fantom's sequencer is suprisingly easy to use. I've had my Fantom X8 for about a month now, and have really been focusing on learning the sequencer in the past weeks. I'm used to Sonar. Actually, I haven't used a keyboard sequencer for quite some time (since the middle 90's).

Thus far, I've recorded two full songs...one of them is heavily orchestrated, and the other is an R&B tune. So far, so good!

Hesh