Stop me from returning my Fantom X8

[Roger Fairley]

Just bought a Fantom X8 Ver. 2 last week.
*Came loaded with audio trak expansion. Good.
*Can't adjust output volume using knobs when using spidf out? (Might as well forget playing demo songs through them also, Clips everything, and yes I know you can adjust the spidf level manually in a menu, but to no avial on playing the demos.) No biggie, guess I'll have to use the analog outs.
*Performance patch lists wrong in manual and download?
(Performances are pretty sad considering the capabilities of this board. Doesn't seem like roland spent any time at all on them) They would of been better off just giving us all user slots.
*XV5080 download has wrong information on how to install the patches. (S Patches?) No. Called Roland and asked, support tells me there's only 256 patches for download and maybe the instructions were just ported over from the fantom S. (Yeah, O.K.)
Only took me five minutes to figure out there were 1024 and loaded in 256 into the user banks for preview at a time.
*Pads take on all the effects of the patch you choose instantaneously. That's screwed up. Pads should of been engineered separate.
*What the heck were they thinking with this aftertouch?
(I know about the adjustments) The keys have a pretty good low frequency thump when you play too. Guess I'll just have to turn up the speakers.
*I sure wish I could play a Searing COSM lead guitar in my sequencer and not an organ sound.
*With full Midi function and USB I can't update my operating system without buying an outdated PC card? C'Mon Roland.
*The init patch when using the mixer for sequencing should have been set to different midi channells. Not all channel 1.
(More steps to do)
*Maybe I should just get the Fantom XR and continue using my edirol pcr-80 controller. I'll probably just be playing the patches on this thing live anyway into my sequencing software.
*Any suggestions? Am I wrong?

[Artemiy]

Here are my replies to some of your questions:

> The keys have a pretty good low frequency thump when you play too
It's a real hammer action keyboard after all!

> XV5080 download has wrong information on how to install the patches
You can find a Librarian tutorial at our site

> I sure wish I could play a Searing COSM lead guitar in my sequencer and not an organ sound.
Our FAQ (in the "jump" menu) explains how to load the effects settings from the patch to performance.

> With full Midi function and USB I can't update my operating system without buying an outdated PC card?
Of course you can! No card needed. Again, visit the Fantom-X section of the main Fantomized site: http://fantomized.info/gear/fantom-x/os-update/, read about the USB update.

I hope this helps!


Artemiy.

[da-man]

Roger,

It took me about 3 months to somewhat master this machine and can I say it was worth the frustration, questions and effort.

6 months on and I am more happy with this board then when I bought it which has never been the case with anything else I have bought in my life. I can't believe the stuff I can do on this machine.

If you want everything to work straight out of the box then I suggest you return it. These machines are getting complicated and the more they can do the more complications that arise.(as in any software or programming)

If you are prepared to spend time and I mean a lot of time working everything out you will find you can get this board to do most things you want.

There are work arounds for most problems you will encounter. They have a great faqs sections here and if you use the search feature you can find some answers to questions.

Otherwise there are a lot of great people here that will help.

You can have 256 patches in the card slot as well. Every song you save will remember the patches so if you want more than the 64 user performances than you just make up songs and use that save load button because each song has it's own performance.

And my personal motto is "problems are possibilities" so any problems I have had with this board have forced me out of my comfort zone to find a work around or to do something a new way.

[Roger Fairley]

You guys are right.
I've been playin with this board all day and I gotta admit
the more I find out, the more impressed I get.
You guys here are better than support, that's for sure.
They led me in the wrong direction.
It's good to learn from people who are knowledgable,
especially that slap you with a good attitude when you need it.
Cheers to both of you and thanks.

[bassman]

Hello Roger, and welcome to Fantomized.

da-man brings up a very good point that I don't think gets near enough due. When you save a Song as an SVQ file (native Fantom format) all Performance data, Patch data, etc. is saved. This means you can use a Patch in a Song you're working on, edit the Patch to your liking, and not have to write the Patch to save the new setgtings. Each time the particular Song is loaded, the edits to the Patch are loaded also. Is that cool or what?

The same applies for Performances. The Performance data is saved in the same manner, so technically you aren't limited to 64 Performances.

Yep, there are some bugs with the Fantom. Business as usual with any complex piece of technology. How much it affects you, or whether it affects you at all depends on your use of the machine. There are some very creative members here that have come up with great workarounds. But I think you'll find the bugs and quirks non-consequential when you get down to using this gear for what it is intended for; making music. The Fantom is a deep piece of gear and takes a bit of getting your head wrapped around it. I have had mine for a year and a half and haven't regretted it once.

Have fun exploring, and please post any questions you have (after reading the manual, of course. ;-P).
There are folks here that can and are willing to help.

Bassman

[Krokodilen]

Welcome Roger,

A fast way to get info from the manual is to use a pdf manual and then use the acrobat reader search funktion. This way you find everything related to your query regardles of which section it's printed in.

Hey Art, why can't the tweakbook be searched this way?

[Artemiy]

Krokodilen:

I have no clue, sorry :-/ Perhaps it depends on the type of PDF it is exported to from OpenOffice Writer and from your viewer too.

[Musikman4Christ]

Regarding the Digital output volume, it can be controlled as a master volume output via a screen in the menu options. Check it out. I dont have my X6 infront of me, but it can be done. Pretty neat because the way I have it, is I have my X6 connected to my soundcard PC via SPDIF then, the analog outs of the X6 can go to another amp for monitoring too, so that can also be controlled with the main volume pot. PRetty cool.

Warmest regards,

Musikman

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6

[da-man]

Hey Bassman,

Thanks for another tip.

I didn't know you could edit patches and save them as svqs. To be honest it was there in front of my face the whole time but I never even thought that far ahead.

Am I thinking this through right???
So I could have 16 patch edits stored as a svq then load one of those tracks to start a new song with or use live.

I think my brain is more limited than the Fantom.
Are there any brain updates out there?

[cyrus]

as far as the pc card goes...........at best buy I bought a pc card to compact flash card adapter for 12 bucks. nice.