NAMM 2007! Something to Blow the Fantom Out?!

[KerbyFX]

It's almost been 3 years since Roland introduced the Fantom Series.

Do you guys think that Roland is preparing for somehthing to blow the Fantom out of the water?

What do you think?!

[tzoid]

I am more hoping for a substantial software upgrade of the existing Fantoms, but I dont think that is going to happen. As for other stuff we will just have to wait and see.

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[BigBrotherMotown]

They would release a MASSIVE update for their fantom X series...lol

It would
a)Give people who havent ALREADY bought a fantom a reason to buy one

b)Give people who HAVE already bought a fantom a reason NOT to SELL theirs AND spend more $$$$ with roland...

At the VERY least I would like to see...

1)better filing system for samples
2)EQ per track
3)more Voice type effects or a VOCODER

perhaps they could make a card or something that would take up(let's say) 2 of the expansion slots..I might pay about $300 for it!

[Artemiy]

I think we will definitely see the FABTON-X converter Roland promised and did not get...

[Radek]

I'd like to see some updates to Juno-G as well. Some functions to sample editor would be very nice indeed. Midi clips for sequencer are my other wish. An option to use individual audio pool per song is a very needed thing too.
(a program utility to extract/import/backup songs with used data would be very handy)
In X's sequencer there is option to have every track to be off, using internal sound engine, midi output or both. In Juno-G it's always both and it's forcing to use workarounds.

[Still Learning]

Artemio wrote: I think we will definitely see the FABTON-X converter Roland promised and did not get...

Artemio, you need to get a life man, you could make a lot of money as a comedian here in Los Angeles, with all of your old chick corea material! I think you invented chick! I wish he would post again here once and a while.

Do you think he ever sold his XR?

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When most people go to work they work. When musicians go to work they play. Which do you prefer?

[Diametro]

The rumor is KORG and YAMAHA will introduce new workstations while Roland will sit this one out.

I believe it as Roland has been content to play catch up with the other workstation manufacturers and then introduce features based on their shortcomings.

It's actually not a bad strategy as eventually these new products will lose their luster and Roland can step up with a competitive product with some unique features.



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Roland Fantom X7, Alesis Fusion 6HD, Novation X/A-Station 25, Alesis Micron

[tompabes]

@radek:
I'd like to see some updates to Juno-G as well

I'd be really happy if they just fixed the bugs...

[Doktor Bro]

Big Bro is right.

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Event TR6, Mackie 1402-VLZ, Roland Juno G (SRX-98), SE Electronics 2200A, Waves Y96k, Yamaha AW2400, Yamaha PSR-220, Zoom SB-246

[Project]

Diametro, its not a bad strategy and it is better for us consumers as well. i am more concerned us consumers anyway.

[sambasevam]

They wont release something that'll compete with their own product line, i.e. Fantom X. It wouldnt be a wise move. They'll wait until the life-cycle of the Fantom X (which is their flagship workstation) ends, and then they'll release something.

thats my guess.

The last time roland made a HUGE PR advertising and created an enormous hype for a secret product, said product turned out to be a miniscule amp. In Red. Nuff said. I think they need to start firing some PR peeps in roland. *hihi*



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If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is definitively not for you.

[BigBrotherMotown]

"They wont release something that'll compete with their own product line, i.e. Fantom X. It wouldnt be a wise move. They'll wait until the life-cycle of the Fantom X (which is their flagship workstation) ends, and then they'll release something. "

Personally...I think the "life-cycle" of the Fantom X IS just about dead already. This is surely demonstrated by the rapid drop in price. They are GIVING AWAY a $250 SRX & a $200 rebate...seems like they are almost PAYING US to buy the darn thing...lol.

The Fantom HYPE has worn off and people are starting to see the board for what it REALLY is...a VERY NICE product that excells in FLASH but lacks in FEATURES.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my fantom...it does EVERYTHING I expected it to do, but there are many areas that can be improved upon, some of which were INCLUDED in OLDER models (like the click output on my XP80...which came out in 1996) Roland needs to address this or they will be losing faithful customers as SOON as one of the OTHER manufacturers "One Ups" them


PEACE

[sambasevam]

Then, by your statements, if the life cycle is about to die Roland wouldnt worry about using their R&D money to develop an update for a product thats almost dead. It would seem to be a waste of money to invest money on the Fantom X's development, because it is too risky of an investment considering that the Fantom X is outdated (by your assumption) and they'd be spending money trying to update something thats almost dead. In that case, one can expect Roland to release a new workstation this NAMM.

Not suprisingly, other manufacturers have also done the same. Korg is giving away a FREE MOSS expansion board, that costs 600 dollars itself, and a 200 dollar rebate. So you get a triton extreme for 1700, + a free MOSS board.

Same with the Motifs. There's a price drop on the Motif ES. However, yammie doesnt seem to be giving anything free. So, currently, Korg seems to be in a hurry to sell as many triton EXs as possible. Hmm...



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If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is definitively not for you.

[BigBrotherMotown]

First of all...I NEVER said that the fantom was outdated...However I DID say that it lacked certain features that were included in products that were 10 years old...

Modern technology moves at a RAPID pace...I am SURE you know this. Most products that hit the electronics market ARE either MUCH cheaper or BEHIND the curve in about 5 years time, not that the technology itself is "obsolete" but due to the fact that there are ALWAYS NEW products hitting the market and technology is ALWAYS moving foward wether WE are or not...lol. My point was NOT to slander the Fantom x NOR to say that it was a useless piece or gear. I KEPT my XP80 as OLD as it is, it is STILL reliable and therefore it serves its purpose. I doubt I will EVER get rid of it.

Actually if you think about it...an UPDATE would be a GREAT way for roland to RAISE funds for the Research and release of the next "Big Thing" and at the SAME time would appease a LOT of DISGRUNTLED Roland customers (Not Me Personally) who might otherwise NEVER purchase another ROLAND Product. I am sure an update similar to the one I mentioned would be CHILDSPLAY for programmers to create (Provided that the hardware can support it) The TECHNOLOGY ALREADY EXISTS...it's not like they would have to spend lots of $$$$ on Research to CREAT some TOTALLY NEW feature...

I cant speak about the other manufacturers but it seems that the people at KORG have realized that it really doesn't matter how SPECIAL the "Moss Board" is if nobody buys Motifs...lol. The Keyboard Workstation market has been DOMINATED by 4 Companies for the last 30 years or so...and the market is getting MORE crowded...

Maybe Roland IS working on the next Flagship workstation...but if you think that Roland WON"T lose customers because of the LACK of support for and seemingly "UnConcerned" Handiling of the Fantom X series, you are sadly mistaken....

Like I stated before...I Love my Fantom X6...It does EVERYTHING it is supposed to do. At the time that I bought it, it was the BEST board available IMHO with the features that I wanted that I could afford (and I don't mind spending $$$ on gear but I don't want to waste it either...lol)

All I am saying is that Roland, being the Billion dollar Corporation that it is, CAN do better, and SHOULD do better...what remains to be seen is if they WILL do better.

PS.
Sorry if this post or any of my other posts "RUB" you the wrong way....I'm Just Speaking my mind...


PEACE
Sean G