How far is Roland behind, really?

[KRE8A]

For the near future, I think IF Roland Corporation / company manufacture a synthesizer workstation (Maximum In built memory chip) with a powerful (maximum specs) In built power processing hard drive system, powerful in built sound card and a powerful advanced DAW (Unlimited amount of Audio / Midi tracks) with unlimited features / editing tools ` example Logic Studio, there will be no need to send music information over to computer via USB / MIDI.
The 21st century - Music production can be fulfilled, edited, mastered and burned to CD (In built CD drive) or bounced to mp3 (mp3 included in the system, DAW feature) - Synthesizer Workstation.
A workstation like this, I estimate between 9,000 and 15,000 dollars.
I can see a futuristic machine like this designed and constructed... in the closing near future by Roland.

Name of K.B. - ` ROLAND UNIVERSE MISSION ` - Just a quick name I thought up !

- Sturdy K.B. shell.
- Optional K.B. choice (Channel after - touch) for hammer action or touch velocity key - bed.
- Accurate feel and accurate motion rotation knobs / sliders.
- Bigger / soft accurate response trigger pads.
- Big touch pad display with optional USB link connection to LCD monitor from Synthesizer DAW Workstation, including maximum amount of insets, H.P ports, mic ports and jack inserts for wiring other hardware devices.
- Powerful in built flat response reference monitors (Detailing dynamics and realistic sound edge adjustments) which can either lay flat, or the option to be able to tilt speakers vertically to musician. (In built universal joint for alternating speaker angles)

- A new powerful Roland DAW Synthesizer Workstation design will speak for itself. Included with an Immense amount of clean produced acoustic and electronic sounds.

KRE8A q:?)

[jahrome]

"Roland is a master in re-shuffling elements from existing products and combining them into one new instrument. "

I believed this at one time. I was hoping that the Fantom G would be an updated Fantom X with the sampling capabilities of the MV-8800. But with the release of only 3 expansions boards (ARX) and scaled down sampling capabilities....its finally time to consider other alternatives with more support.

[SammyJames]

*Sigh* it's sad, but you're right Jahrome.

When you go to RolandUS.com and see that their "featured products" list, at the lower-left corner, typically contains stuff that most of us couldn't care less about (like the great-looking "FR-18 DIATONIC ACCORDIAN!!!") well, that pretty much says it all.

I love this forum. I love the people on it. It's weird, because I've spent most of my life around computers -- for the precise reason that they don't let me down, unlike so many people in my life. But this is proving to be an exception.

I don't know what else to write.

- Sammy

[RevP]

Yeah. I've was waiting for the same as jahrome. I had hopes for a better Fantom-G but I think it may be time to move on. I still have my fantom-x8. It's keybed is beginning to go.

I really like the concept of the motif xf and how it has grown from the original motif. It has been supported well and seems to have evolved well. I was just noticing their new iPad app that has 4 levels of control for the motif xf. These are the kinds of tools we need for our workflow in 2011.

However, I know there are still some making great tracks on the G.

[dbijoux]

These are the kinds of tools we need for our workflow in 2011.

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand the need for more faders, but isn't it just a little novel to control your Motif from an iPad. I just saw Presonus has an iPad app for it's mixers now too. That makes a little more sense to me, but improving workflow?

Of course, I'm sure it look cool walking around the studio making adjustments to the mix.

[Atlas5]

Before we can answer this question, we'll have to wait and really see what's missing or needs updating in the Kronos.

When the Fantom G was first announced, it was just as awesome as the Kronos seems to be now. I am sure people will find fault with it too.

I just hope Roland does not announce some new workstation before I get the Kronos, as I don't want to have to make a choice. Roland, please wait at least two year for a new workstation as that about the time you can have more of my money.

Just remember, the Fantom G is the best workstation out there, at least until I get something new.

[Leh173]

I think my Mainstage setup is flat out trying to do 400 voices! I had to polyphony limit all the instruments I use. Still I have multiple engines! Unlimited FX! And can check my email!

All this is making me think about how I just want a decent action in a MIDI controller again...

[Jan_nl]

Somehow I don't think that this year a new Roland flagship workstation will see the light of day.
Unless of course they had a new concept in mind when they started working on their yet to be released new flagship.

The specs of the KRONOS have made it clear to both Y and R that if they want to come up with an alternative to the KRONOS, they cannot continue to walk in the same slow evolutionary pace that they have up to now.
If Roland has already been working on a new flagship and if they planned to release an evolutionary small step forward from the FG, then the launch of the KRONOS must have been a bit of a shock.

Roland is able to come up with something very unique if they would use their accumulated knowledge of their V-technology.

I don't think that the release of a new workstation is going to happen soon. Then again, who knows for sure what this year will bring?
2012 on the other hand will be 4 years after the release of the FG...

[wudsiba]

I love the fact that Roland have stuck it out with hardware. The V-synths are incredable synthesizers that will be sought after well after they are discontinued. Hardware synthesizers will always be popular. It seems that now its easy to buy used synths and fix them up to run for a long time. Roland suffers from this, but the economy will turn around at some point. Hopefully Roland can weather the storm.

[Nord72]

This poliphony thing is cheating you sometimes, on the K2000 there are only 24 but you can assign as much as 96 osc in the VAST so its not using on every "sound", but for ex on the V-Synth if you use a complex patch there are only 4-6 poly left, while it has 24 also theoreticaly.
I think these numbers on the Korg should be enough for very complex things.

[Daniel Mioni]

I must say something.

I was a FX owner, and like a lot of people here I am an extreme critic. So I only saw that FX was a very nice board after seel it and buy the FG I miss it a lot.

The FG leave the "impression" (LOL) that roland release It on a hurry. Steel not mature to be out on market. I think that this can be for financial reasons, like "we spend too much on developing. Close this pakage and deliver now as it is." :-/ And the marketing from roland is really good. They were great in selling the flag master blaster gold titanium new flagship fantom g. And we got it and start to see:

1- They think that those are the best from srx?
2- WTF are those pianos sounds? Where is FX+SRX02+SRX11 sounds?
3- They didn't nothing about a better rotary fx?
4- I can´t put more then one serial FX at performance mode? With all thes mfx processors or instance (call as you like)
and etc... sample problems Bugutures (a mix of bug and feature) :-p and after all we came to be trolls.. (hey a nice name for a new workstation- TROLL)

So getting back to the point. I think that FG is a great plataform, an have a lot to grow. But as time go passing by i´m convincing my self that roland will came with somthing better then FG this year or next, like fantom s is better then fantom and fantom x is better then fantom s. And we FG owners will continue with our beta fantom something.

I also think that they are having problems with ARX integration. Because they didn't release anything after arx-03 for a lot of time, and we got updating about this on last update OS. (Improve ARX integration or something like that.) And where is the ARX to use that????

Other thoughts:
--We don't have a good choir collection. But you can buy VP-7 uhuu \o/
--We don´t have a good organ like vk7. But you can also buy the vk7 uhuuuu \o/
--We even don´t have lot of Accordions sound. But you can buy a v-Accordion an even diatonic. \o/ \o| |o/ _o/ _o| \o/ |o_
--And pianos? why? get on this pakage one RD or a v-piano ok? "please buy from us". LOL

oh shit... I´m talking too much, but roland are holding this novel too much too. Don´t?

[Dorkas]

The G8 is a splendid machine : I have just link mine with the digital input to my vst instrument and each of them can be recorded perfectly within the 24 audio tracks of the G8. Really I cannot see why leaving my G8 to the dust and buying even a Kronos or anything else. And the G8 just can samples itself ! So one can have as many audio tracks and many midi tracks as possible : All one have to do is to mix them carefully. And only musical ideas count...But I recognize in the Open Labs is more aware of their consumers than Roland. and the Oasys price is going to fall down ! Great !

[kenchan]

blah, my G8 was a splended machine in 2008.

[Daniel Mioni]

Dorkas, I´m not saying that FG is a bad machine. I´ll not stay with FG in this case. What I think that is bad is how roland are doing their "relation" with us ans with their history (about workstation) and those things.

FG came with a lot of good things. A LOT. But they discarted a lot others (WHY?????) and also can do minor things that to us means a LOT. I reapeat a lot.

For instance, If they release a 2.0 version with HALF of what we are asking for here (for years). I will pay for that and will be proud about this.

This is my case only. And maybe others think like me.

[johnc]

roland will undoubtedly be world leaders in Karaoke machines and accordions. but i bet as soon as somebody else goes for those markets they will bail out immediately and concentrate on........ well..... i dont really know.