Workstation dilemma
Forum rules
READ: VSE Board-Wide Rules and Guidelines
READ: VSE Board-Wide Rules and Guidelines
-
- Expert Member
- Posts: 1198
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:24 pm
- Real name: Gilles
- Gear: Roland Fantom X7 with Ultimate Keys expansion, Yamaha TX802, Roland JP-8080, Tascam DP-24SD.
- Location: SE England
Workstation dilemma
I am trying to save space in my tiny home studio and am considering replacing my mint Roland Jupiter 50 and my CME UF8 controller keyboard with a single 88 weighted keys (essential) second-hand workstation without spending any cash at all if possible. It is not just a sound source I am after and I hate software.
I have looked at demos of the Yamaha Motif and Korg Triton but I'm not mad about the sounds. I have also looked at demos of the Roland Fantom X8, which is more to my liking feature-wise but the large majority of the demos focus on the piano and bread-and-butter sounds and do not really show what the synth engine can do. I don't program sounds much nowadays and tend just to modify presets so I need something versatile to start from.
Has anybody had any experience with the Fantom X8? Is there another workstation I should consider?
Thanks.
I have looked at demos of the Yamaha Motif and Korg Triton but I'm not mad about the sounds. I have also looked at demos of the Roland Fantom X8, which is more to my liking feature-wise but the large majority of the demos focus on the piano and bread-and-butter sounds and do not really show what the synth engine can do. I don't program sounds much nowadays and tend just to modify presets so I need something versatile to start from.
Has anybody had any experience with the Fantom X8? Is there another workstation I should consider?
Thanks.
GC
Re: Workstation dilemma
A korg kronos X. Best synth engine on a workstation
-
- Expert Member
- Posts: 1198
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:24 pm
- Real name: Gilles
- Gear: Roland Fantom X7 with Ultimate Keys expansion, Yamaha TX802, Roland JP-8080, Tascam DP-24SD.
- Location: SE England
Re: Workstation dilemma
Sounds good but way out of my £800 - £1,000 budget.ravenmek wrote:A korg kronos X. Best synth engine on a workstation
GC
-
- Junior Member
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 1:56 pm
- Gear: juno106 korg ms20 roland vsynth yamaha an200 yamaha tx81z boss sp303 boss sp505 roland sp606 roland mc909 zoom st224
Re: Workstation dilemma
maybe this could interests you someway
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 19&t=76079
http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 19&t=76079
- Z
- Synth Explorer
- Posts: 3545
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:08 am
- Gear: Bubble wrap, Styrofoam, boxes, packing tape
- Location: Docking Bay 94 (Dallas, TX)
- Contact:
Re: Workstation dilemma
I've had 2 Roland Fantom X6s (same sound engine as X8) since 2007 and totally dig them. The stock sounds are pretty decent and I have Ultimate Keys expansion boards in both which add additional synth sounds. There are 4 knobs just to the left of the screen that, among other things) allow you to instantly change filter cutoff, resonance and attack and release of amp envelope.
I haven't done any hard core programming since it does require menu diving and mostly tweak preset sounds. I have dug into programming, which isn't too difficult, but never made anything I wanted to save.
I can make a demo video of the Fantom X sounds, just need to know what sounds you are interested in hearing.
I use the X6's arpeggiator a lot both for internal sounds and external MIDI synths. The Fantom X series also has external audio input which you can use to process other gear with the Fantom's multi effects processor and you can even record up to 8 stereo audio tracks in conjunction with its 16 track MIDI sequencer (can sequence both internal sounds and external MIDI gear).
I haven't done any hard core programming since it does require menu diving and mostly tweak preset sounds. I have dug into programming, which isn't too difficult, but never made anything I wanted to save.
I can make a demo video of the Fantom X sounds, just need to know what sounds you are interested in hearing.
I use the X6's arpeggiator a lot both for internal sounds and external MIDI synths. The Fantom X series also has external audio input which you can use to process other gear with the Fantom's multi effects processor and you can even record up to 8 stereo audio tracks in conjunction with its 16 track MIDI sequencer (can sequence both internal sounds and external MIDI gear).
youtube.com/zibbybone facebook.com/ZsFlippinGear
Re: Workstation dilemma
How about the Roland FA-08? Might fit your néeds perfectly
- glassofwater
- Newbie
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 2:06 am
Re: Workstation dilemma
Why do you need 2 of them?Z wrote:I've had 2 Roland Fantom X6s (same sound engine as X8) since 2007 and totally dig them. The stock sounds are pretty decent and I have Ultimate Keys expansion boards in both which add additional synth sounds. There are 4 knobs just to the left of the screen that, among other things) allow you to instantly change filter cutoff, resonance and attack and release of amp envelope.
I haven't done any hard core programming since it does require menu diving and mostly tweak preset sounds. I have dug into programming, which isn't too difficult, but never made anything I wanted to save.
I can make a demo video of the Fantom X sounds, just need to know what sounds you are interested in hearing.
I use the X6's arpeggiator a lot both for internal sounds and external MIDI synths. The Fantom X series also has external audio input which you can use to process other gear with the Fantom's multi effects processor and you can even record up to 8 stereo audio tracks in conjunction with its 16 track MIDI sequencer (can sequence both internal sounds and external MIDI gear).
- Z
- Synth Explorer
- Posts: 3545
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:08 am
- Gear: Bubble wrap, Styrofoam, boxes, packing tape
- Location: Docking Bay 94 (Dallas, TX)
- Contact:
Re: Workstation dilemma
I have one at home and one at my furniture shop.glassofwater wrote:Why do you need 2 of them?Z wrote:I've had 2 Roland Fantom X6s (same sound engine as X8) since 2007 and totally dig them..
youtube.com/zibbybone facebook.com/ZsFlippinGear
- _seph
- Junior Member
- Posts: 244
- Joined: Sun Dec 24, 2006 4:38 am
- Real name: Joseph
- Gear: Full OCP binary cyborg technology
- Location: Iowa
Re: Workstation dilemma
I'm not a workstation guy but I have experience with most and the Fantoms are probably my favorite, they sound great and always felt the most intuitive. although if you'd like a runner up perhaps check out Korg's M3 as it is much nicer than the Triton and can be expanded with the Radias.
another option is the Alesis Fusion although this one I've never touched but being more of a synth by having a VA and physical modeling engine, it is the only one I've been tempted to pick up.
another option is the Alesis Fusion although this one I've never touched but being more of a synth by having a VA and physical modeling engine, it is the only one I've been tempted to pick up.
-
- Expert Member
- Posts: 1198
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:24 pm
- Real name: Gilles
- Gear: Roland Fantom X7 with Ultimate Keys expansion, Yamaha TX802, Roland JP-8080, Tascam DP-24SD.
- Location: SE England
Re: Workstation dilemma
I have just watched a few demos. It's not bad either. I will get hold of the manual and check out all of its features.Hugo76 wrote:How about the Roland FA-08? Might fit your néeds perfectly
Last edited by gcoudert on Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
GC
-
- Expert Member
- Posts: 1198
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:24 pm
- Real name: Gilles
- Gear: Roland Fantom X7 with Ultimate Keys expansion, Yamaha TX802, Roland JP-8080, Tascam DP-24SD.
- Location: SE England
Re: Workstation dilemma
I'll have a look at that one too; thanks!_seph wrote:perhaps check out Korg's M3.
GC
-
- Expert Member
- Posts: 1198
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:24 pm
- Real name: Gilles
- Gear: Roland Fantom X7 with Ultimate Keys expansion, Yamaha TX802, Roland JP-8080, Tascam DP-24SD.
- Location: SE England
Re: Workstation dilemma
If you can spare the time and effort, yes please! I would like to hear pads (other than strings and synth strings), synth bass, synth leads, pulsating patches, arpeggios, etc. How easy is it to create your own arpeggio patterns on the Fantoms? On the JP50, I have to create a sequence in Cubase, save it as a MIDI type 0 file and transfer it to the JP via a USB flash drive (memory pen).Z wrote:I can make a demo video of the Fantom X sounds, just need to know what sounds you are interested in hearing.
Another question (I have yet to look at that section of the manual): is it possible to create and save drum patterns using drum samples and the sequencer via the drum pads? If so, would the Fantom be a suitable replacement for my ageing Roland R8?
Thanks!
GC