The New Roland Fantom - the Future of Synth Keyboard Workstations?

[@JeffShuck]

Got one last week, in part because of this video. I haven't been disappointed. Sounds amazing and the integration with Logic Pro is incredible. Seamless, inspiring. Worth it.

[@dizzzave357]

Been saving my nickles and dimes to get one of these and I'm just waiting for them to come back into stock this summer. I can't wait and have to make due with watching videos of it until I can finally have it in my hands. Looks incredible and sounds amazing.

[@VojoMojo]

damn I just want to take a moment to appreciate how much work Jack and the Maltese Falcon put in to make these videos! Thanks guys!

[@penponds]

Renewed my hope for Roland! A beauty!!

[@ryanpink5443]

I was NOT expecting the awesomeness of that ending jam. I read the comments saying how good it was but I was not ready for that drop lol holy shiiiit. Jack, you're insane. Much love brotha man!

[@brufiomusicde]

that ending sold the fantom to me months ago. Thanks Jack, I love it :)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

congrats on the nice demo Jack, pity we couldn't meet up at the launch event!

[@jackduxbury1632]

WOOOOOODY, my MAN!! Thanks my West Country Brother, you did amazing man with the launch video, really enjoyed watching it Sir. Was a bit sad after though when I realised you were in the UK and I didn't get to see you in person, fingers crossed for next time Sensei Xx

[@jakykong]

This video did help in my original decision to buy a Fantom 8 some months back. I really enjoy it -- but I have one real annoyance with the Fantom: Most modern polysynths like the Polybrute, even older instruments like the Alesis Ion, both of which I am intimately familiar with, have _far_ superior mod matrices, where basically every mod source (control surfaces, LFOs, envelopes, etc.) can be assigned to basically every voice parameter (in particular every continuous voice parameter). Which is unfortunate because the Fantom has an astonishing array of voicing possibilities, and with 4 foot controllers, the wheels/joystics, all of the knobs and automation, and the sheer number of LFOs -- having them mostly bound to a small number of bland parameters feels really limiting. I wish I could do things like assign an LFO to an n/zyme shape radius, or send key velocity to attack time on a Zen Core patch (or amp on any of the non-velocity-sensitive model expansions!), or release time to a foot controller. But these parameters just aren't exposed in CC or in the mod matrix to even configure, and it's very strange considering they're adjustable during performance so it's not like the compute power to do it isn't there. The Fantom really shines on sampled instruments - whether it's SN-A or any of the sound packs you can get, but it's not that great (in my experience) for doing ground-up sound design, mostly for combining other sounds. Which is fine, but it feels like it's a firmware update away from going from "awesome" to "the only synth you'll ever need".

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Great to see Roland back, it's a great synth, a D50 meets a V synth for me. But I think the huge price tag in today's market...not so great.

[@MarkGardner66Bonnie]

EXCELLENT presentation...as usual! Showing the capability of this beast and having fun! Well done!

[@seeingwithheart]

I love your videos Jack! Perfect blend of technical info, playing and fun... thanks!

[@georgeray3492]

Jack on the V-Piano is lovely. This is a quick walk through of a really deep synth with one of the best presenters on KZbin. The speed of access without paging through menus and a real touch screen are top notch, modern UI. No demo button might be a deal breaker though. They should load Jack's outro into every unit.

[@youngeshmoney]

This channel deserves WAYYYY more subs, their production quality and reviewing is truly amazing.

[@SamNiverba]

Holy ....... is this real , im blown away right now. this looks Beautiful.

[@david-galindo-936]

Hey Jack! Awesome playing at the end of this one, You were on fire!🔥 👏 🎹

[@alchimerical2613]

Lol that was a sick shred at the end!

[@thefrozensea9314]

Very nice review, I'm glad you showed a bit more about how it works and how it feels to operate, in addition of course to how it sounds

[@OfficialTragicBeatz]

😂😂😂😂Bruh Jack has me dying every video. My favorite channel I swear.

[@effess8698]

3:38 I'm always excited by a nice rear, too. Not sure we're talking about the same thing though

[@Gyrbae]

He's talking about a synthesizer, and I'm guessing you're talking about a magical night in a tent with a guy called Jack.

[@eldontyrellcorp]

When I bought the XP80, the top of the Roland workstations line back in 1996, I went to the bank and began refunding the loan for years. Here, it's almost double the price if I want the full size keyboard ! I'm a little bit afraid the bank will refuse the loan lol. But a fantastic workstation.

[@AGAU1022]

Awesome playing at 24:41

[@DJpiya1]

Roland is bringing loads of practicality to the table, this will be a remarkable product with no doubt 😍😍

[@louishateley]

Shred at the end 🤘🏻and now he feels epic!

[@user-nd6sc8oz2r]

Maybe they should replace the “Demo" button on other keyboards with a "Jack" button. It sounds better to me :-)

[@Justicefu]

haha takin the piss ...writes a dance anthem

[@SB2XB]

Can't wait to connect my Seaboard to this. I was considering Kronos but now I am happy that my Birthday plus Christmas Gift will be this.

[@brianlewis5360]

Looks like everything the Montage should have been. Nice job Roland.

[@555ontario]

Wait until Korg blows both away with their next generation Kronos.. it's due out any time now (I bet) as it's been 8 or more years since the initial release.

[@biggrime]

@@555ontario I can not wait!

[@davidfaustino4476]

@@555ontario Kronos wasn't even the best workstation when it was new..

[@555ontario]

@@davidfaustino4476 For overall quality of sounds with stellar effects and editing options, it really was second to none but it's all a matter of taste. Who else gave you a decent, full on clone wheel organ with full on rompler/sampled synth and top quality bread and butter sounds? Not Roland... not Nord... not anybody but if Roland ever decides to merge their clonewheel organ mode in with their great synth sounds along with their quality bread and butter sounds, (ie: VR organ with Jupiter/Fantom) well, then there will be real competition. :)

[@555ontario]

@@davidfaustino4476 I neglected to mention Kurzweil as they are close in offering the complete line up all in one keyboard but in my humble opinion, Korg is slightly ahead.

[@CaidicusProductions]

Wow! This is a monster of a keyboard. Great presentation, thanks for the video!

[@tristantheuerkorn777]

I love you Jack! Great introduction and final outro! Greets from Germany

[@geoffwebber8272]

Goodness, that’s BIG!

[@obwanz1921]

Wow! Again, KILLIN playin Jack! It doesn’t matter what keyboard you have!

[@BeachBumZero]

Last compilation at the end reminded me of an updated 80s teen movie soundtrack. Nice and smooth

[@Clareia.Variedades]

Does it have an Organ section with drawbars and everything?

[@PeanutButterAM]

Solid rock out at the end. Maybe I haven’t watched enough yet but, respect.

[@robklassenjr3278]

I’ve seen many of your videos and the instruction is very good. Well done my KZbin friend!

[@shogunai]

FUCKING YAAAAAAS!!! I was discussing with the guys in guitar guitar about when a new fantom was gonna come out, and for the sake of a sale they were trying to convince me it still had years before a new one. I wasnt having any of it and got a MODX instead. And now, Im going to buy this from you guys instead! :D :D :D :D

[@VincentXXXXXXX]

I should start saving up for this

[@alphasxsignal]

Looks cool and might be my next workstation etc. Sold my Kronos 2 88key and going to be in the market for a new workstation and this might just be the one. I didn't know they were coming out with a new Fantom.

[@youngeshmoney]

If someone were to combine the functionality of the Fantom with the sounds on the montage, that would be the best keyboard in the world

[@MrBillgonzo]

This think is sick. I still use my Fantom x-8 even though it's a slog to actually use to it's full potential anymore. I mainly use it for it's keyboard (which is still very responsive and dynamic in spite of its age) and how the resonance filter can create some great destructive effects. I'd love to be able to justify the 4k to own this new model...maybe someday.

[@ablesam]

Better to use this in conjunction with your Fantom-X as it still has a killer linear sequencer and you can use the new sounds of this Fantom via midi.

[@Pulse2AM]

Your reviews are always entertaining! Thanks!

[@dosgos]

What a solo on the outro!!!

[@delightmedia1556]

The sound effect at 12:50 when you listen with an earphone. Good stuff

[@85drum]

best demo EVER!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!

[@rahim4411]

Beast! I'm getting the 61 key version. Thank you for the video.

[@naturalrestingface4909]

I can see this selling well to the pro guys needing an all-in-one.

[@omid7182]

that outro was a killer 🔥

[@DaraM73]

Great review skillz, Jack. Andertons don’t pay you enough....At least two bags of bacon fries should be standard rate fare

[@dosgos]

I think he does these videos for fun.

[@Russtopia]

@20:20 Nice to *finally* see Roland doing EFX unit double-buffering like the Kronos (I'd proposed this about 15 years ago on the RolandClan forums before the Kronos even existed). Dual EFX streams, one for 'last patch' and another for 'current patch' should be table-stakes for any synth, workstation or not, going forward. CPU horsepower is cheap, and there is no longer any excuse for any performance or studio synth now to cut off or 'pop' when changing patches.

[@SRDhain]

This was the best demo yet, that I've seen of this beauty. You're enthusiasm has probably sold 10 of them already 👊 One question for you, which hopefully you can answer. Is there a probability mode function on the tr rec style sequencer, like there is on the mc707?

[@Khordmaster]

S R DHAIN i have the keyboard and have not seen that function. Ive owned a teenage engineering opz and it had probability step components which were awesome to use. Maybe they’ll implement in a future update...

[@theaudioeng]

Wow ... what does THAT look like? .... cool vid Jack

[@Skijumptoes]

What...the.... where did this drop from? Daaamn. Just when i was happy with my move to Yamaha, Roland come knocking on my door again. Edit: That price though... wow.. I could buy a 128GB SSD upgrade for a MacBook Pro for the same money! ;-)

[@marktaylor7162]

Seems like an amazing keyboard but - unless I'm mistaken - no tonewheel modelling? Seems a shame because otherwise this would be the complete all-in-one stage instrument.

[@keneokpareke1753]

They've now added it with the recent software update.

[@jmlt-zb8px]

Very montage-like, light indicators for sliders and knobs, in+out audio interface, everything in one mode. Seems like Roland chose the yamaha way over the korg way.

[@tristantheuerkorn777]

jmlt5066 With an integrated kind of Quantum-touchscreen!

[@JM-kb1ei]

Please help me! I’m so new to music production and bought this, don’t judge lol I can only hear it with my head phones or on pro tools. What speakers would be best for live play?? Thank you so much

[@Khordmaster]

Lolita North no judgment lol so are you saying that when you connect speakers you’re unable to hear anything? Are the speakers powered on and are they connected to the main out (L/mono and R) port on the back?

[@stuartdarling1620]

Any demonstration of the quality of the orchestral sounds? As a bread and butter instrument it's nice to have pianos and synths, but for the price point I'd expect it to be good in all areas.

[@narfsounds]

"40 seconds to turn on F-you Kronos!" you're hilarious mate!

[@danielgrace7887]

I don't get it, what's with the Kronos?

[@narfsounds]

Daniel Grace the Kronos is the best synth workstation in the market and eats the Fantom alive... but it takes about 3 minutes to boot.

[@seeingwithheart]

Based on feel (keybed action), features and functionality, which would you buy... Fantom 8, Montage 8, Kronos 88?

[@beesting6135]

Cant lose with Roland

[@flamwork06]

Man I been waiting and waiting for Roland finally! There back! I didn’t like my Roland rd 2000 sounds. These sounds seem miles ahead but for $4000 they should be 😂

[@thatmidlifevlogger4463]

Why? What is the difference?

[@flamwork06]

That Midlife Vlogger the rd 2000 great keybed but for sounds it had a lot of older Roland sounds in it. The rd 2000 does not sound like this new phantom. Even tho in the 88 version they have the same PhA50 keybed that’s in the rd 2000. Having been a previous owner of the rd 2000 I can tell a difference big time in sound.

[@pawelsz95]

21:11 the V-Piano??? Cut out. But even with this the new Fantom seems to be something really great.

[@pawelsz95]

In the other presentations, the piano sound isn't cut out. Maybe Jack released sustain pedal in exact moment when switching sounds.

[@stevehaydon6753]

@@pawelsz95 I've spent a whole afternoon today playing both the Fantom 7 and 8 - and I can confirm that patch remain does NOT work with the V-Piano engine. Works as expected with all other sounds.

[@brianlewis5360]

Steve Haydon Steve. How was the 88 key feel. If you’ve ever played an RD2000 it is supposed the same. I had an RD2000 and I always felt like it was a little too heavy.

[@Khordmaster]

At 12:43 am I the only one who had a huge smile on his face???

[@BaileyHeredge]

Makin some fire on that sequence bit nice 1 jacky

[@ronnymuir]

Who in their right mind wouldn't want an adult activity centre like that! Awesome!

[@elvinlewis4233]

Did they ever solve or mitigate the polyphony issue?

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

Been waiting for the new flagship from Roland! Beast Mode engaged!!

[@Khordmaster]

You getting it? I think I am ....

[@troublesomecorsair]

Imagine if you plugged in a USB controller like XKeys or Seaboard and the Midi is passed to the 5-pin Midi Thru.... Hey, how long does it take for this workstation to turn on, up and running? 40 seconds? That's quite good.

[@peter_smyth]

With the USB connectivity, it would be great if it had USB C, adn used the internal power supply to charge a laptop, so the laptop only needs the one cable to the keyboard, and the keyboard rig only needs one power socket (excluding an amp or monitor).

[@ablesam]

Good recommendation, but majority of the market is still using USB- 2.0 Type A connections so it was only logical for Roland to go with a Type A connection. The power draw is only 50 watts which is not enough to power the Fantom and charge a Macbook pro.

[@avetisk]

“F you Kronos!” Hahahahaha 🤣🤣🤣

[@mikebowlesmusic4515]

Yeah! My Roland FA06 only takes 9 seconds to turn on! Take that Roland Fantom! Wait, umm, oops, sorry.

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Not sure how many people this will be ideal for. I mean, if you’re going to do this much music production, and with a computer screen...why not just use a few hardware synths with a DAW? I get wantin to use hardware - that’s all I use these days- but if I were to get that serious into production again, buying a 3400 synth seems incredibly economically inefficient. With that kind of doe, you could have a pretty sweet mini studio with decent monitors, an iMac or Mac book and some nice hardware synths/keyboards as well.

[@ablesam]

This is targeted at a live performing keyboardist who needs reliability as hardware workstations have a stable OS and tone generation system whereas apps like Mainstage while great has always had problems relating to the constant Mac OS updates which causes problems for plugin developers all over the world. This provides a keyboard with aftertouch, midi controller section, audio interface and much more for a performing musician.

[@EarmonkeyMusic]

Jack is second only to Nick Batt.

[@virtuallyhuman8497]

Cool looking sound panels in the back. Can someone provide more info or a link? Thanks

[@thegerman3480]

Extras the average musician will never need nor even use. I don't see the advantage in paying so much for the 6/7/8 when the 08 I have does all I need & goes to gigs far easier than this heavy beast. Also think my MODX8 is a much better built unit than the 08 but the workflow on the Roland is to die for. Bottom line, I would not be without either.

[@ManZa]

Could you do a release of the new kurzweil pc4? Thx for all your nice videos

[@FlipsMG]

Jack Duxbury has got to be one of my favorite humans on the planet.

[@marcosaurelio9497]

You told in Moxf video that you don't like Collor painel Now,... you like It.?????

[@crazydog2980]

At 21:12 the piano sound is cut by changing to another sound. That should be fixed.

[@ablesam]

That is V.Piano technology. It cannot have Scene Remain functionality because it is an extremely CPU intensive tone generation system and to try to prevent it from cutting of is not possible.

[@Jesoteric]

I’ll stick with my Roland Fa 06 thank you very much

[@joachimkenneweg3326]

I looked up the price, but it gave me crippling anxiety.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Look up the price on the MC 101 and laugh. That may help.

[@dennisristow2102]

I hear ya. At around $4K, it's a lot of cheddar. But my drummer has a ride cymbal that cost $800. Just for a single ride cymbal!!!! He probably has about $2K just in cymbals. A quality Trumpet costs about $5K. It almost makes something like a Moog One seem reasonably priced, LOL. (almost.......) A Moog One may be a synth that can do almost any kind of synthesis, but a workstation like Montage or this Fantom, are studio centerpieces. They are great do-it-all machines and light years ahead of the workstations of the 90's. But at $4K they certainly are not an impulse purchase. The Montage is like 3 years old now I think, so it is about time Roland caught up with Yamaha on it's flagship instrument. Fantom sounds great. The release envelope that Jack demoed without reverb is smooth as silk.

[@Chris.Brisson]

Raise your hand if you lost interest upon realizing you will not be enslaving yourself to purchase this.

[@CalvinLimuel]

Comparable to Montage and Kronos still

[@bhaskarbirru6857]

Price

[@jaidamodar9952]

Why you all are demonstrating only envolops function pls show us other operating too bro

[@AbdiPianoChannel]

It looks good but is it as good as the Yamaha montage or modx? My old Fantom x6 is extremely heavy and that's why I'm Yamaha dude now. What's the weight of this fantom?

[@CARLTONMOXLEYUnknownpianist]

Do you think they are hiding a production small package to compete with MPc studio two And do you think Native Instruments is going to come up with a touchscreen

[@Airhornsman]

14:00 "Georgy Porgy", great song. Oh man, now I need two piles of money - one to buy the keyboard, the other for enough lessons to get some chops.

[@amrsbadawi]

How much is it?

[@ummedgehlot929]

Which country Mededed

[@arbogast4950]

The Fantom is even better now.

[@bobsta]

Roland may have finally delivered a Kronos killer..

[@truthmanifestingtruth]

bobsta not a killer, but competition...that’s it

[@ErraticFaith]

Lol Kronos was a redudant relic years ago. Get a bit modern please, not junk a decade old.

[@bobcatt2294]

Kronos has 9 engines - however the build quality is not like that of Roland/Yamaha. The keybeds on the 61/76 are a bad design. Also the key return spring digs into the receiver within the key causing it to drop after a few years. This is why I am here. I have the Fanthom X8 and was looking at the Kronos. Wanting to downsize by selling off my rack-mount modules for a all in one workstation. When the military starts coming knocking on your door requiring on taking the vaccine (contact tracing) I want to be out of here. So downsizing is practical.

[@davidfaustino4476]

@@bobcatt2294 oooo 9 decade old plugins I mean engines!!! Roland has V-piano an analog filter and Zencore. No competition.

[@xp50player]

Well the Kronos is dead. They never added one engine to it, and look at all Roland has added to the Fantom since it came out: the tonewheel organ, multispling, the model engines, all the PCM expansions with their own banks, several SuperNatural acoustic expansions with their own preset and user banks, the vocoder, additional effects, the n/zyme engine.

[@dirkkeersmaekers4343]

I have the RolandCloud.So,why I should buy this?

[@ablesam]

No need.

[@punkrock75]

Hahaha.... That ending!

[@rcom9880]

No D-Beam?

[@tntills2002]

Thank God!

[@rcom9880]

@@tntills2002 Ok so no karate chopping the air above this axe.

[@stuartwilliams7371]

Think it will be good, tho very expensive me thinks?

[@thehowlingterror]

Great workstation. A proper job...not dumbed down and plasticky

[@ferminmusic6899]

Thinking if i should sell my stage 3 for this??!! 🤔

[@thatmidlifevlogger4463]

thinking the same here. Jack was being a hero today..... Love this video!! haha Must dive into the V-piano thing before I exchange

[@ferminmusic6899]

Yea seriously man! As long as the V piano’s can convince me when i try it out, i think all the features this new board has will be really hard to pass on! especially for todays modern music style. Best of both worlds with the whole integration.

[@tntills2002]

If it can do Hammond organ sounds with drawbars then I'm selling my Nord e6.

[@kanyaugatiejagwo]

Noooooooooooooooooo! This is a workstation, there is a difference...the Nord is a Piano (Programmable Piano/Synth). Quality of sound is vested in a Nord, whereas diversity of sound is vested in this Fantom.

[@pianoplayeh]

Yeah this may have just jumped the Kronos on my wish list. But...why are the mod wheels so far away?

[@DonQuiSjot]

is there a mic hidden in that cactus?

[@karaorkundevecioglu]

the first patch is enough to buy it

[@marcoantonio9305]

Disculpe la pregunta que Cámara de vídeo está usando?

[@abohsukampret]

Roland: Hey bro can I copy your homework? Yamaha: Sure man, just change it a bit so it doesn't look obvious. Roland: Sure thing, thanks.

[@555ontario]

Haha... nice. But it does look cool and Roland has some great sounds and technology.

[@instrumentalistjade8367]

Im a Roland Fantom user and tried it all from the first Fantom Fa 76, fantom X, fantom G, FA 06 and 08.. also an integra 7 user. All i can say about this new fantom, its great if you use it integrated with computer/VST.. Also the new controls makes it better.. but i still need to try it in person before deciding getting it which is i always do before buying a new synth.. in terms of sounds, theres really nothing new on sounds coz the sounds ive heard on this demo can be produced by any other synths/modules if you are only giving time on how to edit your ADSR( Advance delay sustain and release).. Lastly im still interested with this new synth. The outputs and new computer connections are great to have. The touch screen is not amZing coz we know this is old technology, even the korg trinity from the 90s has that touch screen already. Thanks Roland. i dont know if does it have a smooth transition? Hope it does coz you are too late.

[@alexwolf8019]

Ive used the Fantom G for years now, I was looking at getting a FA08 bc I thought it was the only replacement. Then this showed up in my email. How was the FA compared to old FG? would it just be better for me to wait and pay the money for a New Fantom?

[@Elior1030]

Can we load samples?