NEW Roland FANTOM-EX: Your Ultimate Workstation, Now Upgraded!

Meet the Roland FANTOM-EX, your ultimate music workstation now with upgraded features! Create and produce like never before with this powerhouse of a keyboard. Building upon its esteemed legacy, the FANTOM-EX brings a plethora of enhancements to the already incredible FANTOM experience.
Join @MarkWatson1 as he guides us through the essential upgrades in this exciting new model.
Learn more about the FANTOM-EX: www.roland.com/global/promos/...
Upgrade for existing FANTOM owners: www.roland.com/global/product...
Chapters
FANTOM EX Upgrade: 00:00 - 00:30
Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) 00:30 - 00:39
JUPITER-8 00:39 - 01:55
SH-101 01:55 - 03:25
V-Piano Upgrade 03:25 - 03:40
New German Grand 03:40 - 04:08
SuperNATURAL Piano 04:08 - 04:59
JD-800 04:59 - 06:16
n/zyme 06:16 - 08:18
DAW Control and Mastering 08:18 - 09:00
Conclusion 09:00 - 9:59

[@Keyboardnut99]

Great board I have the upgraded original give me a sticker Roland !

[@EdDiazKeys]

Excellent!!!!

[@Bashanvibe]

Now I need to download the expansion for my Fantom

[@jjhcw]

Wow! Love it!!

[@Bruce.-Wayne]

Beautiful...Just got the news of this Upgrade....

[@zoomzoom3950]

My new Fantom-EX-6 is scheduled to be delivered 1-May!

[@VegersonLaurido]

I bought the Fantom 8 and updated Ex 1.00 on Roland Cloud. I would like to know if I can update to version 1.01 EX.

[@Dombevi]

is there some sounds of very old drum machine, and juno series synth like the juno 60 and 106, JX3-P, JX8P, alpha juno ?

[@emiel333]

This arranger is amazing!

[@Hannibaul]

What a beauty ❤

[@Khordmaster]

I'm interested in knowing if there have been any changes to the pattern / song mode sequencer? Namely being able to copy and paste clips / rows of clips faster?

[@ThomasSchweitzerNF]

Sadly no

[@oltep]

So aftertouch actually works now?

[@dantewing9723]

Will the Expansion Libaries from Roland Axial work for Roland Fantom-EX?

[@Pianosiano]

User requested features? Users of the Fantom have been requesting that Roland fix the polyphony issues on the Fantom. The current Fantom supposedly has 256 note polyphony max, yet users of the Fantom (2019) have uploaded videos on KZbin demonstrating note cut off (which is not hard to do) on the Fantom and apparently Roland has done nothing to fix the issue on this new Fantom EX. If you go to the Roland US website, it doesn't even list the polyphony amount on the specification page except for the Pads, which is 8 note polyphony max. In my opinion, I think Roland missed an opportunity to increase the polyphony on its Fantom EX flagship and as such I imagine many keyboardists will shy away from getting one once they view videos on the internet demonstrating note cut off issues on this new Fantom EX. Because apparently the only thing Roland did to the Fantom EX is to put some model expansions inside and provided the new studio-grade Shimmer Reverb and Modulation Reverb. I used to own a Fantom G7, so I have skin in the game. I have been waiting since 2019 for Roland to pull out all the stops. Yamaha's recently released Montage M series now includes 400-note polyphony is just one example where I think Yamaha is on the cutting edge of technology. Maybe Roland was able to fix the polyphony issue on the Fantom EX using a more advanced allocation method? Or perhaps more powerful chips? If they did, they sure didn't mention anything on the Roland US website other than the Fantom EX is 'enhanced' with the latest technologies, whatever that means. Are they merely talking about the new studio-quality reverb? I don't expect Roland to reply to any comments, but hopefully they'll actually read them and let their bosses in Japan know what consumers are mulling over regarding Roland's latest Flagship synthesizer keyboard. Thanks.

[@Bruce.-Wayne]

the Polyphony issue was the first thing I was looking for in this update but like you said, no mention of it at all on their site...

[@OulaAntere]

I dunno. I'm a Fantom 6 owner since 2019, and nowadays know what eats polyphony and how to get around that well enough that I rarely have polyphony issues even when layering multiple sounds. I'm way happier that I got the German Grand, the ACB JP8 and the shimmer reverb than I would have been with polyphony improvements.

[@MakeMagic]

The Montage M's "400 note polyphony" isba bit like the Fantom's "256 note" though. Like best case scenario. Try to use the AN-X engine and it's only 16 note polyphony - actually worse than using the Fantom in full VA mode with 3 oscillators active. I generally agree though, this should have been a mid-gen refresh with more BMC chips for higher poly. Especially as it appears to have been priced as such.

[@borispradel1037]

Do you have a Fantom other than the G7? I have one I have yet to fond polyphony issues.

[@Pianosiano]

@@borispradel1037 Me either. When I owned my Fantom G7, which I have since sold, I never encountered polyphony note cut off while using it. And of course the G7 only has 128 note polyphony. So it's very odd that the new Fantom (2019) which according to Roland has 256 note polyphony max, does have polyphony issues which makes one wonder if it really has 256 note polyphony max. Roland says "according to the load" at any given moment. What I'm thinking is Roland may have used two or more polyphony chips that divide the polyphony into two or more sections, i.e. separately, instead of being accessible across the entire range of the keyboard. The Yamaha Montage M polyphony is also divided between the AWM2, FM, USER, and AN-X engine. So the only way you can achieve 400 note polyphony while playing the Montage M is if you use performances/parts from all 3 engines plus the USER section. My hope is that one day the Big Three and others will put everything on ONE CHIP, so all the polyphony is accessible regardless of what sound engine(s) you use. If they do that, the keyboards will sell like hotcakes at a Fireman's breakfast. As it stands now, who wants to buy a keyboard that has polyphony issues, especially if you gig at live venues? Cheers.

[@Rightly_Divided]

wait so by upgrading to EX on my current Fantom, the value of my unit is now worth more?

[@digitors]

Can I update my FA08 to this firmware? How much?

[@Rondo00777]

Can anybody help me. Is Roland Fantom 7 EX and Roland Integra-7 sound module duplicative with sounds? Is a big difference or too many sounds is actually the same? Thanks!

[@garyclement2888]

If I have the Fantom 7, and I want the EX sounds, what is the price to purchase? Looking on the website, I can't find a price in the United States?

[@aalamood]

I think it is 200$, I think they gives discount in case you have enzyme or JD800 expansion

[@roland_aus]

Hey, thank you for your question :) The upgrade is available through Roland Cloud, you'll be able to see the price in your local currency via the app.

[@MJamesIII]

Did they address the after touch issues in the new models?

[@aalamood]

also did they address the polyphony issue, and increase the power of the remain 15 channel, on the current Fantom you can use only channel 1 for ACB and vPiano

[@tonylancer7367]

No, same keyboard feel with "additional sounds" added. 😥

[@yamahamotifxs]

I don't see much point in this Fantom EX. I currently have a Fantom 7 which already includes the EX update. As a user, I unfortunately had to state that many things are missing in Fantom. I'm convinced by Virtual Analog (Model Expansions) and ACB, but still no multi-channel arpeggios and no way to create your own arpeggios. I've rarely run out of polyphony, but that's a real problem. The sequencer would be good, but it would have been better if not only 64 measures, but at least 256, even in Montage. This would also allow importing a MIDI file without having to load it into 64 Measures divisions. The other thing is that the Time Signature cannot be changed until I set the tempo of the song. If I want to switch from 4/4 to 3/4 in the song, the sequencer won't allow it in the next Pattern. Inactive. It is not possible to change the tempo of the songs during recording. One or two things can be implemented in the Piano Roll, for example reducing or increasing the volume, but it can only be modified for one note. If I want to speed up or slow down a song, I want to set it to every MIDI track. This is obviously a basic thing in a Linear Sequencer. I haven't tried it with Montage, but I think the Super Knob can slow down and speed up a complete song manually with the Super Knob. Split into four Partials, the Zen-Core VA is a polyphony killer. It is not good that the PCM and VA sections are part of a Zen-Core system. The PCM Waveform and VA engine would have been better regardless, because polyphony will always be insufficient. The 256 polyphonic thing is just a dream. Roland did not disclose the real facts. If you're thinking about polyphony, you're not wondering how 4 Partial reduces polyphony more and more when you use more voices in a song. The Fantom would be a great instrument if they hadn't taken away basic things that should have been included.

[@SloBloLabs]

C’mon guys, now get your non EX Fantom really fast and save some coins!

[@drummer5015]

Is this suitable for live performance, or just a workstation?

[@flippercool1988]

Más para estudio que para en vivo, para en vivo te recomiendo montage o Kronos/Nautilus

[@roberthollander4522]

Don't forget the JX3-p!

[@BEASTBEATS700]

Does this workstation has any type of mode to play in key scale? Can u tune your 3rd party 808s?

[@djkanyon]

I think it can, i've seen older models with scale function. You know when the guy only plays on a white keys (C major\A minor) and he obviously played in F sharp major which includes a lot of sharps\black keys

[@AR-px9cj]

Excellent video, as usual... I would like to ask you something: I have a Roland Fantom 7 with operating system 3.0 and I want to upgrade to the EX expansion... Can someone tell me if I can go directly from a 3.0 system to the -EX system directly or do I have to first: install version 3.2 of the fantom system 7 to then, install the EX expansion? Thank you in advance, because the Roland people have given me a thousand thoughts and answer everything!! Except what I ask them, it must be that my English is not very good! Greetings from Spain!

[@davidknight754]

Just upgrade.. it turns it into EX 1.0

[@AR-px9cj]

Really sure? I'm frightened 😅, it turns on Ex 1.01 directly from 3.0,... isn't it? Thanks for you time! 😊

[@djkanyon]

I had Roland CLoud and JD-800 and it NOT sounded THAT good. Why? Is it Fantom hardware (dsps, filters etc) or i just carried away by the look of new version of the favourite gear?

[@abdielvelazquez773]

Use to be that software upgrades were free

[@ablesam]

As far as I remember, all the engines in the OASYS that were additional, were paid upgrades, per engine. Just because it's software, does not mean that it takes less R&D money to build stuff like this. Plus, FANTOM EX is a major OS rewrite, not minimal ones like going from v2.5 - v3.0. It takes time, money to port tone generation engines like ACB and optimize them on FANTOM. Montage-M isn't that much of an upgrade software-wise, yet people will sell their Montage, lose a couple $100 or even up to a $1000, and willingly go out and buy. Yet when Roland continues to push the limits of hardware and charges $200 for an upgrade of an instrument at this price point, people complain. Sure, I'd love it if they fixed the after-touch issue, solved the polyphony issues, upgraded the sequencer and sampler (with more storage), but for what users have already invested in hardware, they continue to push it.

[@fishgutt242]

Software add-ons not upgrades.

[@normannormannormannormannorman]

Roland Fantom 6 EX 3999€ Roland Fantom 6 2699€ + EX Update 220€

[@simonjonasmusic8410]

Did the Fantom hardware get an update too with this EX version?

[@Bruce.-Wayne]

it doesn't look like the hardware gets any upgrade according to roland website

[@simonjonasmusic8410]

@@Bruce.-Wayne Thanks man...makes me even more confused about the crazy prices though

[@MakeMagic]

​@@simonjonasmusic8410Indeed. These look like they've been priced hundreds more than what you used to be able to buy them for and just add the EX upgrade. What are we paying for exactly, the new logo?

[@park171]

You paying for the ex update already installed. 😂

[@ChristopherJenkins73]

It says 7k sounds in New EX. The original had 3500? I'm confused here on what all you get other than an EX Upgrades and an EX Under Roland on the keyboard! So... IF you purchase the old fantom and spend 199? You get the SAME thing for 2800ish? Via Clearance Price of 2599.00 + 199.00 Up? so for 2800.00 I get the Same thing they are selling the NEW EX VERSION FOR $3200.00?

[@jameselias]

Strip all the audio out of it and make a midi controller out of this beast. Remember when Roland used to make proper midi controllers!? This thing would be fantastic as a logic controller with my Roland Cloud stuff... I'm not going back to workstations...

[@dutnakke]

Only profiles for Cubase + Studio One? That leaves most of us behind

[@roland_aus]

The FANTOM-EX has custom touchscreen control and dedicated modes for Ableton Live, Logic Pro, MainStage, Cubase, and Studio One.

[@dutnakke]

@@roland_aus Cool - the video made it sound like it was only support for those two DAWs

[@1masterfader]

Love the Fantom. I have the O series. Used it at the Long Beach Jazz festival the past couple of years. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWWUh5ilotp8f9ksi=QwOTjPgcfoQRuTIZ). Can I upgrade if I have the O series? I'm playing the Greek Theater and Requested two Fantoms for this show with a major artist. No other keyboard has an organ with the leslie that sounds so realistic. Also, On the Alto Sax when you use the pitch bend the Sax goes up the Minor scale. Never heard that before. I really dig the layering and the ASDR controls right at my fingertips.

[@SunlightOfTheSpirit]

This isn’t a classic workstation as mentioned here so beware. There is only one reverb available at any one time so the drums, piano all synths everything share the same space which I’ve found very limiting. The sequencer really is a passion killer and the whole system is geared towards putting most of your effects on in a DAW. MPC is infinite miles ahead in terms of automation and sequencing options and onboard processing. There are only two send effects to be used at any one time plus a single reverb or chorus plus one insert effect so most things that you would shape sound in a DAW are missing. Did I mention only one reverb to use at any given time? If you like one word condescending answers on the Roland Fantom user page, then this is your synth. Many have lived to regret it and not all that glitters……………

[@FugaziSB]

When they show you an animation of the piano lid, you know that it isn't worth the money . It's like when they sell a car because the touch screen is bigger... Did you make the sequencer better? No. But hey, did you check that piano lid going up and down!!

[@larrymann1272]

🎉Roland Fantom X…I have this and won’t ever consider getting any other keyboard.

[@Charlesbabbage2209]

Great, did you fix the sequencer and sampler? I rented one for a couple of months and I’m glad I did, because this product is trash for real production.

[@aalamood]

Fantom Is great machine and offer a lot of power for music production, seamless integration integration with DAWs, the sequencer is extremely easy to use, many patches and sound design offer variety of options based on the engine you use, end less possibility ....

[@ablesam]

Nop, same board, new paintjob and sticker with the EX-upgrade pre-installed. You're right on that last part, but this isn't meant to be a serious sampler or sequencer, unlike the 2000's Fantom series. Those were meant to be all-in-one units; this is more designed for integration with DAWs and extensive tone generation capabilities.

[@aalamood]

@@ablesamThat's why I did not specifically said Fantom EX, I said Fantom, I have Fantom X8, Fantom FA, overall I cannot compare them with the Fantom from all the directions, users interface with scenes, connectivity, number of engine, TR-REC, match easer sampler with different ways to perform that etc.., my only issue with it is the number of Polyphony they can be consumed very easy, if you start using patches with 4 parts each on multiple zones, and the ACB and vPiano only available on Zone 1

[@knw397]

So, the original owners have to pay for the upgrades and the people that buy it brand new get everything. We paid full price too. That is very unfair. They knew what they were doing when they released the upgrade first so that people would buy the software upgrade for people that had already bought the Fantom. They wanted to make money and then release the new Fantom EX and get more sales. It is not fair for us owners that have been invested in this since the beginning to pay for something that comes with the new EX keyboard. They need to give us the EX update for free. Roland, do the right thing.

[@ablesam]

Have you seen the prices for the new Fantom EX models? It's cheaper to buy a brand new regular FANTOM and add the EX-expansion to it. It's the same hardware, just a new paintjob, sticker and the EX software upgrade comes bundled. People who are buying the FANTOM EX are getting ripped off, not original FANTOM users.

[@knw397]

@@ablesam I have the original Fantom 8. The original price was the same. I’m saying we who paid the money originally should be getting the upgrade for free. We shouldn’t have to pay for the EX upgrade. It just leaves out the original people who bought it early on in 2019. I get what you’re saying but it is not fair to those who bought it originally.

[@ablesam]

​@@knw397 I get your sentiment, but seeing the amount of effort Roland has put into a product that honestly needs a hardware upgrade to be able to fully make use of the EX upgrade (say use V-Piano and ACB models simultaneously, fix the after-touch on all the models, fix polyphony, upgrade the sampler/sequencer), we are quite lucky that Roland has even continued to support this lineup of synths. This is usually not their behaviour. FANTOM EX is afaik, a major rewrite of the OS, starting at version 1.0 again. These R&D costs can be recouped by sales of the upgrade. Furthermore, this upgrade is as good as releasing a new product, which is why they have left it up as an option, not a mandatory upgrade. Think of it as, if you want a new keyboard, don't buy a new keyboard, just download the OS upgrade. Similar to Windows 10 - 11. I can't convince you of the value of this upgrade, that's up to you to decide. But so far, I don't think owners of the original FANTOM are getting ripped off here, it's an optional upgrade. FANTOM OS 3.02 is pretty much the end of the line for the original owners.

[@zoomzoom3950]

even better, the Fantom 6, 7, 8 non-EX versions just had a price drop too. I have a new Fantom-EX-6 on the way. My main music store only has floor models available for the non-EX versions; getting a new EX with everything pre-installed, new in a factory sealed box was only $250 difference vs getting an unknown floor model + EX upgrade at $199. Not to mention getting a 15% discount! I was waiting for the Korg Kronos replacement release, but who knows when that will be. Fantom EX will work great until then.

[@jorjajorjan3863]

Too expensive to have flaws.. I am reading that a lot users have polyphony issues...

[@ronborkent]

So.... the only thing new is that you do not have to endure the horrendous update procedure? No beefed up processor, no more memory, no better polyphony handling ? In all fairness... it's not as bad as Korg trying to sell you a downgrade as the new flagship and then just for fun make you pay a stupid surcharge (520 euro) for the same version but with aftertouch. Oops.. I take that back....a Fantom 6 costs 3066 euro plus the do it yourself upgrade of 200 euro is 3266 euros. The fantom EX is listed at Bax for 4199 euro's....what do I get for the remaining 933 euros difference?

[@freenfinity]

I am surprised as well, I think accorideng to Roland Manager, you get all the soundpacks, because, there are almost none to install from Roland Cloud for Fantom Ex, so I guess, they all will be there already..

[@ronborkent]

900 euro in sound packs....???

[@freenfinity]

@@ronborkent Actually yes. I counted all paid soundpacks for Fantom and it is 844 eur together + 199 eur Ex upgrade and we are almost in same ball park as new EX. So it is like + - 50euros for that sticker, anything else price wise is fortunately the same..

[@freenfinity]

@@ronborkent Yes, its 844 for all the soundpacks for the Fantom in Roland Manager + 199 Ex upgrade

[@ursullavandenbord2322]

Prices in Europe are insane.... NO NO NO 4199 Euros 4699 euros 4999 euros .... Crazy ! Even M8X is cheaper ..... Insane. Bye bye.....

[@antonioperillo1182]

Absolutely I agreed with you!!!!! Even if Is a instrument for a pro customers the price is exaggerated, at the moment!!!!

[@ItsThatJahncke2]

I'm actually in the process of returning my Roland fantom 8. I did not buy the ex expansion. I can say that the v piano base sounds are not that impressive. I can also state that the string resonance is just plain bad..

[@jorjajorjan3863]

Too expensive What are they thinking?

[@michaelcalderon6693]

Rob a bank europes punishments are a joke lol

[@EdMiran]

It is not Roland that make the Price, it is the Music Store.They pay for the Salaries and Wages of Employees,the Rentals,the Taxation, the Electricity and the Operational expenses of the Store.After 1 or 2 years they will be on Sale with 20 to 30 % Discount.

[@------YeahOK------]

The new hardware?? 😂😂 sneaky marketing right there.

[@TheSouthernAccent]

Crazy expensive

[@csabakerekes3848]

This is not a workstation.....even roland calls it a synth. It should have a linear sequencer since day one....shame that the (now discontinued) FA series trumps it in this regard.

[@penponds]

Or even the Fantom G8/7/6, I’ve got the 8 & a FA-07. The G is excellent for sampling and sequencing all in one and of course has those amazing ivory touch keys. The FA gives me the SuperNatural sounds I can access from the G via MIDI. And I’ve got the Arturia V-Collection which gives me a pretty convincing Jupiter 8 & Juno 8 emulation!

[@salvatorenapolitano6292]

Very plastic piano sound :(

[@------YeahOK------]

As always - unusable in the studio! (I use various Kontakt pianos instead)