Roland FA-06 Synthesizer: The Ultimate All-In-One Workstation

Roland's new FA-06 synthesizer is a highly-evolved redesign of the music workstation; Streamlined for effortless real-time power, ultra-fast workflow, and maximum versatility.
Ready to support any type of music you play, the FA-06 is packed with a massive sound collection inherited from the flagship INTEGRA-7, a ton of studio-quality effects, and expressive real-time controls, plus onboard sampling with zero load time for instant audio playback from the 16 backlit pads.
The sequencer features simple operation and non-stop loop recording, letting you capture songs and ideas as they come and export them as multitrack data to use with your DAW.
Flowing seamlessly into every part of your creative world, the FA-06 morphs instantly from a standalone keyboard to become the command center of your computer music studio, with USB audio/MIDI interfacing, powerful real-time controllers, DAW transport controls, and much more.
Follow us at blog.rolandcorp.com.au for detailed article series on the Roland FA-06 Workstation
For more information on the FA-06 - Click here:
www.rolandcorp.com.au/products...
For more information on the FA-08 - Click here:
www.rolandcorp.com.au/products...

[@asadali2311]

Not too often we come across with such a great reviewer. A huge applause for you 🤗

[@easyvivo]

Sir.... your voice is so clear and I would not doubt that you are also a sportscaster and a TV announcer. Great demo so clear, concise and unequivocal. Thanks Ed

[@TheRPace]

Mark Watson, that was an awesome audition of this keyboard. I too am sold based on your demonstration!

[@MarkWatson1]

Roy Pace Thanks Roy. The FA series is awesome. 😊👍🎹

[@alancummings5651]

Such a fantastic demo of this awesome and unappreciated workstation keyboard synth.

[@Philigrane5993]

Great FA review. Perhaps the best ever seen on the web. Ty Sir.

[@laywiss]

The best review i saw for this keyboard. Well structured and very clear. Thx!

[@galwaytribesman9289]

5:28 is absolutely glorious

[@setphaser]

Roland Australia videos are by far the best quality, informative, engaging, fast and high function. Great work

[@thesoundzweddingpartyband9276]

just bought a fa 08 is there any other videos that you would recommend thanks.

[@danslick3602]

This was an excellent demo. Well thought out and superb execution. Thanks for making it easy and understandable.

[@roland_aus]

thanks for the positive feedback Dan!

[@user-ro2tq6yh7w]

The demo is really cool.

[@MIDIFilesMP3BackingTracks]

Thank you Roland for remembering the most powerful part of a workstation - The MIDI Sequencer !!! Download your Hit Trax MIDI backing tracks straight into your Roland FA-06 Synthesizer and make some great music ! Cheers, John Ialuna (Hit Trax MIDI Backing Tracks)

[@TorBruheim]

Awesome demo. Thank you. Skills are more important than the instrument itself. I am convinced that you should be able to create a equality convincing demo from the juno workstations because of your skills. That said, this particular instrument will give us lots of help in creations of good music, but we should still learn scales and chords :) I will buy the new fa07 after seeing this demo.

[@thebmusproject]

Looks Great!

[@TheRealNewBlackMusic]

After our disappointment with the Juno gi it would be difficult to roll with Roland again at this price point!

[@markfennah4322]

Fantastic ❤ thanks for a great exposition

[@psychoticgiraffe]

0:18 the final boss music to sexy sax man: the game

[@giorgiozeregaelectronicdjp1305]

a beautyfull synth i really luv it

[@mr.t-klas8282]

Fantastic machine!!!!

[@herbertwhite8695]

Got this board two weeks ago. Really cool really nice,and great price to. I have the X8. And the Juno DS8. Kronos, and MOD8. THANKS Again Roland.

[@arturomma8560]

what roland has better sound quality, Juno DS or FA 06?

[@synthlad6842]

So I bought my JD-Xi in 2015 not only because you shredded on it but Ed Diaz made me laugh so much and have a good time! I've been posting my music on social media the last couple of years and actually have accumulated a decent following! Its time for me to take the training wheels off and get the FA-06! Seriously I'm still an amature and wanted to get a separate theremin to pair with my JD-Xi but this! This is everything I've been looking for! Stylish goatee my dude! Love the Tony Stark vibe! 👌

[@claudevieaul1465]

Just ordered one in the limited edition: all black!! 🤘😎🤘🖤🎹🖤 #blackkeysmatter

[@freddyperezmusicentertainment]

Great post, video

[@dirklentfer383]

LOVE IT

[@alfredoprila1280]

awesome!!!

[@Dozantv]

Great one

[@michaeltrenier]

A like just FOR THE PLAYING. Great demo. #FREEAUSTRALIA

[@RazorStudios46]

got it luv it keep it purfect.

[@LFOVCF]

The sequencer can be set to control an external synth, eg Bass station 2, and then route the input of the BS2 back into the 06, through internal fx, and sampled on a pad.

[@quintinwright8487]

Just ordered one today can't wait

[@DutchCrunch333]

How you liking it? I'm loving mine dude, making some fun traxks!!

[@quintinwright8487]

@@DutchCrunch333 ended up getting rid of it because I couldn't figure it out

[@DutchCrunch333]

@@quintinwright8487 it's taken me quite a while but I have it figured out. It does a whole heck of a lot! 🍻

[@quintinwright8487]

@@DutchCrunch333 u seem like u know about keyboards so I have a question how do I use the sounds I have on the keyboard when it's plugged into FL studio mobile

[@DutchCrunch333]

@@quintinwright8487 watch all of Ed diazs videos on the FA06/08 , many times, I have had it a year and it's taken many hours to get proficient enough to work my way around. Nothing I type here will be more informative than Ed's videos. Good luck 🥂

[@imuzikworkstation3530]

i m sold..will be coming soon

[@cdanny74]

ty for all u great

[@deanbr6ndo70]

Some of the comments on here make me laugh.let me tell you somethin,I've had this keyboard 3 days now and I can honestly say it simply amazin.you absolutely can create full on electronica,dance,classical,70s and 80s.you just got to delve in and get to know it.roland realy have thought of everythin to make it as easy as poss.

[@LFOVCF]

+deano “deano1970” brand EXACTLY! (I have one too, and for £800, it ticks boxes and then some!)

[@Racingheartrecords]

Can you sequence different sections of a song in patterns that you chain together?

[@ashutoshsahu7925]

Great fingering.....god bless uhhhh

[@gregoryuselman4074]

Well this is s smart little machine. I just might need it.

[@RayyMusik]

Hey mate, you just sold another FA-06! :)

[@shaneowen3290]

I've got to have one

[@DanielRenegar]

Favor, at 5:30 you play the landscape. What tones where used to make that sound. Real nice. Thanks!!

[@FrancoFFGuitarist]

Could you put some tutorial how to sequence in Roland FA

[@bojantannasi2366]

What would be nice is if Roland made the Fa-06/08 sampling capability better kind of like the older Akai samplers or W30 so you could use the keys not only the pads. Also precise onboard chopping samples.

[@calebreid4398]

The fa is good looking keyboard as well as sound good

[@kam1st971]

Brilliant Demo! No fish smell here! 😉

[@like-icecream]

I want all of this with a jd-xa all together.

[@Marat1ish]

Hello there! Can you help me and tell me how to find a Theremin sound in the library of this workstation? I have a-Roland Fa-08, and in it I looked at all-2000 sounds, but I could not find the pure sound of the Theremin!( Only just-similar to him!

[@MrEyardibi]

There is a bug in FA series and not resolved. In STUDIO SET mode, I have 16 track (Part). An Expression pedal is used to adjust the volume of the selected part and working good. When I was playing in Part 1, I dim the volume with the EXP. Pedal and without releasing the key notes, I change the Part from Part 1 to Part 2, and suddenly the volume of Part 1 turned to its original value. This is a big problem in live and no solution found in any forum. All user having problem is looking for a firmware update. Thanks Roland

[@Arjetube]

4:04 Bloodhound Gang - The Bad Touch xD xD xD

[@alienorbiter]

I'd appreciate input.

[@airy9993]

im just thinking, do this keyboard able t play vanilla twilight perfectly with effects exactly the same?

[@Eisenwald64]

Does it seem likely that in the future you would develop an expanded version of the Fa-line like Korg did with the Kronos and the Kronos-X? I ask because of the things I've heard concerning lack of aftertouch, some of the sounds being somewhat sub par (though Axial has fixed that problem), lack of other unique features (like Karma Lab, though it's a bit of a stretch), feeling like a step down from the Fantom-G, and a few other things. Expanding the Fa in the future could make it a bigger competitor to the Krome, Kross, MOXF, MM6/8, and other workstations. Is there a way to convert Soundfonts and other formats to Fa format? All this, however has NOT affected my interest in buying one of these; essentially an Integra-7 minus some sounds but can export and import sounds into each other, with a sequencer and keypad, and for a lower price sounds like an awesome deal. It also sounds impressive and has great Axial expansions. I just wonder if there are other selling points as well, like the Mobile Studio Canvas coming with Sonar LE. Same concern with the GW-8, which also looks like a good prospect. Can you make videos about making custom sounds for the Fa, or recording external sounds or midi into it?

[@charlesmccormick2625]

FA is a very deep immersion music tool; need more wood-shed focus work here!

[@ma12he34sh56]

Can imported samples be assigned to keys (not only pads) just like XPS-30?

[@user-uy3bq6lx2z]

Здравствуйте! Я приобрёл FA 08 три года назад. Вы не подскажете почему через некоторое время, около года использования использования этого синтезатора (DAW), неожиданно вдруг пропал сигнал из выхода SUB OUTPUT? Как его можно восстановить? ( то есть при подключении наушников в этот разъем звука нет вообще, и при подаче на любой электронный девайс тишина).. Я уже делал возврат к заводским настройкам, но это не помогло..

[@LOFI911]

Roland after 1,5 year has released a new system update 1.03 for Roland Fa series with bug fixes and its new 'additional function': Support for the ONKYO UWF-1 Wireless USB Network Adapter is like a slap in the face to all Roland FA users. THanks Roland for listening to your users' requests.

[@tgchan]

LOFI911 Care to explain it?

[@isaaccaban861]

4:50-5:00 sound like a dvd intro 😭

[@damian-795]

You are a very talented man and can handle this baby like a pro. I just brought one and am completly confused 😫😥😍😍😎

[@rolandgerard6064]

Take your time and enjoy the process. It’s a great board.

[@licenciadolagarcheta2981]

Genius

[@Arikansinan]

There is a bit of delay at sound when you press notes. Is it because of video format?

[@samueladams7]

Can it make the same sound as in the lead for THE FINAL COUNTDOWN?

[@7saigon5]

What about Ableton Live? Does it support as well?

[@sabadoadrianovich]

Can i trigger a MP3 song of 3 minutes or more on Roland Fa? Have time limits of Samples audio?

[@LightShadow]

Bought the FA-06 today and wanted to share some of my 1st impressions and thoughts: 1. Roland fails to mention (except in small letters) that the sampler waves may not be used for patches. (non issue for me as I do not intend to sample) 2. They say '2000 opatches derived from Integra' but actually - there are 1300 Integra + 700 very old PCM (from the 90s synths like XP and XV) 3. FA-06 keyboard is very plasticky - Even my lousy KORG TR76 plastic keys feel better. I also have a Behringer USB midi controller which feels much better. EDIT: I CHANGED MY OPINION QUITE QUICKLY - THE FA FEELS WAY BETTER. Forgot to modify this opinion... 4. Many of the 2000 patches sound almost the same - many pads and organs just sound as if only a single parameter was modified between them 5. The graphical UI is great (compare to my Motif ES6 & Korg TR76) Very easy to manage and navigate. 6. As far I could see - no leslie simulation (correct me if Im wrong) 7. Since this is not my only synth I have no regrets for buying it _ I already heard it sounds shallow and ineed In the 1st round of playing I felt that most of the patches needed some compression on them. 8. This is a great synth - and I hope to discover more cnadies in it.

[@dmixmusicstudio6386]

+nirsul bad keybed in short? compare to krome keybed ?

[@marike1100]

+nirsul The keybed actually feels very good, very responsive, easy to play fast on, similar to an Roland's excellent A-49 controller. Obviously the keys are plastic like EVERY synth keyboard ever made, but not cheap or noisy like a budget Behringer midi controller. Look up the reviews for the Roland A-49, you'll find it has some of the best online. It absolutely blows away most Korg synth action boards and budget midi controllers.

[@LightShadow]

+Markus Arike I fixed my opinion - you are right - the Keyboard is great.

[@marike1100]

nirsul No problem. I've worked with the FA-08 quite a bit, so when I went to Sam Ash thinking I wouldn't like the FA-06 keybed, I was pleasantly surprised. The keys seem a wee bit smaller than some other synth keys, but they are quiet and SO easy to play fast on, I really, really like them! In fact I like them more than the slightly noisy "semi-weighted" keys on my midi controller, I'm thinking of picking up an FA-06. It's a great board. Enjoy.

[@oggfish]

+Light&Shadow Another thing to mention is that the fill-in function of the rhythm pattern player only triggers after 2 bars which is very hard to handle. Also, only 20 user rhythm banks availeble which is very few.. Songs cannot be loaded through midi sysex triggers. If you want to load different sample banks in a live situation you have to manually load them.. Regretting to buy it? NOT AT ALL. You get so much out of this machine for the price it`s freaking amazing! This was hands down the most easy to program synth i bought sofare and it sounds amazing! I did not even have to read the manual.You can get very usefull extented sound banks from axial website for free!

[@raymondgeorge6152]

Hi Mark, kindly say does Roland FA_06 as got styles inbuilt. Can it be loaded styles by pendrive ur reply. Regards

[@DivyaSanjay99]

Hi, i want to know How to increase SAMPLING BANK in Roland FA 06

[@redmusichouse]

Are all of the rotary knobs assignable to control midi?

[@darianangervil9878]

this really blows me up even though I am minor but I need moooooonnnneeeeey

[@theszecretszecret1431]

niceeeeeeeeeee

[@LeDungProducer]

good

[@mirkomontaldo]

is the arpeggiator able to run on more than one track simualtaneously?

[@anilnaudiyalofficial4764]

Hello sir I ask one question How to increase and decrease in the tempo import loop plz tell me now sir

[@user-pk4sd9dd2w]

Hey, anyone recommend which DAW is best to use with Roland FA? Logic, Cubase or Sonar? Tks!

[@roland_aus]

All three will work well with the FA Workstation. It's really personal preference

[@vincetofanicchio7063]

I want one

[@BorisLagco_]

Should I get this or the xps-30?

[@engx3733]

I've owned one of these for just over 4 months now. Some great sounds, but the Arpeggiator really does my head in because it skips first notes, not sure why this is.

[@AxelWerner]

Are those Sample Pads touch-sensitive like on a drum machine or those other roland sample players for drums ??

[@AxelWerner]

too bad roland is producing so many "reduced" or "toy" Class junk over the last few years :(

[@marike1100]

+Fontari Lol. What are you smoking? The Korg Kross is cheaply made with a terrible keybed. The FA-06 has award winning Integra-7 sounds, a great keybed and much more solid build quality than the Kross and Krome.

[@marike1100]

+Adrian Rawling You can export sampler tracks as stereo WAV files, but from what I understand, you need to make sure note to change the bit rate. Perhaps a firmware update will fix this issue. It not problem for me since I already have a more powerful sampler with easier editing in Logic. Not even the Korg Kronos does everything perfectly in all situations.

[@oggfish]

+Axel Werner If they did not do this with the FA they could pottentially destroy there whole market. So good is that FA for the money the way it is now..

[@souldst]

Sounds like 80s arcade game music

[@jackspencer907]

Very nice bit of gear. Is this the successor to the Fantom workstations or a separate line?

[@roland_aus]

Hi Jack The Fantom series was our previous workstation line while FA series are our new Workstation line, It incorporates the sequencer, sampling and keyboard functions that you would expect from a Roland Workstation keyboard.

[@seraph127]

Except not really. No multisampling or resampling, which even the Fantom Xa could do (tho not the FA-76). It's a nice synth otherwise and many people may find this everything they want, but those two weaknesses in the sampling section are deal-breakers for me.

[@wilcossb]

again...even the cheaper discontinued Roland Juno-G...is better in terms of editing samples!

[@Letryk]

the kick of the 808 kit sounds a bit like a 909 kick

[@WilliamChillWillFletcher]

Please add a template for Reason

[@deishu6136]

Compatible with FL Studio?

[@felipe.arenas]

roland fa06 and fa08 has the same software¿

[@algale6414]

Oh wow! You can play along with a drum sound! I was doing that in 1974! It's shite, the vr-09 is streets ahead.

[@steviewondek]

It's amazing practically every new digital keyboard from Roland costs close to $2000 and resale is worth nothing in a year or two time.

[@a.barnard3205]

Uh, WAY more than just 2K man.

[@davebellamy4867]

I'm looking at an FA08 for 500 GBP in 2020, worth it? 650 USD.

[@Judesmood118]

I only buy workstations with really good Door Integration… 😉

[@user-fy9vn7of5b]

Yamaha tyros 5 is the best very pure supernatural voices

[@JoelFoustGaming]

regarding samples, when you change the tempo, will the fa be able to time stretch the sample?

[@roland_aus]

Hi Joel The audio sampler does not have time stretch capabilities so whatever speed you recorded it at, it will play the same if you change the tempo. There are some great tools in DAW software such as Ableton and SONAR that can do this time stretching for you if you do need to stretch your sample and the USB connectivity on the FA series allows you to quickly export and import your samples as needed. I suggest going down to your local store and checking one out.

[@JoelFoustGaming]

I guess before performing you obviously have to know what tempo you're going to play at. But for someone like me who mainly produces, I was hoping the FA would have time-stretching because I may want to change the tempo from time to time when starting to come up with ideas - especially when working with someone else. This board has almost everything I would need if I wanted to take it over someones house and start recording with just the keyboard. But no time-stretching is a huge let down for me. Having a sampler without time-stretching in 2014 is just unusual - especially since the fantom g already had time stretching. Roland could have easily put the algorithm in the fa series because it is just software. Do you think we could put in a feature request and have it added as a software update or something?

[@tgchan]

Roland Australasia I guess " The Ultimate All-In-One Workstation " is really not lol

[@LFOVCF]

+JoelFoustGaming What's to stop you recording another sample at the different tempo? I have one of these and yes, I too have had a tempo change, but all I did was up the tempo on playback, and sample that to another pad/s. So far, I have not yearned for time stretch, but that's me.

[@lemonslice2233]

Smart workaround, LFOVCF.

[@idomusics]

I am really interested in a 88 key one. Has anyone played it? I'm also interested in the build quality because we all know how it's been in the last years. :)) And i also bought a Juno-G with the stupid LCD problem.

[@marike1100]

+ionut-mugurel Chiper I've played the FA-08 quite a bit, the keys feel good, but keep in mind the 08 features Roland's Ivory G keybed, which is quite useable but not the same as their top of the line action found in the RD-800. Build quality of the FA-08 seems solid, good quality plastics with some metal framing in places. The FA seems to be a step or two up from the Juno-G.

[@freedomnow2214]

baby baby baby

[@madboy5067]

Is this keyboard is better than yamaha PSR S970 ? Can i do my 8th grade in this FA 06

[@Instrumental_covers_by_Albert]

NO !! keep your PSR 970 !

[@ebatalha]

Now a keyboard with this keybed, since it is better than the one on the VR-09, this sound quality and quantity, knobs, sliders, pads and why not drawbars for organs, full integrated with any DAW (all knobs, sliders and pads) and not a workstation, because most of us already have a computer that's capable of much more. In this price range, please.

[@lemonslice2233]

Ah, so you own a computer...

[@markjaylandes]

The Keybed on the FA is exactly the same as the vr09 and the Juno G

[@VeronicaMcCarrison]

I wish I had the money to buy Buy both Keyboards

[@omegabiker]

sounds processed?

[@junatan25]

B I G F A T S O U N D S

[@yeoldmedic7572]

great keyboard ! but please Roland PLEASE. a firmware update to add a option for -15 velocity on black keys!!!! or just fix it outright make the velocity values the same as the white or be able to adjust in more detail. I have to route midi to a DAW, run it though a plugin to tone black key velocity down, and run it back into the FA . its unnecessary . for many this is a deal breaker for the FA 06, its not a good look. come on folks at Roland have some respect for the musicians who love your products. my MODX06 velocity is consistent . Thanks -icemonk

[@jayguru27]

We can not assign tone sample on keys in fa06 it's very dropback , and keys size also small compare to fantom x6 , Roland should improve this

[@acaruso36]

Great sounds! Ugly keyboard design! i'll keep my Fantom -s. i would like the new supernatural patches.

[@woabeatz9717]

What's with roland drums?

[@tgchan]

Can you record vocals via fa 06?

[@lemonslice2233]

Obviously you can record them as samples, or play them back. Not sure about the time limit on samples right now.

[@sabadoadrianovich]

Can i trigger a MP3 song of 3 minutes or more on Roland Fa? Have time limits of Samples audio?

[@a.barnard3205]

On the Casio MZ-X300, you can record all the vocals you want ( one track only though) as a WAV file to the SD card in the keyboard.

[@kosemoja8348]

I wonder why my board doesn't sound like this

[@coffeecuppepsi]

does it come with other languages? Russian?

[@roland_aus]

Hey, no it doesn't come in Russian unfortunaetly

[@edgarwingeyer2135]

EXELENTE TECLADO , LO UNICO QUE NOTE CON RESPECTO A LOS SONIDOS DE GUITARRAS NYLON , ACUSTICAS Y ELECTRICAS NO SON MEJORES QUE EL ROLAND GW8 PARA MI GUSTO , (es solo mi opinion)

[@ymotechnopopfan]

3:31

[@jhetta22]

Are there multipe / (Aux) outputs on this synth ?

[@ozboomer_au]

Why does Roland keep using a 'jog dial'? Over a few years of regular use, they always break down and are often time consuming to service, if they're serviceable at all. Definitely a deal breaker for me (and don't talk about red panel lighting.. Yuck)... *grr*....

[@claudevieaul1465]

I have 2 XP80s, one of which I bought from new somewhere around 1996. Both have these jog dials, and they work fine....

[@danielx40]

The red lighting is kinda disgusting

[@onetwo234]

I love the red lighting you guys are crying over nothing

[@user-pk4sd9dd2w]

surprised doesn't have a direct wifi connection like a printer