Roland Fantom EX - Expansion In Use - Sonic LAB

Roland's latest iteration of the Fantom is now the Fantom EX which is essentially the same Fantom you could buy yesterday, but now with the EX software expansion.
David aka @superfrogsavestokyo has a look at the new EX features, but with the regular Fantom hardware. He builds some musical sketches to demonstrate the new ACB models and the n/zyme Wavetable synthesizer.
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#soniclab #roland #fantomex
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[@skinmech4851]

The N/Zyme is a very underrated synth engine for the Fantom hasn’t nearly got the coverage it deserves and I’d like to see more new models rather than just vintage stuff

[@darwonka]

I bought the Fantom about 3 months ago. I'm very much in over my head. This is so neat!

[@thomasyon4332]

Great job David, good demos. Very happy to see you there !

[@sonicstate]

Yeah he did a great job!

[@super-frogsavestokyo1582]

Thanks for the kind words! Absolute pleasure to be asked, and even bigger pleasure to get my hands on something I wouldn’t necessarily gravitate towards, but absolutely loved getting lost in, nonetheless.

[@Chevytravelleruk]

Nice job David.. some lovely pieces there

[@Wagoo]

Really nice demos, well done! There's a sort of version of the n/zyme stuff in the SH-4D I think.. that engine is also the main interest in the Fantom for me (although adding ACB is great for owners, too)

[@CWoodOne]

great video, and best handle EVER

[@MakeMagic]

Regarding the Tone/Scene saving issues. On the Jupiter and Juno X, they added a "Save Tone and Scene" option which saves everything that has been changed. Odd it's not been added to the Fantom as well.

[@jamescriss6440]

The Fantom will not overwrite a preset tone. So, any changes made to a tone to become permanent must be saved as an new tone. If you change a parameter and hit the write button, it will bring up a write destination page where you can rename it and write it as a new tone. Then when you later save the scene, it will be saved with your new tone. It goes thru this process to make the preset tones non destructive. Tone files are very small and take up very little memory. If you get familiar with the work flow, it's no longer a problem. Just remember to write your tone after you modify it.

[@LosingTeeth]

OOOHH! NICE

[@Hka...]

A fabulous instrument. What lets it down big time is no audio tracks. Hate computers for composition. In built audio tracks would make this a sure winner

[@chevywilliams958]

Its 2024 big dawg.. who's arranging like this on that little ass screen 😂

[@Hka...]

@@chevywilliams958 😁👍

[@Hka...]

@@chevywilliams958 Screen's good cuz. Even the previous old Fantom G had a whole 24 audio trks with an inferior screen to this new one. 👍🎹🥁

[@AR-px9cj]

Excellent video, David... 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 Europe!

[@super-frogsavestokyo1582]

Hello! Thanks for the kind words. I'd have to say the Fantom was provided with the EX update pre-installed, so I've not had to actually go through the Firmware upgrade myself. However, I do appreciate there's various different videos on here which walk you through the process which I hope could help you with your question. In my personal experience of Roland updates (I'm thinking Boutiques, and my TR-8S in particular), I've generally always been able to update straight to the current online version, no matter what OS I'm currently running, so I would happily just install the latest. Sorry I'm unable to offer any further advice. And your English is excellent!!!

[@niellseen]

You can update to the latest version without any problems , the prior updates are included 😊

[@AR-px9cj]

Thanks for everything guys, 😮❤ I'm going to check out immediately, Hahahahaha 😅and I'm sorry but no, my English is far from being excellent!😂😅 Thanks a lot from Spain! ❤

[@kekethetoad]

That first demo was nuts man I'd love to drum to that. Like pink floyd echoes drums but electronic

[@super-frogsavestokyo1582]

Haha - good to know all those misspent evenings listening to Meddle have somehow subliminally entered my brain :)

[@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND]

TASTE is the most important creative / musical skill and this video is the prove 👌

[@jumpstar9000]

Very cool! I bought the Juno-106 and Jupiter-8 expansions for my GAIA 2 yesterday. Have to say, the models make a big difference to the synth. Pretty cool combo with all those knobs, sequencer and motional pad. It's kind of a poor mans version of this lol. It still isn't cheap though, but worth it. I think I will get the JX-8P expansion at some point as I am that chuffed with it. Nice overview!

[@flatlandcircuitry]

How many expansions can the Gaia 2 hold?

[@jumpstar9000]

@flatlandcircuitry So far, four. It comes with the SH-101 model built in, then you can purchase the Jupiter 8, the Juno 106, and the JX-8P as add-ons. It would be really nice if they do more. As a huge analogue nerd I'm very impressed with them as well I have to say. There is a ton of modeled effects that they come with as well. I haven't really been through them all yet, but the ones I tried sound great. The price of the base unit is down to around 550 pounds retail now. If they got it to 499 and the models at 100 each that would be really sweet. Still decent anyway now. In case anyone reads this from the future. I had to use a fairly small USB stick to transfer the models. At first I tried a couple of different 64GB ones but they weren't recognized. 16GB one worked fine. Your mileage may vary.

[@flatlandcircuitry]

Cool, thanks!👍

[@zoomzoom3950]

Good demo and appreciate your thoughts on the EX. Was waiting for the real Korg Kronos replacement; got the email about the Fantom EX; saw the non-EX Fantom 6,7,8 price reduction; called my fav music dealer...turns out they only have floor models of the current Fantom-6, but new in the factor sealed box in their warehouse Fantom-EX-6. For this price, not interested in a floor model unless I can try it out and inspect it; by the time I did that the new EX models would likely be sold out. My new Fantom-EX-6 should be delivered next week.

[@user82938]

I ❤ Acid

[@jesuschristiscallingyou953]

This is so tempting! I love how analog-ish it sounds. Lacks the hollow, plastic, digital bite of the Korg and Yamaha flagships, which have amazing sounds, but put me off by those particular sound qualities. Ugh. I don't need any more gear.

[@super-frogsavestokyo1582]

I really like some of the Yamaha/Korg stuff (especially the wonderful FM stuff in the Yamahas), but let's face it, I make techno/electronic etc. so the Roland DNA is present in most of my productions, so were I going for a big workstation, the Fantom would definitely be my first consideration given the beautiful history of sounds contained within. Fantom 6/7/8 range definitely do the heritage justice, but I mostly enjoyed the way it looks forward by including multiple engines covering all bases. What's mostly evident (and I say this as a 90s electronic lover) is the choice and range of synths and music tech out there nowadays at every single price point, without compromising quality. To think the ACB tech engine in this flagship range can be purchased in a variety of form factors (such the Roland S-1 for 150 quid or so) is mind-blowing. I can't think of a better time to be a synth nerd!

[@ohheyitskevinc]

I own 10 non-zencore lifetime keys from Cloud play 4 life annual subs over the last few years (most of them are ACB and “plug out” to my System 8). The rest are JD-800 and the 5080 and 303 and something else. So this $200 update means I can buy a Fantom 6 and plug out both ACB and non-ACB Cloud stuff to the Fantom 6, or am I missing something? I was thinking about the Jupiter X, but that’s kind of pointless now since I’d be stuck with zen core with that.

[@BEASTBEATS700]

Hey does this workstation got any mode on it to stay in key scale for a beginner?

[@DrawAndErase]

No, it has a chord memory mode though. Learn how to play scales.

[@BEASTBEATS700]

@@DrawAndErase i didn’t ask u bout learning to play key scales right ?

[@DrawAndErase]

@BEASTBEATS700 Gave you your solution and answer, that's how a beginner can stay in all the keys playing fantom

[@sturdyblock]

Zencore, when 10,000+ patches sound somewhat similar.

[@kekethetoad]

Wish they'd release a 49 key fantom!

[@MS7.7]

Did they fix the aftertouch ?

[@MS7.7]

Also you can use Launchpad pro mk3 to trigger scenes and much more. Not perfect solution but it helps.

[@leslie1526]

Can i download D50?

[@ThirdEyeWarrior]

It would be great if this ACB Technology was in the Juno X. 😮

[@pixelperfecttv1162]

Or Jupiter X, however the hardware isn’t strong enough. Jupiter/Juno has 1 BMC while the System 8 has 3 and Fantom has 4.

[@TheCbone1979]

Zencore is fine, layer and layer plus ACB is quite limiting with the polyphony.

[@ProckGnosis]

Can anybody confirm the monosynth retriggering behavior on this? Does it behave like a real analog monosynth, where the filter envelope will retrigger (picking up the previous envelope values) with a new key press, BUT the amp envelope does not retrigger? Somebody made a great video showing that behavior comparing his real SH-1 with the Korg Minilogue (kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3eVd2mDnbx8o5Y) showing the difference. Long time user of the Fantom in one form or another, and I admit I've been eyeing this for a couple years, but I haven't been able to confirm it can do the accurate monosynth behavior. Danke for any insight or info. Cheers!

[@super-frogsavestokyo1582]

Hello. Apologies for the delayed response (been away for a while), but I just watched the linked video, and tried to replicate this behaviour on the ACB SH-101 model. Can confirm it acts exactly like to OG 101 in so much as that if you max the Amp and Filter EGs, you can get that wonderful swelling lead sound but the Amp does NOT retrigger, meaning you can play lovely widdly solos. Also manages to replicate that wonderful theremin-style 101 lead with portamento. Hope that helps!!! I once had an X8, and have to say the latest flagship Fantoms (6/7/8) are light years ahead and offers a lot once you get used to it's workflow (granted I'm coming from a DAW and NOT another workstation, so any slowness in adopting this working style could purely be down to my unfamiliarity with it.)

[@ProckGnosis]

@@super-frogsavestokyo1582 Much appreciated. I had hoped they correctly modeled it, but had reason to ask. Blew big cash on the Korg Kronos a while ago, only to find they modeled the MS-20, but insanely didn't correctly model the envelope behavior in the real synth. Sadly no other synth models on the Kronos did either. Again, thanks.

[@ursullavandenbord2322]

Prices in Europe are insane.... 4199 Euros 4699 euros 4999 euros .... Crazy ! Even M8X is cheaper ..... Insane.

[@AllAboutFantom]

well, just buy a used Fantom, buy the Fantom EX Upgrade and you´re fine with about 2500.- (at least right now in Germany!)