Roland FANTOM-O - The Fundamentals of Sequencing

In this video we will discuss the Fundamental of Sequencing. Having an understanding of what features (Patterns, Groups, Song) are available in the Sequencing engine will help you create your music easily and also give you various options for live performance.
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[@DNYLNY]

It would be cool if these sequencing lessons played sounds along with the instructions so we can see and hear how a song can be made from start to finish.

[@EdDiazKeys]

This is just an overview, more in-depth videos are coming.

[@mysticcity312]

Yea, that would be amazing

[@Vrtechss]

@@EdDiazKeys Bro, thank you so much for these videos. I've learnt alot from you! Keep up the excellent work.

[@stevenjschuler1169]

@EdDiaz thank you for these videos as I’m wanting to sequence patches to backing tracks and writing tunes for demo tracking. Looking forward to it

[@CVV123456]

Ed . . you are just a great master. . THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE VIDEOS ..

[@EdDiazKeys]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@mauriziodelbianco5557]

I think it's a clever way to consider the process of creating songs and beats, I guess it will speed up a lot my creative sketch up projects. Thank you.

[@arindamdas936]

After 18 minutes of button presses and techno babble, the final sequence you produced out of this keyboard was simply breath taking... because all I am hearing is the sound of my own breath and nothing else 😂😂

[@RuiGon1]

Thanks.I learn a lot of details.

[@seankalifut9948]

Still use the Pattern Mode in my Motif XF. It is refreshing to see Roland implement this as well.

[@faustorodela97]

Hola Ed, excelentes tutoriales! Muchas gracias.

[@EdDiazKeys]

Thank you!!!

[@cepilla]

Now we're going places! 😃... Thank you sifu!

[@JBCreatieve]

thanks Ed;great video .

[@thefunkypopcorn]

Also on request 1. bring back studio sets (so that you can easily change the sound setup inside a song) 2. make it possible to export songs directly without having to press ”sample to pad”.3. make it possible to export all 16 zones as wav files

[@AJBlockVideo]

Agreed on the exporting individual zones as wavs. Then we can mix in post much better

[@malildude]

Waiting on these videos daily. Got the notifications turned on. Havent seen this one yet but added to my watch list for tonight.

[@thefunkypopcorn]

Three features I really miss from FA-series 1. to be able to quantize all 16tracks or zones at the same time 2. to be able to transpose all 16 tracks or zones at the same time 3. to be able to see a linear sequencer instead of these small patterns (that combine the way the keyboard decides to - imagine I want pattern one and two to combine with a drum kick, certain tone or a DJ effect)

[@neovirtuality]

Check out the new Fantom 0 reference manual, it explains how with the Piano Roll you can move, copy or erase sections within a pattern. So within one pattern you basically have a "linear sequencer" now if you set the length of the pattern during recording to say 64 measures.

[@KingzofSwing]

Good job

[@KingzofSwing]

Need to get this beauty

[@Madmohawkfilms]

Holy Ableton/Akai Force looking sequencing Ed :)

[@hnationmusic3099]

Can you record in between the patterns or in Song Mode ? For solos, special parts, etc? For full Keyboard/piano players just playing through (recording) the full song? This is something Native Instruments Mashcine brought in an update that really helps you use it in a real linear fashion. Also how are the audio tracks brought into this? Same question, can One just sing or play guitar through the full arrangement/song? If not this is a CRITICAL option needed.

[@robovanlife]

great video thx :)

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

The pattern based sequencer where groups can be launched with the 16pads is why I bought this synth. A perfect fit for my studio. Linear sequencing is a simple thing and can be done in audio on a hardware SD recorder or a computer in MDI and/or audio. Plus the fact you can make a song from the groups, this way you don't have to navigate a linear sequencer.

[@mrmister7355]

Great vid! Will fantom ever get chopping feature back, like the G series

[@Phant0mK16]

I have the FA08 and I've been making full songs with lots of time signature and tempo changes with it. From what I'm seeing here it's either not possible or more complicated to do that on the Fantom-O series. I want to make sure before I buy it.

[@Shape1Shifter]

Hello great helpfully videos if you have time can you make a video showing how to correctly connect Roland fantom 0 to speakers

[@Realmusiclover1957]

Over all your instruction is appreciated. This video didn't show how to do the basic set up to record and playback. This is a remarkable computer keyboard but after I watched this video, the recording aspect is still a blur to me. I need instruction as if I'm 5 years old. It's still so complicated, I have yet to figure out how to record. The manual is complicated too. I'm extremely anxious to put my music down but I still can't figure it out.😢

[@neovirtuality]

I would like to insert a blank measure (silent space) in the middle of an existing pattern to make space for other notes within that pattern. Can it be done?

[@lonniechance5498]

Great video very helpful, still wondering if our song is more than 64 measures how does overdubbing work? Thanks Ed.

[@EdDiazKeys]

Actually everyone confuses that the song is limited to 64 measure, but the 64 measure is per Pattern and not a Song. Think of the Pattern as a section of the song; i.e. Verse, Chorus, Bridge etc.. You actually take Patterns and combine them into a Group, then you take the Groups, which can be made of up to 16 different Patterns, and arrange them to create the Song in a Linear way.

[@hiren1615]

Hi & thanks for all your tutorials, I have a query it would be great if you could help me out with the following issues, when I recorded the song (A014 Demo: Feeling you) in the same fashion the way you did it and got recorded in logic, but when I played back the recorded music in logic, all tracks didn't have tone effects that which were recorded in logic. I tried the setting USB Audio - Mix (where the tone gets recorded in Logic with effects,) then I tried the setting USB Audio - Parallel (where the tone gets recorded in Logic BUT WITHOUT EFFECTS such as IFX1 /IFX2 / CHO / REV) how to record with effects in Parallel Mode. Please assist..

[@antonionicassio5207]

Hi Ed. Some demos have zone 16 set to Zone Pad and directly play the samples imported into the pads starting from C4. how do i do it? how do I tell a zone to play the pads?

[@squeakD]

If Roland doubled the 64 measure pattern length option to 128 measures, you can use the pattern sequencer for basic linear sequencing.

[@karpabla]

Perhaps it can help to put a half speed bpm to duplicate the allowed time of 64 measures. I know it is just a workaround but can be useful for some people .

[@danielmilone1195]

Hello... the sequencer only has MIDI channels or also Audio channels? Thank you very much.

[@ajilful]

How to record variation on same instrument (track) while the existing variation is playing?? While I try recording new variation on same track, the existing variation stops playing . Am I missing anything??

[@allenholmankus8880]

Hi Ed, Very good review of the basics of the sequencer in the Fantom-0 series. Please ask the folks at Roland to upgrade the sequencer firmware to allow the user to override the song time signature on a per-pattern basis. This would be very handy for us geezers who like to compose more classical music using form that might use a different time signature in a give section of the song e.g. a song in ternary form with time signatures 4/4, then 5/8 or 6/8 etc, and back to 4/4 for the final section. I suppose a "hack" would be to create separate songs for each of the sections of the composition but it will be awkward with respect to development, playback and recording to storage. Also, your competitor Akai allows their "sequences" which are used like the pattern subsections to have independent time signatures, so I think this one upgrade to the Fantom sequencer would be a big help to composers (and would sway potential customers like myself to stick to Roland rather than switch to Akai!). In any case, thank you and keep up the excellent reviews and instructional videos.

[@itsrob2321]

I’m just learning, but I accidentally trimmed an 8 beat pattern down to 5 beats…aka 5/4 time. So I think I could trim it down to the beat, making it virtually a time change, though not actually. Maybe this helps?

[@handsfree1000]

Very complicated for a basic tuition session, but It looks as though the patterns from one of the songs (only 4) have been used. But that seems limited, where can we get other patterns?

[@kimini1811]

have you ever use a mpc with your roland if so can you tell me how to lock the sound to one track

[@radurobert1]

The learning curve is not easy . With those machines you always miss something or you feel that the machine need more functions . You try to adapt to the concept they are selling and ultimatelly you end up in a DAW...

[@jayjohnson9894]

Morning Ed, how you today Tell me, how do I connect my Fantom 06 to my MPC X

[@brooklynfanone]

Does the top row of 16 tracks include only instruments and vocals and the vertical row of 16 only differing sounds of a particular instrument? He doesn't say Only Instruments across the top and Only Variations of that instrument going down. So basically the song can have 1-16 Variations? So it's basically a 16 track recorder?

[@midix496]

I just found out from Roland support (7 months later) that the Fantom-08 doesn’t output Program Changes from an SMF to a Roland SoundCanvas. Any solutions/workarounds to this?

[@miekwavesoundlab]

Does Fantom have RPS to assign keys to play a sequence with aftertouch?

[@MdriscollIRR]

Hi Ed: is it possible to input loops into the fantom07 from my RC500?

[@sterettri3464]

Hi, Can i record vocals on a synthesizer fantom 08 through a microphone?

[@NanarProduction]

Hello, is there a tempo track on the Fantom 0 series sequencer ?

[@ajilful]

Two variations on same instrument/track can’t be played at the same time??

[@ausitus]

Roland did pretty good products, I respect that. But today it seems functional but actually overlaps. Can you guys make it simple clean interface and easy to use? Maybe next gen?

[@cfdemarco2]

I was thinking of buying it....Hmmm..maybe for live gigs

[@NMR.Videos]

Thank you. Great video

[@somasundaranvelluvaveetil9079]

Sir, after restoring Indian tones,9 to 16 zone are not sounding .why is it so?

[@StringsofLight]

@Product Support I just want to press record and play a 45 minute piano piece. Then I want to go back and layer in other sounds. Not one video anywhere tells me how to do that. Do you know how to do that?

[@NsOakland6]

Get a Nautilus

[@bmatchick]

When I export a song to a pad, any pad samples played in the song don't work. Can your song not play pad samples while recording a pad?

[@guillaume3521]

I still can't figure how to program let's say an 8 bar drum loop with some variations efficiently. Is there a way to duplicate bars and tweak the pattern afterward?

[@hudsoncraftworks]

Press the TR-REC button, and when the display is in the TR-REC screen, there is a Length option at the bottom that you can increase to 8 bars, and either record all 8 bars in real time or use the pattern sequencer for each bar.

[@guillaume3521]

@@hudsoncraftworks Yes I know that. I just find it tedious to write manually the 8 bars of drum with trec. In a DAW i would write one bar and duplicate it 8 times. Then I would add some variation/fills here and there. However, thanks for the answer! Cheers and BTW, I still love my Fantom 0

[@sellandbuyhomes2676]

Let’s say I have 24 measures in a group and I want to add something on measure 15. Can I start record right at that measure or do I have to wait for everything to play just to add it?

[@stephenhaynes603]

I get on with the seq now but I just tried to get the 9 to 16 to work nothing works on these channel s the screen shows this section as dark lit on screen load sound to track 9 then play keys no sound is heard anyone know why this might be

[@michaelmothkovich8694]

@@stephenhaynes603 because nine through 16 only controls midi? Or can only be sequenced by external midi?

[@somasundaranvelluvaveetil9079]

In sequencer, 9 to10 tracks are hidden.Can't be activated .What is the reason?

[@neovirtuality]

Is it possible within the Piano Roll editor to select a group of notes and move them all together?

[@neovirtuality]

I found the answer. This can be done from the Piano Roll! From the reference manual: In the PATTERN screen, select the pattern that you want to edit, and then press the [E3] EDIT. The EDIT SELECT screen appears. 2. Select . The PIANO ROLL screen appears. 3. Touch a note. The note you touch is selected. 4. Hold down the [SHIFT] button and touch a different note. The note is additionally selected. 5. By holding down the [SHIFT] button and dragging over the grid, multiple notes in that area can be selected in a single operation. After selecting a bunch of notes you can then move or erase a block of notes.

[@BigAntVideo]

When I'm in piano roll, it doesn't matter where I am in the pattern - when I press play it always starts at measure 1. Not a problem on a 4 bar pattern, but when you have a 64 bar one it is unworkable. What am I doing wrong? Many thanks.

[@SOPM2007]

In this case, you'd have to go in the loop settings for that pattern and set the range you're working at - then you only see the bars within the range and you can play back from the start bar you choose in the loop settings.

[@BigAntVideo]

@@SOPM2007 Thank you - I finally figured this out and made a tutorial for it :)

[@SOPM2007]

@@BigAntVideo Fun fact, I saw your tutorial before and hoped I can help others, now I realize, it was exactly you ;-D Shame on me not noticing right away... Originally I was also interested on the Fantom but there are some serious flaws with this board which it's out for me.

[@BigAntVideo]

@@SOPM2007Now that is funny - thanks you for passing on the advice though - it is a frustrating bit of design. When I got it I was initially pretty confused with it, but the more I use it the more I like it. It's a very different way of working for sure, but I am loving the quick boot up, low power consumption (lack of environmental guilt!), and the sounds can be amazing with a bit of adjustment. For bigger compositions I will still use Cubase, but for bread and butter background comps it is pretty much perfect. I had an O1W/FD back in the day, and this thing is a suitable quantum leap.

[@KickWithYourHands]

Can recorded events/drums be nudged off the grid ... you know for like wonky drums

[@user-zu8bx7hq8k]

Anybody know how to delete the measures once recorded?

[@ogproduktionz]

I lost my Fa 06 in a fire. I upgraded to this fantom....I realized this is way more a challenge to learn. Fa series was easier.. I'm up for the challenge though.. not giving up.

[@cfdemarco2]

But, if people are sick of computers, it's good to have options.

[@maciejl5964]

i have noticed that piano velocity of each piano sound is eneven on certain notes. look for example at A2 note which plays much louder than G2 or B2 when hit with the same force. that really sucks

[@mikebush3834]

I just put a Fantom-08 in layaway... I'll have it in 2 weeks. I can't wait

[@drumojo]

However many times Ed goes over this sequencer (lots in this video) it’s not as good as the FA LINEAR sequencer… you know with BAR NUMBERS!!!! Musicians and bands and pits and orchestras use bar numbers quite alot I’m lead to believe! In their quest to follow the Ableton pattern crowd the baby was definitely thrown out with the bath water with this workstation. What about LOGIC and FA users? I would have purchased a Fantom 0 months ago if it had a proper sequencer. Gee I have even considered Kurzweil, KORG as an upgrade path! I have a legacy of 100 plus songs in my FAs and would love to port then across to a Fantom O for the sounds and portability. You can hear Ed pleading with us to see the 0 series does really really Linear sequencer…. if you do this, if you do that etc. Ed has been brilliant for me in his explanations of the FA… I have produced my best work thanks to Roland, Ed and the FA… but this sounds awful. The engineers that built the FA sequencer produced an elegant and effective solution for composers and songwriters. The O series version is probably best for beat makers and synthesists. Tell me I’m wrong… please. Please someone point me in the direction of videos for the 0 series where the sequencer shines or at least makes sense!

[@sidpackard8613]

You aren’t wrong. I was planning to buy a used Fantom06, but this crap is a deal breaker. Did you find a work around?

[@mysticcity312]

Can I make any kind of rythm/beat with this?

[@EdDiazKeys]

Absolutely!!!! It's entirely up to you!!! Give it a try!!!

[@jrf1962]

can you record 32 bit mp3 file?

[@belzilm]

ANyone know how to change the time signature during a song? Trying to insert a few 2/4 into my main 4/4 song

[@UnveiledManagement]

enjoyed the video ... but why didn't you cover one of the most important things, how to save the song in the keyboard? You explained how to export it, but not save it.

[@lukakoprivica]

1-16 tracks?

[@cfdemarco2]

But I get it, if you love all the "tinkering" with faders, buttons, and knobs

[@lassel1644]

When Ed demonstrated the sequenser for Roland FA-06 it took him 2 minutes. This gear? Well...😀

[@deep6293]

The big problem is with sequencing external midi gear. for example : you have a zone switched to ext, but the fantom plays the internal sound (and the external sound) when you are recording to another zone. The only solution is to mute the internal sound in the mixer page afterwards? I don't understand why this was designed that way? External should mean EXTERNAL ... No internal sounds should be played. Please Roland change this in an update!

[@christianthompson1473]

By clicking through there are 3 states. Red green and white(?) Internal, external, and both.

[@deep6293]

But that works only in theory. Try connecting and controlling 16 external synths with it. You'll get a big mess with it. Just trying out some of the preset scenes with pre - programmed patterns. If you press play the fantom plays all together: internal sound and external synths... and this despite all zones are programmed to use internal sounds only.

[@christianthompson1473]

That's so annoying. Here you put 16 random patterns into groups, easy! But what if you want 16 specific patterns in the group, to work on a song idea?? You gotta write them all down first, or maybe have a photographic memory... track 1, pattern C, track 2, pattern F, track 3, pattern A..... track 16, pattern D.... etc. Then if you change your mind about a pattern in a group? Or make a mistake? Delete the group and start again. No clue as to which patterns i want next? Write it down again. Switch back to pattern mode and start again. Want to experiment with changing patterns within the group? Nope,no editing possible. This workflow killed my creativity. Sold the fantom and now have the mpc key61 which does it all! 💥

[@guillaume3521]

I believe that you can just play the group you want to modify/create with the sample pad group play mode, than while its playing you will be able to change the pattern selected(highlighted) and overwite it afterward

[@christianthompson1473]

@@guillaume3521 i agree. that would be an improvement if they implemented it, but i can't wait around for Roland to fix things anymore. There are too many other major problems for a workstation keyboard here. I have moved to the new mpc key61 which is light years ahead of fantom.

[@ehal2303]

It's far from annoying it straight up sucks. I really wanted to like this thing but now I have to buy an mpc or sequence in my daw just to be a normal person. Never thought in a million years a Roland would operate like this. I haven't bought a hardware synth since the fantom x. I guess I know why now.

[@christianthompson1473]

@@ehal2303 i went with the new mpc key 61. It's a masterpiece. They've taken everything they learnt building and perfecting the mpc and Force environment ...and created this incredible keyboard. I've been waiting decades for this.

[@ehal2303]

@@christianthompson1473 funny you say that. I was thinking of ditching the fantom for the mpc keyboard lol

[@martinpaquette342]

So the touch screen sucks?

[@chillwalker]

Hmmm..it almost seems, like thre was some little Backlash about the new clipbased sequncer..LOL

[@davidsterry]

For the last 3 weeks I’ve been sitting in a room learning everything I can about my Fantom 06 and waiting patiently for Ed’s tutorials. My band play only our original music and I had hoped to be able to run the entire show from the Fantom. A mix of sequences, samples from synths we used and backing tracks in the pads when we can’t sample original parts. We record our music into Logic X and played live previously using an FA-06. We could quickly fly each part into the linear sequencer using the wait note option. The Logic midi file would play the part into the FA already quantized with velocity set. The Fantom has an Ableton type sequencer and getting a song completed now takes 3 steps. The 64 bar limit per part makes you have to look for places where you can cut your song into sections without cutting notes in half. It’s also very time consuming. As I need to run an additional backing track I thought I could get by triggering the backing track pad in the first 64 bars. Even though the part would end , I thought the track would continue with the next sequence. Not so. Why the 64 bar limit? Ableton doesn’t do that. Even if Roland double it to 128 bars, a three and a half minute song goes over that. So, my heart sank to my boots and I have to go back to my FA-06.

[@Unison_Detune]

I was looking at a Fantom after watching Kebu's demonstration but the 64 bar limit is ridiculous. Memory is so cheap these days. Roland seems to have a perverse attitude to giving the customers what they need. Roland, you have lost a sale and I am afraid there is only vintage Roland gear in my studio because your modern products suck.

[@ErraticFaith]

The FANTOM and Fantom-0 have been developed from the perspective of integration with other devices and DAWs. It's not the same ethos to which the FA series was derived (As a workstation/performance board). Thats not to say that it cannot be implemented in that way to an extent, it's simply not built with that in mind in the same way. Omissions like Dbeam, the sampling memory limits and otherwise, make way for the gains in ZenCore and hands on control - which lean more towards that hub like usage. So bare in mind that despite increases in Polyphony, Synthesis and onward - the market has changed. As has user demand. I could add that it's not always necessary to buy every new tier as it is released. FA remains strong in the areas to which it was built. Which seems to be your primary usage need.

[@ogproduktionz]

I had a fa o6 and it was stolen. I bought a fantom o6 to upgrade had it for a month, and still can’t figure out how to make tracks…my fa was way more easier to use.

[@noitnova]

The Fantom 0 is 10 times beter than de FA. Like my Fantom 08.

[@nicolaslureau8044]

This is crazy complicated… from inspiration to 1st draft…3 hours

[@cfdemarco2]

Man, in people's efforts to get away from the "Mouse/Keyboard/Monitor" of DAW recording, sequencing with this Roland is a lot of hassle. I'd say, for playing live with a band and needing instant recall it's great, or for a "One-man-band" situation. But for just music production at home/studio, even GarageBand is easier. But it is a sexy looking keyboard. Grrrrr!

[@ljules44]

Why is the polyphony so bad??? And is there a way to fix it?

[@terrancegriffin1046]

I say you should put your all into it steve! Attimes like these and because shes the table, obviously because your a man like us. You should just give her 2/3's cause she obvious treated you like king and didnt want the bag. Hell, you didnt do enough, fhere should have been shrimp and cav. At the orgy and you should have been the cheering cameraman. You didnt do enough steve! Next time, dont just fly qcross and he country when you can fly qcross the world everyday!

[@Kinglex-gg6vb]

Make your life easier and just get an MPC Keys 61🤔🤦‍♂️. I haven't touched my fantom ever since I got the MPC.

[@christianthompson1473]

I sold my f6 and now have the keys61. Its everything I hoped for from the fantom and more.

[@movieking6844]

The fantom has better sounds but the Mpc has a better and easier sequencer

[@unitedmogulmediagroup7286]

It’s sad how Roland dumbed down the sampler which is what really seperated this board from the rest. The sounds are good but not the greatest (that’s Nord). Where Fantom ALWAYS shined was being the ultimate workstation. After the Fantom X ,so many producers stopped buying the Fantom because of this one thing You could live chop the sample straight onto the keys and tempo sync it. Now in 2024 it can’t do what the 1991 board could do. It does less and that’s sad because it’s barely a workstation because you can’t use it alone now, you would have to have an Mpc. It’s now just a 3rd place keyboard/synth behind nord and Montage. Fantom was the number one all around board regardless if the sounds weren’t the best because they were good enough to stand up anywhere in any fight. Please update this board to sample better than the Fantom X. I think Roland should create an Update store where individuals can ipdate their board specifically to how they want it and pay for what they want and go in their own direction. People would pay for their own updates which is where I think the future will go one day.

[@MadACeTeeMack]

Im just as confused. Why not just make a video making a song from start to finish?

[@user-cn4or8iq4t]

You could not have made this more complicated if you tried.

[@giuseppemaiellaro9272]

Too difficult!!! Too Many Words !!! Why don't you show how to record live by overdubbing drums, bass and piano. Playing and recording one pattern at a time.What I would like to do, and that I cannot understand how ...seeing this video.

[@KingzofSwing]

Next time pay attention and read the title!

[@ogproduktionz]

I learned absolutely nothing from this super hard to understand video.

[@antoniopanameno6355]

This just makes me hold on to my old but powerful Fantom X even more. Such an amount of work just to create something,...no excuse Roland.

[@johnpaulgard]

this is soooooo complicated, ive given up,

[@johnjon9094]

Common Roland. Why can't you introduce the same sequencer on MC 707, which is sharing the same brain inside, only with a different form factor. Don't make another Crappy Hardware eventhough you have all the features already inside !!! No more feedback.......

[@chuckfriebe843]

The most convoluted way of recording a song. Use a DAW. It's infinitely more easy. This is nothing but nonsense.

[@ge0rgeharris218]

You have to demonstrate these videos with the sound! Otherwise it's an exercise in futility! It becomes totally meaningless! This video is a failure!

[@jeffperonto3234]

Sorry.... TOO complicated.

[@ge0rgeharris218]

We need to hear the sounds to get the tutorials understandable! This is a alot of theory without the practicality!