The Roland Fantom EX In Action

[@kaybecker]

ACB is magic. I got a whole AIRA system going here using the MX-1 with TR-8S, TB-3, a SYSTEM-1 and a SYTEM-1m and I got a lot of my peeps asking me "why" when they came out and I told them "ACB is the future and everyone is thinking of it almost as a joke now but they will catch up soon enough." I guess the rest is history. :) I also got a Juno X last year and I am still being impressed by it over a year later - what a great buy, I love that synth so much. This is also very tempting, that update is crazy cool. I haven't verified also but if this is part of the Zen-CORE model expansions, I also have access to it on Juno X :D Great video man, I love everything you do so far. Cheers!

[@helisoma]

i'm curious your impression but i think the Juno-X sounds nicer than this? i just prefer the tonal color of the X over this

[@kaybecker]

@@helisoma definitely sounds a bit richer to me but never really said it out loud before, people intend to be bold with their statements in the business generally speaking l find lol

[@elident7828]

Dr. Mix , you have a synth player’s dream and an all-around gear heads paradise ! You are a very fortunate man to have at your disposal such fantastic equipment , keep up the good job you’re doing entertaining and educating the masses on everything that is electronic musical !

[@DrGargani]

I have watched all the other videos on the new EX platform, and yours is the ONLY one that truly demonstrates what you can actually do with these new sounds!

[@DrGargani]

as an addendum, watching it again, you took that Crystal EP sound and did a gorgeous rendition of Beauty and the Beast.....

[@djmastergroove946]

The sounds he can create out of these instruments is mind blowing 🤯 Incredible. I wish I was half as good..

[@greatheightsu]

That piano at the end and in the middle was just so beautiful.

[@philosophiaentis5612]

The sound of a Steinway D Hamburg, maybe the best piano in the world.

[@salilsomaddar1242]

I'm a Fan of Dr Mix and like to search regularly the latest video coming from Dr Mix. I like the historic 80's sounds as well as today's great synth sounds. The performance is excellent.

[@MikeHenrick1]

Great to find someone demoing the fantom that can play, knows what they are on about, to many people bashing, or can’t play. Etc. Great video.

[@Lo-FiOrchestra]

Fantom is just a great synth! But the longer I follow the latest synthesizers, the less I believe in progress. Of course, the sound is luxurious. However, it is with great pleasure and convenience that I use devices from Roland, which were created in the nineties. And frankly, many of them sound no worse. I prefer to watch how much fun Dr. Mix gets from playing on it. It inspires and pleases me. Thank you so much for the video!

[@williamshaneblyth]

F

[@brittscott4673]

I had the Roland Fantom X-8 for several years so I know what you mean. I don't find their new keyboards to be too much better than what I had. I want to get another X8.

[@waynesilverman3048]

I make a lot of psych trance and backwards guitar sometimes on my TB3 B LINE ) STILLsounds good from my rc 505 looper boss -Roland as well.Demos rec on phone and what stood out was the square pulse which hands down beats all my korgs maybe same pulse compared on my electribe 2

[@brittscott4673]

@beadlesastout In my Fantom X-8 I could sample sounds,import samples and slice samples. I'm pretty sure it could sample something live in real time. I never used the X8 for that but it was a cool feature. It also had that feature with piano Doc.Mix demonstrated opening and closing an acoustic piano and altering the damper etc.

[@ksager123]

​@@brittscott4673yeah you can't get much better than that .I believe sound quality actually peaked in the 80s-90s

[@richardboothby5694]

What can I say ? I just wish I had your improvisational skills ! - being classically trained I think you get stuck in a rut- you need to see the score and you don't really learn the true art that is improvisation. I ALWAYS enjoy your content and you always make me smile- now if only I can get one of those on loan from Roland ! 😄 A great channel I always look out for notifications from. keep up the inspiring work! . Thanks.

[@Dazzy84]

17:26 that sounded like the end of brookside!! 😂😂 but that shimmer reverb... pure eargasm! The effects on this are enough to love this fantom! 👌

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

I hoped you would create a video on this! I'm buying the update today. Can't wait!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

10:14 What an incredible piece of improv, Claudio. That was something special.

[@RajaSandhu]

came here to say this too

[@SPKORGSP]

you are getting Indian now... 😊

[@williamtell1477]

As a Fantom owner I am over the moon with this update. I was hoping for the JD-800 but the ACB engine just blows me away. I hope they offer all the ACB models soon and plug-in versions! I will buy them all!

I want Juno-60 ACB most🎉🎉🎉

[@xlat808]

Thank you for going into detail with the acoustic emulation! So true that a good instrument is inspiring.

[@UDPride]

Looks like a great upgrade to the Fantom line. The Fantom interface/GUI and 16-button sequencer has always been best in class. Yamaha's new polyphonic aftertouch - the first true legit P-A that works like it should - and M8Xs upgraded sound engine are still a notch above in my opinion. I wish we could take the Yamaha's sounds/keybed and Roland's chassis/GUI/pads/buttons and make one keyboard. The ability to see Roland's old synths in the GUI and manipulate them visually is terrific.

[@garyclement2888]

This new upgrade has this thing on FIRE. You got me sold. Great video as always.

[@Keyboardnut99]

Great video Claudio I have just upgraded my Fantom 6 it’s made this baby a beast !!

[@magicknight8412]

What a machine! love hearing you play it mate, especially the piano

[@Echo_System76]

16:02 killed me. Right on! I wonder if there will be an expansion for the Fantom O series...

[@reggiep75]

I'm watching on a tablet but the sound of the patch at the 4 min mark sounded like it was coming from beyond my little speakers. I had to plug in headphones to know that my ears weren't broken! Keep playing with your entertaining enthusiasm!

[@unclejerrysworld]

You're so inspriring no matter what instrument you play!! Thank you for this video!! The EX upgrade sounds great!! (Too bad I only have a Fantom 0)....Oh well.... I still have A LOT to learn just using it for now!!

[@dmcinnis23]

Awww yeah! What a BEAST! (The synth isn't bad either.) 😀 4:34-5:10 is just wow.

[@Miraclestuff]

You have all the 80s 90s sounds on your fingers!...and in your head too!!!...amazing.

[@ToddTalksTech]

That was an amazing group of sounds. I'm lost I'm the 80's all over again.

[@simonjackman6135]

You should play more piano for us. That’s among the most technically proficient playing I’ve heard on the channel. Nice.

[@AbdulmennanTor]

Dear Doctor of Sound, you showed us that something comes from the heart (14:02 - 14:54), and definitely touches our hearts. You have a beautiful soul. I am sure you keep it clean.

[@Gary.Holmes]

Oh, you love that shimmer reverb! Thanks Dr. Mix for running through the upgrades in such detail. One thousand soundtrack ideas and ambient chills are running through my head! I'm still hanging on until Roland give us some credits for people who spent real money supporting the development of n-zyme and are now having to pay for it again. Hmm. Let's see what they do. I strongly suspect the answer is 'nothing' and they'll just go for the money.

[@paulamodei4035]

Already announced you will be getting a credit or discount on Roland Cloud

[@ischmidt]

Claudio's improvs are better than most people's songs, but even by that standard the section from 10:14-11:25 is phenomenal.

[@Jason75913]

It borders on cheesy Hollywood movie music too much for comfort. Blah

[@mrwanderlive]

I loved it!!!

[@aristotlekumpis7095]

The new Fantom is the only product Roland has been supporting for this long. Most of their products have a 2 year lifespan, and then stop supporting. But this thing keeps on getting updates, which is nice to see.

[@MakeMagic]

They're still supporting the System 8 also. 3 years older than Fantom and got a new plug-out expansion just last year.

[@whisperdancer]

​@@MakeMagicon the other hand, they quickly dropped the JD-XA, which surprisingly still figures in the Roland catalog as an actual product.

[@Jason75913]

​@@whisperdancer I doubt JD-XA sells well. System-8 was sort of revived after being endorsed by influential touring musicians.

[@nicky1661]

Cause even after 4 years, fantom is still half baked. I think ABM is a poor idea and Roland went to a wrong way when they designed Fantom.

[@ellekappa5692]

Hi. Qualcuno mi può dire se prima di fare l’ultimo aggiornamento 3.02 bisogna fare anche quelli precedenti? Grazie

[@1masterfader]

I have the Fantom 06 and though it's built like a Beer can under hood is the best board I've had ever. I didn't know that some saxes run up the minor scale when you use the pitchbend. No other board does that.

[@idemditto]

I hope that the EX upgrade or a part of it will be available for the Fantom 0 series. This is a great upgrade.

[@thereactors-southbay3276]

what a great help to quickly get the most out of the Ex. I downloaded Ex last night...where can I download the Dr Mix talent 🎹🎶

[@ChrisCebelenski]

Shimmer reverb reminds me of some of the resonator effects I used to get in the Lexicon PCM-80. I remember something similar in the Eventide Harmonizer too.

[@elifarmer3815]

this looks really cool. im not a huge fan of the whole "ecosystem" approach they are going for but either way this seems like a great solution for performing keyboardists to have as many onboard options as possible.

[@DonGregorio]

Que bien te lo pasas....🤣🤣, que buen rato nos haces pasar viendo tus videos, la mejor manera de mostrarnos lo nuevo de este maravilloso mundo.

[@The_Real_Goodboy_Link]

14:50 you definitely didn't butcher it. Well done, nice run down of the Fantom!!

[@thebrix73]

Fantastic Upgrade.💯👍.. can't wait to have my fantom out of the box again...too much time that i can't turn on😭😭

[@svenl.69]

Nice take again! just got my update a minute ago, i am really excited!

[@shahidkamal]

Every video you make brings a smile to my face. Keep on being you.

[@FrancisMaxino]

If only they had kept their marvellous D-Beam controller in this model. Waving your hand like with a theremin for after touch and sustain changes was always a cool feature of Fantoms and other Roland keyboards with D-Beam.

[@pendaco]

14:06 Peak 90s sound! 90% of the ballads at that time used this electrical piano 😜

[@stevem-h3562]

You can almost hear Peter Cetera warming up his voice, lolz.

[@jangelo2038]

The JD-800 sounds SO GOOD. I wish they'd put a JP-8080/8000 with it's presets into the fantom already. I love mine but i wish it did classic trance a bit better.

[@timweakley6565]

This update put me in the market for a used fantom 8. Copped one a guitar center for $2399 less %10 for the used gear sale promo. Time to update it and shred.

[@Rightly_Divided]

Yup Im getting the expansion. It sounds great!

[@wonseoklee80]

The best birthday gift for old synth nerds…!! Love it and wanna have it.

[@joseluishernandezseptien]

Wow… Roland woke up after the release of the Montage m8x 😳

[@lonophonic117]

Christ! Looks like sick update for the Fantom didn’t know they released a new update till I saw your video 😂 but yeah nice video!

[@KieronEdwards]

I'm in two minds about this video: on the one hand it's a brilliant demonstration of what the Fantom EX can do and, Yaaaay!, I own one. On the other hand I'll now stand before it feeling like all I'm doing is playing 'chopsticks' (but with shimmer reverb which will probably help a bit).

[@GizzyDillespee]

Good sounds, good playing. For me, that's a lot of money. And I'd want the piano keys (RD-2000 feels great) but I wouldn't want to lift the 88 key version.😛🤔 That's a nice set of filters for a workstation, probably the best right now. Tons of synth presets, and different emulations for maximum accuracy vs maximum polyphony, so that's cool.

[@Pablo668]

Fantastic sounds. I really enjoyed listening to you play as well.

[@misscandicelove]

u made me cry Mr when u played beauty and the beast, from heart❤ 👱‍♀️x

[@Bashanvibe]

My Fantom is in the shop I get it out this weekend soon as I get it home I’m updating!!!

[@Imbamorial]

Sorry but I can't stop looking at the glare from your sunglasses in the intro, shining on the side of your nose lol, makes it look like you dipped in too hard in the disco powder 😂 Jokes aside, I love your videos, they are amusing and informative! Keep up the good vibes dude!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

haha I actually beat you to the punch with my EX video, Claudio! Had mine out last night only a few hours after release. :)

[@patriciaoudart1508]

Fly by Canard!☺️

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

@@patriciaoudart1508 hahaha

[@TheLazerTank]

I’ve been loving this update, the ACB Jupiter is a lot better than the zen-core based model they initially released. It’s really what I was looking for when I dropped the Mopho x4 from my live rig when I swapped the VR-09 for the Fantom. The shimmer reverb is also incredibly useful to me.

[@dynoroad]

For sure one of the best products Roland have released in many years. If money and time wasn't a thing, I'd have a Montage, Fantom, Kronos and K2700 sitting together.

[@musella974]

I have all except K2700... But I have many orhers !

[@Armando.Eterno.1948]

You are my man bro!!!🤘...exactly I dream the same rig!!!🤘💎

[@jt_via]

Wow, what an incredible instrument!! Wish I could play as well as you!

[@user-Wqir29482]

I have a lot of respect and love for this company ❤

[@Vittorio297]

Sempre grande Claudio! Un piacere seguirti ✌️ (in versione monaco, eccezionale! 😅) Big up! 🖖

[@TGU-bh6vw]

I really hope the ACB upgrade comes for other zen core hardware as well. Would love to see it on my Jupiter X.

[@revp01]

Nice. I’ve been considering a Fantom as I love my old Fantom X8/X6. As far as the 6 engines, I have JD & ACB (kind of) in the Jupiter Xm. Wish they would update the pianos on it. I’d pay for supernatural or v piano on Jupiter platform but I’m sure that cuts into RD & Fantom sales.

[@Jason75913]

Jupiter-X and Xm only have a fraction of the Fantom's processing power, so good luck with that.

[@scottk3292]

The flute/pipe at 5:58 immediately brought to mind the opening of Hide and Seek by Howard Jones. May be really far off on that, but I'd have to switch videos to verify, and I don't feel like stopping this video.

[@payt01]

Roland feeling the heat from Yammy.. lol. Awesome update though!

[@omarcruz2129]

Wow that New York Grand sounds AMAZING!!!!!

[@theszecretszecret1431]

Okay , okay Sold!!!!!!! Thanks to you I’ve got to have it ….much appreciated !!

[@theszecretszecret1431]

Roland should thank you ,this has got to the best Review on KZbin hands down ….

[@nonchai]

I'd also be more likely to buy one if a future FW update adds MIDI 2.0 control/support and makes this the best DAW controller opttion out there or as near as it can get

[@agenciadecarneyhueso]

So amazing, so capable and real

[@SSoler-jf5hv]

Thanks for this demo! You are a genius Claudio!!👏👏😉

[@thebaldwarbler]

Docter mix is so cool -He really loves synths and it shows-I must sub him

[@Acrimonious_Snake]

This thing sounds HUGE even on a smartphone speaker. Roland sound is always the best.

[@snowxcrowe]

I love you Dr. Mix! Thank you for the music!

[@omarcruz2129]

the sound at the minute 7 sounds like the synth that Jordan Rudess used on Octavarium's Solo Synth

[@Watndat1]

Hello Dr Mix . This is a great Sound ..you Made it ..

[@vacation_generation]

Thats a lovely synth. Excellent video

[@simbaking6338]

Thats an awesome upgrade....just need to afford the Fantom itself.

[@venomslair137]

Roland... Love em' or hate em', they always have something to say and offer.

[@MotorHolmes]

They miss the mark a lot these days, but I’m glad they’re still at it.

[@BounceBreath]

Perfect clear Roland!

[@jameskerr9509]

Wow sounds. His joy is infectious

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Hmmmm. If the Yamaha S90XS I purchased 12 years before this upload didn’t still hit the spot (and I had the mullah for this beast), I would almost want this monster for the analog emulation alone, let alone its digital synthesis and workstation features. Who wouldn’t want (for instance) a compacted Jupiter 8 or MKS-80, the SH line, a condensed Steinway, a D-50 and all the drum machines money could buy, the sequencer and the interfacing all attached to a hammer-action keyboard!

[@gregpetryk1696]

I like to see interviews of the sound designers/programmers who create these sounds...

[@indransubramaniam763]

The one you played on newyork grand. Could be a Hollywood movie theme...awesome man...

[@justiceironational]

10:00 Just for this tone, I would buy it.

[@pilotdrift05]

Beauty in the beast is in Eb. Not sure if you were on the mark or not. But who cares! You nailed it haha

[@ForbiddenPlanetMusicChannel]

KZbin has removed your voice? Your keyboard demo sounds exactly like countless synths through the years. Most of the sound in your demo Sound very outdated for those of us who already own all the big daddy synths. Your patches even sound like stock Logic Sounds with the same manipulation options. Now your voice is suddenly heard at 6:35. Even my Roland Super Jupiter 12 makes nearly all of these sounds. For someone starting from scratch looking for a versatile synth, the Roland Fantom EX is a great place to start. Nice Steinway piano sound. Worth the money for just the piano and bell piano sound alone. But you don't talk about how the keys feels. For what's it's worth, I listened to your awesome demo on world class open back engineering headphones. At 16:02 your voice is suddenly gone again. At 18:25 your voice suddenly comes back for good. The Ex is a great synth for those who don't have a good collection of synths. The V Piano is ROLAND'S flagship piano sound. I have the actual ROLAND V PIANO. It was 6k new with amazing weighted wooden keys to die for. Cheers.

[@SICKFORSYNTH]

I love the shimmer reverb ! I use in the gaia 2 wonderful!

[@WayneMusicianUK]

Did they fix the polyphony issue? Notes cutting out when layering sounds and using sustain pedal? I guess not 🤷🏻‍♂️🫣🙄

[@Talia.777]

I'm afraid not... Even Roland FA series from 2013 don't have this problem 😒😒 IMHO, get a Montage M series or Montage (2016) or Kronos 2.... if you can afford it... Roland unfortunately are evolving backward... 😞😔

[@WayneMusicianUK]

@@Talia.777 I have a White Yamaha Montage 8 and a Gold Korg Kronos 2 88 already

[@norwayphilosopher]

Doctor Mix tests the Roland Fantom EX and by random creates a masterpiece of music at 10:25-11:25

[@JK-Nights]

Great. I have Fantom EX to. I am happy 😂

[@rosalindwebb7729]

Sounds fabulous well done you play excellent ❤🙏🌹

[@FeatherGlow1]

I have a Fantom G8 and have been tossing back and forth in my mind if I should upgrade to the Fantom. Is the Fantom really a big step in improvement over the Fantom G?

[@Hannibaul]

I would love to delve into this 😮

[@dreamline2007]

My question as a Roland Cloud user, how would a Fantom benefit my workflow when I have all the instruments on my computer?

[@robsargent8611]

I loved the beauty and the beast 😀👍 excellent Doc.

[@nonchai]

EX expansion sounds great but i'd *really* like to see you appraise the built in sequencing features - good or bad - aseems to me their Ableton-like pattern clip tools could be improved workflow wise - as many reviewer-owners have stated as it stands its quite fiddly - too many button presses or dialogs to encounter etc. ideally next firmware update would improve things there -

[@agentooe33AD]

I love everything about this, except I've seen videos about the installation process for the upgrade, and it's by and large a complete headache. Would be nice if they made a 2023 way of doing it instead of a 2003 way of doing it.

[@oliveruecker4919]

Hi everybody and especially Dr. Mix! Great Demo. Is there something similar for the Fantom 0 in plan?

[@Jason75913]

Extremely unlikely due to its lesser CPU power, I think.

[@lenkel]

Excellent review!

[@patch002]

You are an impressive machine on the keys!

[@HappyOrganMan]

Awesome. Incredible. That sounds magic! 🤩👍👏

[@no-ee]

“I don’t remember…” then proceeded to nail it perfectly.😮