Hands-On Review: Roland Fantom-G Workstations
By Ara Ajizian, Musician’s Friend Staff Writer
"The Evolution Is Now"
Every year gear manufacturers roll out the latest and greatest products they have to offer. Sometimes they generate a collective "ho-hum” from consumers who see through repackaging, scant new features, and/or minimal new functionality. Some companies, however, always try to push boundaries, making musicians rethink the way they create. At the 2008 Winter NAMM show, Roland made such a move with the introduction of theFantom-G keyboard workstations. These new flagship systems have redefined the workstation genre with an advanced sound engine, 8.5" widescreen color LCD display, USB mouse connection, new expression technology, Studio and Live modes, and much more. There's a lot to cover, so let's jump right in.
Music to your ears
Fantom-G Workstations have a number of enhancements over their predecessors
in theFantom-X Series. First up is an advanced sound engine, driven by a
powerful new audio processor and loaded with 256MB of waveROM—twice that of
Fantom-X models. This translates into 1,600 of Roland's SRX patches built in to
every Fantom-G. Additionally, up to 22 high-quality DSP effects can be run
simultaneously.
Sound expansion has also been improved in the form of two ARX slots for Roland's
SuperNATURAL sound sets. These new sound libraries offer incredibly expressive
sound and a level of control never before seen in a synth. For example, with the
ARX-01 Drums library, users can control parameters like shell depth, mic
placement, head tuning, and muffling. And with the widescreen LCD and navigation
controls, creating up to a 24-piece kit tuned to your specifications is a very
intuitive process (especially when you put that USB mouse connection to use!)
Also available is the ARX-02 Electric Piano board, with 40 classic presets, five
different amp models, effects, and control over a number of parameters to create
your own electric pianos.
Control freak
The Fantom-G Workstations deliver an amazing amount of assignable, realtime
control over sounds, effects, and more. There's a mixer section with eight
sliders and four knobs, Roland's D-Beam infrared controller, a pitch bend/mod
lever, navigation wheel, the aforementioned USB mouse connection, and the
dynamic pad bank.
These 16 velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive pads have a number of modes that
allow you to play drums or rhythm patterns, trigger samples and phrase
sequences, switch arpeggiation styles, and more. In all, the pads can operate in
16 modes. It's an unprecedented amount of control that makes working with
the Fantom-G in its various modes an absolute pleasure.
Roland Fantom-G8 Workstation
Studio mode
In Studio mode, theFantom-G is an absolute creative powerhouse. Roland's newly
designed audio/MIDI "power sequencer” allows 128 MIDI tracks and a whopping 24
tracks of audio.
The Fantom-G is loaded with inputs to make recording audio simple. There's a combination XLR/1/4" input for a mic or guitar, complete with phantom power for condenser mics. Two 1/4" TRS ins and a stereo digital input are also provided, as well as a slot for a USB flash drive, and a USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface built-in for integrating your Fantom-G with your favorite computer hardware and software. Just like in a DAW, you can use point-and-click editing, zoom tracks, mix, and even master your productions. A VST-/AU-compatible editor is also onboard for when you want to use theFantom-G within your computer-based DAW software.
Live mode
Roland clearly took the time to make the Fantom-G just as powerful a live performance tool as it is a creative one. In Live Mode, eight patches can be used simultaneously, creating what's called a Live Set. Each patch in a Live Set has its own effects processor (along with shared reverb and chorus), giving you an entire arsenal of sounds and effects to spice up your performances. What's more, using the Fantom-G's faders and knobs, controlling the mix, effects, and other parameters is effortless. The keyboard can be split or layered into up to eight zones for playing internal patches, triggering samples, and controlling up to 16 external devices for even more expression options in a live setting.
Managing and switching between Live Sets is intuitive and seamless thanks to
the new Patch Remain function. There are no abrupt cutoffs or glitches when
switching between sets. Any effects or sustained notes in the set you're
switching from will continue to ring out after you make the change. Also, the
Favorite mode allows storage and instant recall of your favorite sounds. These
can be stored in banks and brought up using the dynamic pads.
Mission accomplished
The Fantom-G Series Workstations are an accomplishment in musical technology on a scale rarely seen in the industry. They're so deep, in fact, that this review could go on for pages and pages. I've only scratched the surface, but suffice to say that any serious player and/or producer will find much to love about the Fantom-G and its comprehensive feature set, expressive sounds, expansion capabilities, controls, and playability. Roland has succeeded in creating a series of workstations that are equally powerful in a studio environment as they are onstage.
Features & Specs
61, 76, or 88 velocity-/aftertouch-sensitive keys
Weighted, PHA II "Ivory Feel" keyboard (Fantom-G8)
16 velocity-/aftertouch-sensitive pads
Advanced sound engine
256MB onboard wave ROM
Up to 22 simultaneous effects
128-track MIDI/24-track audio sequencer
Full-fledged sampler
4 control knobs, 8 sliders
1/4"/XLR Hi-Z input with phantom power
2 – 1/4" TRS ins
Stereo digital input
USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface built in
VST-/AU-compatible editor
Skip Back function constantly records
Favorites function
8.5" TFT widescreen LCD display
2 ARX expansion slots
USB mouse connectivity
Heavy-duty casing with aluminum panel
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