NEW FANTOM-G, PLEASE TALK HERE

Software is still being finalized so I can't comment on somethings because I really don't know yet.


As far as USB memory, 8gig for now. that could change.

3rd party..... It will load .wav and.aiff for now. That's all I know for 3rd party stuff.


No CD option as of now. Just USB 2.0 flash.

I don't know if ther will ever be a CD option or not.

ToneCre8 you are correct about the SRX cards. It's not the sounds its just the best waves from various cards.

Hi Jim. I have been looking for a complete workstation for a while. I had a fantom S but returned it because of the file system, lack of FX and no pattern mode. Does the Fantom G have a dedicated pattern mode like the MV or XS?

I did try the RPS function from the last models and it was no replacement for a dedicated pattern mode. It was slow and awkward to use/set up so it defeated the whole purpose.
If the G is strictly linear then it is not for me.

You said the RPS is improved so I wonder if we get pattern recording?

Also, I would like to know if the filters have been improved.

If these two things are improved then I am sold.

After seeing the video, my emotions are REALLY mixed:
How can they make such an awesome machine, esthetically speaking, Great LCD, Great Secuencer, and...
Put those old sounds in it.

That board deserved a total new set of sounds.
Really a shame Roland.

Ive been a loyal customer , (JV880, XV5050, Fantom XR).
Those samples were great, but a decade ago. And SRX is ok. but also a little dated (not all, but most of the cards).

I envy those who in 2008, still find those patches useful, Cause sure the G is a great machine for you guys.

After watching the video again I am starting to think it is a better machine for performers. If you are not going out live then all my old gear is great especially if you are a sound tweaker.
The complaints about needing new sounds seems unfair...considering how many sounds and instruments are already in the fantoms. Isn't the joy to be had in creating your unique sounds. That may be another topic.
That ARX synth looks like the same thing in the TD 20 and td 12 drum machine. So placing it in the fantom is great.
That 128 tracks thing makes me scratch my head. Wonder if they are virtual tracks?
What seems greaat is that it can be your total sound card for a computer user. Sadly I do not use any software just a mixing board.
I may have to pass on it unless it sounds that much better than the fantom x. I think Roland made a great machine.

whats up Jim, Really cool of you to keep us posted on the G. What do you guys play the G through at NAMM . I have sampson monitors and feel that might be why my x seems a little muffled sometimes .

Any suggestions?

Will the G or ARX-2 FINALLY have some great Wurly patches?

Jim, do you have any goodies to share regarding future ARX offerings. I assume that one good addition would be an Organ card??

Jim do the new reverbs have that real clear sound like the ones on the mv8800s and the Hand sonics

New Roland G-Series Specs First Impressions:

In my view, the new G-series is a hit! Great job, Roland! They "solved" my two BIGGEST gripes with the Fantom-X series—the file system and the screen size (but still no VGA output, damnit!). And then added two DREAM features!:

1. According to Jim's statement, the file system has been fixed—it's "project-based." THANK GOD!
2. Large 8.5" color screen. YES!
3. 24 digital audio tracks. OMFG, I LOVE YOU, ROLAND!
4. 24-bit/96kHz A/D/A. OMFG x2! HOLY CRAP!!! I WANNA HAVE YOUR BABY, ROLAND!

The only other thing I would want is motorized faders (oh yeah, and multiple inputs). Is there fader memory now? The only BIG thing I have to complain about: the outdated, difficult-to-source, PC133 RAM specification.

Just in case, they're still in development on this detail: MORE SUPPORTED SAMPLING RAM CAPACITY—1GB MINIMUM [4GB/8GB preferred], and PLEASE, switch to a more modern memory module. Thanks!

Anyone wanna buy a slightly used Fantom-X8?

Just purchased a Juno G this past summer, now all irrational thought towards purchasing a Fantom G has taken over and I have a feeling irrational is going to win the battle with my wallet.

First that caught my eye, and I may be wrong here, but my beef about the Fantom X/Juno G's 3 MFX process limitation (only 3 diff processors for 16 tracks) has been addressed. 8 gigs mem (not bad, considering memory is about for about $30 for 1gig right now).

I wish I could hear what stereo is about, deaf in one ear, but even living in a mono world the sounds of the fantom are killer. If I get one it's gotta be 88 keys, so I can tell the missus "but honey I need a full sized piano!", if any of you guys have good excuses that have worked well sneaking in the latest gear, let me know!

Hope to see the units out at Guitar Center/Sam Ash soon, heck if Roland's HQ has a showroom I'd stop by just to take a look even though it's in a not-safe-after-dark neighborhood, how's that for excited!

I'm not impressed with the guys that aren't impressed with the Fantom G, how could you not be impressed with something that has yet to impress you?

Have you seen it up close? Nooo Have you caressed it, run your hand along her curves and felt her smooth moving parts? Noooo Have you heard her sound waves caressing your ear with her come-hither ways? noooo

Come now gentlemen see it in person first before you pass judgment

Here's the realty:

1. There is only so much you can do with a keyboard.

2. I'll take a better Fantom X over a M3 or XS.

3. If they ever make more expansion cards the the keyboard become the ultimate.

4. It's still light years a head of the M3 and XS

5. If it sounds better then the samples the we import will sound better also.


I am getting it I have half the money saved already..in 30days i should have it whaat ever it cost ..

I'm thinking 19-2,100 for the G6

Roland G Specifications Impressions 2.0:

I couldn't agree with you more, cix! You're right! There's only so much they can do . . . at a constrained price point. Thank god Roland DIDN'T try to make an Oasys-priced synth, selling for well over $7,000 or more. What they did is emulate some of Oasys' feature set, and KEPT the Fantom-X' basic price structure. Kudos to Roland for that!

I didn't expect a major flagship workstation breakthrough product from Roland at this winter's NAMM anyway. What they did do (and what I did expect), was that they perfected the Fantom-X! I only just bought a fully-loaded Fantom-X8 a few months ago (damnit!), but I'm ready to upgrade for the file system "fix" alone. The Fantom-X file system has been the bane of EVERY Fantom user since the 2.0 release, and now it's finally fixed! THANK GOD!

And, we got a bigger screen! I was REALLY hoping for this one! Not as big as the Oasys, but again, we didn't get an Oasys price point either. 'Course I was also hoping for an external VGA output, but, oh well . . . can't have everything, I guess. No built-in CD burner? Who cares? Buy a stand-alone burner. If it ever breaks, at least it won't "ruin" your workstation. Plus, not having one also helped keep the price in check.

Yeah, sure, the ROM could've been bigger. The polyphony, greater. The supported sample RAM, larger (well, that SHOULD have been larger . . . MUCH larger). But again, the price could've been much larger, too.

And as for the resident ROM samples, and the new ARX expansion architecture. Yes, I too am sick of the same ole' Roland sounds, being recycled over and over and over again for literally, decades. But, ARX, at least sets the groundwork for a whole new generation of co-processor, add-on synths + ROM sets. That's really, really, GOOD news!

Last, but certainly NOT least:

I don't think I can overstate how happy I am that they upgraded the internal A/D/A signal processing specs to 24-bit/96kHz sampling rate. This makes the Fantom-G a true MASTERING PLATFORM! THIS IS A MAJOR UPGRADE! Kudos, Roland, kudos!

Hey guys and gals, our initial assumption that the entire 256 MB of wave ROM was just a rehash of Fantom-X and SRX waves is not true!

Notice on the video from rolandus.com it says that there are also new waveforms onboard.

Combined with the new audio engine, this could be one fine sounding synth. Initial reports seem to indicate same.

Couple more questions:

1) Do the pads, which we now know are dynamic "drum" pads like the Fantom-X, have a 16 levels and full level function like the MPC?

2) What about the freezing of synth tracks to conserve polyphony - can this be done, and how easily?

3) Please explain about the ARX boards being their own self-contained multi-timbral sound generators. Does this add polyphony and (additional) multi-timbrality to the Fantom?

Okay, so I cashed some favors in and actually got some face time with the Fantom-G. Spent about 30 minutes shooting questions and sucking up a LOT of information—to the point where my brain hurt and was asked "Audacity, are you writing for a magazine now or something?" The only reason I'll be able to spew forth so much is that I took tons of notes and am currently sitting in a Marriot hotel room (thanks, Leslie!) a couple hours later. So I hopefully won't screw this up and give you guys wrong information. Suffice to say, nothing here is 100% confirmed and everything is subject to change.

Overall impressions and other stuff I learned about the Fantom-G:

1. Roland is incredibly excited and proud of the G. There was definitely a buzz in their booth.

2. Here's a little trick I learned long ago: If a manufacturer doesn't have a hands-on area for their new products, chances are its OS isn't finished. Therefore, as only demonstrators were able to touch the thing (well, and me after all sorts of payola, bribes, and sexual favors), that points to the OS being premature. So we might be able to sneak a couple of minor requests in, but nothing hardware-based (polyphony or I/O). A few of my (and your) questions couldn't be answered, because the OS simply isn't 100% done. Especially the sequencer.

3. The sound is decidedly Roland. I noticed a few familiar patches, but was told that "the ROM isn't finished. We have more samples to add." However, the sonic quality is without a doubt a major step up from the X. I'm not sure if they've stopped using compressed data or what, but the overall sound is very, very good. More open, clean, and punchy, but again, still certainly a Fantom. When I asked about the engine, some guy in a suit said "It was redesigned from the ground up, utilizing new chips." Regardless, if you don't like the sound of Roland ROMplers, you probably won't like the G. Personally, I think they fit pop, hip hop, and rock music better than the XS or M3. I was told that the sound set consists of "classic Fantom patches, selected sounds from all the SRX boards, and a bunch of all-new stuff". As I understand it, the majority is not recycled. Asking for a definitive ratio seemed pointless.

4. The screen looks AMAZING. It's not just a bigger Fantom screen—the resolution is iPhone or laptop-level. Windows are semi-transparent, there are icons galore, there's a ton of visual feedback when playing keys or twisting knobs, and unlike the Motif XS, screen redraws are instant. It's way better than even the V-Synth GT's screen.

5. The UI is definitely Fantom-esque. They still have the MENU button (blech), still have the SHIFT button (yay!), but everything seems to have been streamlined. Navigating appears to be faster and easier—No separate WRITE and SAVE/LOAD buttons, no separate SAMPLE LIST and SAMPLE EDIT buttons... The screen is big enough to avoid too much scrolling, and the mouse seemed to work without a hitch (pointer looks identical to the one in OSX). Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to see how the mouse works with editing audio/MIDI.

6. 22 effects processors. That's right—TWENTY TWO effects processors. There is no "source" parameter in the effects routing page because it's not necessary. All parts get their own MFX processor. More info in number 9 below...

7. No more PATCH and PERFORMANCE mode. There's now SINGLE mode, which is kinda like the old PATCH mode, LIVE mode, which is a 10-part multitimbral layer/split mode, and STUDIO, which is an 18-part multitimbral sequencing mode. Wait—10 and 18 parts? The ARX expansions are considered extra parts; they don't eat into the sixteen internal parts (and they have their own polyphony!). What's a bit weird is that in LIVE mode, the pads/rhythm are on part 8 (because 9 and 10 are reserved for the ARX expansions) and in STUDIO mode, the pads/rhythm are on part 10, like in almost all other Roland ROMplers. That might get a bit confusing, especially when jumping from LIVE to STUDIO mode.