If Roland comes out with an ARX module that would be great! BUT, it will most likely be limited to just "four" ARX slots. The reason I think so, is because 4 ARX cards alone will cost almost $2,000.00 (1,525.000 EUR). On top of that you need to factor in the cost of the module itself which may cost in the neighborhood of $1,000.00 (762.000 EUR) or possibly more. That's the cost of a brand new FG8 right there. :0
What I am hoping though is that Roland will make a significant price reduction on the ARX cards themselves. So instead of $445.00 (339.000 EUR) maybe a $100 price cut, making them $345.00 (263.000 EUR) after the price reduction. >> Doesn't hurt to dream right?
But we may 'never' see an ARX module unfortunately.
So my advice is to "choose" your ARX cards wisely in the meantime.
What I think is happening at this very moment at Roland Japan is they are in the beginning stages of the Fantom G successor. Version 2.0 etc., if you prefer..
It has almost been a whole year now since Roland released the Fantom G and, in my humble opinion, Musikmesse would be a great opportunity for them to release OS 1.30 that would hopefully "energize" and "excite" the Fantom G community once again (or maybe for the first time
. Scissors and Glue, RPS on the keys, and the list goes on... If Musikmesse is a total wash for Fantom G owners it will be a trying and tough time to have to wait and see if summer NAMM will provide any glimmer of hope for our beloved Fantom G keyboards. If summer NAMM is a wash we will once again be left to speculate as to whether winter NAMM 10' will finally bring some relief. If nothing happens between now and Winter NAMM 10' you are going to see people left and right jumping ship in their quest of some other keyboard options on the market in my opinion. If Roland owned Yamaha and Korg, etc. then that wouldn't affect their bottom line one iota.
OTOH, since they DON'T own Yamaha, Korg, etc., it could ultimately affect their bottom line tremendously. Yes, they've already gotten the "initial" benefit when people actually buy the Fantom G, but if it ends up where Roland leaves FG owners out on a limb, or up a creek without a paddle, or between a rock and a hard place etc., then afterwards, when word circulates that Roland shirks responsibility in that they are not willing to go the extra mile or are precieved as not being "gung ho" (or the Japanese equivalent) when it comes to supporting their Flagship, people will start to leave in droves and those on the outside will avoid Roland like the plague perhaps. Only those who are willing to go down with the ship, so to speak, will be the ones left when the dust settles and the sun once again starts to peek through the clouds and rain.
And consequently, Roland will have lost a vast amount of people to the competition and they will see their precious?? marketshare start to shrink and dry up unfortunately. MAY IT NEVER BE! :0 Only Roland though has the power to prevent such a catastrophe from coming to pass. Hopefully they will "shake themselves", pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and utilize every ounce of fortitude they can muster to remain a vital and enriching presence in the keyboard community = by providing excellent and outstanding product service and customer support. >> If not, it's good buy Roland hello Yammie, Korg, Kurzweil, Ketron, Open Labs, Clavia, Waldorf, etc., etc., etc... Again, MAY IT NEVER BE!
Musikmesse starts April Fool's day right?
Will Roland make a fool of Fantom G owners by totally neglecting their needs for a better i.e. (a more mature and enhanced) OS?
I dread the very thought that they would consider such a sin of omission but stranger things have happened unfortunately.
Or will they turn the tables around and surprise "the living daylights" out of us :0 = by providing a "major" beefed UP OS that will finally put the Fantom G in its rightful place as the monster keyboard it was originally intended to be?
>> We'll know in about two weeks which direction "the river" ends up taking, eh?
PS: I have to give Roland adulation and praise for their recent release of ARX-03 though. That, in itself, is cause for rejoicing in my opinion.
Especially since the word coming back is both positive and encouraging that, overall, ARX-03 appears to be a very promising addition to our Fantom G arsenal.
But please don't think you [Roland] can "successfully" rest on your laurels okay?
Such an erroneous misconception cannot (and will not) hold even an ounce of merit and certainly cannot be expected to fly. At least, not in a healthy and sustained manner anyway.
