Musikmesse 2009 Roland relases new gear- but no ARX

So cyclops, you raise a desire: wanting to set individual tempo for each Live Set, fine.

But, I get back to an earlier post. The "G" system tempo has been global since day one of its introduction. Why did you, as a consumer, not research this? It's been in the spec since 1.00. And why, if that is such an issue for you, did you not see that when you got the instrument home and evaluated it? In the US, you can return gear in some cases two months after the purchase.

And the same with everything else in your post. At some point the responsibility of the purchase has to fall back on you. Sorry, but there are thousands of customers I speak to in a year from all over the world who understand the "G", and are satisfied with it because they either did their homework as a consumer, or educated themselves on how to use the features in the machine. And are making hit records with it or performing on huge stages.

I wish to reach out to those who bought the instrument, and wish to get the most out of it. And I will advocate for changes and improvements if persons can document those in terms that benefit not just one person but all Fantom-G owners.

"Guys, we don't divulge when updates or new products are forthcoming -- never. And even if we could, I would not encourage our company to ever do so."

How does this help the consumer? If they have a problem with a product and want to know if/when it is going to be fixed you are basically blanking them completely and then wondering why you have a big backlash against you.

You know best.

This forum is so ripe with industry trolls from other companies I dare mention when we change the toilet paper in our bathrooms at Roland US. Until the membership advocates for more stringent moderation and vetting of its members would I ever loosen any discussion of the internal workings of our company. And only then with the blessing of our HQ. Get real. Korg and Yamaha work the same way. I know. We talk to each other.

Dan:

At some point the responsibility of the purchase has to fall back on you.

Yeah but the responsibility for the lack of support isn't mine, nor is the fall of the company on the market sales, something that will definitely come.


Dan:

I don't wish to listen to whiners or provocateurs. Or trolls hiding as members but really persons posting here from our competitors.

Ok you edited your post and removed this specific part.
I would like to ask: DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS???
Anyone who has different opinion than yours is a competitor's "insider"???
Man, if anyone here were Korg's or Yamaha's staff or employee or anything, they wouldn't even bother log in this place.

I wouldn't believe you could get so low. I'm really sorry for this.


Man, this is a joke really. I don't know if I must laugh or cry for this.

And you want us to take Roland US seriously.
Thanks but no thanks. There is Roland UK anyway.

Well considering your posting that directly after my post I'm guessing It's directed at me.

I work in a cabaret setup and have never worked for the "industry" in my life. My main profession is property development and I have no problems with giving out my real life details over the web for anyone to see.

Tenant : "There is a problem with my heating, when can it be fixed?"
Myself : "I'm sorry but I can't divulge this information nor would I want to if I could but don't worry because my partner and I are in discussions about it"

Really gonna work

Interesting to see a Roland Rep saying what I have been saying to the Fantom G Whiners all along: Research your equipment choices thoroughly and don't ever buy anything for what it might do in the future. Expect it to only ever do what it does the day you buy it.

When companies do introduce free, after market software updates, they do it not to make existing owners happy. They do it to increase sales and keep up with the competition.


Of course, if we all did this, sales of the Fantom G might be very much lower.

...And this is my I have an MV-8800 and no Fantom.

While I haven't frequented here much recently (been busy on the guitar forums), I would think any Roland Clan member worth his/her salt could spot an errant Motifator fan, or other, disingenuous poster, or "competitor troll," in a heartbeat (not that all Motifator members are necessarily disingenuous). I've seen many of these same screen names here for the year or two I've been here, and I've enjoyed their comments, both good and bad, and read many of them with either a good laugh or with great interest.

However, we are also extremely lucky to have Dan from Roland actively posting (and, possibly, even more importantly, reading posts!), and I know, it may be a challenge to avoid the temptation of dumping all of our Roland woes on him. I'm sure it can become tiresome on his end at times. Sorry, Dan! Keep up the great work!

P.S. I am dead-serious about being excited about the MicroCube cover!

I think that it is possible there are some trolls here but not so many to be afraid of. The battle between workstations is very hot and I’m even sure that Korg is very frighten of Fantom G and that is why they are releasing such big updates and sound expansions for m3 (I’m not much impressed with those functions and sounds but it shows that they really care). I have chosen Fantom G over m3 and I still don’t regret it but I can see that Korg has indeed a lot of better online support and contacts with customers. Roland must really improve itself in this area and this is no to so hard to do – all they must to do is talking and listening to us. Dan seems to be ideal person for this purpose but he is not allowed to tell us much by now – Roland think about it please.
We must refrain ourselves from calling every little thing a bug. Try to find a workaround first. Discuss it first with other users an even call this as new feature or improvement request, not a bug. Let’s give Roland a breath. They have made a big workstation that for sure is really hard to develop. I can understand that - I’m programmer too and know what happens if your applications is getting really big. But Roland must understand that we can help them to improve Fantom G and that they must to improve it. Now It’s for sure the best workstation but it won’t last much long.

I remember several moons ago when several clanners were salivating to grab the first G no matter what, there were other voices urging caution.

As an X owner I have followed the G threads with interest to learn about the inards of the beast - one of the great things about this forum. However, an outsider reading some threads would think the G is a rubbish machine. None of the negative comments I have read convince me of this. The G is clearly a super machine, with the potential for further improvement.

Individuals have their own subjective gripes, which is fair enough, but it does get tiring after a while.

The lesson, as Dan intimates is to spend a bit more time researching new gear to make sure they fulfill one's individual needs before rushing out like a 6-year old to grab one.

Roland is a great company with great gear. Since my XP50 I have never looked back.

What we all need is to take a deep breath and have a bit more patience. Roland always deliver and in spectacular fashion. Some updates may not meet all our expectations, but no doubt there will be others.

Meanwhile we have this excellent forum with excellent support from Art, Dan and others, who constantly help to breath new life into our beloved toys.

Having said all that, roll on Fantom GX or GT, expanding on the G LivePlay, all SRX preloaded and 4 ARX slots, plus a sequence based on the X... I can dream, can't I

Speaking of dreams, I've just had an awesome idea ... ARX-to SRX adaptor card... but hey I guess this will only appear after Roland drops the XR...
Also I'd say an Arranger ARX card could make the FG enter high-end arranger territory - which may allow it to threaten other competitor arranger niches at the same time as workstation niches... quite brilliant marketing move, I'd say (am I good or what? )

P.S. Each ARX adaptor card should have at least 2 or more SRX slots...

Arranger functionality could be implemented in software, no need to loose one ARX slot for that. I am now usuing Roland E-50 with my Fantom G-6. This way you can overcome many "limitations" of both devices. I can configure them to play on Fantom G as on arranger.

It would be almost perfect if:

Fantom G would have:
1) better support for midi filtering especially in recording (single channel recording, solo button, different midi setups quickly accessible - see it in e-50, note range RX filtering)
2) more functionality in sequencer especailly dissolving phrase into separate parts for each midi channel
3) possibility to make multisamples from internal waves and possiblity to set one wave/sample for multiple keys with the same pitch - not easy now in multisamples (must have separate sample for each key)
4) definable maps for external to internal program number conversions - that would be really great
5) quicker program number and bank changes - don't now if it is possible

Yeah, I know, but from the corporate point of view you're gonna pay a lot more for an ARX

Off-topic: how would you rate your E-50 against a GW-8?

GW-8 may have some better sounds and greater polyphony but in everything else it's much behind e-50 especialy regarding the functionality - in e-50 it's almost the same like in g-70 or e-80. I know people who had GW-8 and then quickly changed it for e-50/60 not missing much those better sounds. E-50 is also much better manufactured, Gw-8 is produced in China as I know.

Thanks Marek for the info...
Today I'm full of predictions: I foresee (through my obvious shamanistic powers ) the next ARX board will be organ ARX - released at the same time as the new Roland high-end arranger-class workstation. Reason? The new G or E keyboard will have this organ ARX onboard, same as the brass ARX was fitted onto VP-770. Organ ARX will benefit from the 9 drawbar sliders of the new keyboard, of course...
Gentlemen, make your bets!

Thoughts on hold...

I'm going to leave for a while to avoid possibly being banned for an opinion I want to give right now.

I will plan on coming back sometime after my April 24th gig I have been practicing several hours a day for...tired/busy.

Maybe I will be calmer and maybe others will be too.