Feature wishlist

Library for every element in the project:

- Patches (Single/Live/Studio)
- Favorite settings
- Samples/Multisamples
- Effects presets for algorithms and configurations
- Rhythm Patterns
- RPS sets
- Phrases
- Songs
etc

All of this accessible through Librarian (PC/Mac) and the Fantom-G's UI and with all the accossiations needed, like samples-multisamples-singles, phrases-songs etc.

Copy Singles with all samples/multisamples needed, copy Live/Studio with all Singles and samples/multisamples needed etc.

Do this Roland and then you can watch the Fantom-G's sales go up like hell.

“Copying ANYthing between project. I'm still shocked you can't really copy patches with multi samples, songs and phrases between projects”

+1
Ah! This is so true.
At first I was sure that there MUST be a way to simply load one song (G format or SMF song) from a project on a USB stick into another internal project, but I did not discover it.

This REALLY should have been part of version 1.0.
I know that the Roland engineers cannot think of incorporating every possible function in a 1.0 release, but being able to load songs, patches, multi-samples from a project on a USB stick into another project is such a basic standard function that it ought to have been in FG 1.0.
Next to my FG I have the Korg T-1, almost 20 years old, and it’s no problem to load patterns, songs, patches, combis and multi-samples from floppy into memory and thus create all kinds of cominations of projects…shame, shame, shame!

I sincerely hope that the next update will fix this issue.
I hoped that the 1.30 update would have fixed this, but instead…
I’m not really hungering after another truckload of new patches and multi-samples while certain functions which ought to be standard are not incorporated yet in the Fantom G.

I hope this post is not too negative, but I felt the need to stress this point put forward by Bratan. I agree with others on this forum that the FG is a great machine with lots of potential, but that the OS is not yet up to a satisfactory standard.
Please incorporate the import of separate songs/patches/multi-samples/etc. of one project into another in the next update; it would make life with the FG so much more pleasant.

And by the way, asking for some basic functionality as outlined above I do not consider to be ‘whining’.
It is a very valid request.

I hope that the file system that exists in Korg M3 and previous instruments is not patented by Korg... We've recently heard a lot of excuses for Roland's decision to not implement multiple arpeggiators in the Fantom-G. I hope we don't hear the same about the file system too.

New Wishlist items:

1. Ability to edit multiple phrases using the 'Phrase Edit' commands.

2. MIDI groups. Ability to group parts into MIDI groups. It will be taking the 'Keyboard Switch' to the next level. 'Keyboard Switch' is sort of one MIDI group. Replace the switch with 'A,B,C... to G'. All part in keyboard midi group A will sound together. This way I can have flexible layers... e.g., two parts from internal, 3 parts from external, and 1 part from expansion, without having to change MIDI channels.

I could have something like this...

Parts --- Group --- sound
Int Part 1 --- A --- Pad1
Int Part 2 --- A --- Pad2
Int Part 3 --- B --- Piano 1
Int Part 4 --- B --- Piano+str
Int Part 5 --- C --- Flute
Int Part 6 --- D --- Internal Drums1
Int Part 7 --- D --- Internal Drums2
Int Part 8
Int Part 9
:::::
Int Part 16
Ext Part 1 --- A --- Pad on M3
Ext Part 2 --- C --- Flute on Z1
Ext Part 3 --- B --- Strings on M3
Ext Part 4
Ext Part 5
::::::
Ext Part 16
EPX1 --- D --- ARX Drumkit
EXP2

Now if I play on any part in a group, all parts in that group will sound.

This is not my own idea. I liked this feature on Alesis Fusion.

shakil:

Now if I play on any part in a group, all parts in that group will sound.

Explain it to me this one please, 'cos it seems that I haven't understood this one completely.
I've tried to play external parts from my Fantom-G. If you switch all keyboard switches to off, then you'll be able to play each sound you choose. For instance, go to External page. If MIDI channel calls a piano, not only the piano, but also all external parts listening to MIDI channel 1 will sound. And so on.

cyclops...

The MIDI groups will an extension of the 'keyboard switch'.

Let's say I want to play only part 2 and part 3 together in main verse of the song, and then part 4 and external part 5 together in the chorus of the song...

If I turn on Keyboard switch on all those parts, all of them will sound together. But, if I could group Part 2 and Part 3 in group A, and then the Part 4 and external Part 5 in group B... During the chorus, I will just select Part 4 or Group B.. then only Part 4 and external Part 5 will sound together, not Part 2, 3, 4 and external 5. Then in the main verse, I can select any part from Group A, and it will sound only part 2 and 3.

Is it clear now?

Yes, if I turn off keyboard switch, and use 1part, all parts listening to that channel will sound, but then all on that channel will get same level, pan, sounds etc..

For internal sounds you can have some of this functionality. You can set all your volumes, panpots etc, then assign to the same MIDI channel all of the sounds that need to be sounding at the same time.

Yes, but it's not the same. MIDI grouping will allow us to layer internal, external, exp1, exp2... only notes data and cc data optionally will be sent.

Yeah, I get it now. This would make the Fantom-G a killer studio and live controller.

Yeah... my old Ensoniq SQ1+32v had this feature... its really great for live playing!

Still no Solo function in Studio Mode and/or in Song Play/Edit Mode either. I'm really surprised Roland hasn't come through with a Solo function for the Fantom G yet. When I bought my $800.00 Sonic Cell with OS version "1.0" installed, it nevertheless, did have a Solo function already on it. I appreciate everything Roland has done so far for the Fantom G of course, yet our top of the line Roland workstation still is missing some "basic" functionality that, needless to say, kind of puts a damper on musical creativity to some extent. Scissors and Glue, etc. would go a long way in providing Fantom G users a more productive environment to work within and would certainly increase productivity considerably in my opinion.

I dunno.. Artemiy says he can do anything. But is Roland and company hitting a proverbial "roadblock" when it comes to implementing certain features within the OS of the Fantom G?

Maybe it's NOT that they don't want to give us these new features and functions, maybe it's a case where they can't give it to us because of the complexity of the Fantom G OS itself?? Combined perhaps with Roland's "inexperience" i.e. their ineptitude at the software engineering department level at Roland Japan?? I hate to say it but it appears there may be a "lack" of highly professional and knowledgeable software programmers and engineers at the helm at Roland Japan possibly? I hope I'm wrong about my assessment but it appears they are having trouble getting things to function properly on an "overall" basis. In other words, they implement one or two things within the OS and then something else seems to crop up that negates the full benefit of the original feature implementation(s) that they just added. And since other things "that should have been implemented since day one" have NOT been implemented at all yet, it appears it may be a case of Roland saying: even though "we would LIKE to give you those features and functions" the REALITY is = the complexity of this new beast is such that we simply "can't" give you what you want without totally "crippling" the Fantom G in the process. So we're stuck with a top of the line keyboard that isn't quite "fully" baked. It's more than "half" baked in my opinion, but it's not ready to take out of the oven yet.

Please don't get me wrong, or take my critique in a negative way Roland. I am mighty grateful for the Fantom G and for Roland's full fledged support that they have provided thus far for the Fantom G and its users. Dan Krisher of Roland U.S. is a fine example of Roland extending product support to their customers and is very welcome indeed. Some of us, including me, get a little riled up and/or frustrated once in a while because we see things from an objective perspective i.e. from the "outside looking in" and we want things done or features added, etc., that "we" feel should be instigated and implemented for the Fantom G. So there is a tendency of getting upset and/or angry when those "ideals" aren't met. I hope we haven't deterred Dan Krisher or other Roland personnel from continuing to participate on this Forum by our persistent "harping" on issues concerning the Fantom G, which many on this forum personally own, however, there are others on this forum who don't own a Fantom G yet, but in all likelihood, would purchase one if they felt certain features within the Fantom G OS were implemented.

>> They say if you can't stand the heat in the kitchen then get out. Yet the meal would never get prepared properly unless the cook(s) stayed in the kitchen and did their jobs to prepare the meal and then when it is done to serve it to the paying patrons who are hungry and eagerly waiting to eat it. How well prepared that meal is will ultimately determine how happy and how satisfied the customers who partake of its contents will be.

So keep up the good work Roland! And tell Dan to come back to the kitchen where he belongs.

keysme: well said, man. I'm sure we'll keep on seeing new features coming into the Fantom-G.
As for your last comment, I'm pretty sure Dan never came out of the kitchen. I can see him preparing our next meal, i.e. the next version of the FGconnects project.

Mmmm, I don't believe that such 'features' you can do in n...n+1 steps by yourself (i.e: hit one button, then go to that menu page, then hit one or two buttons more and you're done) are difficult to implement due to OS complexity: the functionality exists.

There are a lot o 'missing' features that fit that rule...Solo function is one example. It's simple: let the processor do my (hard/stupid/time-consuming) work.

Very annoying...

The solo function (for the MIDI/Audio mixer, Sequencer tracks, Studio/Live parts etc) can easily be implemented. They can use a new Pad assignment, like enabling Part/Track Mute and use the Shift key along with the Pad. So easy.

lazy programmers and poor update policies is the only things that is stopping these features to exist... to blame that it's 'difficult to program' makes me laugh!

Just open your mixer and take a look how simple the solo button functionality is. to implement that in code shouldn't take very long for a skilled programmer. But alas, perhaps Roland doesn't have any skilled programmers?