'The Audacity Works', another moderator here at the forum, took some time to compile the following list, (current as of July 18th / OS 1.30) which I have taken the liberty to re-post, as I thought that you might find it an interesting read.
Below are some of the advantages of the Fantom-G over the Fantom-X. Some are superfluous, some are mission-critical, some you may not even be aware of. Some look like "m'eh" on first perusal, but in practice, make all the difference in the world...
HARDWARE
•WAY larger and higher resolution screen
•Dedicated tempo/fader value display, regardless of screen mode
•Addition of 8 assignable faders
•Mic preamp with phantom power (that can also be used to record straight into your computer)
•Impedance switch for optimizing input level
•Extra control pedal input
•Ivory feel keys and better weighted action (G8)
•Dedicated TRANSPOSE button
•Dedicated LOOP and JUMP buttons
•Combined CURSOR/VALUE layout more efficient
•Dedicated FAVORITES button
•Dedicated EXP1/EXP2 buttons (instant expansion board access)
PERFORMING
•Arpeggio can be based on any MIDI phrase or Standard MIDI File
•Any MIDI phrase or SMF's shuffle and accent can be adjusted in real time
•Bender modes for choosing how the bender affects chords
•Knobs and sliders can act in catch (null) mode, eliminating any obnoxious volume or parameter jumps
•Arpeggio styles can be switched on the fly via pads
•Tones within a patch can be enabled/disabled on the fly via pads
•Transmission of MIDI channel(s) can be enabled/disabled on the fly via pads, allowing ultra-fast selection of external instruments when playing live
•Dedicated volume level for each Favorites registration, allowing one to level match all sounds for a show
•Dedicated transpose setting for each Favorites registration, making it easier to ensure playing in the right key
•Twice as many favorite registrations can be accessed instantly (via pads)
•External parts are now independent with their own mixer and settings
•Multiple parts can be adjusted simultaneously with knobs, S-buttons, etc.
STORAGE / DATA MANAGEMENT
•Relatively future-proof storage mechanism (USB mass storage instead of antiquated PCMCIA or CF card with PC-card adapter)
•Max storage increased from 1GB to 16GB (and some people are successfully using USB hard drives up to 120GB)
•Max RAM increased from 512MB to 1GB
•Number of songs, samples, patches, Live Sets, Studio Sets, and other settings limited only by external storage capacity
•Removable storage now allows each song to utilize full RAM (if saved to dedicated project) instead of all songs sharing existing memory
•User patches increased from 256 to 512 (x number of projects)
•User performances (Live Sets) increased from 128 to 512 (x number of projects) plus 128 dedicated Studio Sets (x number of projects) for songwriting
•Notable loading/saving speed increase (feels about three to four times as fast)
•Notably faster boot time
SOUND ENGINE
•All-new DSP processor chip, the first in almost ten years
•New optimized sound engine to run on said chip
•Twice the sound ROM (256 MB vs. 128 MB)
•Perfectly seamless transitions between single patches and 8-part Layer/Split performances including effects, exclusive only to the Fantom-G (No, the Motif's new OS does not do this)
•22 simultaneous effects—each internal part gets its own PFX processor, largely eliminating problem where patches sound radically different in multi/combi/performance/song mode
•Reverb algorithms greatly improved
•Expansion cards add polyphony—current max 320 voices (theoretical max 384 voices)
•Expansion cards add multitimbrality—current max 18 internal parts (theoretical max 48 internal parts)
•Expansion cards add their own effects engine—ARX-01 has its own reverb and a dedicated compressor for each drum sound within a kit!
•Expansion cards add new synthesis methods—limited only by DSP
•Step LFO steps increased from 16 to 64
•24-bit/96k D/As
•New analog I/O (op amps, etc.)
SEQUENCER / MIDI ENGINE
•128 MIDI tracks allow for dedicated sequencing of individual sounds within rhythm kits, separate hands of a complex piano part, external instruments on their own tracks, MIDI automation, program changes, or SysEx data
•3 x the audio tracks (24)
•100 times the tempo resolution
•DAW-style graphical editing via mouse—what might take two minutes in the Fantom X takes mere seconds in the G
•Alias-based phrase copies—no more tracking down that errant note fifty times in the same song
•Twice as many user Rhythm Pattern sets
•MIDI track regions display note data from main Song Edit screen
•Improved zoom and navigation functionality in sequencer
•MIDI and audio regions can be viewed, edited, and arranged on the same screen
•MIDI and audio tracks can be rearranged in any order
•MIDI and audio tracks can be freely named
•Higher resolution on waveforms
•Near-instant screen redraws on audio tracks
•Any phrase can be an RPS
•Any phrase can be a rhythm pattern
•Any phrase can be an arpeggio style
•RPSes and rhythm phrases can be assigned to control only internal—or—external parts—or both
•Available song markers have doubled from 4 to 8
•Song markers can be named, and appear on the song's timeline
NAVIGATION / USER INTERFACE
•First machine in almost two decades to eschew the confusing "patch vs. performance" dogma for the much simpler and more obvious Single/Live/Studio layout
•More visible parameters means less screen navigation
•Confusing Save vs. Write menus merged
•Ten-key keypad makes numeric entry extremely fast
•Assignable buttons moved to above the joystick where they belong
•Scroll wheel on mouse scrolls up and down tracklist and adjusts other various parameters
•Menu navigation remembers last visited menu and submenus
•Bookmarking screens now remembers submenus
•Writing a Live Set or Studio Set remembers the current pad mode
•Writing a Live Set or Studio Set remembers the current RPS set (and Rhythm Pattern set), allowing one to recall entirely different RPSes with each performance
•Fourth knob and eighth slider used for ultra-fast patch and menu scrolling
•OSX Spotlight-style search function
•QWERTY-style patch/performance/song/sample/project naming
•Part select buttons allows one to switch parts on the fly, even while sequencing
•Real-time effects bypass switches
•Dedicated track mutes via pads
•Knobs control a much wider variety of onscreen parameters
COMPUTER INTERFACING
•24-bit/96kHz USB audio interface—allows realtime recording straight into DAW software or sampling directly from any computer app
•Way more visual feedback, such as fader and knob levels
•No need to bounce internally, freeing up both time and precious RAM
•Editor can act as a VST, AU, or RTAS plugin
•Librarian software doesn't require a direct connection to the Fantom
•Librarian software allows one to organize content of any project, not just the internal patches and performances
•Vista 64-bit driver available
OTHER STUFF
•Easier to update OS
•Over 900 built-in rhythm patterns and RPSes
•Play mode of all RPSes within an RPS set can be changed instantly
•RPSes can instantly be assigned to only black keys or white keys
•Multisample assignment has been streamlined and enhanced
•All samples in memory are instantly available as a sample patch, without having to assign them
•All 2000 samples are selectable instantly via simple MIDI bank select/PC messages
•New power switch recessed to avoid accidental shutdown
•D-Beam can play screen saver video games
•And last but not least, all the stuff from any future updates!
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I personally use the 'G' as a controller keyboard and sound source when plugged into Sonar, and appreciate it most for it's per-part effects! I still own and use the 'X8' in as well as outside of the studio, using it's on-board sequencer extensively. That has been my biggest challenge - getting used to 'phrase sequencing'.
BTW Your site and music is amazing!
Cheers!
PiaKnowGuy
Please listen to
Don't You Think It's Tacky?
PiaKnow
) 