Fantom G vs Motif ?

Hi,
ITs amazing how the specs dont ever tell the truth..lol

In terms of the raw numbers of arp patterns yes the MO has 1787 patterns BUT this also includes ALL of the rhythm patterns, which is quite deceptive.

The fantom G has 512 rhythm patterns plus the arps, however each arp has a number of variations, from 1-9.. soif i simplisticly assume an average of 5 then there are 640 music arps giving a total of 1152.

Yamaha typically allow multiple arps to be operational simultaneously, whereas the Fantom G has only 1 (or 2 if you count a rhythm pattern as an arp)...

For a new user I would not recommend the MO based upon sound quality (noticeably weaker than Juno, Fantom X, G or Motif XS)..unless of course budget is a main concern.

I would NOT recommend the Fantom G at all for users interested in arps. There is no arp pattern generator, and you cannot change the playback motif on user created arps.. by this i mean any user created arp is a fixed phrase playback motif that does not respond to chordal input changes.. a HUGE restriction.

The older fantom X does not have this restriction and therfore is a better machine from Roland for arp creation and use, though these are only available used... the Juno G is identical to the Fantom X in structure and is alos a budget option.

I would suggest, therefore that the Motif XS is the better machine with respect to arps as it allows 4 simultaneous arps to be used.. (though this then is restrictive for other aspects as you are limited to 4 voices in performance mode)... With certain types of arps (not that many of which are preset), the XS can mimic an arranger and extract root notes of chords for bass lines.

This is not a comparative review of Fantom Vs Motif and particularly note that there are major advantages of Fantom G over Motif XS ..particularly in live mode (8 simultaneous voices and patch remain live switching) that make it very suitalbe for live use..but looking from the perspective of the arpeggiator only,,the Fantom G is a very weak machine.

cheers

Many thanks for that. It clears up a lot of points. I actually had the Motif XS but prefer the Fantom G in terms of both sound quality and usability.

Hi,I`ve got both and I think Yamaha has better sounds and arrpegios than G.But the system,menu,processing and sequencer is definitely better on G,and it looks better as well:))

I had the XS but I didn't think it sounded better than the G. I was happy to part with the XS but I would not sell the Fantom G. Anyway, mine is a custom version in white with blue pads so not sure it would be easy to sell anyway.

Just goes to show though, how we all hear things differently but I guess that's what makes music so interesting

For me,on the G are good sounds like trance,hard lead,techno,absolutely perfect..but when I play el.guitar or strings on Motif I just feel like Im sitting in the concert hall and I can feel the wood in my hands..I think the natural instruments has yamaha just perfect

@ yamaha... one of the few times I've heard anyone say this.... (about Fantom G sounding better than the XS....)

post pics of your Fantom G...

The latest Yamaha Motif, the "XF," looks interesting. They tout its "huge flash ROM" capacity. I am unsure of how important such a feature would be to most of us.

2GB is pretty tiny compared to the huge libraries that are available via most Windows and Mac computers. And really -- how many more pianos, electric pianos, and (lame-sounding) trumpets do you need?

If I were to buy a synth workstation, I'd want something ultra-light-weight and super-portable -- not a friggin' baby grand packed into a steel case.

- Sammy

"The latest Yamaha Motif, the "XF," looks interesting. They tout its "huge flash ROM" capacity. I am unsure of how important such a feature would be to most of us. "

For those who play live and who use a lot of samples, flash is certainly a welcome addition because it eliminates the waiting time for loading your samples/songs.

"2GB is pretty tiny compared to the huge libraries that are available via most Windows and Mac computers. And really -- how many more pianos, electric pianos, and (lame-sounding) trumpets do you need? "

Yes it's pretty tiny compared to a software solution, but as I said, it's huge for somebody who plays live. Don't forget, just a few years ago, the standard ram size on workstations for your own samples was about 64 or 128 Mb.
How many more pianos/e.pianos and trumpets someone needs? That's a personal question. You maybe don't need more. Others have different needs.

"If I were to buy a synth workstation, I'd want something ultra-light-weight and super-portable -- not a friggin' baby grand packed into a steel case. "

The weight usually comes from the keybed. You can't have a hammer weighted keyboard in an ultra light weight format.

yamaha forums: Pics of your G! Pics of your G! how the hell did you do that... I would like to customize it too:D

@apex Not sure how to post pics on this board. Do BB codes work here ?

Sure, the img and /img with brackets work fine.

However, attachments are not currently available, so you need to upload the pictures to some other site.

Okay. Fine. You win. The next time that I feel like lugging an 88-hammer-action-keyboard around with me, I'll be sure to notify my next-of-kin so that they can collect my corpse from the club's bathroom, after I have had an AAA trying to lift the thing onto the stage.

But this is about more than mere "aesthetics" or "playability." This is also about simple economics.

Checking on the price of the 88-key Motif XF, I had to get my bearings. $3,500 is about what I would expect to pay for a rather incredible live/mobile Windows/Controller system. And I could spend a lot less and still get a rockin' system that would blow the XF right out of the back wall at the Orpheum.

Seriously -- you can get a Receptor 2 for under $2000 (right now they're on sale for $1600) and you can pick up a Novation ReMOTE for about $500. You can put together your entire system for well-under $2500, and you'll have lots of software to play.

A lot of us already own lots of VSTi and AU synths as it is. A lot of us also already have a spare laptop lying around. Most of us could probably hack together a really great live-only setup that could serve as a launching pad for better systems once the money starts coming in. And the best part?

You don't even need hernia surgery -- because a MacBook Pro or even a Dell laptop and a ReMOTE 49 would weigh under 20 kg, and would definitely use less power.

But hey -- it's your arches! If you really don't mind traipsing around with, you know, 50 kg of gear, be my guest.



- Sammy

P.S. I hope that you know how jovial my posts here are. I'm not being THAT serious, except to say that I do believe in PC music. That said, I'm also aware that playing real keyboard instruments is loads of fun, and if you have the fortitude and the wallet to manage one, then go for it. I just can't deal with that whole scene anymore, and that is a personal issue that I don't expect for most people to relate to.

Except for that MIDI controllers suck to play and are not built to last, and you will have a lot more setting up to do, trust me I tried exactly what you are talking about and have been rolling that way for over a year with Mainstage. Suddenly workstations don't look so bad especially the synth action ones. And I was dead against workstations. Did I point out that MIDI controllers suck?

Ok here's my customized Fantom G6.



Definitely prefer it to the Yamaha XS6. The XS has some great sounds but it's definitely lacking in the user interface department. Sure the Fantom G is not perfect but, overall I think it's a fantastic keyboard and the best out of the big three....I had the Korg M3 also so I do have a basis for comparison. At least the G suits "me", it may not suit everyone.

Getting back to the original topic, it just comes down to what way you like to work. Some people love the arps on the XS/XF as it allows them to get something together very quickly, much like an arranger keyboard and some people just don't need them because they work from scratch without the need for preset arps. You buy whatever tool get's the job done for "you".

Likewise people have very different results using controllers. Jem Godfrey, who I bought the G6 from now uses a couple of Macbook Pro's and a controller on stage and he's not had any problems I am aware of so far. He gave me a metal flight case with the G6 and I certainly would not like to be lugging that about from place to place let alone a full size weighted stage keyboard! Might be ok if you have a team of roadies or spend a lot of time in the gym working those biceps, but most of us don't so the lighter the better as far as I am concerned. The G6 never leaves the house