Roland Fantom EX noise when changing the tempo

15 Jul 2026, 18:05

Dear Roland Fantom (EX) Users,
I have made a strange "discovery" whose cause I cannot figure out, and I would therefore ask you to look into this problem:
When I select a Z-Core patch (e.g. category Pad – SynthPolyKey – Z-Core PR-B 0218 Saw Pluck), I can play it perfectly without any background noise. However, as soon as I change the tempo (e.g. just one bpm), an unmistakable background noise immediately starts. This noise is very similar to the JUNO Chorus noise found on ACB models. On ACB models I can turn it off, but not on Z-Core patches. Turning off MFX, Chorus, etc. makes no difference here. Strangely, this problem does not occur in all sound categories — for example, not with Pianos or in the Synth Lead category (though it does occur with Synth Plucks), and it is particularly noticeable with PAD sounds.
The workaround to stop the background noise that appears after a tempo change is to switch to a different patch.
I am certain, however, that this is not the intended behaviour — that a background noise should start as soon as the tempo is changed. I tested this in Single Tone mode, and the problem occurs regardless of the selected zone.
Please try to reproduce the issue and let me know whether you experience the same thing. I have already contacted support and described the problem.
Thanks a lot!
Michael
Roland Fantom EX 1.10

Re: Roland Fantom EX noise when changing the tempo

16 Jul 2026, 01:41

I tested it on my Fantom with EX upgrade: Pressing the SINGLE TONE button, then pressing the category button ASSIGN, then searching for "Saw Pluck", then selecting PR-B 0218:Saw Pluck and tapping OK. No noise. Pressing the TEMPO button and increasing BPM by 1 with the rotary encoder. No noise. Reducing BPM by 2. No noise. Playing a few notes. No noise. Increasing and reducing BPM again. No noise.

Version is EX 1.10.

Re: Roland Fantom EX noise when changing the tempo

16 Jul 2026, 06:00

xp30 wrote:
I tested it on my Fantom with EX upgrade: Pressing the SINGLE TONE button, then pressing the category button ASSIGN, then searching for "Saw Pluck", then selecting PR-B 0218:Saw Pluck and tapping OK. No noise. Pressing the TEMPO button and increasing BPM by 1 with the rotary encoder. No noise. Reducing BPM by 2. No noise. Playing a few notes. No noise. Increasing and reducing BPM again. No noise.

Version is EX 1.10.

hey! thanks a lot for your reply and testing, that´s really helpful. So it might be due to certain preferences, maybe effects etc. I´ll keep looking...

Re: Roland Fantom EX noise when changing the tempo

16 Jul 2026, 16:01

Update: Roland support kindly replied. They could reproduce the issue and say that it might be due to the interaction between tempo sync and certain delay effects (so it´s not a ZenCore problem). they will dig deeper and forwarded it their development team. that´s great support!

Update 2: I´ve got an easy constant workaround: go to menu->effects edit->internal. then on the right there´s a switch just below the analog filter button. turn the switch on, and all the noise issues simply disappear. then write it to system and you won´t have problems anymore (if you have any, oc!), even after a restart.

Re: Roland Fantom EX noise when changing the tempo

18 Jul 2026, 04:41

Update 3: well, after another answer from Roland it doesn´t seem like they are going to solve the issue...honestley, not too bad, there´s is an easy workaround. and I can understand that they won´t put anymore effort and time into the Roland Fantom (EX) series, since it´s quite an "oldy". It´s been seven good years of development, firmware updates and expansions - time to move on. Maybe they´re already working on a follow-up, which totally makes sense in terms of increased processor power etc.Hopefully, they will implement all the good ideas users have had and release a real bummer in 2029 :)