Slow Os response...

what bugs are you running into?
-illiac

I think that there are a few features with file management missing.

like when you are editing a multisample that resides in the user memory area and you press write, you are not given the option to write it to the card. you can see the same screen when writing a multisample to the card but you can toggle between card or user.

there should be 256 multisample slots instead of 128.

basically lots of file management options that one would expect to see are not there.

like an import/export patch that imports single FANTOM-X patches or multiple FANTOM-X patches

8poundstar

Actually that could be a good question but...
There are several issues when you run a business company and, remember, that's what Roland is before all.

I wont fall into temptation and start the big ol' speech about all the bugs, the fixes, the updates that more or less everybody feels to be "necessary". That's discussed many times in several other threads

From a business point of view you can't compare the developpment of the MV-8000 with the other products. For several reasons. Let me mention just 1 or 2.

Like you say, the Xa or Juno are "pseudo X" machines so they took a lot less time to develop. Basicaly they are "downgrade" Fantoms so are a lot easier to produce and gives Roland the ability to reach more customers, build a complete line of keyboards and take more profitability from the initial investement. Also you have to be aware that in the keyboard market Roland has to deal with a lot of strong competition. Not only with Korg and Yamaha but also with all the other small companies always looking for the "big hit" and that together represent a lot of market share. In this case its more logical the release of new gear in order to keep up to date and face the competion. So the "slow" response or lack of it is not due to a resources spread. Roland takes the time that the company thinks necessary to take according to the market. If it takes the right time or not is another question and we can discuss that later.

The MV-8000 is completely different. Fisrt, its a sample based machine so you don't need to update the sounds like in the "romplers".This gives the product a longer life. Second, there's basically just another brand to be carefull with, and thats Akai - that has a strong reputation build on their sample products. So its a lot more effective and easy to concentrate on just one machine and try to gain market starting with just a solid product like the MV-8000 ver.1 and update the actual customers machines while catching new others instead of building completely new products. This will establish Roland reputation in this particular market (something that Roland doesn't need in the keyboard market) and aloud the further developement of new products in the future.

Now, forgive me for all the comercial and marketing rubish I've just said but we have to put things in perspective (not that I've done so - its just my opinion ). Remember all the companys that made such great keyboards but ended in bankrupt for bad management.

cheers!


o - ...just could not afford the 8
(
\_/
hear what I've done with the 7

my thinking is, maybe if they didnt try to get more customers with new machines (xa and juno g) maybe they would have tried to get more customers by being creative with the wonders of programming...Your devoted to your main product. You don't have the cost of two new products, that while they save in some sense of cost, there is still tangible cost (and signific).. And that cost has an affect on all of roland's keyboard devision..

Marketing, and design (ooo old school juno-like vibes), and production just for the juno g and xa cost lots... Money doesn't sprout from no where, they are basically washing out the second hand response.... the os updates.. I don't know... I just have this feeling that, another major update won't come up out for the X before the successor is born (Roland Reps please prove me wrong).

Maybe the 2.0 update didn't bump up the fantom sales as much as they hoped. If making money off of a technology is their concern, why would thinking that limited versions of a technology would sell more?

Maybe limited versions of the shell..

Sometimes I think if Roland Relased a Fantomx With an Even smaller controller, and no pads, no v link, it would have been their best bet (vs the xa or juno g arguement). For that dollar conscience buyer, why not (why limit your consumer with options, then limit your pre-established consumer base with 3 seperate o.s., and 2 different wavebank file systems (jungo g vs x).... It would have also been great for us, sense it would have just been another X, abet a cheaper X (no pads, 25 or so keys, whatever, no v link, and a sequencer unlike the xr)..


I am not looking for anything major here. There are things that should be addressed by roland (just read the hundreds of things on these boards), I have my own qualms, but this isn't about my bugs or yours, my wants or yours (this thread at least)...

It's about their readiness to hear us and respond.

In terms of the Mv 8000...

True they are different beasts, but I feel as if the mv is the favorite of the bunch. Gets to eat at the adults table at thanksgiving, and well basically likes to show off his cool "I can Eq anything I want" teeshirt... When all I have is my "I can filter to mimack eq" teeshirt...

Just look at how far the Mv has come in terms of use, versus the X's one major movement (8 audios)... I am not looking for new sounds for my rompler (thats what the srxs are for).. I am looking for this company to make the most out of the hardware, the very most..

Or at least open source it, and allow its consumers to create their own bug fixes (look at akai mpc 1000, for an example of this situation)...

What makes the vs. between Roland and AKai, and Roland and Korg Yamaha different?

In what ways, can the improvement (not the vga, or anything that can't be) of the mv 8000 be included into the x? The X is a sampler as well.. A very powerful one, and with the right software, it could be crazy... I mean they could do anything in software... anything, change sample rates, fix the file system, lots o stuff....

Here's to another O.s. update soon... For Those who have supported the X (the top of Roland Romplers)... and should have os updates that show it...