Pre-purchase questions about expansions and samples

1) No - not separate banks. The EXPs are bundled into instrument category - brass, choir, strings, etc, etc

2) Correct - they won't sound. You can load up to 2 EXPs at any one time. The relevant EXP must be loaded up for the waveforms to be available.

3) I believe so (not done it myself however - there have been threads here about that topic)

The sounds are fantastic - old classics that are as relevant today as they ever were.

Thanks, Cello!

With regard to this:

1) No - not separate banks. The EXPs are bundled into instrument category - brass, choir, strings, etc, etc

By separate banks, I mean they don't overwrite anything -- they're stored separately from the user content. I just found a video where Dan demonstrates the loading of an expansion bank and it appears the patches showed up in a bank called EXP01 or something like that. I think that answers my question.

Yes, their separate from the user content - when you go to an instrument category (say guitar) all the sounds are listed and grouped into sound type (PCMS, User, EXP03, EXP06, etc)

Hope that helps - I'm thoroughly enjoying auditioning the EXP06 as I write :)

Yeah, I initially didn't think I'd go for this keyboard because I've been spoiled by the Fantom G and Kronos, but it's too hard to pass up the number of sounds in here. I wish it could load 4 expansions, but I can make do with two. I will probably use the vintage keys expansion with my Genesis tribute band when we play larger stages where I can fit a 3rd keyboard. Thanks again for the quick answers!

My pleasure - the bang for the buck with the FA is considerable; unbeatable I think at the moment. You're getting an Integra sound engine which includes Super Natural capability (synth and acoustic) as well as these classic sounds in a workstation with a (simple) sampler.

I too would like it to have 4 slots - the two strings EXPs (Symphonic and Complete) I would want to add to the currently loaded Ethnica and Studio EXPs. That would be perfection for me - however I can't see Roland releasing an OS update to accommodate (also don't know if the hardware can support such an update either).

I find the sequencer so much easier than the OASYS one - okay it's not as fully featured however, it does a heck of a lot and very simply. I would say go for it!

billw wrote:

Yeah, I initially didn't think I'd go for this keyboard because I've been spoiled by the Fantom G and Kronos,

Same here, but I bit the bullet, sold my Fantom X6 and bought the FA06. I love the old SRX cards and I didn't want to loose them, but the FA06 adds so much more. I can do without sampling (the Kronos now handles that), and the lack of aftertouch doesn't worry me, as the AT on the Fantom was brutally hard anyway so I never used it.

I'm just getting used to the Supernatural Synth engine, which I'm treating as a bonus. It's "OK" I suppose, but it's very similar to the Gaia, which I owned for a couple of days once (way too much aliasing!).

Yes, it would be nice to have a few extra slots, but I'm not complaining - I'll just have to wait until December for the EXP10 Orchestral set.

I would say the Integra-7 sound engine is a good choice because it has over 6500 editable sounds. If you have a midi interface and your keyboard is still good it would be better as the Integra-7 has more Supernatural sounds and contains ALL twelve of the SRX boards too !.

I have both the Integra-7 and FA-08 and the FA-08 adds the sample player (very good) but 16 samples at a time max, apeggiator that are good. The sequencer is difficult to use. The vocoder is very limited but a nice extra.
There are many software issues unresolved with the FA-08 at present of which are yet to be fixed.

I would say either wait or get the Integra-7 if its sound quality you need. I have use the Integra-7 for the past 18 months and found it sounds superb live. I use many of the SRX sounds as they are amazing. You can mix in the output of your other keyboard too if you want to via the Line in on the front of the unit. It also has balanced outputs which the FA-08 dosen't. Before I got the FA-08 I use a midi controller with the Integra-7

Have to disagree about the sequencer - it is without the doubt far and away the easiest I've ever used. You can have tracks going in seconds!

Try the OASYS or Kronos - they're much more difficult!

PS what are the many software issues? I'm using an FA-06 here and not aware of any (none that stop me doing what I want to do anyway).

There are two Integra-7s for sale locally, but I'm not sure it meets my needs either. From its specs, it seems geared toward studio use. I use a lot of splits and layers and I believe the Integra requires you to use a studio set for that...unfortunately, there are only 64 available.

I am trying to connect via MIDI from the FA to the Integra.
It seems I cannot isolate the Integra volume from the FA. There should be some sort of TX control on the FA. Also cant seem to choose an exetrnal sound on the Integra using the MSB LSB BANK commands. Odd bearing in mind that the FA claims to be of the same architecture as Integra

There are only 64 studio sets on the Integra and the FA has 512. However the studio sets called up on the FA have to be the same number as the Integra to work which makes it very tricky.

Should really update the software on the Integra to allow for more studio sets.
Also should allow for different studio sets to be called up on each device.

Sounds are awesome on Integra and can be customised easily