I feel like it is a taboo subject for keyboard players to discuss their trepidation about using synthesizers/workstations. I love digital pianos and have used them for years, but have been terrified of instruments like this for far too long. The fact that you were able to be open and honest with the KZfaq community about your own apprehensions really did wonders for me. Thank you so much for your sincerity. You are a wonderful pianist and an objective reviewer.
@jakykong Жыл бұрын
I've been an avid synthesist and only recently learning piano proper; the Fantom 8 attracted me because of the combination of excellent digital piano features and synthesis with the keyboard to meet the pianist side of that equation (currently on a much cheaper FP-30 for that, with the PHA4 action) -- his discussion of how he relates to this instrument from the exact opposite perspective was refreshing. Every musician has their headspace, and it's not only okay but it should be actively encouraged to be aware of it and willing to recognize where your comfort zone is or isn't. :)
@DavidMorrill_13 жыл бұрын
I just got my Fantom 8 the day before this video came out, after having watched it mature over the last two years. The things that impress me the most are its massive capabilities combined with intuitive control and workflow. I also have a Yamaha MODX 8 which sounds and plays great, but controlling its more complex features always befuddles me. I did want to note a few technical inaccuracies in your presentation: pad samples are NOT saved with a scene, but are global, so loading a new scene does not affect them. Also, the maximum length of an individual sequencer pattern is 32 measures, not unlimited (you mentioned a couple of times that you could create patterns containing 100's of measures). In practice this is probably not a major limitation though. Finally, tight DAW integration currently is only for Main Stage, Logic and just recently, Ableton Live (this is the one I was waiting for). Roland hints that there are more to come, but has not made any specific announcements yet. I'm impressed by the number of major (and minor) new features Roland has rolled out over the last two years; they really seem committed to improving the capabilities of this keyboard family over time. I spent hours today updating the keyboard with all of the latest features and adding thousands of new sounds available for free from Roland's web site. Overall, good video, like usual...
@Khordmaster3 жыл бұрын
Yup! Like the undo feature in the sequencer and the ability to hit the TR Req sound category buttons while in pattern to quickly change sounds (believe it or not you could NOT DO THIS BEFORE) for like a year before they changed it in an update
@oscarsheen30452 жыл бұрын
How it the Fantom 8 fending for you David? I'm looking at getting either a Fantom 06 or 07 or a Korg Nautilus or Montage 6 or 7.
@JHS562472 жыл бұрын
Wonderful instructional video from a professional person dedicated to music. Thank you for posting.
@paulrobinsonmusic10 күн бұрын
Best explanation of how this board is set up, thx
@MerriamPianos9 күн бұрын
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in and for the kind words! :)
@RobertSaintJohn3 жыл бұрын
I just got my FANTOM 6 yesterday and I’m asking myself the exact same questions you opened with! So this is timely and I’m so glad (and surprised) you did this video. I’m planning on watching Ed Diaz’s (Roland) and ZT Audio’s videos this weekend, but it’s great to start with your “new to this” POV. Nicely done, thanks!
@mr.c19893 жыл бұрын
Ed Diaz and ZT have videos? I couldn't find it. 👍
@RobertSaintJohn3 жыл бұрын
@@mr.c1989 oh yeah, @ZTAudio has lots of great introductory to advanced video on the FANTOM - kzfaq.info
@RobertSaintJohn3 жыл бұрын
@@mr.c1989 Ed’s Roland Support playlist for FANTOM - kzfaq.info/sun/PLmLJ2Wanv6-C8jZnbU0o9yReY89FdT8Wy
@Capt-Cran Жыл бұрын
I thoroughly appreciate how you share your content ... this video is so so so so so helpful ... thank you!!
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
You're very welcome! We're happy to hear that you found it useful! :)
@MarkGardner66Bonnie2 жыл бұрын
Sitting here on the fence about buying another work station and the problem is … learning another keyboard… I’m glad you said it was pretty easy to get around… and I really like the fact that it plays well with Logic… thank you Sir
@MerriamPianos2 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome Mark! It's our pleasure! We're glad that you found the video review and breakdown helpful. Happy playing! :)
@MarkGardner66Bonnie9 ай бұрын
@@MerriamPianos one year later and I pulled the trigger...finally. Stu, since i ordered it I have watched your video again and it was nice to see that you could have as much fun as you did with it... again I appreciate your video and look forward to learning and then creating with this beast! Have a great day Sir!
@IgorBarin Жыл бұрын
probably I would like to buy this tool, but I'm afraid that with it I will leave reality for a long time))) Good review, sir.
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for tuning in! Well, perhaps, an amazing deal on a Fantom 8 will present itself and make the possibility of owning one a reality. ;)
@londonregionalpressoffice5734 Жыл бұрын
The more I know the more I need to know and the more I know that there is a lot more to know. It is absolutely incredible. I started learning about RD2000 after experiencing other Roland instruments. I so much wish that I had come across these kind of experiences many decades ago. Now, I am just playing catch up and feeling that I need a much longer day to even be able to scratch the surface of it all.
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
There is certainly always more to discover, particularly in the realm of music and pianos! And I can definitely relate to the sentiment. Thanks for tuning in! :)
@dirklentfer3832 жыл бұрын
COOL INFO :-) I have the Roland FA-08 but this Fantom sounds loads more fun in creating my own unique sounds ..and songs
@denniswilliams2385Ай бұрын
This seems like a much more intuitive instrument than the Korg Kronos that I own and to this day still struggle with when it comes to work flow. Great video!
@MerriamPianosАй бұрын
Thanks so much! The FANTOM-8 is quite the powerhouse, so, like any pro workstation, there is a learning curve involved. But, once you get familiar with the interface, it is quite easy to navigate. :)
@hottempera3 жыл бұрын
Congratulations for your "courage" - as a beginner I would have never been able to scratch that, if it makes you feel more comfortable ;-) Speaking of courage, you mention that you are using your DAW for such things. I wonder (challenge?) if you would ever consider doing a DAW primer for those of us teased, but "chickened-out" of such possibilities. Maybe even such "niche" DAW as Ardour ;-)
@vhayne917773 жыл бұрын
Purchased the Fantom 8 on Friday, but finally opening it tomorrow (my birthday)! :) I have no idea how to play piano, very little experience with DAW, very new to synths (my son has an MS20?, and I have an OP-1...but again, very little experience)................but....I love music, love synth, love computers, and I'm super freaking excited to dig into this thing. I've probably watched 20+ hours of videos about it, and how to utilize many of the features. From all I have learned up to this point, it appears to be an amazing tool, with an awesome interface. Can't wait to have some serious fun. hehe
@mr.c19893 жыл бұрын
Wait....you know nothing about pianos but then you jumped right into this monster?? You're my hero.
@vhayne917773 жыл бұрын
@@mr.c1989 Hehe, well it's one way to do it... :)
@reltius29932 жыл бұрын
I’m in the same boat right now, I like all the advanced features the Fantom offers to grow into, but I’m just not sold yet on if it is a good enough realistic piano like a Nord Grand. I just don’t want to find I’ve given up on some realistic piano sounds or feel to get all the fancy bells and whistles.
@vhayne917772 жыл бұрын
@@reltius2993 We had a Kronos before, and my daughter has a Korg Kross right now. She, by far, liked the Fantom much more due to the keys. She plays piano, so I guess she knows what feels "real" or whatever. From my n00b experience, I feel like the keys are heavy? Like, I like to mess around with synth stuff, which might mean I would probably like more "plucky" keys. The Fantom 8 definately has weighted keys. Honestly, they feel and react amazingly.
@reltius29932 жыл бұрын
@@vhayne91777 thanks; I don’t know much about this stuff. If I find the piano sounds aren’t to my liking, I assume there’s ways other than modifying the sounds themselves to import 3rd party versions like Keyscape? Ideally I’d like to be able to import the sound of a competitor like the Nord Grand’s White Grand that seems to be better than the Roland sounds but not sure that’s possible
@GranulatedStuff2 жыл бұрын
Perfect example of the infuriating Roland naming convention. Searched "Fantom 08 Review" and this was the top result.
@MarianoPerez3 жыл бұрын
That means you'll have to do a video on the montage and kronos.
@ajotech8 ай бұрын
Sounds incredible
@MerriamPianos8 ай бұрын
The FANTOM-8 is quite the powerhouse to say the least! :)
@donaldschroeder2902 Жыл бұрын
Question for any and all out there...I love music, many genres. I took piano lessons as a young child (I'm now 66...ugh!!!), but not for very long, probably my single biggest regret. As an adult, I began again when my teenage daughter started taking lessons, but after fracturing a bone in my hand, I had to stop. I never started up again, even after the hand had healed. Over the last 10 years or so, I've started to listen to quite a bit of EDM, and although I am not familiar with all artists, I really enjoy several of the top artists. One of my favorites is Deadmau5. Despite my lack of musical training, I wanted to learn music production using a DAW, but quite frankly, found Ableton Live a bit difficult to pick up...not very intuitive. And I wasn't sure if Garage Band would be appropriate/sufficient if my main genre was EDM. To make a long story longer, I've recently been bitten by the bug again, and have become interested in trying once again to learn the keyboard/piano. I came close to buying a Roland FP 30X, but then saw some videos on arrangers/workstations/synths. I want to ask you all your thoughts/advice about the following: I do have an interest in "learning the piano", but I'm wondering whether that really represents my desire to start as a baseline for music creation/production. I know that is a question I need to answer for myself, but having said that, would your recommendation be to purchase a workstation/arranger/keyboard to enable me to both "learn piano" so to speak, as well as produce music (especially EDM), OR should I try to decide which is most important and then either 1. buy a digital piano (which would provide limited options for music production), 2. use my computer and a DAW (and possibleyadd a keyboard controller), or 3. buy a workstation/arranger/synthesizer? And THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH for reading all of this!!!!!
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your question! It is certainly a question that every player will need to answer themselves, but I'm happy to offer a few suggestions. The great thing about MIDI compatible digital pianos is that they can all essentially be used in conjunction with a DAW and VST plugins to access a plethora of sonic palettes (including synth sounds for EDM music production). With that said, if you are looking for a digital piano around the price point of the FP30X that has some of these sounds and features built-in, I would suggest exploring the FPE50 or RD88. They are both exceptional pianos with an extensive array of sounds, including some classic synths that would be helpful in your exploration of EDM music production. Either of those options would serve as a sufficient starting point for both piano practice and music production that won't break the bank so to speak. Thanks again and hope this helps! :)
@donaldschroeder2902 Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your quick reply! Very helpful.
@donaldschroeder2902 Жыл бұрын
Question #2: As a novice interested in learning how to create/produce music, especially EDM, given the choice of downloading and learning how to use DAW software and using a PC to create music vs. buying a workstation/synth (e.g. FANTOM or Juno) with its creative capabilities, which do you feel would simply be easier to use/learn? Putting aside cost for the sake of this discussion.
@PeterJennison Жыл бұрын
Hi Stu. Thanks for your video. I'm struggling between buying an RD2000 or Fantom8. I know that's an apple and an orange. My primary use will be composing but I may do some performance as well. I would spend the extra $ if you thought it would make a huge difference in what music I could create with the F8. Or on the other hand--maybe I just need an RD88. Would love to get your input. Thanks!
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
Hi Peter! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for supporting our channel and taking the time to write in. It is a really difficult question to answer without a bit more context as to exactly what features you use throughout your composition performance as well as what types of sounds and features you will need access to in live performance. The RD2000 is definitely a simpler, more user-friendly experience, which really is designed for stage use. With that said, it certainly has enough features to double as an instrument for studio use too. The Fantom 8 is a full-fledged and self-sufficient DAW essentially. If you want to do all types of editing, arranging and layering work internally within your instrument, the Fantom 8 would be ideal. However, if you are working a lot "in the box" with a software-based DAW like ProTools, Ableton or Logic, the RD2000 may be enough. I hope this helps a bit in your decision making process! :)
@PeterJennison Жыл бұрын
@MerriamPianos Thank you! I've recorded 2 albums but both through a producer so I'd be learning to use the DAW from scratch-which is fine I guess. Do you think the Fantom is more intuitive/easier to navigate then something like protools, logic, or Ableton? I'd be looking at 1 of those I guess. Sorry for the 20 questions. It's a big investment but I'd really like to take my music to the next level and also take max advantage of new tech vs. 30-35K for 10 songs in a studio.
@jordanbanko53478 ай бұрын
@@PeterJennisonHey Peter! I am going through the same decision process right now. What did you end up going with?
@PeterJennison7 ай бұрын
@@jordanbanko5347 I went with the Fantom 08. It's a lot to figure out! Good luck.
@TheAceReviews2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video. Would you please be so kind enough as to consider doing a review of the Roland Fantom 2019? It's not just a workstation, but I believe a fully fledged synthesizer. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, they've added a new wavetable engine to the keyboard. I really like it. Thank you!
@paxwallacejazz3 жыл бұрын
I had the opportunity to land many many gigs on Aviano Air Force Base in northern Italy, if I could become the pianist in my own one man band. So I did and I did 🤷♂️ the evidence is posted on this channel along with a few real band recordings from my 98 CD browse if you wanna hear a Motif ES being used as live accompaniment for a jazz pianist. But after a bit I was floored by how effective a compositional arranging aid that thing was. But the Motif was the work station breakthrough then the Phantom came along.
@paxwallace8324 Жыл бұрын
I forgot this comment
@oscarsheen30452 жыл бұрын
I wonder how Merriam thinks the Fantom compares to the Fantom 0 series? Especially when connecting the 0 to Adleton - can get any sound one likes.
@mega-driver3 жыл бұрын
Great as always Stu! Just a question: Could you consider the Roland Fantom 8 as an RD-2000 with lots of other function? In term of piano experience, does it have the same accuracy/features of the RD-2000? Thanks!
@musicaldracula20172 жыл бұрын
They have the same action so piano sound wise they should sound and feel identical...
@geoffk7772 жыл бұрын
The RD-2000 has Supernatural Pianos and EPs, plus the V-Piano engine and PHA-50 action. The Fantom 8 has: - The same V-Piano engine - The same PHA 50 action (on the Fantom 8) - Supernatural Pianos and EPs are available through a free expansion pack - Zen Core pianos and EPs are built in. - Also SRX expansion card pianos and EPs are free to download and install. So it has everything on the RD-2000, plus the Zen-Core and SRX libraries. If you are layering, you also have many more sounds and options. Instead of the 1000 sounds on the RD-2000 (mostly pianos and RPs), you have over 3000 sounds to choose from. Also the screen is much better and there are more zones and layering option. In short, the Fantom is a lot more money (about $4,000 vs about $2,500), but you get a lot more of everything. It's worth the difference.
@danielneyland83182 жыл бұрын
I own both, the rd2000 has better keys even though they are supposed to be the same
@geoffk7772 жыл бұрын
@@danielneyland8318 The Fantom keyboard has aftertouch which may affect the feel a little. But I've played both, and they're extremely close in action. The difference might even be just normal variations between individual examples.
@danielneyland83182 жыл бұрын
@@geoffk777 ya could be
@TheSriram283 жыл бұрын
I haven't seen any Clavinova reviews in this channel. Could you do those as well.
@hesingshesobs3 жыл бұрын
Sold mine for a Rd-2000 some time ago. All these new digital instruments keep getting released in the half-baked form. Companies depend on people being patient for 3-4 years of firmware updates too much now. They just updated it to have the same drawbar features the Rd-2000 shipped with when it first came out. Disgraceful! Gone are the days when you get to buy a complete product off the shelf.
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
You hit the mark with your comment. It is unbelievable to me that the string voices and other pads don't sustain on the Yamaha DGX-670 with the sustain pedal.
@Jason759133 жыл бұрын
half-baked, in order to release the product sooner, and finish it later as sales start flowing
@hesingshesobs3 жыл бұрын
@@Jason75913 Well, we as the consumer have a choice. I wish we would do more to punish companies that do this stuff. I personally cannot do it anymore after reflecting on how hard I've worked for the little money I have. For example, there is a lot of stuff on the second hand market that can make wonderful music and they work properly from the jump. I personally have stopped buying new gear as much as possible as a result. When it comes to VSTs, unless it is at 40%+ discount or otherwise free, I don't buy them. The only new music equipment I would buy new today is an M1 MacBook Air. But that's just me...
@Jason759133 жыл бұрын
@@hesingshesobs and Fantom's not that big of a priority, it's just a statement product, not their "bread and butter" like the digital pianos and Juno-DS, not anyone's central piece to a music production studio either, almost everyone is using PC-based DAWs or a Tascam DP32 or such
@ernestryles2 жыл бұрын
The RD-2000 was missing features at launch, too.
@user-bu8ue6rv4d2 жыл бұрын
Very useful video, thank you very much!
@paulallenMacca3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing your video watched from here in the UK,how would you rate the piano sample of the Fantom 8 to the Yamaha CP88.
@christopherpederson102118 күн бұрын
you should review the new Yamaha montage modx88. The action is really great. thanks
@MerriamPianos17 күн бұрын
Thanks for the suggestion! I will pass it along to our production team for you. :)
@tre.j35897 ай бұрын
I purchased the Nord Stage 3 2 years ago and everyone that comes over or knows I have one are always asking what do I like most about it and would I recommend it? My Answer: I HATE IT, and NO. I wish I million times I have got the Fantom 8. I ordered it yesterday and I’m so excited about it coming in. My favorite instrument/workstation.
@MerriamPianos7 ай бұрын
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your experiences! It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and opinion of course, but the Roland FANTOM 8 is a powerhouse machine. I am confident that you will be thrilled with it! :)
@alexpetro63 Жыл бұрын
Hi nice demo. Do you know anything about poliphony problems using in a scene 2 differents piano sound and a Pad?
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
Thank you kindly! I suppose you could max out polyphony depending on the exact samples you're using and which tone engine it is being accessed from. Some of the sounds will have polyphony maxes where some piano sounds may have limitless polyphony. It is difficult to help troubleshoot without seeing the exact configuration. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance!
@nujuat3 жыл бұрын
This is kinda funny - I've been looking at your digital home piano reviews since I miss playing the baby grand at my mum's house after moving out. However, I'm not sure if my girlfriend's cat will be good for the speaker fabrick on the higher end ones (she likes playing with couch covers etc), and I'll have my computer in a different room, so that will make it trickier to do song writing through a DAW with it (I write video games, and also the soundtracks for them). So more recently I was considering the fantom 8 as an alternative. It's not pretty in the same way as the home pianos that try to emulate the look and feel of acoustics, but it would be way more practical, and would still have a good piano action. Do you think the pha50 action works OK for the synth sounds? Or would the 7 with synth action feel better if I use them a lot? Thanks for these videos, they've been a lot of help!
@oSAMoMUSICo2 жыл бұрын
There is a problem with layering 16 tones. Polyphony is going to drop very soon because 265 is easily reached. Many sounds consist of up to 4 partials, each partial takes one from the polyphony. Layering 5 sounds ( Piano, Epiano, Pad, Strings and pulsating synth) holding down the sustain pedal while changing chords the polyphony will drop. Only option to avoid that is to find out what Sound causes the drop and go to voicereserve and add some to it. The 16 zones are not for layering 16 tones.. they're more for assembling the sounds you need for your song.
@ablesam2 жыл бұрын
Software limitation. Wonder how long before Roland address it.
@IvanBrain2 жыл бұрын
Да, 4 длинных Pad и звук падает (
@geoffk7772 жыл бұрын
Honestly, is this a real problem for you? In a worst case, with every sound using four partials and 16 zones, than you'd still get 4 actual notes of polyphony. With a sound that layered, that's probably all that you could reasonably use at once without turning into sonic mush. I use layers all the time and I've never noticed a situation with note stealing, even with very lush, layered scenes.
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
I probably would have liked this, but I'm sure it's very expensive. I saw the Fantom in the music store several years ago, and it sounded great. As it stands now, I have a very good sounding digital piano setup at a comparatively low price, so I'm just working on developing my skill with a piano. There are classical pieces I would like to master, and I have spend quite a bit of money on transcriptions, some are what Stu has played on these videos.
@Lainer1 Жыл бұрын
It's the price of these new Fantoms that makes it not an option for me.
@boxx83573 жыл бұрын
More workstation reviews to come, thanks 👍
@Instrumental-Covers3 жыл бұрын
Synthesizers/Performance Workstations: This is a category where Kawai has no products. Roland has the Fantom/FA/Juno/RD/VR/XPS, Yamaha has the Montage/MODX/MX, and Korg has the Nautilus/Kronos/Krome/Kross. A cheap alternative is the Yamaha/Steinberg Halion 6, which is a software sampler/performance workstation that costs only $350. Halion 6 has 4,029 sounds, and offers extensive sound editing capabilities.
@geoffk7772 жыл бұрын
Kurzweil deserves a mention too. Their new K2700 is an awesome, powerful workstation with great pianos, organs and strings. Their other models like the Forte are quite competent also. They are actually owned now by Young-Chiang, so it's not surprising that their pianos are very good.
@Instrumental-Covers2 жыл бұрын
@@geoffk777 True. They used to be so famous with their "triple-strike" piano... too bad Raymond sold the company. I think I saw a PC3 a couple of weeks ago... didn't try it. Last Kurzweil I tried was probably an SP88.
@davidknight7542 жыл бұрын
The master effects you speak of (per tone) are actually Multi Effects. There is one master effect called Total Effect available at the scene level, plus a master compressor and so on. That said, I really enjoyed this presentation from a different perspective as I come from the more technical side of using this instrument. As with a lot of things, what we choose to learn affects the other.. meaning your piano chops are so much nicer than mine and I really enjoyed listening to them.
@rayb74022 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this! I was wondering the same thing since I'm not a music director either. It does look intimidating :).
@MobileMusic2 жыл бұрын
Actually, FANTOM is the easiest - Roland nailed the UI and workflow!
@Ninja-qt3km3 жыл бұрын
Very nice review. But 200 bars in the sequencer would be nice, it’s only 32 at the moment and very limited at this point but perhaps Roland will adress this in future updates.
@DavidMorrill_13 жыл бұрын
Each individual pattern is limited to 32 bars, but patterns can be placed into "groups" of patterns that play simultaneously (e.g. a piano pattern, a bass pattern, a guitar pattern, ...) and groups can be strung together to create complete "songs", with repeated sections if desired, so the end result can easily be hundreds of bars long. It's a similar approach supported by many modern DAWs like Ableton and Bitwig and provides a nice framework for experimentation, arrangement and re-arrangement of ideas.
@ablesam2 жыл бұрын
8 rows with 16 zones each having 32 bars. So in total, 256 bars. An intro can be 1-16 bars and the verse up to 32. It is a logical and practical sequencer. If you need to get any more results, then it use a DAW.
@Justin_collier9 ай бұрын
This work station would be perfect for someone like me that produces music, and i am looking for a keyboard that will be versatile like the mp7se, where i don’t have to use fl studio or a daw to produce a song that will greatly enhance my capabilities. After tons of videos and tons of searching, i haven’t found anything better then the mp7se. I do love the kurzweil k2700 and the workflow seems to be better on this fantom8! I produce many genres of music. I’m looking into it.
@MerriamPianos9 ай бұрын
The MP7SE is quite the stage piano! Furthermore, it has one of the most authentic piano tones that you will find in a digital piano. With that said, the FANTOM-8 is quite the powerhouse and offers more extensive workstation features, which may be appealing to some users.
@Justin_collier9 ай бұрын
@@MerriamPianos you don’t even have virtual tech on a 5000 dollar nord or 3000 dollar yahama YC88, i strangely still prefer to play my keys over even the most expensive of pianos. I stick with the first patch then add bright 1 and light+ the first patch i feel is my fav above all the others and the sk5 one is a fav to. I would love to try something different but i feel that i have become too accustomed to rh3, and in afraid if i switch i won’t be as happy but this roland looks amazing
@alphasxsignal2 жыл бұрын
Who makes a good stand for the Fantom 8 and doesn't move around and is strong?
@MobileMusic2 жыл бұрын
Roland KS-10Z
@markstein62262 жыл бұрын
Great video, Stu. I love the clarity with which you present your ideas and information. Very helpful!
@MikeHenrick13 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for this video, just what I was looking for, having the same as you used Roland fantom x8 being my last workstation I ready used although I have a Oasys and then Kronos I only used them with logic, I loved the old gear for recording even back as far as xp80, I now use the RD2000 and Korg Pa5x and other Roland gear like Jupiter xm and tr08, 09 etc, my main worry is feel, is it as good as the RD2000, if so I’ll sell all the bits and get one thing. As now I’m older with less time and space, I just want everything easier to access, but play and sound good.
@MerriamPianos3 ай бұрын
You're very welcome! We're glad that you enjoyed it! :) The RD2000 and FANTOM-8 both use the same PHA50 action (a wonderfully-authentic touch). With that said, the FANTOM-8 feels virtually the same as the RD2000. It is a really impressive workstation to say the least!
@aquaticborealis48773 жыл бұрын
So, after buying an FP-30, then an Arturia Keylab 88 MKII, various VSTs, and then a Summit, I’m thinking something like this, or the Yamaha Montage might have just been a better one time investment.
@EdPin_3 жыл бұрын
A little less conversation, a little more action, please :) So this is part 1 of Fantom 8, in part 2 i'd like to see, or maybe to hear you playing with it. Witness you composing something cool. Than maybe i'd like to try to do something similarly cool, so i buy it :)
@Jason759133 жыл бұрын
Nah, Montage and Fantom make compromises to be all-in-one workstations. You went the right route. Various VSTs can cover all of your sonic bases, and FP-30 kills Fantom at piano (Kontakt libraries even more), Summit has you covered for synth sounds. Layer the Summit with Kontakt choirs and string ensembles to achieve some of the really special pad sounds that the Montage and Fantom stand out for. FM8 has the edge over Montage's FM-X FM engine.
@boxx83573 жыл бұрын
+ the cost to a powerfull pc, monitor, etc.
@aquaticborealis48773 жыл бұрын
@@boxx8357 True
@MrTownsend3 жыл бұрын
These workstations have their place in various situations such as a live show where you don't want a computer on stage where you want to load up sounds or even theatre work where you are triggering samples. But they are very heavy and a burden to carry. They are also limited sample wise compared to a computer with Keyscape/Omnisphere/Native Instruments/Izotope/Soundtoys. But it's nice to see Roland attempt to add some control voltage and add Logic/Mainstage. I hope they will be adding more DAWs. If I was in the market for a workstation, I'm definitely leaning more towards Roland just for the integration and sequencer factor.
@MobileMusic2 жыл бұрын
Hey Stu, Nice job! Subscribed. Just FYI, the sample content on the Pads is global and does not belong to or get saved to any scene. We can record the Rhythm Pattern drums to zone 10 and then copy/paste the recorded MIDI data from zone 10 to any other zone in the Pattern Sequencer. FANTOM is so EASY to use, there is nothing like it! Sounds are secondary - we can design our own, purchase them or download them for FREE from Roland Cloud (more than 10,000 tones available including 4 Model Expansions worth $600 for free - that's like having ALL these 4 great synths right inside FANTOM as extra gear). UI and easy Workflow are crucial and Roland nailed them in FANTOM. If we buy a keyboard with great sounds but the UI/workflow suck, we would dread using it and it would be a sheer waste of money. FANTOM is a bliss and pleasure to use with its cool sequencer - it is also very BEAUTIFUL! I have a JD-Xi and FANTOM 6.
@martinjwoodward6 ай бұрын
Great video - thanks. And love your playing. Currently have a Kronos but not sure I'll live long enough to learn how to drive it! I'm 75! One thing concerns me - I want to record stuff that slows down at varying points and then resumes tempo. This can be done on the Kronos. Can the Fantom handle this? If not directly can it do it in a DAW?
@MerriamPianos6 ай бұрын
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While I am not in front of the FANTOM 8 at present, I do believe that you are able to automate/program tempo changes. With that said, this is certainly something that can be done when used in conjunction with a DAW like ProTools. You can automate sudden or gradual tempo changes quite easily. :)
@martinjwoodward6 ай бұрын
Thank you kindly Brent. Blessings, Martin
@noeldacosta76212 жыл бұрын
Actually starts at 11:24. You're welcome.
@jeffrow3162 жыл бұрын
I need one of these!
@stanleytomczak3402 жыл бұрын
What would you rate the Fantom Piano sounds compared to the Ravenscroft 275 ????????
@noahsinykin21562 жыл бұрын
Could you do a video comparing this and the RD-2000? I’m looking at getting a good keyboard for purely home studio production, but don’t know if the difference between this and the RD-2000 is worth the price difference. For reference, I’d use it with Logic but it looks like the Fantom has way more editing options for synth music/general sound editing
@geoffk7772 жыл бұрын
I owned an RD-2000 and upgraded to a Fantom 8. If you can afford it, than it's definitely worth the price difference. You get all of the sounds of the RD-2000, plus many many more. Even just for pianos, you get the added Zen Core and SRX pianos and EPs. And the other sounds (strings, pads, organ, etc.) are way better on the Fantom. Plus, the keyboard has aftertouch, it has sequencing and sampling, it has a much better screen and it works much better with DAWs. In particular, Logic has a plug-in, so it integrates with it perfectly, so you barely need to touch your computer. Aside from price, the only disadvantage is that it's bigger and much heavier, so if you have to gig with it, than that may be an issue. But as a studio instrument and for overall sound, it's way better. It's absolutely worth the extra money, and I'd recommend it.
@danielneyland83182 жыл бұрын
The Rd 2000 has better keys. The fantom looks bad ass but it collects a lot of dust being that everything takes 10 times longer than a plug in and a mouse. Also updating it with a thumb drive is not easy and a little scary. If it had an editor I would like it so much more.
@jordanbanko53478 ай бұрын
Noah, what did you end up going with?
@jordanbanko53478 ай бұрын
@@geoffk777Hi Geoff! I am going through the debate of whether to get the RD-2000 or the Fantom 8. Do you still believe the Fantom 8 is the better choice? Also, since it came out in 2019, do you think a replacement model is on the horizon?
@geoffk7778 ай бұрын
@@jordanbanko5347 Yeah, I still agree with what I wrote before. But I think that I minimized the size difference. Moving the Fantom 8 is a pain, but moving the RD is pretty easy. So just as a piano, the RD might be more practical. Also, the Supernatural pianos on the Fantom don't have string or damper resonance, but the ones on the RD do. If I were shopping today, I'd look very closely at a Yamaha CP. Some people prefer the sound and action on this, and it's very portable. And, if cost and weight are no object, than the newvYamaha Montage M8x feels and sounds great. But the Fantom andvRD are still good options. I wouldn't recommend the Fantom 08, though. The panel and action are OK, but the internal piano sounds are disappointing. I haven't heard of any RD upgrade and I suspect that it won't happen for a while.
@stanleytomczak3402 жыл бұрын
Hey Stu, why don't you do a comparison with the Yamaha Montage pianos???????
@tomaszdomagala10 ай бұрын
Very nice test. I have a question. Nobody knows the answer to this question. How can I export 16 tracks and then have someone else mix them?
@MerriamPianos10 ай бұрын
Thank you! While I am not currently in front of a FANTOM-8 at the moment, I believe this is actually pretty straight forward. You should be able to select "WAV (Multitrack)" as an option once you've selected "Export Song".
@tomaszdomagala10 ай бұрын
@@MerriamPianos Thank you for the quick answer :) You can export scenes. Can you ask someone at your work if it is possible to export "WAV (Multitrack)"? I subscribed to your channel and will recommend it to others.
@noggindoo7 ай бұрын
Hi great video. I am a bit late to the party so to speak and note this video is 2yrs old. Do you know if Roland are going to up date this soon so current price will drop on the F8 ? Unsure how often Roland update equipment. I would hate to spend 3k then find it becomes cheaper due Toma new release as it's serious money
@MerriamPianos7 ай бұрын
Hi! Thanks for tuning in! As it currently stands, we have not received any word from Roland about updates to the FANTOM line. They have recently issued a new FANTOM-0 line, which offers more streamlined and affordable versions of the FANTOM models. To that point, I don't believe there are plans to update the flagship FANTOM line in the near future. We will certainly keep you updated if we hear anything from our end though!
@stanleyassor31725 ай бұрын
i just heard the Kurzweil k2700 and man, i think it blows all keyboards out of the water. wow!
@MerriamPianos5 ай бұрын
The Kurzweil keyboards are very well-built machines of course! The decision between them and other brands/models will always come down to the personal musical preferences of the player. :)
@leodelosreyes2753 жыл бұрын
What is your double stand?
@Jason759133 жыл бұрын
looks like it might be one of those Z stands judging by the shape of the second tier
@lulebay2 жыл бұрын
Can i connect fp30x usb midi into fantom external usb device, and control the fantom?
@tungsten12313 жыл бұрын
good job, thank you
@stephenbingham9625 Жыл бұрын
We’re you saying during the sequencer segment that there was a way to play indefinite lengthy patterns? Like if I just wanted to record a very long free improv. I thought it would only do up to 32 bars.
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
Hi there! Every sequencer and engine has some limitation. With that said, I believe what Stu was referring to is that the limit is so high that it allows you to perform something that is far more elaborate than a simple loop. :)
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
It sounds like the keyboard responds to after touch. Can you confirm?
@mr.c19893 жыл бұрын
Yes it does. This information is advertised all over the web. I believe the RD-2000 does not have aftertouch.
@musicaldracula20172 жыл бұрын
I couldn't imagine a Fantom without aftertouch. Only one exception, which is Fantom Xa... A stripped down version of X.
@tonytramonti582810 ай бұрын
The Ed Norton of synthersizer reviews
@MerriamPianos10 ай бұрын
Touché! Who knew the leader of fight club was such a talented musician! ;)
@canyoubelievethis22010 ай бұрын
when did you finally start demonstrating the sounds? I gave up at 14:03 minutes!
@MerriamPianos10 ай бұрын
The video is timestamped and separated into sections to help viewers navigate to the sections that interest them most. :)
@1234567sophia2 жыл бұрын
Hééééé I didn t hear one note I have one Please How shall I start? I m used to Integra 7 with my KN7000 and Korg Triton
@ALMAR-Music-Ltd.6 ай бұрын
is this considered an arranger's keyboard such as the Yamaha Genos and is it compatible with Windows 11 and Cubase 13 professional I do use audio modeling's SWAM LIBRARY supported by the Yamaha Genos styles for an initial bass piano drum to be edited later on. I also play solo work in my arrangements using the AE-30 Pro
@MerriamPianos6 ай бұрын
Hi! Brent here! The FANTOM 8 is a workstation. While it has some arranger crossover, that is not its primary intention. The Roland FP-E50 is Roland's formal arranger style piano. The FANTOM 8 is a production/composition powerhouse that allows you to record/sequence/produce full arrangements fully-onboard if required. :)
@ALMAR-Music-Ltd.6 ай бұрын
@@MerriamPianos my recording studio is entirely focused on the 1930 through the 1950 era of the American songbook. all of my vocal and chorus arrangements including all tracks up to 16 must be built dynamically, I never use loops.
@stanleytomczak3402 жыл бұрын
Does the Fantom 8 have a Key touch control, like the roland 2000 where you can control touch like Light, Medium etc??????
@schn3ur2 жыл бұрын
TOUCH: LIGHT, MEDIUM, HEAVY. Only saved to system settings though, I believe; not by Scene.
@johnsebastianbacarrisas71143 жыл бұрын
please review the yamaha psr ew 310
@jeffreyreid69812 жыл бұрын
We love you Stewart in America lol
@crcc232 жыл бұрын
Is it PHA-50 or PHA-4?
@tcotlg-jamesstylesiii70792 жыл бұрын
Love your overview A++++++/I have the rd2000 and fat on 0
@MerriamPianos2 жыл бұрын
Thank you kindly! I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed it! :)
@tommychappell6359 Жыл бұрын
Question? can make Roland Fantom 9?
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
I have not heard of any plans by Roland to release a FANTOM-9 model, but only time will tell if they do of course. ;)
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
BIg Question: Do the string voices sustain with the sustain pedal? Because they don't on the Yamaha DGX-670.
@mlgl97283 жыл бұрын
Absolutely. In case you don't want them to sustain when layered with another sound, you can also do that.
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
@@mlgl9728 That's how it should be. I never dreamed Yamaha would be so lame when it came to the musicality of the DGX-670
@mlgl97283 жыл бұрын
@@JoeLinux2000 that's so weird. The DGX670 should have that feature. Try to make sure that the "Hold" option for that sound/layer (strings) is duly activated/on. Should be on by default. In the Roland I can activate/deactivate the "Hold" option for each channel with no problem. Actually I got my string voices sustain not activated when I press the sustain pedal. I only tweak the release and the resonance and got the job done otherwise the way my pedal sustain certain sounds (strings for example) is not properly effective, very abrupt indeed when it's released. With the pads the sustain is way more stable and consistent, at least with the Roland (with the Kronos I don't experience such problem). I suppose it's a polyphony issue.
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
@@mlgl9728 It isn't there, and Yamaha Support says it will never be.
@ablesam3 жыл бұрын
@@JoeLinux2000 Same thing with the PSR Series. Strings don't hold and neither do the pads. The thing is, when you hold the sustain pedal on any of Yamaha's arranger keyboards and keyboards or piano that have the arranger function (from yamaha of course), all it does is increase the release time of the sound instead of looping which is what most keyboards do. I've messed around with it, and there doesn't seem to be a fix.
@1JamesDrumz10 ай бұрын
Does this have weighed keys?
@MerriamPianos10 ай бұрын
Yes! The FANTOM 8 does feature a fully-weighted keyboard. The other models (FANTOM 6 and FANTOM 7) do not however. They use a synth action keyboard. :)
@1JamesDrumz10 ай бұрын
@@MerriamPianos thanks for the quick reply. I definitely will be getting this. Excellent video
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
The New Roland Fantom - Berenice Scott Performance! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fKucbLpyyNiVfoE.html
@lcarspiano Жыл бұрын
way over my head. 😳
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
The FANTOM-8 is definitely a sophisticated machine that has a bit of a learning curve associated with using it. With that said, it is quite rich in features and options once you get used to it. :)
@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V123 жыл бұрын
The piano sound isn't all that great but something's telling me not to hate it🎹🎶
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
FWIW, I think my Yamaha DGX-670 / Pianoteq combo instrument sounds cleaner and acoustically more authentic, but that is not to disparage the Roland sound which I think is very good. DIgital pianos have many voices, not just one. I think the Roland piano will sound great when mixed with other voices.
@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V123 жыл бұрын
@@JoeLinux2000 I was refering to the synthesizer itself I do not like the piano sound but the functionalities of the instrument keep me from hating it and yes I agry that pianotec does sound beter than the sound coming out of this instrument🎹🎶
@Jason759133 жыл бұрын
Workstation keyboards are sonically inferior to decent digital pianos (P-125 or FP30X, as examples) and especially Kontakt libraries. I doubt that this will change anytime soon. Maybe in 25 years? Fantom and the like are not built around playing piano, piano is just 1% of those instruments. With FP30X/FP60X/FP90X, piano is the entire point of the instrument.
@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V123 жыл бұрын
@@Jason75913 if you look at my reply to a nother person here you will know that I was refering to the synthesizer it self🎹🎶
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 It just depends on your musical creativity. Instruments like the Fantom have tremendous potential. I was listening to NPR this morning and they were playing a "Bach Suite" from Anna Magdalena's Book. It was orchestrated, but I think it must have been done with synthesis rather than an actual orchestra. Sometimes it's very hard to be certain what you are hearing. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qJupgM9-37m3o3U.html
@SilverSpur12 жыл бұрын
Thanks for shaving. A lot of people today don't even care for a shave, and look like yeti out the coffin a thousand years later.
@metanoia63013 жыл бұрын
When you have the skill but you don't have the money to buy this🤡
@Biozene3 жыл бұрын
Crypto!
@XPJV Жыл бұрын
No patch mode is a major loss!!!
@MerriamPianos Жыл бұрын
Hi there! The Fantom 8 is an amazing workstation on all fronts! While it is jam packed with a plethora of features, there are inevitably the odd thing it can't do. Thanks so much for tuning in!
@XPJV Жыл бұрын
@@MerriamPianos, I have Fantom-8 for over a year, and I know what this is. The patch mode contains all settings of all of the FX parameters of an original patch found in earlier models. Now, in new fantom, it only contains patch itself, but no saved FX... To me and I for sure, for others, this is a big deal !
@velisercanbahtiyar257910 ай бұрын
Roland engineers should be prohibited from drinking while working. They're drunk enough to think we might want to pay 5 times as much and get a new black Fantom G8. Moreover, it doesn't even have a real sequencer inside. Whoever likes abelton, raise your finger.
@MerriamPianos10 ай бұрын
The flagship FANTOM line is an extremely popular choice for many pro level players. With that said, the FANTOM-0 line offers impressive value and many of the same features and functions. At the end of the day, it comes down to a personal decision for each player as to which option best suits their needs.
@idiosyncraticmusic2 жыл бұрын
Its certainly a really great keyboard but the drawback being its many bugs, which i'd say would disappear after they put some work into it. You'll find the roland clan forum a little annoying. There's a bunch of spam on there, hot milfs in your area type. You're not very likely to hear a response from roland too. I'm not sure if they even read the forums anymore... but you'll definitely get a response from an equally disgruntled fantom owner. Regardless that negative, the synths on there sound amazing and the modeling capabilities are very nice too. Sequencer is ok and has a bit of a learning curve but is relatively easy. All round pretty nice.
@ablesam2 жыл бұрын
I don't think the clans are noticed by Roland at all. If you need to input any improvement or feature suggestions or even ask for help with the Fantom; there is a facebook group with the Roland reps and Fantom owners. Try joining there, the clans are not much helpful.
@Biozene3 жыл бұрын
For nearly double the price of the FP90X and with inferior piano tones? Not a chance! Lol
@JoeLinux20003 жыл бұрын
I'm sure the Fantom does much more than the FP90x. It just depends on what you are looking for. When I had my Show Choir, the Fantom would have been perfect. Instead I was using 6 individual synths controlled by a ROland MC-500 sequencer. 5 of the 6 synths were Roland. One was a DX-7 module which honestly did not blend well with the other voices.
@Jason759133 жыл бұрын
Yeah, Fantom is for a different group of folks, not for users of FP30X and FP90X and such, lol and a number of Fantom, Juno-DS88, and FA-08 users would be better served by FP90X or even just FP30X as plenty of folks don't choose intelligently and salesmen can be misguiding since they likely get more commission from pricier synth keyboards
@Biozene3 жыл бұрын
@@Jason75913 I could probably make good use of the Fantom for production purposes, but it seems preferable, and cheaper, to just use a mouse, lol.
@geoffk7772 жыл бұрын
If you think that the piano tones on the Fantom are "inferior" than you need to actually play one. It has the excellent V-Pianos, the SuperNatural pianos, excellent new Zen Core pianos and all of the older SRX expansion pianos. So it basically has every piano sound that Roland has made in the last 20 years or so.
@moonlightmelodrama9 ай бұрын
If this guy feels intimidated by new technology. What stage of hysteria should the rest of us be in? If lawn care equipment had kept up with e-piano technology. You could be using your string trimmer to perform open heart surgery.
@MerriamPianos9 ай бұрын
Stu is quite the techy guy! He's certainly well-versed in the world of digital pianos, work stations, and recording technology. With that said, the FANTOM-8 is an immensely powerful machine with so many incredible capabilities! :)
@rickjj912 жыл бұрын
Dude just runs his mouth. So annoying.
@dalemccauley78882 жыл бұрын
Too much talking for me. I had to move on.
@gb34962 жыл бұрын
You, more than most, would know that the acoustic instruments, especially the pianos, in the Fantom are terrible...
@bardsanindustries74472 жыл бұрын
Far away from genos
@geoffk7772 жыл бұрын
Not the same thing. The Genos is an arranger, intended for performers to play band arrangements by themselves. The Fantom is a workstation, with powerful performance and sound design features, but focused more on song and sound creation and on individual performance. Of course, you can write songs on the Genos and do complete arrangements on the Fantom because both are so powerful, but this isn't their core strengths. The Fantom compares more closely to the Montage than the Genos, although it has some sampling and sequencing features that the Montage lacks. Probably the closest keyboards in role, functionality and overall design are the Korg Kronos (which is quite old and dated now, and has just gone off sale) and the Kurzweil K2700 (which is new).