Roland Fantom X6

The Roland Fantom x6 is a 61 key workstation that has all the bells and whistles that you will need. It probably has more than you will use! I compare this to the Yahama Motif and I feel they are alike and do the same thing. The Fantom sticks out a little more to be because of the screen and flow of the (software). It just seems more put together and easier to operate. It also has pads on the right side that you can assigned samples and such too. That is something that the motif doesn’t have.


UTILIZATION

This keyboard’s sound editing can be a bit overwhelming if you havent used it before but once you get the hang of it you will be just fine. Or you could pick up the manual and figure it all out pretty quick. The general set up is pretty easy. When it turns on it just loads everything up and you can start working right away.


SOUNDS

Sounds are great! I love the strings and brass. Some of the sounds are a little dry and thin though. that’s where I feel like the Motif wins at. The Motif sounds are much more full and thick. Also, they could have used a few more sounds that are distinct. I feel like some of these sounds are the same as other previous fantom boards. But I guess that’s what is suppose to happen.


OVERALL OPINION

Overall, a great quality board. But if you love this one check out the Motif, it will blow you away! This board cost a good dollar though so make sure you can afford it. Most all of the popular workstations cost a good amount of money so be prepared to spend your savings on them. But they will last you a very long time unless you are dropping it or getting it wet. Keep it nice and clean and it will last you a lifetime. Great board, I recommend it.

Finally, the keyboard workstation joins us in the 21st century. I hereby predict the Roland Fantom G will enjoy the top spot in keyboard sales for the next couple of years. Why? Here are the main reasons:

UTILIZATION

-The screen is the best in the business. Gorgeous. Love it. No video redraw issues like the XS.

-DAW like sequencer. Plug in a USB mouse and you have computer-like sequencing at your fingertips. Highly robust, reliable, accurate sequencer with 128 MIDI track capability. Unheard of. No button pressing delays like the XS

-Buffet of extraordinary preset patches that are mix ready and can be seamlessly overdubbed together right out of the box. Roland sets up presets ready for your mixes. Drum kits are banging, EQ'd just right. Pianos, organs, rhodes, wurlies, bass (acoustic and synth), leads, pads, brass, etc etc are all AWESOME. Can not wait for new Keyboard expansion card. Incredible.

-No glitch LIVE mode that guarantees no delays between switching performances live in concert. Finally a company listened to us. LOVE IT. Thank you Roland. Live mode is SO cool

-Screensaver (16 to choose from!) and customizable wallpaper. You gotta love this. You can can actually customize your keyboard. Love it.

-Killer controllers like industry leading knob for pitch bend/data/assignable, dbeam, etc.



-AWESOME effects. Man I love all the insane effects. Also 2 LFO's with al kinds of awesome options.

SOUNDS

sounds are great, really big and warm. Sit perfect in my mixes and dont need to add too much too them. I love the brass!

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, Best looking board in existence by far. Puts the weird hospital-surgeon-green-colored Motif XS to shame. Yamaha is going to eat Roland's lunch for at least the next two years until Yamaha can put out the board they SHOULD have put out after the ES. Yamaha screwed their loyal clients and now they're going to pay for it. The Fantom is by far and away the best board for the money bar none. I absolutely LOVE my G6 and I can't keep my hands off of it.

The Roland Fantom X6 is a keyboard and music workstation consisting of 61 keys and a whole lot of parameters. It's pretty much an all in one station for keyboardists and composers alike. It's got an LED screen to monitor everything on as well. As far as it's connections go, it's got standard MIDI connections as well as a slew of 1/4" jacks for your ins and outs (six outputs), and for two pedals. It also has a USB port for easy transport of files to your computer. It's a fully polyphonic keyboard and also has a unique assignable wheel.

UTILIZATION

The make up of the Roland Fantom X6 certainly takes some getting used to, as this is a really in depth work station that offers a lot. It's going to take months of practice to get used to how to use everything on here, but using it for it's basic features is simple enough. The LED screen shows you the different patches as well as all sorts of parameters and further control. For hardware parameters, it's got all sorts of things to work with as well, including a recording section, a drum pad, and a variety of other gadgets to work with. A manual would definitely be a good idea for a new user, but I haven't seen one for myself.

SOUNDS

The sounds heard on the Roland Fantom X6 are extremely impressive. It's got pretty much every sort of sound you could think of, ranging from acoustic pianos to synthesizers. I'd say that all of the sounds are pretty realistic, with the more synth like sounds being the most. The presets are very helpful and sound great, even if you're just using them as starting points. The rhythms and arpeggios are also awesome to have, although I haven't delved too deeply into this aspect of the Fantom X6.

OVERALL OPINION

The Roland Fantom X6 is pretty much the perfect keyboard based workstation, and is only one within a line of impressive Fantom keyboard. It isn't too difficult to use that you couldn't just jump right in and try it, and also isn't too basic as it has a whole lot you can do with it if you have the time and are willing to spend it learning how to use this. If you're a keyboard player looking for a great all purpose workstation, the Fantom X6 and the Fantom series keyboards in general absolutely need to be factored in.

Its all about skip bacc sampling. U just keep messin with a melody till u get it and then capture it as a sample and assign it to a pad or key. Great realtime effects too. Real easy to create ur own sounds.

Price paid

1200 USD used

UTILIZATION

Takes a lil time but so does every peice of machinery. I recomend getting the dvd manual instead of reading the manual because sometimes u need the visual of the screen when trying to learn.

Its aight. Cool for me but watch out for ur freinds who just bang those keys and pads.

SOUNDS

Great. just make sure ur using balanced cables and the thing is bangin.

OVERALL OPINION

Lovin this thing. possibilities are endless and with the skip bacc sampling feature u never lose an idea in ur music creating process. The screen is also a blessing in my opinion.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: cwrite ( 6-, 2005)