Roland Fantom-X8 88-Key Sampling Workstation

World's first "Giga-Workstation" keyboard, giving musicians nearly 1GB of wave memory when fully expanded and powerful 128-voice polyphony.

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Introducing the most powerful and luxurious live workstation in Roland history. The Fantom-G is a dream instrument that redefines the boundaries of playability and creativity with its advanced sound engine, revolutionary ARX SuperNATURAL™ expansion bay, large-sized color LCD, powerful new audio/MIDI sequencer, first-class “Ivory Feel” weighted keys and more. Learn More...

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Roland Fantom-X8 88-Key Sampling Workstation reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

178 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

 

11 People wrote reviews

Read all Roland Fantom-X8 88-Key Sampling Workstation reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"roland x6,7,8 is the truth... superb sounds, excelent quantization,"

Feature:
qauntizing on this machine is cake... i feel roland has one of the best qauntization, because it hits pretty close on realtime. also the mixing thru audio and midi is a breeze. although one of the kickbacks on this board is that it doesnt come with alot of onboard memory. though it is upgradeble to 1gb... but its perfect if your running it thru an mv-8 that has a dif-at24 thru it then basically your fully set to make hot music!!!

Quality:
product is durable... its like its a metal tank.

Value:
id say its worth the money... you actually get what you paid for. i had the motif and the triton ... id compare prices to the motif xs this board has its run for the money... but roland edges it by overall features.

Desirability:
i have the fantom-s and i love the sounds and the set up of it... but when the x series came out i wasnt to impress then i started playing with it, took me 5 mins to make a 4 bar sequence. i was amazed of the color screen .. the sample mode improved so its alot easier to chop and truncate wav.i also love the patches on this thing... its incredible sound.

Sound:
sound on this this machine is incredible... synth on this machine is easy to manipulate... also the there are a few new patches that they didnt put on the fantom-s that they have on this machine. for all the RnB and hiphop heads... this is the board to get. musiq soulchild has the fantom on a couple of his tracks. also great for trance,dance, and classical... great choice of symphony patches.

Ease of Use:
id say this machine has a slight more learning curve... but if you mess with it long enough this machine is easy... took me bout a week till i got this machine down... once youve used this machine... every other roland you use will come natural and quick.

Support:
dont know never had to call.

Overall:
this is a board that i would keep part of my collection... this would be a great vintage board 20 years from now.even if we upgrade here and there, but this workstation is considered classic!!!if i could search for another product , it would be in the v-synth... if ive ever lost this board , i would buy the same one... or if the upgrade is ever out by that time id most likely get that....

Submitted: 8/3/2007

Style of Music: RnB, Jazz, Hip Hop, classical guitar intrumentals


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* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"All the keyboard I'll ever need."

Feature:
Okay, this keyboard DOES have a lack of accessories. All you get is a power chord and the typical hard to understand Roland manual. But, it has so much more. For one, the color screen. I'm nearly blind, and this was a godsend. 'Nuff said about that. The manual kinda sucks, but it's pretty easy to move around. Assigning custom knobs is easy, and you're gonna want to have/buy a damper pedal and an expression pedal. Four assignable knobs, 2 assignable effects buttons, crazy awesome arppegiator, assignable D-Beam, 16 Dynamic pads, Skip-Back Sampling, Audio input, tons of effects, and one of my favorites, the piano mode button, which puts everything on the backburner and let's you chill and jam out with your favorite piano sound for a bit. This and a whole lot more await you with the Fantom X8. Not to mention the great feeling weighted keyboard.

Quality:
Mine seems to look and work great. Never had any problems with it before. The only thing that ever worries me is that massive screen: it's really exposed, and I'd never have the guts to transport it without a hard case.

Value:
It's an investment. It will take a lot. But if you're a serious keyboard player, you owe it to yourself to at least try one out. It's a lot of money, but to me it was worth it.

Desirability:
This keyboard is awesomeness.

Sound:
There's a lot of hype about the new multisampled piano sound. The hype doesn't do it justice. I actually prefer this piano sound to a lot of the grands out there. I'm sure there is always a real acoustic that's better, but I'd put this up against every Steinway I've played (and I've been playing over 15 years). It's got a bright sound, but I play rock/funk/blues so it's perfect. And of course, it is a huge workstation, so there are tons of other stuff. The Electric pianos are good, the guitars are the closest you can get in a keyboard (they almost fool me, and I also play guitar), and the synth sounds and parameters are awesome. Some of the woodwind and strings might could be a little better, but it still gets a 10 from me for sound because of the piano/EP/guitar sounds.

Ease of Use:
For me, Roland has probably the hardest to read manuals of all time. And, it looks like it takes a rocket science degree to work their equipment. And this keyboard does have a steep learning curve. But it passes quickly, and then you feel like a genius. Everything's easy after that. It's also a very usable keyboard, for anything. Gigging, playing at church, studio work, it's an awesome board for all you could possibly have to do.

Support:
Well, never had to deal with them, and I've been playing Rolands a very long time. But maybe this says something.

Overall:
This is all the studio keyboard I will ever need. I might eventually get something smaller/lighter for gigging, because it is rather heavy for one person to lug around everyday. But this is it.

Submitted: 4/12/2007

Style of Music: Mostly Rock, Funk, Blues, Classical


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About This Product!
Description
Docs, Multimedia
From Our Catalog
The Fantom-X Series are the world's first 'Giga-Workstation' keyboards, giving musicians nearly 1GB of wave memory when fully expanded and powerful 128-voice polyphony. The synthesis section has all-new waveforms and room for 4 SRX expansions, while the sampler's RAM can be expanded to 544MB, with an inexpensive DIMM chip - enough memory to use like a digital recorder. The Fantom-X Series is also the first line of workstation keyboards with a color LCD screen.

Features

128-voice workstations with 61-note keyboard (Fantom-X6), 76-note keyboard (Fantom-X7), or 88-note (Fantom-X8) Progressive Hammer-Action Keyboard

Seamless integration of audio and MIDI using gorgeous new ROM waves and sampling with realtime timestretch capability

128MB wave ROM includes quality-focused sounds like 88-key split piano and more

32MB sample RAM expandable to 544MB with optional DIMMs

New color LCD screen - a first in a workstation keyboard!

Innovative features like Skip Back Sampling, Dynamic Pad Bank and V-LINK*

3 MFX processors, plus dedicated reverb, chorus and mastering processor

USB port for MIDI, .WAV/AIFF file exchange and 4x SRX expansion

PC card slot for backing up samples and data with up to 1GB capacity

4 Line outputs (2 stereo or 4 mono), stereo Line input and 24-bit S/PDIF I/O

*V-LINK requires optional Edirol DV-7PR with software version 1.50 or higher.

V-LINK: The Future of Performance
The Fantom-X Series is not only a great choice for studio musicians, but also for live performers. Using Roland's V-LINK technology, musicians can trigger and manipulate video clips when connected to an Edirol video editor like the DV-7PR. Imagine being able to instantly trigger clips from the Dynamic Pad Bank, or create transitions and effects using the pitch bender and knobs. It's a live performer's dream!

The Fantom's 2nd most obvious unique feature is the new, improved 16 rubber Dynamic pads. Use them for drums, vocals or sounds with the Fanom's amazing realtime timestretch, wave edit and chop capability and its ability to load .WAV/AIFF files right off your computer. (Of course it samples - analog or digital.) For that matter use the PC card slot for up to 1 GB storage or even an external drive. The very cool USB file sharing feature has been upgraded to also act as an MIDI interface.

Another unique tool is the Skip Back sampling that always lets you go back in time and capture whatever you just played. These waveforms immediately draw themselves on the color display. If you are playing to a groove, the wave is set to be cut and adjusted by the beat (it appears on a barline grid).

When you are gazing at the hi-rez LCD screen you will feel like you are at a powerful computer based sequencer... and you are! In fact, these keyboards use a new Roland chip that is their most powerful integrated DSP ever. The Fantom can record 400,000 note songs, with 480 TPQN. The sequencer section has been refined. Check out the very cool 'tiled' screen that shows your favorite 16 edit pages, instantly available from the sample pads. All editing options exist, with amazing graphics.

Finally you can work in a completely seamless world of audio/MIDI without feeling like you are at an office terminal. Of course, you can instantly store all your work to your home computer if that is convenient. Also the arpeggiator is completely programmable with the coolest display screens around.

We've left the sounds for last, but they may be the Fantom's strong suit. With 128 meg of over 1400 classic Roland waveforms, and room for 4 64 SRX expansion boards, every sound you need is at your fingertips. One piano patch alone, boasts over 700 samples (4 stereo samples for EACH note).

On the back panel you will find 4 Line outputs (2 stereo or 4 mono), stereo Line input and 24-bit S/PDIF I/O.

Technical Info

Specifications

Keyboard:
- X6: 61 keys (with velocity and channel aftertouch)
- X7: 76 keys (with velocity and channel aftertouch)
- X8: 88 keys (Progressive Hammer Action Mechanism and channel aftertouch)

Sound Generator Section Maximum: Polyphony 128 voices (shared with the sampling section) n Parts 16 parts

Wave Memory: 128 MB (16-bit linear equivalent)

Waveforms: 1,436 n Preset Memory Patches: 1,024 + 256 (GM2), Rhythm Sets: 40 + 9 (GM2), Performances: 64

User Memory:
- Patches: 256
- Rhythm Sets: 32
- Performances: 64

Card Memory (PC card):
- Patches: 256
- Rhythm Sets: 32
- Performances: 64

Effects:
- Multi-Effects: 3 systems
- 78 types
- Chorus: 3 types
- Reverb: 5 types
- Input Effects: 6 types
- Mastering Effects: 3-band compressor

Sampling Section Data Format: 16-bit linear (File Type: .WAV/.AIFF)

Sampling Frequency 44.1 kHz (fixed)

Maximum Sampling Time:
- Standard: 32 MB (mono: 360 sec. approx., stereo: 180 sec. approx.)
- Maximum (expanded with DIMM): 544 MB (mono: 102 min. approx., stereo: 51 min. approx.)

Number of Samples:
- User memory: 2,000 (maximum total approximately 32 MB)
- Card Memory: 7,000 (PC card)

Sequencer Section Track:
- Phrase Tracks (16 MIDI channels per track): 16
- Pattern Track (16 MIDI channels per track): 1
- Tempo Track: 1
- Beat track: 1

The Pattern Track can hold up to 100 patterns. n Resolution 480 TPQN

Tempo: 5 - 300

Note Capacity: Approx. 400,000 notes

Song Length: 9,998 measures

Recording Method: Realtime recording, Step recording

Others

Arpeggiator:
- Preset: 128
- User: 128

Rhythm Patterns:
- Preset: 256 (32 groups)
- User: 256 (32 groups)

Chord Memory:
- Preset: 64
- User: 64

Display Graphic 320 x 240 dots backlit LCD (Color)

Pads: 16 pads, Velocity and Aftertouch sensitive

Controllers: Pitch Bend/Modulation Lever, Control Knob x 4, Assignable Switch x 2, D Beam Controller

Connectors: Headphones Jack, A (MIX) Output Jacks (L/MONO, R): 1/4 inch TRS phone type, B Output Jacks (L, R): 1/4 in. phone type, Input Jacks (L/MONO/MIC, R): 1/4 in. phone type, Hold Pedal Jack (Half Pedal recognition), Control Pedal Jack (assignable), MIDI Connectors (IN, OUT, THRU), USB Connector (supports file transfer (mass storage class) and MIDI), Digital Audio Interface (COAXIAL INPUT/OUTPUT), AC Inlet

Expansion Slots:
- Expansion of waveforms and patchs for the internal sound generator): SRX expansion boards: 4 slots
- Expansion of sampling memory: DIMM: 1 slot (supports 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB (3.3 V))

External Storage Device: PC card: 1 slot (supports SmartMedia and CompactFlash using a PC card adapter)

Power Supply: AC 117 V, AC 230 V, AC 240 V (50/60 Hz), AC 220 V (60 Hz)

Dimensions (W x D x H):
- X6: 41-3/8 x 14-1/8 x 4-15/16 in. (1050 x 358 x 125 mm)
- X7: 49-11/16 x 14-1/8 x 4-15/16 in. (1262 x 358 x 125 mm)
- X8: 55-7/16 x 17-15/16 x 6-1/2 in. (1408 x 455 x 165 mm)

Weight:
- X6: 12.5 kg / 27 lbs 9 oz
- X7: 14.5 kg / 32 lbs
- X8: 29.5 kg / 65 lbs 1 oz

Accessories: Handbook, Owner's Manual, Sound/Parameter List, Sample Data (Audio) CD, CDROM (Editor, USB MIDI driver), Sticker, Power Cord

Options:
- Wave Expansion Board: SRX Series
- Pedal Switch: DP Series
- Foot Switch: BOSS FS-5U
- Expression Pedal: EV-5

*'Phantom' is a registered trademark of and is licensed by Phantom Guitar Works, Inc.
Since the analog heyday, Roland has led the industry in the development of professional synthesizers. From the Jupiter 8 to the TR-808, and all the way up to the Fantom X, Roland can be counted on to deliver tools that empower the pros. The Fantom X is available in 61-key, 76-key, and 88-key hammer action versions, each with 16 dynamic pads for sample/loop triggering. These systems provide nearly 1GB of wave memory when fully expanded (with 4 SRX optional boards). Out of the box you get hundreds of brilliant sounds to inspire innovation in your music; a huge selection of pianos, strings, basses, drums brass synth sounds and much more provide the finest musical palette available. Paint your aural masterpiece with a 128-voice polyphonic canvas. The pro features of the Fantom X are too numerous to list. They include a color LCD screen for easy visible maneuvering, tons of sample and sound memory, 3 multi-effects processors, USB for file transfer (WAV/AIFF) and MIDI interfacing, a hefty selection of connectivity, smart skip-back sampling to capture musical phrases you've already played, and much more. The Fantom XR puts the same sound engine and I/O in a 1-space rack. Whether this is your first workstation or the last you will ever need, the Fantom X will empower you to let others hear the music in your head.

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