Roland FANTOM Version 2 Review and multi-sampling tutorial
Added 2020-09-18 16:02:54 +0000 UTCHi!
Roland just released a fairly significant update to their Zen-core based Fantom 6/7/8 product line, adding much-needed sample playback and multi-sampling features, as well as quite a few other updates.
"Workstation" seems like such a stodgy term compared to the less formal "groovebox" label, but when you take a closer look, it looks like the two are increasingly converging.
Synth and sample playback engines, step and live sequencing, patterns, Ableton Live style grids, chains and songs - all familiar terms and all increasingly appearing across the product ranges.
A big difference remains - a keyboard or performance-oriented workflow and interface of "workstations", compared to a pad-based workflow of "production centers".
The player and keyboard performance aspect of Fantom is also clear - while sampling capabilities have finally been added, the sampling workflow is still slow compared to the sample-oriented MPC or Maschine.
That said, if you're a keyboard player on your own or in a band and are interested in as many as possible sounds in one package with extended polyphony for multitrack sequencing, or interested in "dawless" production using a piano keyboard interface, Fantom is well worth a look.
That's it for this busy week - have a great weekend!
Ziv (promising no more 40+ minute review/tutorials this week on "Loopop"...)
