Brandon A Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Hi all, First time posting on the forums. I have a FA-08 that I use for both pads and organ sounds in the church band. My question is this: What is the most ergonomic way to switch between the fast and slow Leslie effect? Currently, I've set up the effect to latch on the S1 key, but it is a bit of a stretch at the end of the keyboard, and I have to take one hand off the keys. I would like to use a pedal to switch on/off the effect, but most keyboard-specific pedals are momentary. Is there a way to configure a momentary pedal to switch between fast and slow Leslie, or do I need to buy a more expensive latching pedal? I'm open to other solutions if you've got them*, and I apologize if there is a simple method to do this that I couldn't figure out! Thanks, Brandon *Note: I'd prefer not to buy a nice but pricey Leslie-simulator like the RT-20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konaboy Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Hi chaps, sorry to bump an old thread but it was an excellent resource when I bought my FA08, and now I wanted to add a link to my video review series. Apologies for my terrible presentation skills, perhaps this will improve with time and practice... To compensate, the playing is not too shabby and I made an effort to capture a good quality audio recording of the instrument. If you are considering the FA for it's acoustic or electric pianos then these vids might be informative and worth a watch. In upcoming episodes I will dig into the clavs, organs and synth tones. cheers! Quote hang out with me at woody piano shack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konaboy Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 My review of the tonewheel organs is up, the FA is as far as I am aware the only workstation in this price range to include a clonewheel organ. I believe it's basically the same old Roland VK emulation rebranded as "SuperNATURAL". It does a pretty decent job and I think this is captured in the video. I know a lot of guys are passionate about tonewheel emulations on this board so hopefully you will find it interesting! Quote hang out with me at woody piano shack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadroj Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Thanks for the helpful vids Konaboy! I've had mines for over a year but I know from experience that vids like that are very handy for folks GASing all over Youtube over something they think they want... Quote Hammond SKX Mainstage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill5 Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 Just a heads up to those not familiar, the FA-06 has the "cheapie" spring-action keys vs the weighted keys the FA-08 has. Night and day diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sd Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 So after a crappy experience with the VR09 I traded it in for an FA06 (approx 14 months ago) I've gigged with the FA on several occasions as my upper synth/organs board (I've got an SV-1 on the bottom covering stage piano, electric piano, and clavs). Previously I used an Alesis Ion for my top board and while its organs certainly couldn't compare to the "not quite clone wheel" quality of the FA, the Ion allowed me to effectively map any parameter I wanted to the pitch wheel or two modulation wheels - resulting in Nord morph "like" affects. Then steps in the FA. It's got decent organs (apart from some jaw dropping functionality omissions), but all in all for my purposes which includes performing live, I am unimpressed with the Supernatural synths. Not necessarily the sound quality, but rather I am unimpressed with the inability to assign synth parameters via cc to pitch/mod paddle, buttons, and knobs when used in a performance setting. Obviously we all know that there is no good quality cost effective available solution for adding drawbar controllers to the supernatural organ, but also, unless I am completely missing the boat, it is not possible to assign controllers to any destinations in the supernatural synths - rather can only assign controllers to destinations of the current MFX effect. So for instance, if I want use the pitch/mod joystick to change filter cutoff/resonance, etc on a Supernatural synth patch, I am out of luck. Not going to happen. Likewise I can't assign a knob to a CC to control key tracking on the filter. I've found that really any of the cool performance options provided by the FA06 are only available if I'm willing to utilize the dated sound gen tech employed in Roland's earlier boards - which totally bums me out. Don't get me wrong, many of these still rock - it just puzzles me to no end that Roland releases a new product which much improve sounds but forgot to give us even 30% of the control we previously had to modify the old synth parameters in a live setting. Hopefully one of you will tell me I have no idea what I'm talking about and all is indeed possible on the FA (without using the touchscreen - using that in a live situation to control parameters is a nonstarter and accident waiting to happen). But I'm not holding my breath. But it would sure be cool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanL Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 actually you can assign anything to the knobs, there is one setting in that matrix that is user parameters. You have to go into the studio set setup and assign them there. Page 39 and 99 of the manual. Quote Live: Korg Kronos 2 88, Nord Electro 5d Nord Lead A1 Toys: Roland FA08, Novation Ultranova, Moog LP, Roland SP-404SX, Roland JX10,Emu MK6 www.bksband.com www.echoesrocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenWaB3 Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I just watched the Youtube video of the organ function. One thing that was missing was the C/V effect. Is that missing on the synth entirely? They abandoned the 76 note version on this one too, which seems to be a feature many keyboard players desire but manufacturers are ignoring lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotiDave Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I just watched the Youtube video of the organ function. One thing that was missing was the C/V effect. Is that missing on the synth entirely? They abandoned the 76 note version on this one too, which seems to be a feature many keyboard players desire but manufacturers are ignoring lately. Here Here, I echo your 73/76 Trumpet! the only option for far too many models is a 61 or an 88 fully weighted. Only top of line boards seem to bother with the mid-board. perhaps ironic as lower priced boards sell alot more units (to amortize development/tooling costs). I'm sure someone in the business development team does math on this, what do I know. Quote The baiting I do is purely for entertainment value. Please feel free to ignore it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I just watched the Youtube video of the organ function. One thing that was missing was the C/V effect. Is that missing on the synth entirely? I've never understood why this was omitted. Even the Jupiter's left it out. Frustrating. I add some tremolo and that works better than nothing. I compared it against my M3 and the rate and depth are close to the C3 setting. I also use the sub out for organs and route the sounds through a ventilator pedal (bypassing the internal sim). Sounds real nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sd Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 actually you can assign anything to the knobs, there is one setting in that matrix that is user parameters. You have to go into the studio set setup and assign them there. Page 39 and 99 of the manual. I wish this were the case. The problem is that the matrix is only available for the PCM sounds - not supernatural (synth and/or instrument). Realtime performance control assignments for the supernatural synths are virtually nonexistent - such a huge step back from the older PCM technology. Re c/v - would love to know what Roland was thinking - something like - "hey guys, we absolutely cannot under any scenario cannibalize sales of the VR-09, so lets remove all physical realtime clone wheel controls. While we are at it, lets make sure that they can't assign any clone wheel controls. But we can't stop there, let's just remove a core piece of the clone wheel functionality altogether. Should we remove c/v or high trigger point? Why not both?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bachus Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 actually you can assign anything to the knobs, there is one setting in that matrix that is user parameters. You have to go into the studio set setup and assign them there. Page 39 and 99 of the manual. I wish this were the case. The problem is that the matrix is only available for the PCM sounds - not supernatural (synth and/or instrument). Realtime performance control assignments for the supernatural synths are virtually nonexistent - such a huge step back from the older PCM technology. Re c/v - would love to know what Roland was thinking - something like - "hey guys, we absolutely cannot under any scenario cannibalize sales of the VR-09, so lets remove all physical realtime clone wheel controls. While we are at it, lets make sure that they can't assign any clone wheel controls. But we can't stop there, let's just remove a core piece of the clone wheel functionality altogether. Should we remove c/v or high trigger point? Why not both?" Its not only Roland that does these things, yamaha is also a champ at these things, even in their top of the line products... Quote Korg Kronos 88, Yamaha Tyros5 (76), Integra 7, macbook pro/mainstage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvchiclets Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 As a note regarding Chorus Vibrato, if you download the EXP-02 Keys Collection from the Roland Axial site there are a few patches that feature Hammond organ with C/V. I found them to be a very useful addition to my FA06! Quote Electro 5, NI Kontrol S61/49, MX49, PC3, Rev2, Prologue, Pro3, Juno-DS, Mopho Keys, SE02, drums, tons of synth software, guitars, amps, and pedals...help me!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Ohh - I'm gonna give that a try. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Rik, yes, you can send program changes from the FA to the PC3. The limitation is that on the FA, there is no mapping of program numbers. Studio set 1 transmits to patch 1 of the external keyboard, 2 to 2, etc. You'll need to rearrange your PC3 sounds so when you send the program change from the FA, the right patch comes up on the PC3. Could you get around that by using Songs on the FA? Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboKeys Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 Could you get around that by using Songs on the FA? No -- in fact (IIRC), selecting a song (unlike selecting a Studio Set) sends out no MIDI data at all. - Jimbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe P Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Over on the Roland Clan forum a guy posted an idea for running an effects pedal. You send the part to the sub out and send the pedal out to the audio in. This could be a good way to use a Vent. Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Could you get around that by using Songs on the FA? No -- in fact (IIRC), selecting a song (unlike selecting a Studio Set) sends out no MIDI data at all. According to the FA ref manual, you can embed MIDI Program Change messages as part of the Performance data in a track of a song. So in theory, I think you could create Songs that had no notes in them, but merely sent whatever Program Change you wanted to send. (You can also specify, for each track, whether MIDI data should be sent to the internal sound engine, an external sound module, both, or neither.) If anyone is up for trying this, I'd be curious to know how it works out. Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Motif Max Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Hey, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this previously, but I found a YouTube Tutorial that show how you can load Integra synth soundsets into the FA-series workstations. [video:youtube] Quote Yamaha: Motif XF8, MODX7, YS200, CVP-305, CLP-130, YPG-235, PSR-295, PSS-470 | Roland: Fantom 7, JV-1000 Kurzweil: PC3-76, PC4 (88) | Hammond: SK Pro 73 | Korg: Triton LE 76, N1R, X5DR | Emu: Proteus/1 | Casio: CT-370 | Novation: Launchkey 37 MK3 | Technics: WSA1R Former: Emu Proformance Plus & Mo'Phatt, Korg Krome 61, Roland Fantom XR & JV-1010, Yamaha MX61, Behringer CAT Assorted electric & acoustic guitars and electric basses | Roland TD-17 KVX | Alesis SamplePad Pro | Assorted organs, accordions, other instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleer Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Cheers, MMM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy68 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Hello guys, I have a question. I plugged the headphones in the sub output jack, of my FA 08, but I can't hear anything. What should I do? Thank you! just that on the manual it put the headphones photo in that output, and I wanted to try it ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanL Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 I think you got this answered on the FA Facebook group? You have to route sounds to the sub output for anything to be heard. Quote Live: Korg Kronos 2 88, Nord Electro 5d Nord Lead A1 Toys: Roland FA08, Novation Ultranova, Moog LP, Roland SP-404SX, Roland JX10,Emu MK6 www.bksband.com www.echoesrocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy68 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Ok DanL, I'll try it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadroj Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Just had a shot of the FA-07. Feels like a completely different instrument to the 06. I know it is, but the sounds even sounded different. On my 06 the EPs are pretty much unusable for my tastes. On the 07 keybed however, they played like butter and gave me Nord levels of satisfaction. Pianos responded well, and organ felt smooth and satisfying. Half tempted to sell the 06 for the 07, it felt that much more playable. Fatar semi-weighted synth action apparently. Quote Hammond SKX Mainstage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoccoD Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I did exactly that a few months ago...sold my FA-06 to get an FA-07. It was definitely worth the investment. The keybed action and the expanded number of keys was a no brainer, especially with the enhanced functionality of part group selection with the latest OS. It's my upper tier kbd in my live rig (on top of a MOXF8). In fact, it's good enough where I'm thinking of ditching the MOXF8 and just using the FA-07 (single board rig with Mainstage). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Half tempted to sell the 06 for the 07, it felt that much more playable. Fatar semi-weighted synth action apparently. I'd do it. You'll never look back! I tried my first 76-key synth as a teenager and lusted after one for years. That extra estate over my 5-octave boards was a real wake-up call.. I was so proud of my Ensoniq KS32 when I first got it. Heavy as anything, but an astonishing piano sample in 1MB. Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aellison62 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Hi all, First time posting on the forums. I have a FA-08 that I use for both pads and organ sounds in the church band. My question is this: What is the most ergonomic way to switch between the fast and slow Leslie effect? Currently, I've set up the effect to latch on the S1 key, but it is a bit of a stretch at the end of the keyboard, and I have to take one hand off the keys. I would like to use a pedal to switch on/off the effect, but most keyboard-specific pedals are momentary. Is there a way to configure a momentary pedal to switch between fast and slow Leslie, or do I need to buy a more expensive latching pedal? I'm open to other solutions if you've got them*, and I apologize if there is a simple method to do this that I couldn't figure out! Thanks, Brandon *Note: I'd prefer not to buy a nice but pricey Leslie-simulator like the RT-20. Brandon, welcome to the forum, your post kinda got lost for a while in this huge thread! I am not at my FA06 right now but I know for sure you can assign a switch pedal to control Leslie fast/slow speed. I can take a look later and offer a solution when I am at my FA06 or maybe someone else will beat me to it. That being said, I am really not impressed with Roland's rotary effect on their organs and I purchased a Lester K (not too expensive, can find used <$160). I routed the supernatural organs (there is about 5 programs of these) out of the sub out (without internal effects) and into the Lester K. It made a BIG difference. Quote Kurzweil Forte 7, Mojo 61, Yamaha P-125, Kronos X61, Nautilus 73 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aellison62 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Also, Brandon, check out Roland Clan Forums, there is a section there specifically for FA- series with lots of questions and answers. Quote Kurzweil Forte 7, Mojo 61, Yamaha P-125, Kronos X61, Nautilus 73 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotiDave Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Half tempted to sell the 06 for the 07, it felt that much more playable. Fatar semi-weighted synth action apparently. I'd do it. You'll never look back! I tried my first 76-key synth as a teenager and lusted after one for years. That extra estate over my 5-octave boards was a real wake-up call.. I was so proud of my Ensoniq KS32 when I first got it. Heavy as anything, but an astonishing piano sample in 1MB. Cheers, Mike. Ive been thinking about this FA-07 since it came out. I have an XF7 and MOXF6, the extra octave is nice. On the flipside, the 6 can fly for free while the 7 usually costs $75 each way. I redesigned my set programs for my most frequent travel band to fit into the 6 layout, using more switching vs using more real estate. Now that i made the switch (same exact sounds), i use the 6 on local gigs too as its just easier to schlep in/out, it fits in a back seat horizontally, its less than half the weight, easier to one-hand on and off stage during fast set ups and strike ... etc etc. FA-07 would be a great compliment for me and what i do. But then again, i think there might be something new and better coming out soon ... if I just wait a bit longer ... Quote The baiting I do is purely for entertainment value. Please feel free to ignore it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 I'm pulling this back up, rather than starting a new thread. I am considering buying my buddy's fa 06, lightly used for a very good price. I went over and tried it out. As a former owner of the vr700...I was *shocked* at the difference in the leslie. We went in and tried to deep-edit the thing, it sounded so bad. Like, the horn was "spinning" at double speed and in general sounded like an LFO. We turned off stereo spread since we were in mono. The lower sound was ok, it was mainly the upper that was so horrendous. This was "rotary 03" fwiw, the default one on the patch we were on. It's possible the others were better but none of the patches sounded any better. The underlying organ tone did sound like that from the vr700 though. AnotherScott did warn me in the modx thread that the leslie was different...I just wasn't expected it to be soooo bad. This board is intended to replace a pc3, though for now I'd be using both. With that leslie and lack of draw-controls, and overdrive (though maybe I could map it to a knob) I'd have to keep using the pc3 primarily with organ. All the other sounds were nice, even in mono, which was a concern. I liked the tap tempo, which will help hopefully with delays, and I'm hoping the vocoder is good as a nice extra. I wish it had more physical controls to help with part volumes, like the pc3 has. Back to the leslie--I'm really considering a Lester K, even though I dislike adding more gear. The demos I heard sound nice, there was one in mono from a board member here, thanks for that! I suspect it would be far better than the Roland organ, and probably better than the pc3. Any thoughts? I'm not getting a vent, it would be most of the cost of what I'm paying for the fa06! The unfortunate truth is that my buddy's Electro 5d was sitting below the fa06, and that didn't help me appreciate the Roland's organ sound! I think ultimately, if a work raise comes through, I'd like to end up with the Fa06, an electro, and the pc361 could retire to home studio duties before the screen craps out more than it has (I love the action). Bottom line, everyone happy with their Fa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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