Cybersoniq

Yes....with the rough economy, they are all looking for the lower priced/workstation feature set sweet spot. In regards to a new Roland flagship, they could make it with 256 note polyphony, all Integra 6000 sounds, aftertouch, full sampling/variphrase and Jupiter 80-like build quality. Only problem is that this monster keyboard will cost around $3.5K....probably more.

Agreed...the rest of the Integra SN Acoustic sounds are so tempting. Somehow I think Roland is holding these sounds back for a reason....maybe a full blown workstation .

They didn't have a Krome 88 on the floor. But I checked quickly and I think it felt as good as the MOXF8 action. I'd have no problem getting used to the FA-08 action. However it would not be my favorite (FWIW...I prefer my old RD250's weighted action)

Hi all, Here's my FA quick and dirty 1st take - I spent one hour with the FA-08 at Sam Ash in Springfield NJ today I was very impressed. Here are a few quick hands-on observations... 1) Build and design: The lighter weight molded plastic body seems solid enough for gigging. The size and weight are a little more than needed to be because the pitch bender& switches are to the left of the keyboard. No a deal breaker for me if I was looking at an 88 weighted gigging keyboard. The action felt a little too spongy but I got used to it quickly. By comparison, I really prefer the Casio PX5s action + its textured key feel. They did not have the 06 in yet so I can't comment on it. All the controllers, switches, edit knob and pads seem solid enough to inspire confidence...you don't need to worry about sway or pushing them assertively. The overall black matte finish looks good...however the black glossy around the control and edit areas will smudge easily. Not a big deal to me...but the glossy doesn't add much to the design IMHO. The color screen is great...very attractive and easy to see S/N instrument graphics and all Pro-Edit parameters! The controller knob section is great for real-time control...quick edits...a touch of EQ, compression or throwing in a system TFX. PADS fill out the right side and work as you'd want...easy to fire a one shot sample or turn on/off a recorded grove. 2) Sound audition: Used my AKG headphones during a live jazz ensemble performance in the store...with this environment the best I could determine was that the overall FA sound quality will be very good and on par with the JP50/Integra. I was surprised that there aren't more SN tone variations on the excellent APs, EPs and Organs. That said, with the SN Pro-Edit and quick FX, compression, tone and EQ...you can get a lot of mileage out of the preset tones that are there. For instance, on the '81 Tine tone preset, I quickly changed the MFX amp type from NEW CASE to WURLY and got a tasty retro Rhodes sound. Nice! The basic Rock C3 and B3 Jazz organ preset tones were very good...but way to few. While I'm not expecting a dedicated SK1, Mojo or Vent rotary sim on the FA, with all the room noise and listening via headphones...I couldn't make out any detailed quality judgement on the FA rotary sims. Fast speed can be turned on/off by the S1, pitch bend/mod lever or the D-beam. The bigger thing is that I did not see any Studio Set with two-manual upper/lower splits with different draw bar settings on each part for comp and lead organ splits. So we will have to roll our own. BTW...the preset tones mix SN acoustic, SN synth and PCM synth engines as you run through the various instrument categories. You do have 60's organs...but these are PCM and there is no SN Acoustic Vox/Farfisa models on board if you care. Bottom line....the SN acoustic sounds are very limited on the FA as mentioned in the thread elsewhere. But what SN Acoustic tones there are..will definitely cover typical gig bread and butter sounds. There are a ton of SN Synth and PCM synth sounds to fill out the scorecard and add spicyness as needed. You can also fire a sample too! Time did not permit taking a look at the ARPs, Sequencer, Rhythm Patterns and sample pad functions. That'll be for next time when I check out the 06! Regards, C

On board...you can do all detailed edits directly on the FA

From looking at the manuals, the organ implementations are somewhat different. The rotary effect options are different (VR has Rotary 1 and Rotary 2 plus a Twin Rotary MFX option; FA has Rotary 1, Rotary 2 which is specifically the VK7 version, and Rotary 3 which has overdrive, and there is no twin rotary option.) The FA has a percussion recharge time setting, the VR doesn't. Perhaps a deal-killer for some people, unless I missed something, the FA does not have C/V. I guess that's one way to eliminate the problem of people complaining on the VR that the percussion goes through the CV. ;-) The FA also does not appear to have the VR's transistor organ emulation. Agitato...What is your requirement for the FA Organ TW model? If I was looking for an organ as my primary instrument, I'd look at other better clone wheel alternatives than the FA...the VR-09 is a good inexpensive Organ choice. Besides Another Scott's comments above, the FA won't give you hands on drawbars/sliders and dedicated percusssion and C/V controls. All important for Organ performance. That said, for me, I am asking how far can the FA Organ B3 model go...in other words, is it good enough for recording or basic rock gigs. I think the answer is a YES! With the FA-Pro Edit mode, you can edit the following parameters: 1) (9) harmonic draw bar levels 2) tone wheel leakage level 3) percussion level, harmonic type 2nd/3rd, attack, decay & recharge time 4) Key click attack and release level In addition, with the FA Single or Dual Organ parts in a studio set, you can add: 1) add one IFX: 78 fully editable FX types including chorus and two Rotary types, FA or VK Rotary sim 2) add one MFX: 68 fully editable FX types including three Rotary types, FA type 1/2 and type 1 with overdrive FX. 3) Chorus or Delay 4) Reverb So by setting up different TW organ settings in the User Tones (up to 16 within one FA User Studio Set), then using controllers/switches to adjust IFX/MFX, and finally using the PADs to select your Organ User Tones, you can cover a lot of ground for a broad range of organ applications. Hope this helps.

I love the Korg touch screen interface too (M3M color), but truth be told, in comparison with edits on M3 EDS/Radius sounds, I find I can get around just as fast on the Motif ES for editing its AWM2/PLG sounds. I find that with the Korg interface using index finger/nail to select parameters is not as precise as using a pointer/pen cap. So this slows things up a bit on the Korg interface...sometimes buttons are faster for certain tasks. In regards to the FA interface, it looks fairly straight forward for performance (modify knobs) and pro-edit screen menus for sound design and sequencing tasks.

The FA Parameter Guide (Japanese version with some English) is up on the following site: http://lib.roland.co.jp/support/jp/manuals/res/63078435/FA-06_08_Parameter_j01_W.pdf Assuming this is all based on the final FA technical parameters, there's some very good news on two topics that were mentioned earlier in the thread. 1) Individual parts can be routed to the sub-outs (manual pg 10). Excellent! 2) I didn't realize this before, but there is also an extra FX stage at the Studio Set level (pg. 16), where you can select either a Master Comp OR an IFX (with a healthy selection of 78 FX types). This is very cool So for complex applications where two multi-FX are required (e.g. for a lush/heavily processed single or two tone split/layered part), you can go crazy within a single Studio Set with the following serial FX routing: Part/Tone 1 MFX A -> Studio Set FX options:One Master Comp or One IFX-> One Chorus/or Delay + One Reverb -> One TFX Part/Tone 2 MFX B-> Same Studio Set FX as Tone 1, but with separate Part 2 sends, pan, etc. So for instance, you have a TW Organ Studio set than includes both chorus or vibrato AND distortion with selectable slow/fast rotary. BTW, there are rotary FX in both the MFX and IFX sections so you can really go nuts with twin rotary FX should you really like. Looking forward to the all English version of the Parameter Guide. Maybe soon?

[HAL /quote]On the FA, I want to be able to move seamlessly between pure preset or custom patches and also layered sounds (e.g. piano and pads) as I go through various variations in a song composition. Another way of saying it based on your analogy to a Korg combi, is, can I put a combi within a combi? Or do I lose the patch remain if I include combis (layered sounds) within the order of sounds that I need to go through as I play variations within a song composition? Thanks Hal Based on my reading of the information in the FA manual, the FA Studio Sets Multi-Part Play Mode should be able to easily solo, layer, split and create multiple combinations of the 16 parts on the fly. Using the Pad Utility Keyboard Switch feature, with the 16 PADS, you can turn on/off parts 1-16 as desired...the 16 PADS toggle ON (blinking) and OFF (Lit) the 16 parts in the Studio Set (Preset or User tones). Along with part key range (zone) settings of the 16 tones in the Studio Set, you can define splits and layers then use the PADS to quickly switch between the parts split and layering. BTW...the Current Part is saved within the Studio Set User memory location. And as Another Scott wrote above, patch/tone remain should work AOK as long as you switch between parts within the current selected Studio Set. See FA reference manual pages 27 and 85 for more details. Hope this helps.

Sizing up the FA-06 and an Octa-Capture 10x10 audio interface for the studio refresh. The two studio 76-key weighted keyboards will be happy to play nicely with the FA SN Piano and EPs

Roland NAMM videos mentioned that the 1st SRX expansion download should be coming soon around the EOM on the Axial website. No official word on the ability to download SN Acoustic tones...fingers x'd on SN Acoustic wave data downloading, however there are only two FA virtual slots so expansion for SN Acoustic will be limited if it happens at all...

Wasn't there news a couple years ago that Ensoniq was coming back? Obviously that crapped out, unfortunately. Creative/EMU has rights to the Ensoniq legacy goldmine if they want to jump on the retro re-make keyboard/synth wagon. But they sorta crapped out since the LONGboard...

Agreed +1000. To wet appetites...the Roland SN Synth and XV PCM Synth engines are in full force on the FA. And with the FA having full patch compatibility with the Integra 7 SN Synth engine (3 OSC paths with independent filters (LP, HP, BP + PKG), LFO, EGs for pitch, filter and amp, plus LFO mod + modifiers)...the FA can use all Integra Synth legend free tones on the Axial website. Yes its not gonna be a real Jupiter 8, but the FA will be a lot more flexible with 450 OSC waves, 512 user tones + the ability for 16 parts...wow! Take a quick snack on the FA's Jupiter and TB303 impressions and some other tasty SN Synth bass, pads, leads and chords. http://axial.roland.com/articles/integra-7-synth-legends/

I think Studio Sets (inherited from the Integra 7) are related to and/or define the Sequencer Mode 16 Parts (referred to as Multi Part Play). From the reference manual (pg.26), here's the overview which covers the relationships: "A studio set contains 16 parts, with one tone assigned to each part. Normally, youll play the tone thats assigned to part one (single play). When using the sequencer to create a song, youll use all 16 parts of the studio set (multi part play)." Combination/Multi-Part functions/parameters are set on the Studio Set Screens (and sub menus), which then defines parts 1-16 in the Sequencer Screen (when you select a preset or user Studio Set in the Sequencer Screen). From there you set other Sequencer options including internal/external MIDI playback in the Sequencer screen sub menus). Sort of like Yammy's Mixing/Song Modes and Korg's Combis where you can apply combi settings to the Song Mode. That's my 2 pesos. P.S. On the FA Sequencer Micro Editing screen (manual pg. 68), you can also insert, move and erase MIDI note, program number and control change data. Very nice

FWIW, the routing of individual parts to the sub-output is mentioned at least twice in the reference manual. On page 44 it reviews the Part View screen parameters which includes the Output/EFX parameter where you can specify each parts output destination, and the level of signal that is sent to chorus and reverb. Details of the Part View parameters will be in the forthcoming FA Parameter Guide. Fingers crossed 2

If there is such a page, I don't see it. dB Per page 63 in the reference manual, in the sequencer screen you have to go to Song Utility (button #3) and then select Track Settings to define which tracks are Internal, External or both.

No, I verified that with the rep at NAMM. Metronome, and samples only can be routed to the sub output jack. I asked immediately as I figured routing the organ to the sub out could then go to the Ventilator, etc. Hoping the manual is correct on this question...the ability to select/route a desired part to the sub-out jack would be lots better.

Roland posted the manual and MIDI Implementation Guide (36 pages....wow). Here's the relevant info on MIDI TX of channel and program number: n = MIDI channel number: 0H - FH (ch.1 - 16) pp = Program number: 00H - 7FH (prog.1 - prog.128) * These messages are transmitted when Tone, Drum Kit or Studio Set is selected. * But not transmitted when Transmit Program Change parameter (SYSTEM SETUP: MIDI)is OFF. The MIDI Implementation chart (manual, page 119) indicates that the sequencer section DOES Transmit MIDI note data AND program change numbers (1-127). So dB may have found a bug in his test with the sequencer setting, recording or transmitting MIDI note data. Regards, C

No note data either...ouch! That's even worse than we thought.

Thanks Tony!

You mean check to see if you can set the MIDI RECEIVE channels for each part, and whether they can accept program and bank select. Hi Tony, Maybe we're talking about the same thing...maybe not??? The focus of my question about the FA is using it as a MIDI controller of external gear where FA TX MIDI 1-16-> External MIDI devices 1...N RX MIDI 1-16. Specifically, I mean for each of the 16 MIDI tracks, can each MIDI track send (TX) note/controller data to a user defined MIDI channel number, each with its own specific program and bank number. (Where MIDI Receive channel is set on the desired external device(s). The Motif/MOXF line and Korg M3/M50/Krome line can do this. If this can be done on each of the FA 16 MIDI tracks, than the FA could control both internal sounds and (when FA MIDI track is set to external TX) any other MIDI synths, modules EFX or routers, etc. Does this make sense or did I miss something. Apologies if I am not clear. Regards, C

You can render each track as a .WAV file for export as well. dB Thanks dB...this is a really great feature of the FA. Roland has really packed in a great feature set at the FA series' very attractive price point. That said, the focus of my open ended question was more about the FA MIDI controller capabilities (there's the 16 MIDI tracks as well as external MIDI device real-time control with the six user-assignable Sound Modify knobs). I think you wrote you are reviewing the FA. If so, can you check the FA Sequencer Song Mode/Studio Set mode if users can define external MIDI TX channels, program numbers, MSB/LSB banks and CCs (for MIDI controller functionality). It may be as others have said that the intent of the FA is a more self-contained/streamlined workstation where you can develop ideas using the on-board goodies and then offload projects to DAWs for further production. Thanks again, C

This could be the case of Roland's time to market decision and the FA product release for NAMM where Roland decided it will do added/final touches with OS updates. Lots of speculation fun in the thread...we haven't seen the FA owner's manual and parameter guide, so we are still shooting in the dark about the FA specific capabilities and limitations. ...this ship(ment) will land soon

Why does the FA have 16 MIDI tracks then? Seems like a missed opportunity if the only intent is to save your sequencer sketches as a SMF to export into a DAW. Some basic MIDI controller capabilities would be a nice fit too.