Goldberg Posted November 13, 2001 Share Posted November 13, 2001 Just a few questions about these synths then I'll stop bothering you guys. So, is the Fantom more of a workstation alone than the XV-88? I'd kind of like the onboard sequencer, and the -88 doesn't have one, right? And also, is the sound quality from the Fantom to the -88 really that bad(on the Fantom)or was it just because I was moving to some better speakers? And also, I didn't have enough time to look at the XP-80:how does that really compete with these two? I'm guessing it's more of a workstation than the XV-88...Well, any answers would be helpful! "Bach is ever new"-Glenn Gould Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthplanet Posted November 13, 2001 Share Posted November 13, 2001 After playing them I would have to say the XV-88 is a performance machine before a workstation. it is quicker to get around if you just want to get the sounds out and play. If you were building a song from scratch in a non-performance situation the Fantom seems more intuitive. I would say the sound quality is top drawer on both units and it could be something as simple as do you want the weighted 88 keys of the XV-88 or not. I can't find my Roland spec. sheet but the XV may have more voices than the Fantom. Michael Q:What do you call a truck with nothing in the bed,nothing on the hitch, and room for more than three people in the cab? A:"A car".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted November 13, 2001 Share Posted November 13, 2001 The XV-88 has twice the voices of the Fantom, a nice weighted keyboard, and I think is has a sequencer. I could be wrong about that. Expansion possibilities are essentially the same. The Fantom has an easier to use sequencer, a big screen that makes it easier to program and a D-beam controller, and both optical and coaxial digital output. At this time I have the SRX-02 and 03 boards installed, plus the older Keyboards of the 60s and 70s ROM. The quality is excellent and if I had to take only one single keyboard with me in a studio, on stage, or on an island I would choose the Fantom over the Trident. Even with the problems I list below. A few things to note on the Famtom. The D-beam is horribly placed. If it is in the bottom of a stack than the keyboard above it will most likely be over the D-beam. Also, it is next to the assignable control knobs so it is easy to accidentally put your hand into the beam when reaching for the knobs. The four assignable knobs and buttons have their functions programmed at patch level. All internal sounds are programmed to use these knobs for filter, arpeggio style, modulation, octave shift, etc. Expansion ROM programs have no such assignment. I can find no way to set default function to these controllers so in short, when using a program on a ROM card you have no octave shift or filter control. I find this extremely aggravating. Internal organ patches have a button assigned to modulation. Push the button and the rotary effect kicks in. Push it again and it stops. I have the Keyboards of the 60s and 70s ROM. It has 100 decent organ patches. I cannot move them all into user memory and assign designations for the control knobs and buttons. I will keep reading the manual and see if there is a way around this. If not I will move that ROM back to my 5080. If I had it to do over would I trade my XP-80 up for a Fantom and pay the same difference? Yes. Now I understand why Trident users keep telling Karma users to buy a Trident and get a screen. The Fantom is much easier to program than my XP. However, I do think Roland made a huge mistake by removing the pre-assigned sliders for filter and other functions. Also, I will never understand why they put the D-beam controller in the present location. Robert [ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: Rabid ] This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthplanet Posted November 13, 2001 Share Posted November 13, 2001 As stated the XV-88 does have 128 voices. I went and checked Roland's web site and Roland calls it a performance synth. While it does have an arrpegiator there is no mention of a sequencer. That would remove it from being called a workstation I believe. Michael P.S. Can we have a show on hands of people who actually use the D-Beam on Roland keyboards? Q:What do you call a truck with nothing in the bed,nothing on the hitch, and room for more than three people in the cab? A:"A car".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R_dup1 Posted November 13, 2001 Share Posted November 13, 2001 No sequencer on the XV-88. XV-88 and Fantom have XV sound engine, whereas XP-80 has JV sound engine. XV is not a workstation but is a nice performance synth. Fantom's XV sounds sound better to me than XP's JV sounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldberg Posted November 14, 2001 Author Share Posted November 14, 2001 Thanks to all that replied. I think I'll seriously consider the Fantom, for its sequencer(and a NICE screen). "Bach is ever new"-Glenn Gould Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinichARF Posted November 14, 2001 Share Posted November 14, 2001 i think the d-beam is very very gay n i dont know why they stick it on EVERYTHING they build! idiots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1Empress_Scorpio Posted December 3, 2001 Share Posted December 3, 2001 Fantom and D-Beam, these two things are like sweet sugar and spice, totally in the right places doing the best things to your soul! i find i am really attached to the D-Beam technology because as a dancer, and a musician of the Koto, my hands and the gestures i use adds to my portraying inner expressions through music and dance... therefore adding to the intuitive ease of use on the Fantom -- the D-Beam allows me to be much more expressive on an electronic and sometimes cold instrument like the Fantom. The movements of the hands all around the D-Beam really allows for a wide array of expressive fluidity and diverse forms and degrees of intensities etc. it's almost like molding from a slab of clay fresh from the river bank, hahahahahahahaaa haahaha! Roland is brilliant. the FA-76 is a keeper, unbeatable and truly one of a kind yet! www.mp3.com/just_vi_an i'll soon have tracks with the Fantom as accompaniment and effects to my accoustic koto and gu zheng compositions, enjoy! Vi An the EmpressScorpio Vi bid peace bros and sis! PS: what!? gay... d-beam? hmmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted December 3, 2001 Share Posted December 3, 2001 Gay? Is that good or bad? And of you say bad, is the bad as in the dictionary definition of bad, or slang for good? I'm so confused.... This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1Empress_Scorpio Posted December 5, 2001 Share Posted December 5, 2001 yes i am very confused too why "spinichARF" said it's "gay". look above ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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