Roland Fantom 06 opinions

[DanR]

Hi
I’ve been considering swapping my twenty year old Korg Triton Extreme 61 for a more modern, lighter workstation.
I use it above a Nord Stage 2 76 for gigs and it’s fairly heavy to lug about.

Just wondering if anybody has the new Roland Fantom 06? Looks like an improvement on the FA-06.
Yamaha MODX 6 also a possibility but do like the hands on functionality of the Fantom.
Any experiences appreciated.

[tomas]

Perhaps another option is to swap both of them for a Nord Stage 3? Its synth section is significantly more competent than the previous versions. With multiple split points and six simultaneous sound engines, maybe your set can be played on just one keyboard? However, it has no sequencer and the arpeggiator is very basic...

[DanR]

Thanks for the reply.
That's a possibility but I need the variety of sounds offered on the rompler/workstation keyboards.
Contrasts well with the Nord as that's more for
keyboard type instruments.

Also like the weighted action (pianist) plus a lighter action board for lead playing.
No aftertouch on these new cut down workstations but I don't use it much anyway.

[Eddy Deegan]

I've played with a Fantom 8 owned by a friend of mine (I'm a pianist) and it has the best keybed I've ever experienced on a weighted synth. My wife owns a MODX.

If I was to choose between a Fantom and a MODX I'd probably go with the MODX unless the keybed was the deciding factor, and given the price differences it would have to be a fully-weighted keybed to justify it. Soundwise there's not a lot of difference. Pricewise there really is, and unless you really need something that the Fantom provides that the MODX doesn't then I'd plump for the latter.

If you can identify a need you have where the Fantom provides a feature that the MODX doesn't, then that's a conversation we can have but if it's just about the sound then I'd go MODX all week. It's the best bang for the buck you'll find in that range IMHO.

[DanR]

I've played with a Fantom 8 owned by a friend of mine (I'm a pianist) and it has the best keybed I've ever experienced on a weighted synth. My wife owns a MODX.

If I was to choose between a Fantom and a MODX I'd probably go with the MODX unless the keybed was the deciding factor, and given the price differences it would have to be a fully-weighted keybed to justify it. Soundwise there's not a lot of difference. Pricewise there really is, and unless you really need something that the Fantom provides that the MODX doesn't then I'd plump for the latter.

If you can identify a need you have where the Fantom provides a feature that the MODX doesn't, then that's a conversation we can have but if it's just about the sound then I'd go MODX all week. It's the best bang for the buck you'll find in that range IMHO.

Thanks.
The Fantom has exactly the features I’d find useful both in a live setting and for programming.
I’ve used the sampling on my Triton a few times and I think would miss it if not available. Trigger pads would be great for live use and changing sounds.
It ticks all the boxes and would hope it sounds better generally than the Triton Extreme.
Agree that the MODX has a better quality sound, particularly acoustic instruments. The layout I suppose is similar to my Triton where much of the
editing is done via the touch screen.

As for sampling, occasionally I record a snippet of something to drop in during a performance. Maybe part of an mp3 track.
I think the MODX can playback audio files but not sure if they’re stored internally.
Sequencer is useful and have made up my own tracks for live use in the past with a click out for the drummer.
Not so much now but it’s one reason I’ve always included a workstation in my setup.

[MarkOne]

I've played with a Fantom 8 owned by a friend of mine (I'm a pianist) and it has the best keybed I've ever experienced on a weighted synth. My wife owns a MODX.

Just in case there is confusion (and there often is with Roland model names!)

The Fantom 6/7/8 are quite different in features and sounds (and cost!) from the Fantom 06/07/08 -And they are both current ranges!

The single digit Fantoms all have aftertouch and they all boast the premium Roland keybeds (The 8 has an amazing weighted action) the double digit ones don't have aftertouch and have more cost conscious keybeds.

the single digit models have a lot more sample memory and give free access to a whole bunch of stuff. they also have the V-Piano modelled grand piano

A detailed comparison can be found here in this video from Bonners Music

[DanR]

Yes. Can be a bit confusing with their model numbers.
FA-06, Fantom 6 and now Fantom 06.
The flagship Fantom 6 looks amazing but heavier than my Triton. Top quality usually is.
I used to lug around a 30kg Roland A80 back in the day.

Tried out a Yamaha MODX 7 in store yesterday.
Compact for a 76 and just slightly wider than the Triton.
Sounded good although I was using cheap headphones. Action is light but fast and
an improvement I think on the MOXF 6.
Touch screen makes navigation easy.
Didn't have a Fantom 06 in but would like to try one.

[Arpangel]

Triton Extreme 61

Yamaha MODX

Just let me know when you’re selling your Triton.

[DanR]

Yeah I know. Twenty year old top flight workstation that does everything I need vs a modern lightweight budget one with trade offs.

It's because I use two boards for band work.
Weighted lower board is a must really and the Nord HA76 is great.
Two quite heavy boards plus a fair bit of PA to take is manageable but an easier to carry lightweight top board would make it easier.

[Arpangel]

Yeah I know. Twenty year old top flight workstation that does everything I need vs a modern lightweight budget one with trade offs.

It's because I use two boards for band work.
Weighted lower board is a must really and the Nord HA76 is great.
Two quite heavy boards plus a fair bit of PA to take is manageable but an easier to carry lightweight top board would make it easier.

I can sympathise, my old Triton was a heavy beast, but I miss it a lot, they’re great boards.

[DanR]

Yes.
I don’t think I’d miss the outdated sampling on the Extreme. I don’t use it much but is a faff having to load samples in to the volatile Ram each time you need them.
The Fantom is great in that respect and has has sampling ability unlike the MODX.
Although the Yamaha has the edge sound wise, the Roland would suit live playing better I think. Easy sound selection via the pads, has joystick, sliders etc.
Many demos seem to focus on dance beats and pads but this vid goes through some bread & butter sounds. Useful as I can’t try one.
https://youtu.be/ScBSGGfP55M

I find the action on the MODX a bit light but that’s to be expected given the price.
Not sure what the Fantom’s keys are like but they’re larger that the FA-06.

[Arpangel]

Yes.
I don’t think I’d miss the outdated sampling on the Extreme. I don’t use it much but is a faff having to load samples in to the volatile Ram each time you need them.
The Fantom is great in that respect and has has sampling ability unlike the MODX.
Although the Yamaha has the edge sound wise, the Roland would suit live playing better I think. Easy sound selection via the pads, has joystick, sliders etc.
Many demos seem to focus on dance beats and pads but this vid goes through some bread & butter sounds. Useful as I can’t try one.
https://youtu.be/ScBSGGfP55M

I find the action on the MODX a bit light but that’s to be expected given the price.
Not sure what the Fantom’s keys are like but they’re larger that the FA-06.

Ooooohhh! nice Rhodes!!!
Thanks for posting that! I like the wheels, "and" the lever, he's a good player, shows it off well.
My god, some of those demos are really cheese making.

[DanR]

The MODX does all I need too and as mentioned, more bang for the buck.
Fair bit cheaper than the Roland.
Seems to be a popular board with many Nord owners using one for top tier use.
This vid sums it up well saying the biggest gripe is with the cheap feeling key bed.
https://youtu.be/JzSJBFszFBg
Can’t have it all I guess.

[Arpangel]

I thought the pianos were very good on the Roland, if you needed them.

[DanR]

Yes.
Have always liked Roland piano sounds.
My old XP80 used to cut through a live band mix really well.
I may get a Fantom on a 30 day money back guarantee and see how it goes.

[Arpangel]

Yes.
Have always liked Roland piano sounds.
My old XP80 used to cut through a live band mix really well.
I may get a Fantom on a 30 day money back guarantee and see how it goes.

I’ve compared the Fantom and MODX, from what I heard, they aren’t in the same league, obviously it depends what you need, and the MODX is very popular, but to me, the Fantom just has more class, the actual quality of the sounds is obviously better to my ears, especially the bread and butter sounds, the Rhodes, and acoustic pianos, are seriously good, I’d say some of the best I’ve heard from this type of board.

[DanR]

If I was to choose between a Fantom and a MODX I'd probably go with the MODX unless the keybed was the deciding factor, and given the price differences it would have to be a fully-weighted keybed to justify it. .

The keybed I think is the deciding factor but haven’t tried the Fantom 06 yet.
Fully weighted would be nice but I use 76 key stage pianos now.
88 for a lower board is just a tad too wide for the variety of gigs I do. Some are tight cramped stage areas and the Stage 2 HA76 is the smallest 76 key stage piano I know.

I have a Roland A500 Pro controller and those keys are the same I’m sure as the previous FA-06.
The new Fantom 06 has a revised keybed.

[DanR]

Yes.
Have always liked Roland piano sounds.
My old XP80 used to cut through a live band mix really well.
I may get a Fantom on a 30 day money back guarantee and see how it goes.

I’ve compared the Fantom and MODX, from what I heard, they aren’t in the same league, obviously it depends what you need, and the MODX is very popular, but to me, the Fantom just has more class

Yes, I think you’re right.
The MODX6 has everything I need except a good keybed.
Let’s it down rather.
I suppose for certain sounds it’s ok but for keyboard instruments, it’s a case of just getting by.
Shame as it sounds amazing.

[Arpangel]

Yes.
Have always liked Roland piano sounds.
My old XP80 used to cut through a live band mix really well.
I may get a Fantom on a 30 day money back guarantee and see how it goes.

I’ve compared the Fantom and MODX, from what I heard, they aren’t in the same league, obviously it depends what you need, and the MODX is very popular, but to me, the Fantom just has more class

Yes, I think you’re right.
The MODX6 has everything I need except a good keybed.
Let’s it down rather.
I suppose for certain sounds it’s ok but for keyboard instruments, it’s a case of just getting by.
Shame as it sounds amazing.

Ha!
Yamaha used to make great feeling keyboards, the best in the business, my DX7 was a yardstick.
Feel? sounds? depends what your priorities are, rarely can we have it all in one box these days, which is weird, seeing as I had it all in my DX7 all those years ago,

[DanR]

Yes.
Have always liked Roland piano sounds.
My old XP80 used to cut through a live band mix really well.
I may get a Fantom on a 30 day money back guarantee and see how it goes.

I’ve compared the Fantom and MODX, from what I heard, they aren’t in the same league, obviously it depends what you need, and the MODX is very popular, but to me, the Fantom just has more class

Yes, I think you’re right.
The MODX6 has everything I need except a good keybed.
Let’s it down rather.
I suppose for certain sounds it’s ok but for keyboard instruments, it’s a case of just getting by.
Shame as it sounds amazing.

Ha!
Yamaha used to make great feeling keyboards, the best in the business, my DX7 was a yardstick.
Feel? sounds? depends what your priorities are, rarely can we have it all in one box these days, which is weird, seeing as I had it all in my DX7 all those years ago,

Yes. Keyboards were well made with no compromises.
A review here on the MODX doesn’t even mention what it’s like to play. Just focuses on all the features.
https://musictech.com/reviews/yamaha-modx-6-review/

[Arpangel]

Yes. Keyboards were well made with no compromises.
A review here on the MODX doesn’t even mention what it’s like to play. Just focuses on all the features.
https://musictech.com/reviews/yamaha-modx-6-review/

Keyboard actions back then were definitely a cut above, people wouldn’t have put up with some of ones we have now.
Some used to buy DX7’s as controller keyboards, they were so good.
Without exception, my old Z1, Triton, great feeling boards, you just didn’t even think about it.
Today, some are shocking, to the point of feeling like toys, good feeling boards are now the exception, and considered "premium" and hiked in price.

[DanR]

Keyboard actions back then were definitely a cut above, people wouldn’t have put up with some of ones we have now.
Some used to buy DX7’s as controller keyboards, they were so good.
Without exception, my old Z1, Triton, great feeling boards, you just didn’t even think about it.
Today, some are shocking, to the point of feeling like toys, good feeling boards are now the exception, and considered "premium" and hiked in price.

Yes, agree.
Might have been the Yamaha MO6 that started the trend, not sure.
I remember there being one in the store when I was buying the Triton back in the early 2000’s.
Synth type action so I discounted it.

[Arpangel]

Keyboard actions back then were definitely a cut above, people wouldn’t have put up with some of ones we have now.
Some used to buy DX7’s as controller keyboards, they were so good.
Without exception, my old Z1, Triton, great feeling boards, you just didn’t even think about it.
Today, some are shocking, to the point of feeling like toys, good feeling boards are now the exception, and considered "premium" and hiked in price.

Yes, agree.
Might have been the Yamaha MO6 that started the trend, not sure.
I remember there being one in the store when I was buying the Triton back in the early 2000’s.
Synth type action so I discounted it.

You may be right, the AN1X still had a good keyboard.

[dave_bass5]

Ive had a MODx for 2 years, and a Fantom O6 for two weeks.
Here’s my take.
The MODX makes me smile a lot at home, i love what its capable of. I can spend hours getting lost in its sounds. Programming is a bit long winded, it has a few missing features that would make it easier. Im used to it though.
Ive never understood those that cant play on its keybed. Maybe some lessons are needed (). It feels fine to me, and I purposely didnt want a weighted keybed. I get its a cheap one though, and many wont like it, but its really not that bad that its unusable (just check any of the YT demos). Each to his/her own though.
I will say i like both keybed’s, and don’t find them too different. The MODX seems a bit deeper and more spongy, which i like, but the Fantom does feel a bit more premium. Just a bit.

The MODX.
The sounds are very processed. A bit too much for my liking when im going through a PA. Two years down the line and im still not 100% happy with how it sounds through a PA. It works though and the EQ is very comprehensive so its just a matter of tweaking. It just seems overly bright and fizzy.
Id say the screen is better for live use. Bigger type and easier to hit the intended Performance. Still not used to the Fantom and keep hitting the one below.

The Fantom. It seems to have a much more PA friendly tone. I plagued it in at rehearsals and didnt need to faff around with EQ. That was a nice surprise.
I feel the overall sound doesnt occupy as much sonic space as the MODX. Its not a flat sound, but the FX have been used a lot more conservatively and so it seems to have less life to it with out tweaking. This seems to help it sit in the mix a bit better though and
Lots of what made Roland famous, and again, the presets seem to be less processed and easier to fit in the mix, but the FX are there and can take them to a whole new level (although still not matching the sonic space of the MODX)
The Juno and JP8 expansions are wonderful. I could just use those (and the Organs) and not bother the rest if i had to. Pianos are not as full sounding, a bit plinky plonky so far, but ill get them tweaked.
The Organs are way better than on the MODX, but not quite as good as, say B-3X on my iPAd (which i got the O6 to replace).

There are more differences that for me, make the Fantom the better synth if i only had one (luckily i dont).
The MODX can only use 8 internal parts for any Performance. The Fantom can use all 16. You may never need this many, but while the MODX does allow you to store different part levels in different scenes (the Fantom doesnt), neither allow you to store differnt key ranges in different Scenes. This means you can end up using duplicate tones in a scene on the Fantom if you need different levels. This good thing is on the Fantom you have 8 sliders to mix 8 tones, but only 4 on the MODX. Both use a shift function to access the other 8 (Fantom) or 4 (MODX).
Audio in. Both allow you to run another device in via a line in. The Fantom is much better in this respect. Turns it on and its on no matter what you do. With the MODX each performance has a to have it enabled and it will cut out momentarily when changing Performances.

Too many other small features to go over, although i will just add that there is a visual indication that the keyboard is being transposed on the Fantom. Nothing on the MODX unless you hold a shift button down. Im not talking about Octave’s, but note transpose.
Oh, and the Fantom has a master FX/EQ section. One thing i really could do with on the MODX.

[DanR]

Ive had a MODx for 2 years, and a Fantom O6 for two weeks.
Here’s my take.
The MODX makes me smile a lot at home, i love what its capable of. I can spend hours getting lost in its sounds. Programming is a bit long winded, it has a few missing features that would make it easier. Im used to it though.
Ive never understood those that cant play on its keybed. Maybe some lessons are needed (). It feels fine to me, and I purposely didnt want a weighted keybed. I get its a cheap one though, and many wont like it, but its really not that bad that its unusable (just check any of the YT demos). Each to his/her own though.
I will say i like both keybed’s, and don’t find them too different. The MODX seems a bit deeper and more spongy, which i like, but the Fantom does feel a bit more premium. Just a bit.

The MODX.
The sounds are very processed. A bit too much for my liking when im going through a PA. Two years down the line and im still not 100% happy with how it sounds through a PA. It works though and the EQ is very comprehensive so its just a matter of tweaking. It just seems overly bright and fizzy.
Id say the screen is better for live use. Bigger type and easier to hit the intended Performance. Still not used to the Fantom and keep hitting the one below.

The Fantom. It seems to have a much more PA friendly tone. I plagued it in at rehearsals and didnt need to faff around with EQ. That was a nice surprise.
I feel the overall sound doesnt occupy as much sonic space as the MODX. Its not a flat sound, but the FX have been used a lot more conservatively and so it seems to have less life to it with out tweaking. This seems to help it sit in the mix a bit better though and
Lots of what made Roland famous, and again, the presets seem to be less processed and easier to fit in the mix, but the FX are there and can take them to a whole new level (although still not matching the sonic space of the MODX)
The Juno and JP8 expansions are wonderful. I could just use those (and the Organs) and not bother the rest if i had to. Pianos are not as full sounding, a bit plinky plonky so far, but ill get them tweaked.
The Organs are way better than on the MODX, but not quite as good as, say B-3X on my iPAd (which i got the O6 to replace).

There are more differences that for me, make the Fantom the better synth if i only had one (luckily i dont).
The MODX can only use 8 internal parts for any Performance. The Fantom can use all 16. You may never need this many, but while the MODX does allow you to store different part levels in different scenes (the Fantom doesnt), neither allow you to store differnt key ranges in different Scenes. This means you can end up using duplicate tones in a scene on the Fantom if you need different levels. This good thing is on the Fantom you have 8 sliders to mix 8 tones, but only 4 on the MODX. Both use a shift function to access the other 8 (Fantom) or 4 (MODX).
Audio in. Both allow you to run another device in via a line in. The Fantom is much better in this respect. Turns it on and its on no matter what you do. With the MODX each performance has a to have it enabled and it will cut out momentarily when changing Performances.

Too many other small features to go over, although i will just add that there is a visual indication that the keyboard is being transposed on the Fantom. Nothing on the MODX unless you hold a shift button down. Im not talking about Octave’s, but note transpose.
Oh, and the Fantom has a master FX/EQ section. One thing i really could do with on the MODX.

Thanks, that’s great.
Regarding sounds, my Triton needs very little adjustment when played through a PA.
Maybe the Montage sounds less processed than the MODX.

There’s going to be compromises I think with any cut down workstation. As mentioned, the Fantom has a more classy feel to it.
My Roland A500 Pro controller has the same keys as the previous FA06 and they feel ok, if a bit small.
The store I tried the MODX in suggested the Korg Kross 2 as a replacement for the Triton Extreme.