Hey Bill! LOL! About you running for the front door!

I would like to know a little more about this Roland Fantom (actually, there are a few demos' - and video's here: Roland
Fantom Video/Audio Demo's .
And your right about these drums Bill, they are very cool . The great thing about it, is 76 keys, Slots for JV(1)/XV(2) cards (three slots available)Professional XV-5080 sound engine with 64 voices and 16 multitimbral parts, Arpeggiator and Rhythm generator. And lots more of course.

You say not an arranger but....

Well, let me tell you that the Fantom is a workstation, with a Sequencer, and in this way you build up songs using these functions. You add drums, add tracks, and then you get your sound. What have you done? - you have Arranged a performance, except with the Fantom, you will have had to work a little more, since there are no ready-made "Backing styles". I think a keyboard like this be very creative, and should be discussed (IN MY OPINION) along side arranger keyboards like Kn6500, Yamaha 9000 etc. If the end justifies the means, and that being: "Getting that sound" then why not class it as an arranger? - Because although different from a keyboard with automatic accompaniment, you can get that Rhythm & swing, or Dance ...or whatever, if you are prepared to work at it.

One of the reasons I didn't go for a Roland VA7, is that you virtually have to do nothing once you have set your sounds up. And as FUTURE MUSIC put it VA7 Review Let's be clear on this point, you won't need virtuoso fingers to sound good on the VA-7. In fact, you'll barely need fingers at all. In an emergency you could probably just about scrape by using just your nose.!.

That was kind of funny to read...but you have to ask yourself a serious question....DO "ARRANGER" people rely TOO much on the....well "Arranger" feature shall we say?? (or Auto this, Auto that etc)? I used to play the Piano a lot, and feel (sometimes), that I am going "backwards" on my musical Prowess, so to speak. I play the KN6500 a lot, but most of the backings are "Home made". In essance, I could probably manage without the Auto play funcions anyway....and just use the Composer to help me with the Backing styles. You can have too much done for you (you know), and I don't Akin to that...

I'm all for getting the right sound, but will be prepared to work for it if I have to...and having everything done for you in the Accompaniment is not my cup of tea to be honest. I have a KN6500, but I can tell you that I compose most of the Rhythms myself, even though there are 220 onboard ones (with Variations)

These New Workstations like the Fantom are really worth a look Bill

Oh, and here's the best bit...they are Only £1,386 from A&C Hamilton (they will go lower if you push em'! compared to £1799 for a 61 note VA7 You get a lot of keyboard for your buck bill!

J5



[This message has been edited by Jupiter5 (edited 11-08-2001).]