Roland Fantom-X
Encyclopedia
The Fantom-X is a music workstation
/synthesizer
produced by Roland Corporation
. It was introduced in 2004 as an upgrade from the Fantom S series. The Fantom-X competes with the Korg Triton
/Triton Extreme, the Yamaha Motif ES and other similar large-scope keyboards such as the discontinued Alesis Fusion
. In 2008 it was succeeded by the Fantom-G, which was devised to compete with the new Korg and Yamaha flagship keyboards.
, a 16-track MRC-Pro sequencer
, 6 effects processors, dynamic pads and infrared D-Beam, a stereo sampler and full on-screen editing. The Fantom X received an audio recorder upgrade with version 2.00 that allows for 8 stereo audio tracks integrated with the internal MIDI sequencer.
The X6, X7, and X8, apart from their keyboards, are identical in the controls they offer, the internal software they run, and the expansions they accept.
In 2005 the 61-key Fantom-Xa was released. The Xa still uses the same Waveforms & the new X series Chip. The Xa comes with a smaller mpc style graphical green screen.
Music workstation
A music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
/synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
produced by Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
. It was introduced in 2004 as an upgrade from the Fantom S series. The Fantom-X competes with the Korg Triton
Korg Triton
Korg Triton is a music workstation synthesizer featuring digital sampling and sequencing created by Korg. All Tritons use Korg's HI Synthesis tone generator. They are available in several models and various upgrade configurations. The Triton is world famous among many musicians for being a...
/Triton Extreme, the Yamaha Motif ES and other similar large-scope keyboards such as the discontinued Alesis Fusion
Alesis Fusion
Alesis Fusion is a music production workstation produced by Alesis introduced in early 2005. The workstation is available in two models. The Fusion 6HD is a sixty-one note semi-weighted keyboard workstation. The Fusion 8HD is an eighty-eight note weighted keyboard workstation. The two models...
. In 2008 it was succeeded by the Fantom-G, which was devised to compete with the new Korg and Yamaha flagship keyboards.
Features
The Roland Fantom-X features a 128-voice PCM-based synthesizerSynthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, a 16-track MRC-Pro sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
, 6 effects processors, dynamic pads and infrared D-Beam, a stereo sampler and full on-screen editing. The Fantom X received an audio recorder upgrade with version 2.00 that allows for 8 stereo audio tracks integrated with the internal MIDI sequencer.
- The Fantom X - keyboards accept up to four SRX expansion boards.
- The Fantom XR - (rackmount module version) accepts up to six SRX expansion boards.
- The Fantom Xa - Newer model with a smaller screen. (Unsurpassed by the Yamaha MO Series & Korg Triton Le Series due to multiple I/O, microphone inputs, multisampling and 128 note polyphony.)
Models
There are five models in the Fantom-X family:- X6: 61 keys - velocity and aftertouch.
- X7: 76 keys - velocity and aftertouch.
- X8: 88 weighted, hammer-action keys.
- XR: Rack-mounted sound moduleSound moduleA sound module is an electronic musical instrument without a human-playable interface such as a keyboard, for example. Sound modules have to be "played" using an externally connected device...
holds up to six SRX expansion boards but does not feature a sequencer. - Xa: 61 keys - velocity only.
The X6, X7, and X8, apart from their keyboards, are identical in the controls they offer, the internal software they run, and the expansions they accept.
In 2005 the 61-key Fantom-Xa was released. The Xa still uses the same Waveforms & the new X series Chip. The Xa comes with a smaller mpc style graphical green screen.