Fantom-X Series Keyboards Now Shipping128-Voice Fantom-X Series Expandable to Nearly 1GB of Sounds
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Fantom-X6
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Fantom-X6 Rear Panel
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Fantom-X7
(Click for a close-up) |
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Fantom-X7 Rear Panel
(Click for a close-up) |
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Fantom-X8
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Fantom-X8 Rear Panel
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March 15, 2004
Roland has now started shipping the Fantom-X Series of keyboard workstations, unveiled at this year's Winter NAMM show. Available with a 61-note
keyboard (Fantom-X6), 76-note keyboard (Fantom-X7) or 88-note Progressive
Hammer-Action Keyboard (Fantom-X8), these 128-note workstations offer capacity for nearly 1GB of wave data when fully expanded. Each
model includes a brand new wave ROM with new sounds, room for 4 SRX
expansions and up to 544MB of sample RAM--large enough to be used like a
digital recorder--plus a new look with a color LCD
screen.
Powered by Roland's new sound generator chip, the Fantom-X Series makes it
possible to play 4-tone Patches with 128-voice polyphony, and
can be expanded to nearly 1GB of wave data. The internal 128MB wave ROM is loaded with brand
new sounds. Take the new 88-key split piano, for example,
which utilizes over 700 samples to create the acoustic piano
Patch.
The sampling section is also beefed up with capacity for up to 544MB of RAM
using optional DIMMs. This amount of memory lets users record
long samples in the fashion of a digital recorder with full wave editing
capabilities (a new PC Card slot lets users store samples on cards with up
to 1GB capacity). Between this "linear" recording capability and the
realtime timestretch, users get total integration of audio and MIDI using
the Fantom-X Series' sequencer.
The Fantom-X Series also inherit many of the features of
their predecessors as well--like the Dynamic Pad Bank (with improved gel
pads), Roland's "Skip Back Sampling" feature, and V-LINK
technology for integrating audio and video. There are also plenty of
onboard effects including COSM Guitar Amp Modeling, Lo-Fi processing,
Slicer and more--plus a dedicated Mastering processor. An onboard USB port
makes MIDI connections easy, as well as importing or exporting audio in
.WAV/AIFF format.
Connections to the Fantom-X Series include four 1/4-inch outputs (two
stereo), a stereo 1/4-inch input, S/PDIF digital I/O, MIDI In/Out/Thru, a
PC Card slot and USB port.
For more information, visit their web site at www.rolandus.com. | 
