Roland has announced a free update for owners of the Fantom 6, 7, and 8 synthesizers.
Fantom Version 2.5 adds classic organ sound and playability with Roland’s Virtual ToneWheel engine, plus extended DAW control with integrated support for Ableton Live music production software.
Fantom’s new Virtual ToneWheel engine emulates the sound-generating process of a real tone wheel organ and includes several tone wheel types with adjustable percussion, key click, leakage, and more. There’s also a rotary effect, with variable speed, brake control, and tube distortion characteristics. Fantom’s touchscreen, sliders, knobs, and keyboard action are automatically configured to provide hands-on sound control and playability.
Fantom now also features official integration with Ableton Live, expanding on the previously included support for Apple’s Logic Pro X, GarageBand, and MainStage software platforms. Via Fantom’s high-resolution touchscreen, it’s possible to view and launch clips in Live’s Session view, access Live’s mixer parameters, and trigger transport functions. And with Fantom’s knobs, sliders, and pads, users can operate Macro Controls, control mix levels, play Drum Rack, and more.
To download the Roland FANTOM 6, 7 and 8 Version 2.5 update, see the Downloads section of the Fantom section of Roland’s site.
Too bad the Fantom has only 8 sliders instead of 9, to act as drawbars. I believe the same is true of the Montage.
In the Fantom for the slider n.9 is used the usb slider when the tone wheel organ is edited…
the organ simulation needs different keys to be put into proper use.. nice sounds.. but a couple of light waterfall keybeds are required
Every emulated instruments needs a different keybed, fantom is multi purpose. With a waterfall keyboard I can’t play synth sound …l
I don’t know how many Ableton users will be rocked by the addition to a flagship synth, but I’m surprised they did Logic first. The onboard seq is like a mini-Live module, so its a natural choice. OTOH, some laptoppers probably look at a Fantom and mostly see a whale carcass on the beach. Its a great instrument, but for those bucks, you have to be willing to marry it. Its one of the It Girls of current synths.
the organ simulation needs different keys to be put into proper use.. nice sounds.. but a couple of light waterfall keybeds are required
Does it control as much as the Logic Pro x into the Fantom 8 is it integrated as much or will it be more in the future?