Are Workstations Still Relevant? | The NEW Roland Fantom-06
Vložit
- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- Roland has released the new "Fantom-0" line of synthesizers, a more-affordable array of workstations based on their high quality Fantom synthesizers. Take a look and a listen and let us know your thoughts-- are workstations still relevant in today's synthesizer culture? Does the 06 pay homage to the 6?
0:00 Intro/Specs
6:31 Demos
13:21 Final Thoughts
__________________________________________________________________
♪ Contact us: www.alamomusic.com/contact
♩ Call toll-free: (844)251-1922
♬ Connect:
Twitter → / alamomusic
Instagram → / alamomusic
Facebook → / 1375975579208745
#Roland #rolandsynthesizer #rolandsynth #Fantomsynthesizer #rolandfantom #Rolandfantom0 - Hudba
The answer to that question will always be yes. There are many musicians that are computer professionals all week that dread the thought of being stuck on a computer when composing music. These are the perfect solution.
Plus recording live knob motions is just more fun 🤣
As a DJ and the owner of a Roland D-50, D-70, Yamaha DX7 and a Krog Wavestation EX Workstation. 🎹
I justed ordered a Fantom-06!🤗
This is so true. I’m a software engineer and when I play my instrument I want to have zero-to-do with a computer screen.
That used to be my stance too, but I do predominantly use Logic since 2007. However, I do find that I actually enjoy time spent in front of Logic unlike time spent in front of my actual work, which is 75% computer based. That being said, yes, sometimes after a full day of work, sitting down to do screen based music isn't as appealing, but still a lot more satisfying 😄 My first foray in music was on a Yamaha V-50 workstation in 1990 and I do see the appeal of workstations, especially for live work, but they do seem overly complex and my patience for learning a new workflow gets worse with age 😀
100% me. I’m a software engineer as well and I feel like I’m one of the very few that loves analog over digital and no one understands 😅
Playing music is how I disconnect from computers I spend so much time on
Workstations will always be relevant to true keyboardists. We need them! Very customizable for me at least. A workstation eliminates an external audio interface, an external drum controller, and provides amazing live performance capabilities. Again, for people who really play live, it's not just a thing, it's THE thing to have.
100%
So True 👌
No. Give me Logic Pro x , Native instruments and their hardware and software and it’s a wrap!
@@alginyes To each his/her own.
I use both including Native Instruments but the sounds on Roland Fantoms, Kord Tritons, Yamaha Motifs, etc. can't be duplicated in these VSTS.
I have every VSTI you can name, Omnisphere, Nexus, Arturia, etc.
They just don't sound as heavy and full as workstations.
Workstations sounds cinematic
I like the idea of a musical composition coming from a single source, with my software it’s overwhelming being pulled in a million different directions
Yes, they are still relevant. Look at the DAW-less community, with the Akai MPC, etc. Roland could have a hit on their hands if they did a couple of things. Add the ability to record audio tracks with auto-stretch functionality so you can add audio to your MIDI tracks. Add the ability to stream audio from an external USB device (this keyboard is memory poor @ 256MB. Some people are upset that the sequencer is pattern based, but there is no proper song mode - with a max of 64 bars per pattern, I don't see that as a problem. In addition to being a rompler, it does have virtual analog capabilities with zen-core. Hopefully, the n-Zyme (wavetable synthesis) function will be available on the 0 series as it is on the Fantoms. Unfortunately, Roland are charging for the internally hosted synth expansions, unlike the Fantoms, where it is free. If they addressed these items, I'd pay for one of these.
Your right if they can make it do all your recording and mixing and then download when your done to sound cloud tidal or whatever digital stream that would be awesome.
It does have a song mode, just not a typical linear style arrangement sequencer like what is found in most DAWs. You can create patterns and arrange them into a group. Then you can create multiple groups of patterns and arrange them into a song. The workflow is very similar to Ableton Live.
I'd just buy a Full Fat Fantom and be done with it. No way n-Zyme will come to this range either.
Without a linear sequencer you can't have things like "Tempo Tracks" etc...the seq on this series and its big brother are toyish imo...3/4 and 4/4 time signatures....really?...I'm a BIG Fantom fan...my main rig is Fantom X7, Fantom G6 and Fantom XR...all controlled by my Fantom X7 (no laptop) and Sadly...this New one and its BIG brother just LACK to many functions that my X7 HAS!!!!
you're right about that. It's like an (actual) musician's 'daw'
It's also extremely important to note that this workstation has access to the Roland Cloud expansion, i.e. Jupiter-8, Juno 106, etc.
At this price they definitely are relevant, we still need hardware interfaces. Sampling is the big reason, you can sample your vintage synths and take these workstations on stage. This has deep multi-sampling. I have several rare synths that you would not want to haul around. This is about performing musicians, light weight and can do a ton of sounds.
exactly. But then tell me, how many multi samples can you load with only 256mb shared memory for a gig? Is it practical when you can buy a 32gb flash pen drive for $20 now a days?
As a keyboard player the workstation is just so important. I play in a prog metal band and I need to transition between sounds quickly with a pedal, play leads, play riffs, sample sounds, play intro tracks and work with huge setlists and its such a nice thing to have because it's easy straight forward and relatively cheap. I can go out with a kronos and maybe a nord or an analog synth and do everything with my instrument its such a life saver. The alternative route is to get something like a keylab 88, a computer and a DAW that can do seamless transitions or mainstage and then setup huge files and buy loads of sounds, its more expensive and less convenient, the only true benefit I'd say is because we do use a lot of software synths for recording you can use the actual sound, but it can be a headache. Workstations eliminate that frustration and just get you working with bread and butter and then you can focus on the performance.
For me working in a DAW is not a direct musical connection that a workstation offers. If you enjoy using a mouse a hell of a lot than use a daw. If your musical go with a ws just my humble opinion.
I think they’re certainly still relevant because as nice as it is using a DAW with VST’s.., workstations are just straight forward working ‘within the box”. No worries about VST compatibility, RAM, ect. I do however feel that given what can be done via a DAW and VST’s.., workstations are grossly overpriced for what they are.
Compatibly is a real problem. Knowing that a fully installed DAW costs 2-4 times more, this workstation starts to look a lot cheaper.
p.s. You can't run Roland's Cloud Juno 106 on a standard PC, only thru Zenology.
Naw, workstations warrant their price be being actual instruments. A lot of these things are made with gigging in mind. You cash gig with a laptop and midi keyboard if you want to.
I would pay top dollar for keys that feel good every time. Same with drum pads.
@@SocietyUnplugged you still have to buy vsts and sample packs. Work stations often come with usable sounds out of the box
Sadly yes... Workstations are overpriced and they are mounting ridiculously bad/cheap keybeds on them compared to any 200 midi controller which is something I still don't understand why. They should spend 100 more and mount a medium decent keybed on this expensive machines. Roland is the only that is still using barely decent keybeds with proper springs and hinges. Yamaha is using those stupid plastic-bridge keys that break if you look bad at them, and also that feel awful
Not over price considering if u add the price of a laptop then with that stations is the cheaper route
I think this is the working man’s Fantom as a keyboard player what’s important to me is having good sounds, quick load up time and being able to get my creative ideas out quickly, something that I can’t do with my computer and software. Speed is key sometimes by the time I boot up my programs and all that I’m getting distracted by emails and alerts.
Roland Fantom/Fantom 0 + Akai Force or Maschine Plus + Roland MC707...all standalone creation stations but when combined = very powerful home studio setup even if using a lot of external gear (guitars, vocals, drums, synths, etc).
All in a box is still a great idea. If you have a cottage you can take a weekend with this and headphones or speakers. And Roland have always sounded great.
It depends on the musician. I personally like the Fantom 8 (not the 0 series) because you’re getting a weighted keyboard with really good action, and I like to play some classical or jazz piano at night when I can’t sit down at the actual piano due to the loudness. I also like having everything available right from the get-go and not having to load up my computer, open my DAW, load up all the sample libraries or VST’s, connect everything, make sure it all works, etc. It’s way more plug-and-play, and when I’m writing stuff or quickly looking for a synth tone that helps a lot. I also enjoy having the sequencer and pads right there with all the drum and percussion sounds in the keyboard, saves me from having to buy a separate drum machine or deal with more VST/sample library headaches.
What I don’t need are the recording functions on it, that’s something I will always do in a DAW. Can’t imagine tracking all of your songs on that tiny screen rather than on Logic. That’s where workstation keyboards have been way outmoded.
So yeah it depends on what you’re doing as a musician. I play piano and want quality weighted keys, but I also write songs that use a lot of these retro Juno-esque synths and I want to access the stuff quickly. I also like making beats now and then. Being able to do all of that in one instrument without the need for a PC or Mac is pretty great.
My dad literally makes all his midi tracks on a smaller screen on a cheap yamaha workstation lol ... Big respect 💪
I love my Kronos, Triton, and Karma! Would actually like to have a Fantom-06 but don’t have room for it.
I had the Karma back in the day. It was a good board.
Hello friend, could you explain to me how to start a sequence from a certain measure or bit to edit what has already been recorded in that sequence??? generally after recording we have to fix some things but the sequence always starts from 0 ZERO in advance thank you very much Blessings brother
Question, since you play and have access to original vintage Jupiters, you say this does not sound like the originals. Any keyboard or VSTs sounds like the Jupiter 8?
I’ll do a follow up on this topic :)
Workstation keyboards aren't laggy all the time the way a DAW is, it's a slick choice if you want to be hands on and play keys, just to jam etc.
For studio use , I would say not so much but for live gigs that can be a wonderful tool to have bread and butter sounds .
Interesting review and your honest opinion is greatly appreciated. I find it interesting that you say it doesnt quite sound great because I am under the impression it runs zencore which is identical to its bigger brother and the vst. What i find very appealing on this unit is for live gigging and jamming where i can have backing tracks and start to create songs with my pals without having to bring a whole laptop setup with multiple stands, etc. Also this has a usb interface and supposedly tight integration with ableton live, would love to see a more indepth review.
It uses the supernatural engine and it has some zen core stuff i think.
I love my Roland Juno DS 61. I wouldn't of bought it if it didn't have a pattern sequencer. It's alot of fun to come up with new patterns and patches. I have no desire for a DAW.
It would be good if you could tell us what the samples are with text on the screen.
Can you make multilayers sounds or only split?
I played one of those in the Guitar Center in Pearl City Oahu Hawaii . It has fabulous powers! 🤟🎹
My first wokstation was an ensoniq esq-1 and since then I use workstations sequencers combined with other synths and effects. Sometimes i don't use the workstation sounds, just the sequencer and keyboard. I Think they are wonderful tools in a DAW less studio
Hello how are you ?? Is there any possibility of changing the sound without cutting off the previous sound that is playing? Can you explain in a video how to make it not cut??? or can not be?? Thanks bro. your videos are very good
I’m glad I kept watching because I was going to say they will always be relevant in my little world!!!
the fantom 08 or yamaha modx8 for video game music?
How do I get each individual track on a song off of the keyboard to a DAW or a usb
Sync via MIDI and overdub.
Two things of note:
1) Roland doesn’t classify the Fantom or the Fantom 0 as workstations. The FA-06 is classified as a workstation by Roland. Don’t believe me, check the Roland website. Sequence limitations seem to enforce that choice of classification.
2) There are buyers that may have DAWs who are still hardware / tactile focused and still like hardware instruments and workstations. As long as there are buyers, sellers will sell.
workstations are by definition a machine where you can produce an entire song without the help of any external gear or Daw. Roland called FA workstation, yet it can't mix down midi+audio combined into a complete song wav file!
Does anyone know what preset is at 7:25?
Great analogy with multi effects guitar pedals. I’ve actually watched a few bands play with a multi effects pedal onstage., Same with workstations. I think with the new tech these days, a workstation could also be a good one instrument solution for live performances.
Yes They are Still Relevant However The Technology is Prehistoric we should have things like wifi and Bluetooth built-in and how about screen output to monitor
Definitely, just got mine and I love it,06 handy alrounder, just touching the surface and a great addition to my synths stack ❤❤❤
I just ordered a Fantom 06-it was either trade in my Moog Sub Phatty and get a Subsequent 37 or keep the Sub Fatty and use it alongside (primarily bass lines) the Fantom 06. I chose the later, to integrate with Logic Pro and Ableton .
Really nice insight and FINE demo! and if perhaps the workstation esthetic remains alive it would be in this fun instrument
In addition to beginners, I also think these work well for "noodling" sessions. Maybe you want something in the bedroom to record a midnight inspiration on to (yes, that's a thing). Perhaps a keyboard in the corner to sit down for a few minutes and enjoy. This can also work in worship scenario where a laptop with a DAW might be too much of a distraction. A keyboardist who needs simple accompaniment can make use of this as well, in education for example. It does seem to address a more narrow market than ever before, but there are still uses out there.
I think it's a decent cost compromise. Getting one of these can be like half or a fourth of the cost, or better, of acquiring similar independent hardware.
ROLAND has their JUNO DS, comparable to the FANTOM-06, but I think that thing's too expensive for still having all the clunky navigation, low resolution display, and slow hardware load/save times.
You may spend like $800 on an MPC, any imaginable quantity for an 88-key digital piano that has just a few sounds. This thing has like at least $500 worth of analog synthesizer in it, although it's virtual analog and you'll want to feel interested in the ROLAND sound signature. Maybe like $600+ for a Ferrofish. There's few instances of hardware organs under $2,000, I feel.
This thing has the hardware organ. It has the sampling. It's the drum machine. It's a piano. It's an electric piano. It's got your string section. You can sequence with it. You can still do your analog synthesizer junk, I'm sure it can find a place somewhere in a mix, even if it's not your preferred analog synthesizer.
All of that with the higher resolution touchscreen, all the physical controls including the joystick-style pitch/mod and the wheels combined, seamless patch swappin' for many things I've noticed, super fast read/write times. I don't want to pay money for hardware in this era and have to wait five or ten seconds to read/write patches, or have to use some dumb wheel to enter my alphanumeric patch name like on the JUNO DS. That's outrageous.
I feel like the thing has a place. I feel like the ROLAND FANTOM-06 can do a lot for budget performers, writers and enthusiasts.
It's what the MODX is to Montage - Fantom-O6 to the Fantom (amazing naming scheme btw, total confusion when searching for pricing).
I’m a classical keyboardist just now getting into other genres, and having top of the line weighted action and sensitivity is a must
In any case, the keyboard does not replace daw. Because the sequencer is looped and not linear. So to produce you still need to connect the keyboard to the computer with daw.
The juno-G was no Workstation. I think at that time already, the Workstation-Series by Roland was the Fantom, probably the Fantom-S which already had these Pads. The Juno-G rather was an entry synth with a little sequencer.
You know I would love a workstation where it has a sampler and a touch screen. And the presets would have like a shit load of genres and already made custom sounds. Would be great for someone who likes to dabble in all genres. I don’t like making beats that much but having a good example of genres what is used and have a example of the genres and some experimental scenes that would help out like a lot of people and just music would probably sound better overtime. A lot of people guess at what the fuck to do but following a formula and then messing around with it you’re already in a clearer direction. That was random but I need speakers in the workstation and 61 keys at least. Autotune. Harmonizer. Vocoder. Analog sounds and digital sounds. All instruments. Retro sounds, modern sounds. I want to be able to use my daw in it too. Being on a laptop is boring a lot of the time.
I must admit I'm only watching because it's your video. I've never been the target demographic for workstation keyboards. I see them as jacks of all trades that have the features that most interest me buried deepest in the menus. I can see the appeal for keyboardists in covers bands needing to be able to recall patches live on-stage with a touch of a button but I see the price tag and think about all the fun synths I could buy with that money.
A synth/keyboard workstation in one with a smart chord application, that would be nice I think
I like a more tactile experience so yeah they are still relevant for me...
Was really hoping they were gonna call this one "Casper" the friendly board 😁🎶
Looking forward to have my Fantom 8 and couple it with my JupiterX and NI-S88 and NI-Maschine+ and bunch of other stuff.
Does It Have Tone Remain??
Beautiful looking machine! Relevant? Time will tell.
I'm looking at this less of a workstation, and more of a synthesizer with nice keys.
I already have a juno 61 key, and the synth action is buttery. I've been interested in hammer action keyboards, and Roland is always my go to, because I know that I like their sounds already.
It's factory made tone or modify tone?
The problem with this piano is that it doesn't have V piano sounds and it doesn't have after touch. I was going to buy it but I decided on montage 6 which has better piano sounds than Fantom 0.
It’s all relevant if you want it to be, I mean people still use modular synths, I’m getting a Fa 06 and will use it as a standalone for creating instrumental pieces, not because it’s convenient or necessary but just because I want to challenge myself to stick to one thing
I think the Fantom 06 almost isn’t a workstation, more of a Swiss Army knife stage performance synth. It’s a far cry from a Korg Kronos, which takes studio workstation quality to the ultimate level, but falls short as a a stage instrument as it’s so heavy, expensive and difficult to edit on the fly. Nords are amazing stage instruments but no one model does absolutely everything, plus they are expensive and also heavy. There are a lot of affordable stage synths out there, but usually they fall down in terms of quality of sounds. The fantom 06 seems to be one of the first to bridge the gap between.it’s precursor the FA 06 came close but the sounds were a bit cheesy. It’s got versatility and ease of use combined with quality sounds, portability and price.
Is it Relevant? Yes. Is it needed? No. You can do everything with a laptop, DAW, Midi Controller and a few VST's and more for a lot less than having a workstation keyboard. BUT I will say that the workflow feels better with a workstation having everything all in one place. Also, The sounds are unique so you won't have to worry about others using the same sounds from the same VST's.
Bottom line, Who cares if it's relevant or not. Use what you want/what makes you happy and works best for you and your workflow.
The comment about sounds being unique is completely moot. If 10,000 musicians buy a Fantom-0 keyboard, then 10,000 musicians have access to the same sounds...
@@X22GJP compared to how many people have a $300-500 vst to a $1500+ workstation keyboard/synthesizer? No. And that's not to mention the people who pirate these vsts/software. Its easier obtain a vst than a workstation. So less people have these keyboards to have the same sounds as someone with vsts.
Using VSTs live is a nightmare, there's a reason why there's still a market for workstations.
@@AynsleyGreen I was speaking from a producing/home studio point of view. I know doing it live is vastly different. In that case workstation work better for those type of situations.
The 0 series lacks the analog filter and aftertouch but a huge reduction in cost
I'll take this over any damn
computer, any day.
If the producer, beat maker, etc finds a particular workstation that is useful to the project at hand thn hell yea, workstations are & will always be Relevant even in todays constant obsession for the next new modern piece of Gear &/or Software. The TR-808 is much older but yet, many are still usin it right…? So, if there’s a use for it, thn it doesn’t matter if it’s old or new, it’s all Relevant to whomever chooses to use it…
I want this for live purposes mostly
Many of us would like to make music without a laptop. In 2023, with any number of custom chip possibilites, the boards called "workstations" need a laptop, or for the few that might get by without, they are old hardware, some of it good, of course. A true multipurpose workstation, Genos/Montage + with full recording and multi instrument managment and a decent onboard amp? Where is it?
I despise using a computer for any part of the music making process. I’m sick of it. I’m never using one again. I may have to find some work around to make up for some limitations and do a bit more work, but I don’t mind.
To me the only relevant workstation so far that I still use is my Roland fantom G6 I think the new a Fantoms have fallen off the cliff or should I say pushed off the cliff.... for example iconic feature that make a workstation a workstation is its ability to be stand along aka without a computer, and if needed to be hooked up to a computer, then you should have been given integration with at least five current popular Daws (take your pick of what those people are Daws should be) .... And that sequencer should have the option to be linear such as in the G Series. The fact that you had 128 internal and /or midi tracks plus 24 linear audio tracks with their own separate mixer and effects capabilities is something other workstations including Roland's have fallen way way too short of. For example I use the 16 track mixer in conjunction with the 128 and internal tracks like this. I would use sequencer track one for a kick, track two for another type of kick, and do the same with track 3... remember on the G Series you could have an effects for each instrument independently known as PFX. So track 1 would have a low pass filter with some EQ. Track 2 would have the same thing as track 1 but with different filter and EQ curves and this would be repeated for tracks 3. I would then route those internal instruments kicks to channel one of the mixer and then put a compressor on that mixer channel along with some EQ. Now that channel acts like a kick bus channel... don't forget I have the master effects on the stereo output too that I can add to such as master EQ band compression, and others. This is just how easy but yet sophisticated, a simulation I can get to that of a real studio mixer desk. When it comes to sampling this is where they are most definitely falling really short. For example, there is no real-time time stretch and tempo locking of a sample to the bpm of a song or track like that on the on the G Series along with auto chop capabilities of various types. And assigning each chop to a different on the keyboard or two individuals sample pads in any order you want to be triggered anyway you like in conjunction with the sequencer with each sample locked to beat the minute. Along with the men other sampling processing features. I mean come on... And don't forget about skip back sampling I mean I have my skateboard sampling on all the time one minute and 20 seconds maximum but it's enough for me to catch a things that I've passed played are what's routed through my audio input. It's constantly on even watching this CZcams I can go back I'm playback the sample anytime I want Roland getting rid of this feature was a cardinal sin they shot themselves in the foot here how could they take this feature away? And when it comes to the Arpeggio there's so many options and one that you can make yourself create edit with ample upon amples of Presets and the ability to save to USB and import Arpeggios from other devices, is sick... And back to that daw like linear sequencer, and its ability to add swing by adjusting by percentage how tight you want your quantization to be, from 0-100 %. As well as add, copy, duplicate, repeat, shorten or lengthening of tracks or parts of a track or time signature or parts.... 🤦♂️ How could Roland do away with so many great features. Back to the effects that is just another area where they're falling off making it possible to root an edit effects with ample various parameters to me was just brilliant. And the sliders and knobs can be assigned to various parameters regarding it be a a instruments envelope oscillator or effects that can be automated. And that d Beam... look up what Native Instruments did when they came out with Maschine mark 1, then Maschine studio, Maschine mark 3 and Maschine mark 3 plus...? And the Akai with their MPC Touch and MPC X... I use my G Series in a way very very similar because it is capable to be very very close to those later mentioned Groovebox Sampler Workstations... and I think Roland is missing something here which is the young modern crowd who want to make contemporary music not just be stage performance musicians who are just looking for synths and Piano sounds with the odd sequencing and sampling capabilities this is why the G Series should have been improved upon by having a better door integration like what the new Fantom has now and then some. For people who make hip-hop EDM Drum & Bass, Trap, Drill, Grime and all manner of contemporary music including film score.. and to be able to be over the internet hooked up to a sound based cloud with all the USB capabilities it already has the g-series could have went somewhere in fact the new Roland fantom workstation since could have took it so far the competition would have been left. Example Native Instruments Maschine and akai MPC now have sidechain compressor routing built-in by just choosing a compressor and route it to a sidechaining of a kick snare or drum loop in conjunction with a pad or synth sound, let that sink in for a minute... the mike getting these workstations to the wrong people and I am a mature man of 50 years but the people who it is overly priced and marketed to are not people who are making music in a contemporary way if Roland or anybody from The Development Team just for a minute just think about what I I'm saying what I am suggesting what I'm proposing to put forward the next phantom would be a studio and Performance showstopper... that's why I've kept my G6 I did have the new Fantom 6, but it's now for sale. Because to me although it sonically is sounds good it's nothing more than a sound module with cheaper feeling keys...All Roland, had to do is add to the G series Fantom what the Fantom 7 has which is the CV controls connections XLR in's and outs touchscreen etc etc.... Akai is bringing out a MPC as powerful as the X but with a keyboard 🎹... Come on...
I have an X7 and G6...I prefer my X more in a lot of ways
@@justaname1862 explain the ways in which you prefer the X series over the G Series....
@@alldhat-n-den-sum4190 Definately it's sequencer...I gave up on trying use the G's sequencer tbh...also dedicated "Piano" mode on the X is a great thing...and tbh I just like the sounds (especially Piano) better on my X...also the amount of SRX expansions available...my X is fully loaded. The G was meant to replace my X as master controller...but just used as a synth now....don't get me wrong...the G is an awsome bit of gear...but just like my X more...I'll just NEVER sell it
@@justaname1862 I definitely agree with the amount of SRX expansions available definitely agree with you on that. And as I said before, most people use these workstations as stage keyboards or arranger keyboards. But I use my G Series exactly as I would the MPC x or machine Plus, although before those I was coming from the Ensoniq ASR 10... And I loved that workstation. However going back to the G Series what I don't like it when you are manually topping up samples and you cannot scroll through and hear the actual audio before you place your splice points however on the x-series you could do that you chop a sample in manual mode and as you are struggling to get your start and end points to hear this sample play through. Again why did Roland always take away features prominent features with each new workstation sampler synth?.. Also the linear sequencer on the G Series I didn't get it at first, I found it difficult, but again I was coming from the asr-10, it's only when a friend of mine who has logic showed me how he uses the logic sequencer software that's when I realise I can get into the G Series sequencer. And if you read what I wrote previously you see how I use it with the mixer..... however big up to you I totally respect your response to what I said
I wouldn't say all hardware workstations out there currently, are relevant(for example,the Korg Krome EX's synth sounds are horrible & it's a closed box with no expandability & no PC DAW integration.) In the case of the Roland-0 series, it's VERY relevant(more so than any other hardware workstation I've ever had.) I've owned several Korgs(excluding the Kronos & Nautilus) & have owned a budget Kurzweil workstation...as well as a couple of Yamaha budget keyboards & they've all fallen short in many areas. In fact, before the Fantom-0 series was announced, I had no hardware workstations left,as I had gone all-out into software DAW's.
Since I had become disgusted with Korg's insufficient & slow memory...I was very interested in the flagship Fantom series, but the price tag is insane & could not justify the financial burden(when I already had pretty much everything thing I needed to create what I wanted, with software.)
However....desktop workstations have their own issues and I found myself constantly running into CPU & RAM issues and at the rate that DAW's like Reason 12 are growing, one needs a $2,000 PC just to keep up with these CPU-hungry, bloated DAW's.
The Fantom-0 series it a total game-changer, as there has never been such a powerful, versatile, expandable, great-sounding and tactile workstation in this price range, before now. There are a plethora of reasons why the Fantom-0 in particular, is relevant in today's market....for one, the Fantom-0 makes hardware workstations fun again, by equipping this keyboard with an incredible amount of physical controls( which alleviates all of the arduous toils of programming PC midi controller keyboards, just to get near the same level of integration that you get with the Fantom.) Secondly...the Fantom offers unique & distinctive sounds & effects that you can't get with software,so the Fantom is a great source of inspiration and thirdly...whether one is creating an entire song on the Fantom or just supplementing their PC DAW music, the Fantom preserves much-needed processing power on their desktop PC.
The Fantom represents instant gratification with it's workflow & rate of speed and the Fantom is actually faster than both of my PC's(as the boot-up time is only 19 seconds!) Another possible benefit that may be derived from the Fantom-0 series....is that this workstation will dominate the budget market( which in turn, will force Korg to make revisions in their budget workstations to compete with Roland(which from what I've heard, may be as soon as Winter Namm 2023.)
Good post , friend. Prefer Genos from Yammy, but $$$$ is crazy! Respect
@@dy6682 I'm reversing my previous statement...the Fantom IS NOT relevant as a workstation(as the patter-only sequencer is a tedious mess & the Fantom WILL NOT work with Ableton unless you upgrade to the Standard version of Live///an extar $369! I returned my Fantom & I am going for the Zenology software(that way I can have all of the sounds of the Fantom for only $225.)
As you correctly suggested cost/capability is the issue. It's literally not possible with the current global problems (war and post pandemic shortage). Because of how parts and infrastructure is being prioritized. This could potentially get worse, not better; if the Americans don't stop with their hate filled political vitriol. They say they don't like this politician or that - they need to grow up fast. Before the dollar is gone and western prices are no longer in their favour. Which will surely anger the public.
Anyway -- as you've said; workstations were a fairly discarded concept because of certain overlapping flaws. Weight, with regards to the gigging nature of an expensive box. People want the keybed -- but they don't always want to haul it. Thus we might say that Fantom-0 like the FA becomes a quick gig swiss army knife. A far cry from the heavy/flagship. Which was for a long time the studio producers tool and the one that recouped the RnD.
As you've noted Korg and others drifted from this. Looking to refine the value in terms of technology. Whereas wavestate hardware appeared at a price point as was frowned on by some for its limitations and build --- few if any complained about VST/Native releases of them. Covid or not.
In general -- people have developed a preference for genre, keybed and many other things; meaning that a stray feature, may drive them away entirely from a product. However, if you have a dedicated controller. Less pricey as a standalone and can combine it with any array of digital software you like --- that is going to win for most. Especially with limited room at home.
The main loss has been 'I want a fully tactile instrument experience'. But once new controllers arrive that like Arturia and so on attempt to offer an ability to provide that experience, whilst retaining the power and poly of software and so on; a hardware synth that lasts long enough to be worth the development and shelf price will be nigh impossible to justify. In many cases it already is. Producers barely use them anymore.
I've been looking more towards hardware than software recently after the only Mac I've had that I've been using for logic for almost 10 years is basically dead (expectedly). So like, I'd kinda rather buy a bunch of hardware synths etc and record off them rather than buy new computers specifically for music every few years (or risk losing all my software). And so I feel that something like this is the only way to get a bunch of acoustic / orchestral sounds from hardware. Maybe something like the integra 7 would work, but that's getting old now. So yeah, that's why I have an interest in something like this. Does this mindset make sense, or am I just being dumb?
EDIT: a local music store has them on sale now... I'm kinda tempted
Exactly what I’ve just done, for the same reasons. I use an MPC as my brain though. This would also work. I have the Jupiter Xm and the software is amazing.
@@MusicZeroOne What I've been doing recently is using an old laptop to record midi (to fix up my imperfections and send it back to the instrument to play properly ;) ) and audio. But just that, no software instruments (I guess except drums which I don't have in hardware yet). So it should be easily replaceable with a potato that I'll probably already have when it gives up. MPCs do sound interesting though as I can spend a lot of my time in front of a computer for work so avoiding them in my spare time could be a good idea.
But yeah, I've only really been doing synth based music so far, since I can't really make acoustic sounds with this setup as it is.
@@nujuat I found recording MIDI to tweak really stunted my keyboard skills. I stopped doing that to force myself to practice until I can get it right. At first it was slower but it got better quicker than I thought it would.
Well, 70% of Roland D-50's development was software. How you can call a Fantom-0 a "hardware", beats me.
@@dvamateur Because it's not going to break in a few years when Apple releases planned redundancy.
I agree that its like a multi-fx unit but dont agree it is low end. This is more like a high end multi-fx unit instead of separate boutique
I don't think it matter if you use Mainstage, Ableton or a workstation live. It's up to you to do what you like to do. In the church world there is a huge push for mainstage and Ableton, also many broadway, and pop tours use mainstage to great effect. If you go to a lot of clubs or small venues or outside events I agree a workstation makes sense. Also if you are DAWless it's great. If you record film music then mostly it will have to go into a DAW whether you use hardware or VSTs for your sound.
At the end of the day anything is relevant if you love it. Roland sound great, works great and is still great! Yamaha, Korg, Nord and Kurzweil still have their followers as well as all the analog or VA synths. It's all still relevant and we have more choices now than ever before.
I use a 88 keylab from Arturia and an M1 Mac and it plays all the synths I need for a gig and I get the same great sounds in the studio and don't have to make other sounds for live. I come from a Triton and Roland workstations and I have those as VSTs now and they are fine. I find neither is better than the other. Computers take some work to get them right and you have to learn Mainstage or a DAW, workstations just work but the sounds may or may not be the best and you will have to learn a user interface specific to that model board. To each their own.
It’s just bizarre to me that someone whose “first synth” was a Juno-G, is put forth as some kind of authority on the subject, especially so far as offering any “historical” perspective.
It’s clear that there wasn’t even minimal due diligence performed in evaluating this instrument. There are no JP-6 or TB-303 “models” for instance.
One , technically they are cheaper, not high because you have to add the price of a computer with the other option. Now if a phone could be included then maybe
It's the V-Piano and the implicit mechanical stuff that makes the only significant difference in weight and price between the 06/07/08 and the full blown 6/7/8 flagship line. The rest is the same.
If roland packed a massive Library of vsts and orchestras exactly how daws and sound packs have become then definitely. Sometimes workstations are much easier. No constantly login account, download, install, setup and adjust. They still have that plug and play design
They're still relevant. If you're touring, it's hard to pass up a single unit that gives you kilograms of mutitimbrality, multiple channels of audio playback, a broad range of effects, a more or less decent keybed, common rompler sounds, and sophisticated synthesis capability (at the expense of it being reasonably tedious to access).
The current generation seem to largely lack the spontaneous jamming capability of groove boxes, (at least the Yamahas, Korgs, and the Roland FA series suffer from this). I wonder if there's a place for a workstation form-factor device but which dedicates more features to looping, jamming and spontaneity.
The problem with workstations is like you said "jack of all trades" - master of none. The rompler sounds will never compare to sample libraries, the synth sounds don't sound like the real thing so you have a keyboard full of unsatisfying imitations.
I was curious if this fantom 06 line had the analog filter that the fantom does but I guess not?
Interesting how you overcame your bias toward Nord(with it being VA, & not analog) and yet, you seem inclined to dismiss the Fantom-0 series without doing any serious research. First of all, this video does a very brief & rudimentary demo on the sounds & you cannot make a sound judgment based on it. To answer your question, the Fantom-0 series does not have an analog filter...but consider this; digital filters have come a long way in recent years and in the case of the Fantom,it has very high-resolution filters(1024 steps of adjustments)...rather than the typical standard of only 128 steps. If you get the opportunity to try out a Fantom-0 for yourself & you really dig in, I think you'll be impressed. To put a finer point on the subject of digital vs. analog filters, I have heard software emulations of classic analog hardware that would absolutely blow your mind(just check of the Virtual Oberheim OP-Xa VST from SonicProjects.ch and you'll see what I mean.
@@HighlandStudio91 sorry, I was talking about workstations in general, of which I've owned a handful, the montage in particular. And while I loved the montage for its Fm engine the awm2 sounds were very weak. Filter sucked and even the envelopes and velocity response were not up to par for a $2700 instrument. I think that's mostly because awm2 is sample based. So you're right, the fantom-0 could potentially have better filters and engines but as it stands my experience with workstations so far has been underwhelming.
@@kiko1935 No apology necessary...just suggesting you keep an open mind. Yes indeed, you were talking about workstations in general(but you also included the Fantom-0 in your generalization)...& there's no need to mince words here. I had the MODX and like you, I loved the FM engine...but that was about it(as the pseudo-sequencer was bs & I was not at all impressed with the PCM data. Speaking of which, the fact that the Montage/MODX's sound set(apart from the FM engine) was sample-based, wasn't necessarily the problem(although the quality of samples may have been sub-par)...the filters have a lot to do with it. For instance, your Nord is sampled-based as well( but the difference is, the samples are of considerable more quality, as are the filters.)
@@kiko1935 Wait, what's the problem with Yamaha's envelopes? I'm under the impression that they have easily the most versatile envelopes out of any other synth manufacturers. I feel like Yamahas envelopes would be the last thing anyone would complain about. If you're trying to lead people away from workstations, the Montage is a weird place to start.. and Roland's digital filters. Come on. What are your standards exactly?
And your PC isn't "jack of all trades"....PC'S etc are the epitome of that phrase🤣🤣🤣🤣
The death of the workstation was being predicted 20 years ago, just as you said in the video. They are not going to be irrelevant anytime soon.
I have over 60 model keyboards. However, this appears to be the most practical gigging keyboard. Yes, the sound 'may not" be a good as yamaha's, but for live sound, no one is gonna tell the different. Plus this keyboard is laid out perfectly to find sound, mix them live, and run a sequencer. This is gonna save me from brings a computer on tour and i can leave my Maschine at home. This keyboard has everything for running tracks. No logic or Live needed. This is great.......
I suppose if a person is ordering an 88 key Roland workstation, they better make sure they get the name right. Forgetting to mention the *"O"* could cost an extra two grand. They'll get a nice keyboard either way.
To me this is a very advanced instrument. I mean, 256 voices of polyphony without latency? That beats anything running on a Windows or Mac OS. By the way, isn't the Fantom-0 Linux based? Both the Nautilus and Montage are, so I would be surprised it the Fantom weren't.
I had a fantom 8 and got rid of it after a mis clicked button deleted my project too many times.
THERE'S ALWAYS A MARKET FOR IT..'RELEVANT' IS SUBJECTIVE AND POPULARITY BASED..
I think it's contextual.
With the use of recording your synth in a DAW to manipulate sound and use sounds from the instrument in your song means they are still relevant
YES, I spent 10 years on DAWs then switched to work stations exclusively. It has more soul because using a mouse to point and click notes is too robotic. Workstations makes you play each layer by hand in real time
As a guitar player I'd say there's always a real interface need for keys players.
Or what's the point?
We could all AI our way to any music now.
The future will always be real people placing hands on things to create sound.
People will be fully replaced by machines in time, due to efficiency and cost. The main motivator of the music industry is corporate/bank.
The limitation of AI is of course human expression; however projected simulation shows that machines can already out perform people in speed/notation and that potentially 'if' we can overcome the immense processing demands - theoretically speaking a machine could absorb the worlds musical knowledge/reference material and surpass us fairly easily.
Imagine classical music. Not everyone's 'cup of tea' as the British call it over here; but for the better part modern performers are graded on their ability to imitate past works with accurate expression (during learning). This moves on to them innovating - once they have mastered the correct touch/expressiveness.
A machine skips that initial learning. It effectively knows everything from day 1. So if it can take the accumulated data and combine it, reassemble it and otherwise; with a adaptive algorithm -- eventually the general public won't be able to tell the difference. Obviously early iterations will have flaws but long term? The human brain simply can't keep up.
I can use it as a audio interface also.🤣
Who said we can't have a redundant system in an affordable price? The more specialized gear, the more cable management, recalling setup problem, maneuvering issues, update/compatibility issues. We need a basic gear that can do everything, but not in detail. During the composing part, Daws, VSTs and external gears can help you to shape up your production in your studio. But you need a basic setup while on road or vacation where you don't want all those extra baggage. Likewise, in gig, you just need to deliver the finished, polished audio stems and saved scenes without risking your expensive vintage gears and laptop setup. Also, keep in mind, I have seen many rich buyers who has no knowledge about computer music making, they just want to own a 'pro' keyboard and make a finished song there to upload to their youtube channel without spending $5000 for a traditional arranger keyboard like Yamaha Tyros. The ease of use of Roland's FA and Fantom series could make it happen, except the fact they neglected the audio part a big time. In any of the Flagship Fantom, Fantom O and FA series, you can' record voice, guitar etc. but can't mix down a complete song without the help of a daw! You can't even hear your recorded vocal audio while trying to record a backing vocal harmony part because Roland won't let you playback and record the pads at the same time! While you can record on 64 pads, you can only play 4-8 at once in a single zone only! Roland lost many armature customers for this stupid limitation. Yes, everybody has laptops, everybody can download a free Daw, but why not give them an option to do the full song on the board? No serious musician would do that, but many hobbyist would do and your keyboard would sell like a hot cake!
Workstations are the SUVs of the keyboard world.
Workstations help you to make quick demos. so much easier to discover new things instead of clciking inside a DAW. Physical and digital blend together ;)
After performing on keyboards for 54 years I know precisely what I need and bought a FantomO6 this week. I also know that there isn't one single keyboard out there that can do everything well enough for a professional recording. The Fantom will be number 14th in synths I own and use every day. Will the Fantom replace all my other synths, no. My studio is DAWless, I record Vangelis style with a floor full of pedals and both hands and feet going at it, one take 32 channels recorded simultaneously on a hardware recorder. But can't orchestrate anything big without sequencers and playing with them to add more hands and levels of complexity. The Fantom will be used for its strong grouped sequences launched from the 4x4pads and its great sound, and its VA sound design which is as deep as synthesis goes with four oscillators.
The Fantom is not a beginner's synth unless using just presets. To get the most out of workstation synths the owner needs to be a practiced musician, some music theory, a sound designer, an audio engineer, an effects designer, a sample designer, a drummer and bassist orchestrator, a synth/piano/Epiano/organ/sample player. I teach people how to do all these things plus I repair and maintain clients' computers. Beginners buy these keyboards and are completely lost because they have never experienced recording in an all-hardware environment and understanding the flow of using a workstation in a keyboard or on a computer is beyond most capabilities.
I use each of my synths to their strengths, for example:
1) JunoDS for the vocoder, when in the vocoder mode and layering, the synth cannot do anything else.
2) Arturia MicroBrute for playing into my sampler and building large stereo mono/poly synths
3) Korg Minilogue for playing chords or blended notes into sampler for progression clips.
4) Roland Gaia for very fast hands-on control and sounding designing complex patches in less than 10 minutes with a gigantic stereo field.
5) Casio MZ-X500 with its powerful sequencer for building my own styles from a blank program, thus controlling the pitch of 8 tracks of sequenced pitched instruments with a simple chord change.
6) Various other modules for their own character and hands on (knob per function) control
This is false. I started as a literal school girl at 14 years old. No musical experience whatsoever. Taught myself (alone) how to use Korg Triton. No internet to speak of back then and I did everything I could with it. Westerners project WAY too much. Not everyone is handicapped. Rest assured you can use ANY synth competently with NO experience whatsoever. Just use your brain. Thats what its for. Musicians aren't in any way special.
Disagree-the ridiculous menu divey interface that workstations necessarily adopt really doesn't seem like a beginner-friendly thing.
Workstations are for wedding singers.
If a true workstation a great tool for demo's and jamming. If you don't need/use that you still have a standalone synthesizer.
I am a professional musician, I studied for 7 years at a conservatory, I am a composer with more than 30 songs written, and I am a vocalist and keyboardist in a band with a certain track record. That said, it's obvious that I don't simply function as a composer sitting in a room twiddling buttons and knobs and playing the pads of a colorful rhythm machine. I compose, write, edit, play live and while I am a computer fanatic and have over 3 terabytes worth of plugins and virtual libraries, the best 88 key midi controller on the market, and I cannot conceive of my performance without a workstation . I come from the era of 6 or 4 channel portastudios, I bought my first workstation that included a synthesizer, a drum kit, 2 effects processors, a sequencer, and a sonic palette of a few megabytes of instruments and sounds. Now if I can answer your question, any of my workstations is a midi interface, it integrates and manages my daw perfectly, it is even capable of mixing sounds from my plugins with its own, it allows me to connect another instrument and even record my voice, all using the internal effects of the workstation, allows me to use other instruments or external hardware all simultaneously and to top it off I can download iconic instrument sounds without mortgaging my house. If workstations evolved and still do ask jordan rudess when dixie dregs had a power failure that caused all of the dregs instruments to fail except for jordan's so he and rod improvised together until the power went restored and the concert could continue. My Mack book can die with all its infinite plugins in full concert, the mixer can melt and even so with the fantom 0 I have 4 inputs where 1 guitar 1 bass 1 vocalist and anything else you want can sound and I have two outputs in addition to the normal outputs for amplified sub bass,if that's not enough I don't know what will be. That is my humble opinion.
The technology is redundant. Not the concept. The issue is that people cannot afford to pay for a dedicated workstation over smaller and more specific devices as much anymore. Professionals and those with limitless budget - can of course use whatever they want. But that is a smallish market now, compared to what can be obtained from soft-sales. It's all about money. Nobody will much care what you are, what you studied or what you prefer. It's net total profit. The reason the new Korg development was shelved for example; was parts shortage globally (fair) and the extreme amount of rnd, vs recoup. Technology won't last decades like it once did anymore. So people feel safer with less expensive single purchases.
Well...to me, yes and no. No, because while I've owned a few workstations I've never used the sequencer once on any of them :) I've been sequencing on computers since the late 80s and that's where I like to work. However, what workstations do quite simply is give you a wide range of sounds if you are in (like I am) a gigging cover band. And they allow you to play multiple sounds at once (layers and splits) with a very high polyphony count.
At home, any workstation for me is simply going to be a midi controller. Conversely, I don't want to bring computers to live gigs (though I do use an ipad with my MODX to get a MUCH better b3 organ).
All this said, my perfect keyboard is something like the Nord Stage, no sequencer and good sounds from lots of categories including organ. But it's expensive as hell especially with the recent price hikes. The Yamaha YC with the recent leslie fix became a contender for me also, but it doesn't have a true synth engine like the Stage.
Is it still relevant? Yes. Absolutely. Sure, some can say just get a laptop and some software plus a "midi controller." However, why spend money on a "midi controller" when you can get a full-blown keyboard with some actual freakin' sounds in it (an actual synthesizer and sampler) with a sequencer to boot as well as multichannel USB audio streaming into a DAW. All of this in a device that takes up no more space than a midi controller of the same size. Save the CPU resources from resources hungry virtual instrument plugins and pipe the Fantom sounds into your laptop, track them out and mix them with your favorite signal processing plugin effects, not to mention the fact you also have the Roland effects at your disposal per part to shape the tone of each patch, thus reducing the need for external processing after tracking!!!! Just use the DAW as an audio multitrack recorder/mixer.
The new Fantom 0 is an amazing piece of hardware, especially for the price!!!
I don’t think you actually understand the basic point of the workstation and why it’s more powerful than any daw or computer based system.
It works, it don’t get in the way of you being creative.
Computers seem to randomly decide they dont want to play ball and ruin the creative moment.
The quality of sounds in them now isn’t second base or make shift.
It’s all about workflow and stability to me because music is something you hear not see on an lcd sceen, people just don’t get it.
While I'm happy with the Fantom-0x line I don't get Roland's marketing. I'd really love to buy a Fantom-x for the enhanced features over the Fantom-0x but the $2000 price difference is just insane. It's just about impossible to justify a purchase of an X while the 0x line gives you 80% of what the 0 line gives you. Roland should reevaluated the pricing of the 0 line and set it more inline with reality.
The differences are greater than that. The behavioral modelling in our flagship can't even be closely matched by the Fantom-0. Hence the price gap. The technology right now is prohibitively limited and expensive, because of the real world events both ongoing and during the pandemic. Music corporations take a back seat to numerous other 'demands' from various agencies. In other words you have a product that should be twice the price (as it has twice the chips) at a time when the world is in a difficult place (and companies equally need the money).
So if someone asks you why did Korg start pumping out mini synths and VST's you have your answer. They don't hate the consumer. They had a new Kronos ready to go actually. But the world needs time. Or nobody will be buying a single thing. So like Korg and Yamaha and us --- the appeal is into lots of sales of affordable units. Get people back into the music at an approachable price. Large spends can come later.
You gotta be a true keyboard player. It’s relevant fasho. I’m buying this or a mod x. Maybe both😎. They might be irrelevant to the studio beat makers. Most of them don’t even be knowing how to play the piano so DAWs have saved them
Come on Zach, you know better than that. Not everyone can afford to get a separate drum machine, a separate synth and a sampler and hope they have Efx built in. Like that Juno-G saved your bacon, you didn't have to buy all that other stuff because it was built in your Workstation. You as a young man probably didn't have room or money for all that stuff separately. Workstation have been relevant since the Ensoniq ESQ-1 came out in 86.
True!! I think they’re great tools…no hate!
probably. it means you don't have to load up a laptop doesn't it.
You're joking right? Ok, workstations aren't relevant in the sense that you're going to use it with a DAW and maybe a sampling app, so it doesn't need to stand completely by itself anymore. But the sounds, keyboard action and controls that you get from a top-end workstation exceed anything lower down in the range. I could buy an RD-2000 for Piano and EP, a Jupiter X for plugouts, a dedicated organ keyboard like a Nord Electro, and a cheaper Rompler like an FA-06. And they wouldn't sound any better than the top-tier components in the Fantom. They would actually have fewer capabilities in terms of layering, splits, sequencing and control. It wouldn't even be cheaper to do. So why would I consider it? VSTs and a controller don't replace hardware, especially for live musicians. And controllers with the number of performance controls and the quality of the Roland keyboard are rare and not cheap. So that's not a great alternative either.
As I said above, the role of DAWs and computers have grown greatly, which is why the Roland and Montage have DAW integration, and the Montage lacks many traditional workstation features entirely. But either of those would be the centerpiece of a professional studio or stage rig, and not many cheaper keyboards or computer alternatives could replace them nearly as well. You're fooling yourself if you believe otherwise.
By the way, you're the ONLY reviewer I've seen who thinks that the vintage plugouts on the Jupiter X/Xm and Fantom are unconvincing and don't sound like the originals. Everyone else thinks that they are great, and side-by-side comparisons with real Junos, Jupiters and SH101's bear this out. I don't know where you're coming from here.
I found the idea that, “workstations are made for beginners that do not know what they want” really reveals a lack of understand of the workstation market. The idea that Jordan Rudess, Cory Henry, Herbie Hancock, and other Grammy winning artists use workstations on stage because they are beginners and don’t know what they want is absurd. Most beginners are not spending the thousands of dollars these keyboards cost. Even this Fantom 0 “budget keyboard” costs $2000 US in the 88 key version.
Thank you. I just bought that machine to replace my Nord Stage 2 for the Rock band. I can perfectly control my VA Synthesizer with it and it delivers all acoustic sounds needed in a acceptable/good quality.
I think he is triggering with this video to gain clicks. I mean 80% of Coverband musicians use Workstations, 10% use only Stage Piano, and the Rest using Software. So yes there is a very big market…
@@darrickkeels6387
Exactly Mr Keels! 💯. What often happens is there is a set of people who think because they found 'an answer' for their workflow and performances, it is 'the answer' or model everyone else should follow. Since a thing works for them, it must be the only rational way to work. They bristle at anything that isn't what they come to expect. If you aren't doing their way, you're doing it all wrong.
Your videos helped me explore options. Thanks for your comments and information.
@@matthewgaines10 I couldn’t agree more. Which is why I always struggle to answer the question “Which keyboard is better?” or “Which keyboard is the best?” Not every keyboard works for everyone. And what I’ve noticed is that people tend to bash whatever they do not personally like or understand. A Moog One poly synth is currently $9000. I personally would not buy one. I cannot justify that kind of money for an instrument like that. But I never bash those that want one or have one. I don’t personally understand what the big deal is. I’ve heard all kinds of demos and yes it sounds good but nothing mind blowing in my opinion. But analog synths aren’t really “my thing.” As a gigging musician and one who has a regular job playing keyboards, an analog synth is never a necessity. And should one be needed I do have a Prophet REV2 by DSI. But just because it’s not “my thing.” Just because I don’t understand why a person would pay $9000 for an 16 voice poly synth, doesn’t mean I should label it a collectors’ item that has no real practical use. Because for someone it’s exactly what they want and or need.
Yes, it is relevant. VSTs are too expensive, so with a keyboard workstation, you can do it all.
I agree with another commenter workstations are egregiously over priced. If you have a halfway decent computer you can try FL Studio free and the basic version is $100 USD. And the internet is full of free stuff you can install into FL Studio. I remember paying something like $3000 USD for a workstation in 2013 and was asking this same question.
This was a good topic.I would say no with the way these groove boxes has evolved.I was told a long time ago it's not about the sounds really it's about the functionality of the unit itself.These groove boxes do a lot of the things these keyboard workstations are doing now for a cheaper price.Plus you can have the multi samples from all the keyboards in some of these groove boxes.People on ebey are selling the the multi samples right out their keyboards lol.I have Roland Yamaha and Korg multi samples.Realistic sounding expressive super natural multi samples also in my Mpc.So i say no unless you care what the the keyboard workstation does itself.