Trinity or Fantom?

Rook · May 23, 2012, 01:01:01 AM

That puts it in a bit of a different perspective for me. If you aren't particularly invested in the Trinity, I'd switch over. As a controller and live synth, the realtime control options on the Fantom are petty enticing. If only the Kronos had some pads!

/R

(And yes, a Fantom AND a Tinity gives you EVEN MORE realtime control!)

Mikey · May 24, 2012, 10:01:38 PM

What about a Trintom or a Fanity?

Jem · June 02, 2012, 06:42:40 PM

It's actually a pretty good idea, why not hire an X6 for the weekend?

http://www.studiohire.net/display.php?t ... current=7#

I'd say the Trinity sounds aren't anywhere as good as the Fantom X's particularly the piano and especially if it's got the SRX7 Classic Keys board installed. I think the X sounded better than the Fantom G even.

You'll miss the touchscreen and the sampling is a bit more of a pain in the arse on an X, particularly setting up multisamples. But the X has 16 pads. I wish the Kronos had even 8 pads...Plugging a NanoPad in just isn't the same.

Also the X is capable of seamless patch changes if you lay off the master FX a bit. Plus for live use, it's jolly small and jolly light. And I think it's a pretty little synth, although I'd say the Trinity is a bit of a design classic.

Dunno about the sequencers on any of these workstations, I've never had need to use any of them. Sorry 'boot that.

Do let me know what you decide though, PM or mail me.

Mikey · June 02, 2012, 08:17:34 PM

Hello boss

Good to see you pop by.

Get the biccies in, it's your turn.

Hope things are tickity and boo

sawtooth · June 02, 2012, 09:42:17 PM

Quote from: "Jem"It's actually a pretty good idea, why not hire an X6 for the weekend?

http://www.studiohire.net/display.php?t ... current=7#

I'd say the Trinity sounds aren't anywhere as good as the Fantom X's particularly the piano and especially if it's got the SRX7 Classic Keys board installed. I think the X sounded better than the Fantom G even.

You'll miss the touchscreen and the sampling is a bit more of a pain in the arse on an X, particularly setting up multisamples. But the X has 16 pads. I wish the Kronos had even 8 pads...Plugging a NanoPad in just isn't the same.

Also the X is capable of seamless patch changes if you lay off the master FX a bit. Plus for live use, it's jolly small and jolly light. And I think it's a pretty little synth, although I'd say the Trinity is a bit of a design classic.

Dunno about the sequencers on any of these workstations, I've never had need to use any of them. Sorry 'boot that.

Do let me know what you decide though, PM or mail me.

Bless ya for taking the time out to give me that point in the right direction gaffer - it's much valued and appreciated, 'specially in light of how phenomenally busy you are!

Good idea about the hire scenario too in regards to the X series - I've had chance to have a lengthy muck about with a G6 in the local purveyor of music acoutrments and I'm mightily impressed with the ease of use - and reading the pdf manual I downloaded, chucking samples to and fro with the mac and the neat integration with Logic seems like it would make life much easier. I might even get rid of my Keystation Pro88 as I think with judicious keysplits on the Fantom, I might be able to cope with 61 keys for gigging. The Fantom/Mainstage combo would make a neat and compact rig.

But I take the point of the X possibly sounding a bit better - that seems to be the general consensus on the Roland forums, along with a perceived lack of support of the G series compared to the X.
So the only thing to decide now is X6 or G6 because the odd one or two G prices are getting scarily low just lately.

Mind you, bargain hunters - I've recently found the old adage of "if the price is too good to be true, then it probably is" very helpful. There are quite a few scams out there such as unscrupulous types such as a 'lady' named Alexa advertising the same product in Gumtree as was sold weeks earlier on ebay, and sending out standard emails with vague information and offering free Parcelforce delivery with payment via UKASH or Paypoint. But there are a few genuine bargains out there, must be the recession biting.

Anyway, thanks so much for the advice Jem. I should know by the end of next week as I've got a few Fantom-shaped irons in the fire ;-)

LeonH · June 11, 2012, 04:59:05 AM

Hey Sawtooth,

I went through a similar set of choices a couple of years back (I was on here asking about the G after I saw Jems Geek Report on the G for Black Light Machine). I was using a mainstage based rig and was looking at getting back to hardware because MIDI controllers suck, which I did in the end. I ended up getting the Fantom G6 and have been very happy with it. It's my main gigging board now, and is my main board for the Logic based studio setup as well, as it has USB audio and MIDI it integrates very well. It's also outstanding as live board, and the seamless patch change with FX makes using a the 61 key board useable for gigs as it's so easy to do layers and splits and change live sets to get around the lack of keys. I can cover a lot of ground using it.I also considered the X but went with the G as it just has more modern amenities and they really come in handy for me. Also if I want to keep using mainstage live it's just a one USB cable connection and then use the external parts on the Fantom G and you're done. The G is a very versatile machine. The pads a great and the sequencer and RPS stuff is good too. Also the build quality is excellent, and the keybed is great. There are a few gotchas, but mostly can be worked around. The G's presets can be a bit weak, but there some gold in there, and if you programme it yourself you can get some great sounds out it. The ARX boards are limited but the brass is outstanding and the drums are good. The EP is a bit hit and miss. I would have listen to both the X and G though, before you decide. I'm sure the X is a great board, and everyone who gets one seems to love it and it's backward compatible with all the previous generations, whereas the G isn't. For me the extra features of the G got it over the line, but I'm very happy with it.

Good luck with your choice! If you have any other questions about it ask away!

sawtooth · June 11, 2012, 02:53:40 PM

Quote from: "LeonH"Hey Sawtooth,

I went through a similar set of choices a couple of years back (I was on here asking about the G after I saw Jems Geek Report on the G for Black Light Machine). I was using a mainstage based rig and was looking at getting back to hardware because MIDI controllers suck, which I did in the end. I ended up getting the Fantom G6 and have been very happy with it. It's my main gigging board now, and is my main board for the Logic based studio setup as well, as it has USB audio and MIDI it integrates very well. It's also outstanding as live board, and the seamless patch change with FX makes using a the 61 key board useable for gigs as it's so easy to do layers and splits and change live sets to get around the lack of keys. I can cover a lot of ground using it.I also considered the X but went with the G as it just has more modern amenities and they really come in handy for me. Also if I want to keep using mainstage live it's just a one USB cable connection and then use the external parts on the Fantom G and you're done. The G is a very versatile machine. The pads a great and the sequencer and RPS stuff is good too. Also the build quality is excellent, and the keybed is great. There are a few gotchas, but mostly can be worked around. The G's presets can be a bit weak, but there some gold in there, and if you programme it yourself you can get some great sounds out it. The ARX boards are limited but the brass is outstanding and the drums are good. The EP is a bit hit and miss. I would have listen to both the X and G though, before you decide. I'm sure the X is a great board, and everyone who gets one seems to love it and it's backward compatible with all the previous generations, whereas the G isn't. For me the extra features of the G got it over the line, but I'm very happy with it.

Good luck with your choice! If you have any other questions about it ask away!

Thanks LeonH - your reply pretty much crystallises my thinking on roughly the same lines of X sounds & compatibility versus G ease of use & features.
I'd like to use the Fantom G as my audio interface too, streaming Mainstage through the Fantoms outputs, to avoid taking my Presonus Firebox with me. If you have experience with doing this, is the latency reasonable, (or at least an improvement from using the Macs built-in I/O)?
Anyway my decision is pretty much swinging towards G - and I'm going to have a look at a very well priced used G6 this weekend

LeonH · June 12, 2012, 12:19:25 AM

Yeah the ability to stream the audio was a big plus for me over the X. I got jack of the whole setup for quick gigs using the MIDI controller/Laptop/Audio interface approach. Too stressful, even if it's well planned out beforehand. The latency is good. I run at 128k and have had no problems in Logic. Also the audio output of the Fantom is excellent. The computer sounds very good through it.
Haven't used it much with Mainstage, because to be honest in a live band situation the G is great. It's sounds actually are a lot better than I expected for a ROMpler so I've been using it on it's own. It's very fast to set things up in Live Mode and if you get under hood you can get some pretty cool things going on. I wish it could take SRX boards though, but I have a JV-1080 so all my old Roland sounds live in that.

sawtooth · June 17, 2012, 01:08:52 AM

Fantom G6 won in the end! Used, but not abused at a silly 3 figure price. And with provenance so I know it's not fallen off the back of a lorry....it would have been rude not to buy it.

Will post pics as proof later when I've taken it up to my lair

Rook · June 17, 2012, 02:03:42 AM

Congrats on the new toy. May it bring you much inspiration

/R

Pedro · June 17, 2012, 10:33:54 AM

Yes, grats and may it inspire the release of your Other Me mix.

sawtooth · June 17, 2012, 02:10:44 PM

Quote from: "Pedro"Yes, grats and may it inspire the release of your Other Me mix.

It will Pedders, it will....
Although after all this time, the end result will probably be a bit of a let-down! :lol: :lol:

I tell you what though - being able to control Mainstage from the Fantom, and then being able to chuck it all back through the Fantom, mixed with the synths sounds, and not have to faff around with a separate audio interface is bloody brilliant!

sawtooth · June 17, 2012, 10:41:17 PM

Awww the Fantom and the Trinity seem to be getting on really well together.
But the Trins gotta go.....

Pedro · June 17, 2012, 10:52:04 PM

That doesn't look like not having space to me! Nice rig.

sawtooth · June 18, 2012, 04:43:19 PM

Quote from: "Pedro"That doesn't look like not having space to me! Nice rig.

Ahh, but what you cant see just out of picture is my Keystation Pro88 which has to go too, and my ancient Kawai K1 (I'm keeping that for sentimental reasons, Mrs Sawtooth bought it me as a totally unexpected surprise birthday prezzie when they first came out a gazillion years ago, 'twas my first sample & synth board).

And loads of other clutter that'll never get used.....