Roland has announced a major update for its FANTOM 6/7/8 users, with the release of a software update that can be downloaded and installed on the flagship synthesisers. Rather than launching a whole new physical keyboard, Roland has taken the much friendlier and cost-effective step of letting users purchase and download the additional software and expand the capabilities of their instrument.
Bear in mind that this FANTOM EX upgrade is only for the FANTOM 6, FANTOM 7 and FANTOM 8 instruments, and not any of the other FANTOM series (such as the 0 or G).
Highlights of the upgrade include the availability of ACB (Analog Circuit Behaviour) modelling technology, new grand pianos, JD-800 and n/zyme model expansions, studio-grade reverb effects, plus tools for practice, stage and studio.
Key Features
- Exclusive JUPITER-8 ACB Expansion and SH-101 ACB Expansion* with authentic sound and response, powered by Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB)
- German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01, previously only available for the RD-2000 stage piano
- Newly developed SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3 Expansion
- JD-800 Model Expansion recreates the landmark Roland digital synth from 1991
- n/zyme Model Expansion, a powerful modern synthesizer engine designed for the FANTOM environment
- New studio-grade Shimmer Reverb and Modulation Reverb effect types
- New V-Piano graphical interface
- Added DAW control profiles for Cubase and Studio One
- Mastering EQ and Mastering Comp template functions and new graphical interfaces
- Available for purchase in Roland Cloud Manager
Analog Circuit Behaviour
Roland’s ACB core technology is used in AIRA products such as the TR-8S and SYSTEM-8, and brings authentic analog sound experience to digital instruments, by faithfully recreating analog circuitry and their interactive behaviours at a deep component level.
All the latest ACB advancements are integrated, including recently developed Circuit Mod and Condition functions for dialing in varying degrees of vintage character.
The JUPITER-8 ACB Expansion puts a complete circuit-level recreation of this vintage icon inside your FANTOM, along with a full graphical representation of the synth on the color display. Play the lush analog sounds of this classic on their own, or freely combine them with other FANTOM tones to craft sounds that are out of this world.
The SH-101 ACB Expansion is an ultra-detailed sonic replica of the famous Roland SH-101 from 1982, a potent monosynth that continues to shape and inspire electronic music styles the world over. Bring the SH’s brain-bending bass and one-of-a-kind lead sounds into your FANTOM workflow, complete with a graphical display that mimics the original’s friendly and intuitive layout.
Acoustic Pianos
Roland’s V-Piano and SuperNATURAL technology is on board in the two acoustic pianos added in EX. These are the German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01, an inspiring instrument with a rich, powerful, and detailed voice, and SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3, with advanced Behavior Modeling technology.
ZEN-Core Model Expansions
Model Expansions provide unprecedented access to the historic and ever-evolving world of Roland synthesizers. The EX expansion comes with JD-800 and n/zyme expansions.
Combining the original JD-800 waveforms with advanced modeling techniques, the JD-800 Model Expansion puts the gleaming tone and monster sound-shaping potential of this vintage digital icon inside the FANTOM.
n/zyme is a thoroughly modern instrument with an all-new synth engine developed for the FANTOM environment. Combining wavetable oscillator layers, phase and shape modulation, resonant filters, and two insanely powerful Step LFOs, n/zyme is a highly interactive music tool that sparks endless creative explorations.
Reverb
Delivering sonic quality that rivals the finest standalone effect processors, the newly developed Shimmer Reverb and Modulation Reverb algorithms instantly infuse any sound with spaciousness and intense harmonic color. They’re included as new types in the Reverb section, giving you even more options to add depth and dynamic complexity to Scenes.
Performance/Production Tools
FANTOM’s DAW Control has been expanded with profiles for Steinberg Cubase and PreSonus Studio One. Additionally, the Master FX processor includes new ready-to-use preset templates for faster results and refreshed graphical interfaces for the Mastering Comp and Mastering EQ sections.
Availability
The FANTOM EX upgrade is available now for $199.
