Roland Fantom 8

Coming Soon…

The FANTOM-8 88-Note Workstation Keyboard from Roland is the latest addition to their workstation line up. It is designed as a kind of creative hub made for rapid production and expressive performance. Built to inspire on-board production to deliver authentic acoustic and electronic sounds, it is equipped with an expandable sound engine that delivers depth, control, and tools for deep computer integration with the ability to combine and shape them in exciting new ways. It can be used for live stage, theater, and recording applications.

FANTOM runs multiple synthesis technologies simultaneously for both modern and classic sounds. You can also sample your own sounds and trigger the internal memory with up to 2 GB worth of loops and one-shots from the pad matrix. FANTOM has plenty of knobs and sliders for intuitive control. There are levers, wheels, pedals, and aftertouch; with FANTOM, you can use any or all of them.

Furthermore, the FANTOM workstation is a complete musical composition platform and offers RGB pads and a classic TR-REC-style pattern sequencer, real-time recording with piano-roll editing, and a grid for recording and launching clips. You can use any or all whenever you want. This workstation works with computers and fully integrates a 16×3 stereo audio interface that can control DAWs and plug-ins from its touchscreen.

Finally, FANTOM is made of tough metal with high-grade components throughout. It is built sturdy to withstand the perils of live gigs and life on the road. The more you get to know FANTOM, the more you appreciate the thoughtful details that simplify your life as a keyboardist.

Creation

FANTOM fulfils the need to create. The smooth, rapid workflow has no confusing modes, technical limits, or trade-offs with sound quality. The creative process reflects how musicians work offering fluid composition tools, recallable creative environments, and deep computer integration.

No Modes, Just Seamless Workflow

When the creative juices are flowing, there should be no barriers. With FANTOM, you won’t compromise your sound or suffer workarounds due to outdated technical limits. You can forget about what features work in which mode. FANTOM is always in full-on creative mode and your workflow stays consistent, no matter what.

Make a Scene

When you’re ready to create, all it takes is a single touch. Sounds, patterns, and performance layouts can be arranged into custom creative spaces called scenes. A scene can be an entire song, section of a song, or a starting point with your favorite sounds laid out. They can be chained together and changed instantly with no gaps or glitches.

Everything, Always

You shouldn’t have to wonder how many effects are available or if you can change sounds seamlessly without limiting complex patches. With FANTOM, just focus on playing music and not rationing processing power. You can run all 16 parts with all available effects—simultaneously—for seamless transitions. It’s like having the power of two complete FANTOMs in one.

Sound

FANTOM’s flexible and expandable sound engine dishes out authentic electronic, acoustic, and hybrid sound. It allows you to combine different synthesis and sampling technologies along with the on-board analog filters and take advantage of updated sound expansions as they become available.

One Engine, Infinite Possibilities

FANTOM’s expandable sound engine nails the classic synths and pushes into new sonic territory as well. The custom behavior modeling chips power FANTOM’s core with smooth and precise control, loads of polyphony, and full patches remain. In addition, it is part of an expandable platform with new sounds and new possibilities offered.

Authentic, Evocative Sounds

FANTOM runs multiple synthesis technologies simultaneously for authentic acoustic, electronic sounds, and both modern and classic. You can also sample your own sounds and trigger up to 2 GB worth of loops and one-shots from the pad matrix. There’s a fully routable analog filter for extra warmth and grit, and you can even mix soft synths with FANTOM’s internal sounds.

The Piano Is Key

With this workstation, V-Piano technology makes pianos sound real and feel real. You can craft pianos that play and respond like their acoustic counterparts and match to your personal taste.

Sonic Superpowers

The keyboards synth engine is based on partials. Each partial starts with a discrete synth voice, complete with oscillator, filter, amplifier, dual LFO, and effects. You can have up to four partials in a single tone, and a scene can contain up to 16 tones for complex layers, splits, and sequenced parts.

LFOs and Modulation

Low-frequency oscillators add movement to static sounds. More LFOs mean more modulation possibilities and more ways to explore new grounds. FANTOM has two LFOs per partial, four partials per tone—and since you can stack 16 tones, that’s a staggering 128 LFOs per voice. Also, FANTOM’s step-LFOs have 16 steps of beat-synced automation with 35 curve choices per step. This creates long evolving passages, modular-style animated textures, and sounds with deeply intricate movement.

Playability

The FANTOM focuses on the experience of playing, from its immersive keyboard action to its arsenal of performance controls.

Players Paradise

Featuring a PHA-50, 88-note keyboard, it feels solid, precise, and playable with aftertouch.

High-Res, Hands-On Control

FANTOM has plenty of knobs and sliders for intuitive controls and high-resolution for buttery-smooth sweeps and fine tune adjustments. There’s a dedicated synthesizer section with oscillator, filter, and envelope controls and numerous buttons and pads for triggering and sequencing.

Go Ahead, Express Yourself

There are many ways to play expressively on keyboards. Some players like levers, some like wheels, some prefer pedals, while others prefer aftertouch; with FANTOM, you can use any or all of them. You can even connect USB controllers to any of the three USB ports for enhanced expression.

Sequencing

FANTOM is a complete musical composition platform that excels at fast creation and fluid arrangement. You have RGB pads, a classic TR-REC style pattern sequencer, real-time recording with piano-roll editing, and a grid for recording and launching clips. Use any or all, whenever you want.

From Spark to Fire

Different musical genres need diverse production styles and specialized tools. You can create patterns on FANTOM in a variety of ways including real and step-time polyphonic sequencing or the TR-REC pattern sequencer, which is suitable for rhythmic parts like the ones used on drum machines.

Clip-Based Sequencing

You can build up a track by arranging clips that contain musical patterns. Drums, basslines, pads, and other patterns can be recorded into clips that you can trigger individually or in groups. It’s a lightning-fast way to compose and ideal for triggering backing tracks during live performance.

TR-REC Step-Sequencer

The foundation of dance music is the step-sequencer, specifically the 16-step TR-REC variety found on drum machines like the TR-808, TR-909, and modern TR-8S. FANTOM’s onboard TR-REC sequencer is fully modernized with sub-steps for ratcheted parts, motion control for per-step automation, and support for chords.

Connectivity

FANTOM can control software synthesizers directly from the touchscreen, drive modular and analog synthesizers from its dual CV/gate outputs, and is also a high-quality audio interface capable of 16 stereo outputs and 3 stereo inputs.

Computer Expert

This workstation doesn’t just work with computers, it fully integrates. FANTOM is a high-quality 16×3 stereo audio interface and can control DAWs and plugins from its touchscreen. It can integrate soft synths into scenes and send parts composed on FANTOM directly to your DAW.

Deep Soft-Synth Integration

Customize your sound by integrating your plug-in soft synths with FANTOM. Control Apple Logic, Garage Band, and Mainstage, and adjust soft synth parameters right from FANTOM’s touchscreen. Mix and layer soft synths with FANTOM’s internal sounds, and then route them through FANTOM’s analog filter section.

Dual CV/Gate

While FANTOM provides enormous creative potential, you may also want to integrate analog synths or drum machines with your setup. FANTOM has two sets of CV/gate outputs so you can sync tempo or play them from FANTOM’s keyboard or its many pattern sequencers.

Design

FANTOM’s clean and intuitive layout, premium materials, and great keyboard action result in an instrument that begs to be played.

Everything in its Place

FANTOM is designed to propel the creative process and play beautifully. The placement of each control and how it interacts has been thoroughly considered with today’s workflow in mind.

Built to Last

Built of tough metal and high-grade components, the workstation is sturdy and designed to withstand the perils of live gigs and life on the road.

It’s the Little Things

The more you get to know FANTOM, the more you appreciate the thoughtful details that simplify your life as a keyboardist. From the slight curvature of the top-panel labels for rear connections, to the informative RGB-lit controls and buttons, FANTOM facilitates creativity and eliminates frustration.

FEATURES

• 16-part multitimbral music workstation keyboard
• 88-note, aftertouch-sensitive, PHA-50 progressive hammer-action keybed with escapement
• Fluid workflow no confusing modes, technical limitations, or sonic compromises
• Expandable ZEN-Core sound engine delivers authentic acoustic and electronic instruments
• Modern hybrid sounds combining PCM, virtual analog, and routable analog filter
• Roland’s V-Piano technology for breathtaking realism and expression
• Polyphony: ZEN-Core: 256 notes; V-Piano Engine: unlimited
• Scenes contain parameters for all 16 layers, plus patterns and effects
• Deep integration with your DAW and plug-ins
• Onboard 16×3 stereo audio interface
• 2 XLR-1/4″ combo mic/line/instrument inputs
• Clip-based multitrack sequencing with pattern recording and triggering
• Updated TR-REC sequencer inspired by classic Roland drum machines
• High-resolution controls with dedicated synth control section
• Massive DSP for robust polyphony and seamless patch transitions
• LCD touchscreen
• 128 LFOs
• Onboard FX engine
• Balanced XLR main outputs; 6 x 1/4″ outs
• MIDI In/Out/Through
• USB-to-Host; USB-to-Device; 3 external device USB ports
• 2 sets of CV/Gate outputs
• 4 pedal jacks