I admit, it was a mistake...

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

..trying to switch to hardware! Nothing like running up against a problem that you can't fix, which I guess is the issue with hardware synths.

My Fantom X has eight audio tracks and saves 'em to CompactFlash.. the issue.. it doesn't stream 'em, it actually has to LOAD the bloody TRACKS into RAM. Worse, the CF interface is painfully slow and it takes about 2 minutes just to load a MIDI song with a single vocal track!

And then there are only 3 onboard multieffects.. you'd think this would be good, but noooo, just try having a stepped gate, a compressor, a delay, and an enhancer going.. ain't gonna happen.

I learned a lot about composing from limiting myself to the Fantom, but oh man, when you hit the wall it's all over.. you can't just freeze a track or get more HD space or a faster CPU.. you're screwed.

I think I'll sell it off, get a top-end controller keyboard, and a guitar.

Sorry, just had to rant.

[shamann]

Perhaps you, ttoz and Quincy should form a support group. You could call it the "This time for sure club" or something.

[james0tucson]

I once went to the music store, with money burning a hole in my pocket, ready to upgrade my Roland XP80 to a Fantom. I played with the Fantom for a while, and while I really liked some things about it, I didn't actually like the key action better (just a preference), but I was totally disappointed in how long it took to boot up, save and load, etc. It gave me a whole new appreciation for my XP80 (which I use as a controller for software and for an XV5080).

[bluedad]

I still love my Motif ES rack, M Audio Keystation Pro 88
and Live 5

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

My ex-wife the sound designer has an XP80 and when I got to play with it, I loved it! I thought the Fantom would be a lot better.. eh.. live and learn.

Glad I didn't sell off all my software synths!

I should have just gotten a rack unit, Oh Well.

ps. don't put me in the same group as ttoz, I haven't switched platforms or repurchased more than 1 software synth!!! And I still have my Edirol PCR-80!!!

[Radek]

..trying to switch to hardware! Nothing like running up against a problem that you can't fix, which I guess is the issue with hardware synths.

Yep. Unfortunately this is typical for a hardware sample based synths. Their sample load perfomance is terrible if not worse.

It is really a pity because I wished once to have a Fantom XR, which can be extended to 0,5GB memory. But what is that worth when it needs over half hour to load such size? Small number of insert effects is another issue...

IMHO only the Motif ES rack is good enough with its eight insert fxes and two slots for hardware plugins such as AN150.

IMHO companies like Roland, Korg and Yamaha will offer more "civilised" synths/workstations. Korg already has done this with the Oasys workstation and Alesis with the Fusion. Others will follow soon hopefully.

[BONES]

But they'll still be bigger, heavier and more awkward to cart around to gigs than a laptop and a Micron.