一篇老外review,
大意:音色表現絕對超過5080(不只是新加的音色,包括一些老音色,),
可插的srx卡多了, user bank多了,
接口少些(4out,沒r bus),16parts,多了採樣功能(5080只能用音色盤)
可以usb直錄或喂sample,無損音質
Hi there.
I have both the XV-5080 and Fantom-X8 now. I have only had the X8 for
6 days now (4 of which I was gone on vacation) so this will be a
limited comparison between stuff I know about the Fantom-X and XV-5080
(I've had my 5080 for over a year now).
SAMPLE PLAYBACK:
The Fantom-X handles sample-playback in a very different way than the
5080. The XV-5080 sample playback interface is very similar to the
S-760/770 sampler architecture, using the "multi-partial" patch
structure. Though the multi-partial patch structure is powerful
(particularly since you can pipe your multi-partials through the XV's
onboard effects), it lacks some of the additional power of the 4-Tone
structure such as 4 stereo tones, more LFOs than the multi-partial
structure allows, and the 4-tone structure has more filter options.
The Fantom-X treats patches created based on internal/expansion
waveforms the same as patches created using imported/recorded samples.
There is no multi-partial differentiation for sample playback.
Instead, the Fantom-X (this is likely true of the Fantom-S as well, I
don't know for sure) uses what are called "MultiSamples" which are
basically collections of individual samples (similar to Multi-Partials)
with each sample assigned to a specific key. MultiSamples can consist
of stereo samples or mono samples (I haven't tested the use of
combinations of stereo and mono samples yet). When creating a patch,
"MSAMP" is a separate bank for all your user saved MulitSamples. The
MSAMP bank is a separate waveform bank that contains only MultiSample
collections (a MultiSample only contains a list of waveforms and what
keys activate them, not actual sample data, the individual samples must
be loaded separately).
The disadvantage of the MultiSample architecture on the Fantom-X is
that the MultiSamples cannot be edited. You cannot manually set key
ranges for individual samples, or replace one sample in the list with a
different one. The key ranges for individual samples in a MultiSample
are determined by the synth when you create the MultiSample, based on
the original key that the individual samples were sampled in (this is
editable per sample as is the original tempo, start point, loop point,
end point, and "Time Stretch" type and quality). I have not yet
installed and used the included Fantom-X Editor/Librarian software.
That software may allow you to do this, but I'm not sure.
Roland has not completed the sample conversion application that was
originally intended to be bundled with the Fantom-X for both Mac and PC
but is supposed to have it available from their web site sometime in
April (or May) as a free download. It will be compatible with the
Fantom-S as well and will convert Roland S-7xx and Akai 1000 (possibly
3000 as well) patches (and possibly performances, not sure about this
one) to the Fantom sample format. The software is based on the
Translator application by Chicken Systems and is actually being created
by that company under contract from Roland (this information comes 2nd
hand from someone with contacts to a Roland Product Manager in Roland
US).
EFFECTS:
The XV-5080 has more EFX effects than the Fantom-X (90 on the XV versus
78 on the Fantom-X). The MFX on the Fantom-X are the same as on the
Fantom-S88 from what I understand. The effects not included no the
Fantom-X are some of the RSS (Roland Sound Space) 3-D environment
emulations, many of the fall-back Super-JV effects that are included on
the XV for backwards compatibility, and probably the JD effects that
are part of the XV. Some additional effects have been added on the
Fantom that don't exist on the XV (including some different RSS and
COSM effects). There are now record simulation, lo-fi radio, and
telephone effects (useful for grunging up your sound).
In the Fantom-X, in Performance mode, you can connect all 3 of the MFX
processors in series or parallel (something you can't do on the XV that
I'm aware of).
The Fantom-X includes the SRV-3030 Reverb options that the XV-5080
offers in its Reverb processor, so quality reverb is still attainable.
A "Mastering" effect is included with the Fantom-X which is basically a
3-band compressor that affects the overall output (to the Output A
(Mix), Digital Output, and Headphones ports). This is useful for
prepping your work for distribution. It basically separates the output
into 3 frequency ranges and compresses each frequency range separately.
This evens out the overall spectrum of sound throughout the entire
song.
PRESET SOUNDS/WAVEFORMS:
If you're interested in piano sounds, the new piano samples on the
Fantom-X are probably the best you'll find in a stand-alone workstation
or module. I like pianos and was thoroughly impressed with the sampled
piano included with the Fantom-X. Each key was sampled on the piano
(all 88) at 4 velocity levels in stereo. The sample lengths are
decently long considering the space that they were fit into. They are
noticeably brighter, and in many ways of better quality than the
samples on the SRX-02 Concert Piano expansion board (which I also
have). The "Sympathetic Resonance" MFX effect in the Fantom-X and the
half-damper support (using the DP-8 pedal which I also have) really
adds realism to any piano, especially a well sampled one.
The other waveforms on the Fantom-X, of the ones I've auditioned so
far, are also all very good overall. There is a very nice classical
nylon guitar waveform as well as a large number of JP and JD waveforms.
There are a bit over 1400 waveforms and I haven't auditioned them all
yet.
The Patches in the Fantom-X seem well programmed. There seems to be
more attention paid to detail in many of them than I found in the
Super-JV, and to some degree in the XV-5080 patches. As I have not yet
auditioned all the Fantom-X patches though, I can't make any broad
generalizations yet.
STUDIO INTEGRATION:
I don't work in or run a professional or even a semi-professional
studio, but I can tell you from the feature differences between the
XV-5080 and the Fantom-X that the XV-5080 will likely integrate much
more smoothly into a studio environment than the Fantom-X will. The XV
has a number of features that are missing in the Fantom-X such as R-BUS
output, 8 analog outputs, word clock input, optical S/P DIF output,
SCSI support, support for controlling multiple mass storage devices and
reading Akai and Roland S-7xx format media without external software or
computers, support for 32 MIDI channels (and 32 Part multi-timbrel
support), backwards compatibility with Super-JV patches and 4 SR-JV80
expansion slots for legacy expansion boards. The Fantom-X does not
have any of these features, or has scaled down equivalents (e.g. 4
analog outputs, not 8, and only 16 channel and 16 Part multi-timbrel
support, not 32). However, if you are a "one-man band" or small home
studio person, the Fantom-X would probably be better suited for your
needs as most of the above mentioned features would not be used often
if at all. Additionally, the Fantom-X integrates more easily with DAWs
via USB (USB MIDI support as well as Mass Storage emulation so the
computer can read/write data from/to the Fantom-X sample area).
Since you wanted a comparison between the Fantom-X and the XV-5080, I'm
assuming you're more interested in the Fantom-XR and not the keyboard
models. The keyboard models have the obvious inclusion of sequencer
and control surfaces that the XV-5080 does not have so I won't even get
into those features (besides, I haven't had time to research them much
myself anyway).
Kind regards,
Nathan
---------------------------------
Nathan Sheldon
spamfree_me@n...
(remove the "spamfree_" from the address to e-mail me)
http://www.nathansheldon.com/
---------------------------------
On Mar 30, 2004, at 4:22 PM, rjstudio6 wrote:
> Just wondering if anyone has compared the two and how well
> they stack up to each other???
>
> Curious for some input from someone who demoed or has both.
>
> THANKS