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1. NicEL8000
   Member

   Hi All,

   Tony, I totally agree that we should pick each others brains on this topic. After all, there's quite a few of us now with the Fantom, and I think it would benefit us all, if we all shared our thoughts, likes and dislikes about it. Mind you I feel a bit of a "fraud" since I'm not using it all for theatre sounds, but having said that, I'm getting into the editing of sounds, which is really easy and can make a huge difference, and that might prove useful for others that may be unfamiliar with the Fantom's layout.

   Your query re touch sensitivity - there is no 'on/off' touch for the whole thing, you have to set each part individualy. Don't fret though, this is actually a bonus once you get used to it. I know what you are saying about the strings....some of them can be...er...not too good, but some are excellent. Don't know how much you have tried to dabble with the internal sounds, but even if you think some sounds aren't great, it's surprising what a bit of tweaking can acheive. For instance, I don't know about anyone else, but I think the saxes are pretty poor... but if you take, say, PRC 045 Solo Alto Sax, it's not too bad....but the touch is a tad fierce and the sound quite soft and mellow. If (in performance mode) you go to the 'velo' (velocity offset) and take it back to -12, skip back a few pages to the 'cut', 'res' (filters) page and increase them to, say +20/25, the result :- not only can you hear the difference, you can feel the whole dynamics of the sound changing. I've found many of the sounds are quite extreme on the initial/aftertouch compared to what I'm used to, but, I'm trying to persevere with getting to grips with it as many of these samples are like the Yamaha's 'Super Articulated' voices... in other words, if you lighten the touch up too much, it can spoil it. Having said that, it took me a week to get to grips with the touch on one of the acoustic guitars!!! Rome wasn't built in a day....

   I've also fitted the SRX 'orchestral' and 'world' expansion boards to mine which has given it a huge boost, but I wouldn't urge anyone to purchase these unless you are obsessive about Orchestral sounds. My husband nearly choked at the dinner table one night as I casually metioned I'd ordered them, and they were costing £225 EACH!!!! Thankfully, he now agrees that they were, indeed worth the money (Phew!), but for someone like Keith that has some excellent sounds on the AT 60, I don't know if I would recommend adding any expansion boards.

   To update you all re the expression problem :- the Roland chap is investigating it, and if he gets no solution from Roland UK, he will try Roland Japan and/or Italy. This may take a while though, and if any of you are "champing at the bit" to get it resolved, the quickest solution may just be to get the box....

   Keith, I don't want you to feel left out here with us chatting about Reg Rawlings. I don't know if you have previously made contact with him? I'm just wondering what is the easiest solution for you to get the box if you do decide you want to get it?

   Tony, what do you think? Would Keith be best to contact Reg like the rest of us, or would he be better trying to source the box in New Zealand? You know more about the ins and outs of how to purchase it than me :-)

   I'll be back again to pick your brains to see if I could program the box to do pitch bend :-)

   I think that's enough of me droning on for now though.....

   Regards All,

   Nicola

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. tony400
   Member

   Hello again nicola and all.. you must have your set up sounding like the roland AT900c .!!. i had the expansion board srx orchestral in the old fantom i had .. i didnt have any plans to buy another so quick or at all so that went with it..

   Anyway getting back to the midi events processor .. i got mine from a place in the USA called the midi store it was US $125 plus postage which was $25 (thats £90.00) .. then came that little card from royal mail which was £21,90 customs charge .. ordering from midi solutions is US $149 . plus the postage .

   Thanks for that bit of info niciola on adjusting the velocity on the fantom i shall give a go.for 5 mins before bedtime.. here he goes again at this hour zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzz ..

   Re: pitchbend .. i think if im not wrong you have 2 expression pedals on the EL90 like i have on the HX1. if you use the left one which controls on foot volume CC4 and just map the event to pitch bend on the software then programme the midi box .now by using the 2nd pedal on the organ it will bend these notes on the fantom of course you can use other functions on the organ to control this like a mod wheel, footswitch . all clever stuff and the joys of midi !. you can download the software and just have a look like i did without the need of the box which i found very helpful calling so i`ll speak soon .. Tony

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. NicEL8000
   Member

   Hi Tony,

   Thanks for that info. VERY interesting indeed.....I could 'dabble' with my friends box....but I'd be scared I'd make a mistake and maybe it spoil it for his set-up. :-( I think I'll maybe drop a few hints to the family that Christmas is fast approaching....... :-)

   I had a smile to myself re your comment that it's like an AT900c...On reflection, having played both, I actually prefer the Fantom as you have more scope with the 16 parts, the top AND bottom splits AND the excellent editing facilities which are not available on the organ, although to be fair, the organ is quicker and easier to use.
   You could say I'm biased, but to be honest, I get a far bigger "buzz" playing the Fantom than the AT900c. I can imagine some people think I'm "barking mad" saying that...but, it was a case of "love at first sight...or should I say touch" when I first tried it. I had never known of it's existence until a friend asked me to try his one out.....at that point I knew nothing about it or what it cost, but after about 20minutes of playing it, I knew I just HAD to get one, regardless of the price (I think Roland have this expander vastly underpriced for what it does - not something you'll hear a Scottish "Scrooge" saying often, ha!). I've tried many different instruments over the years, but I've never been so impressed by anything else as I have by this.

   Jeez! What a bore I am...droning on about it....sorry folks, I'm still a bit like a kid on Christmas morning, and the novelty hasn't worn off yet!

   After I've downloaded the midi tracing software, is it just a case of connecting the Fantom via USB to the computer and then checking the sys ex messages? You will have to forgive my ignorance, but I'm quite new to using computers/internet etc (still got my L Plates on).

   Just one thing before I go.....I have this strange, mad, desire to see (and hear) Hector Olivera or Tony Fenelon sitting playing an HX1 with a Fantom linked up to it,....Although I can't see that happening anytime soon,can you?...........:-)

   Regards all,

   Nicola

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. phil
   Member

   Hi Nicola,
   I can't help you with Hector Olivera or Tony Fenelon playing the HX1, however I came across these video's of Tony Stace playing his HX1 on youtube.
   It may bring back some great memory’s from your promo day.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ikeql-ieKo

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QOjYvbSHgw

   Happy viewing.

   Regards

   Phil.

   Posted 2 years ago #

5. NicEL8000
   Member

   Hiya Phil,

   Nice to see you back on here. Thanks for those clips! I've saved them to my 'favourites' alongside your own Cavatina, and a few others. How are things with you? Are you not tempted to add a Fantom to your EL90? Ha ha!

   Believe it or not, I was thinking about you the other day, as I had found a lovely Flute and super Guitar which I had set up on the Fantom for my Dad as he likes to play Cavatina too! :-)

   I missed an opportunity when Tony was up for the promo event, as I don't have a camcorder. He was staying here with us for 3 days, and since he wanted to explore my Orchestral & World sounds on the Fantom, I was annoyed at myself for not being able to capture it on video - That would have given his fans a shock if I'd put "Tony Stace Plays EL90 & Fantom" on Youtube (he he!)

   Have you done anything else recently on the EL for us to see? I haven't been on youtube for a while...

   The latest report to everyone re the expression problem :- The nice Roland chap got back to me today to say he thinks he has possibly found a way to get round it without the box, but, he's got various tests etc. to do before he can confirm this for definite...... I still think I might purchase the box anyway, even just for getting the 64 patches and pitch bend as Tony suggested. But for someone like Keith that has midi mapping on his AT60, it would be good if we could get it sorted without the box.

   Glyn, I'm thinking you are maybe in the same boat as Tony and I with only 16 piston buttons on your Technics? I'm currently using CF cards, but the box would do away with the need for them. I will report back if I get any further info.

   Regards

   Nicola

   Posted 2 years ago #

6. tony400
   Member

   Hello again.. well thats good to hear about the problem hopefully being solved nicola regarding the expression.. .fingers crossed ! even for anyone who has the midi box already at least we can free up another 3 or even 4 settings on the box .. im starting to get greedy now ive got the midi event processor with 10 settings and there all used up.. :-( i want more.......

   ok nicola you dont need to do anything with the fantom as far as the midi tracing software is concerned.. just hook the midi lead to the EL90 and one to the pc.. then open the software you will see a drop down list select usb audio .. then all you have to do start pressing things on the organ.. when you start to press voices or any functions like pedals 2nd exp pedal you will or should get a load of numbers on screen on midi monitor you will also notice like mine for .eg.. in the orchestral section of the organ i have 8 buttons .. when pressing from left to right i get a different number on screen but only last 2 numbers change .. so it would start off 00 after a series of numbers and go to 01 02 etc up to 07 as i pressed each voice in that block.. the more voices on your organ in one block the better.. as your telling midi processor to specify a range between these numbers..

   so my pistions finish at 16 on the hx and i then start them off at 00 to 07 telling the midi software to start from 17 and go to 23 on the fantom .. and so on.. this now has just used one of my settings .. and then i move onto the next block of voices on the organ .. i was fortunate i had exactly 48 voice buttons that i could use totaling 64 with the 16 pistons.. once you get into it ...its not that bad and to difficult ..

   you might not be any wiser with all that but if you have downloaded the software of midi monitor and midi solutions software you might get a clearer picture of what im talking about.. i had help of a good friend who get me started on this box and once i got into it things started coming to me what i could do .. like change from card to user by assigning a button from the organ and crash symbols on footswitches ... im just glad ive got the midi event 10 box not the plus with 32 settings on .. could think of a few more now that would keep me up a few hours ..

   yes well ill say goodbye for now and head for bed.. and yes wouldnt it be great to hear them guys on the fantom and HX ! .. i` ll give that pitch bend a try tomorrow night when i get home nicola and let you know how it goes .. it should be pretty straight forward .. see you later ... Tony ..

   Posted 2 years ago #

7. Owen
   Member

   Why not try Tony Stace. He uses Fantom with his HX.
   If you link up from the first You tube posted by phil you can click on Tony using the Fantom.
   Never had any success with expression using Roland or Yamaha.
   Lowrey (and Orla ?) work. Hammond's have a good midi spec.
   In the early days when Reg supplied direct he also had a midi box to make expression work from the Phantom. Understand these may only be bought from abroad but do not know where.
   If you are able to look at the Tony/Fantom vid you will notice that the left hand on the bottom manual has to be played near the bottom of a 61 note keyboard instead of the usual left hand position when playing organs. This does limit your range of left hand notes especially when you have 'traps' at the very bottom.
   John

   Posted 2 years ago #

8. tony400
   Member

   Hiya john.. yeah i seen the tony stace video play HX with the fantom and what i refer to now as " THE REG BOX" .. :-) you use one yourself ? if you do then you`ll know the splits on the lower keyboard start from performance number 41 .you dont have to play split keyboard mode.. it was regs idea for say creating a 3rd manual on a 2 manual organ..or or 4 manual or a 3 manual organ like his set up. i dont use many of these if any at all and even though theres some good ones there you can make your own registrations up.. even take the toy counters off the lower end notes .. i think the majority of ppl who use the box just use what reg has done as performances .. theres so much more you can do .. if you want to add another voice or maybe you think the lower volume is a bit high .. you can adjust all these and save to user .brian sharp at morecambe was also using some of the the internal sounds of the roland like the drum rolls etc and they were put on where the toy counters are on some of his registrations .. so you can mix and match sounds that way too.. you could go on forever..

   anway its back to the lemsip ... ive got the dreaded "man flu again"

   speak soon... Tony.. oh by the way the pitch bends works well nicola .:-)

   Posted 2 years ago #

9. NicEL8000
   Member

   Hi again,

   Brilliant news re the pitch bend Tony! I can't wait to get into it... Unfortunately my Husband has work to do on this computer tonight (grr!), which means no access to it for me & the Fantom (double grr!), so I will be hopping up and down with frustration..... :-(

   You are not being greedy wanting more than 10 'events'..... The word is "innovative" :-) After all, it's as well getting put to the best use you possibly can, and you have excelled yourself with getting it to do all these things. Good on you! Here's a good idea :- Write a letter to Santa, asking for the 32 event box, and sell me your 10 event one!!!! (he, he!)....only kidding! I'm just pleased you've managed to get everything running fine.

   John, you mentioned Tony Stace and his Fantom, but he has currently put his one on "the back burner" for now....He didn't have it with him last week when he played for us. That's not to say he won't be using it again in the future. Like Tony (above) said, many people just buy it from Reg to use for the Theatre sounds only, without realising what other delights are already inside. That's why Tony Stace was keen to try out my 2 expansion boards. He said he's never really bothered too much about the internal sounds.... and he was tickled to see how much you can edit it. Also, he wanted to see if we could get my EL to transmit the drums/percussion to the Fantom, as the EL is basically the same as the HX, but unfortunately we spent a fruitless afternoon trying to do this, with no success.

   Tony, maybe you are in a position to investigate that now you are a whizz kid on the box? The annoying thing is, I was able to demonstrate my PSR8000 transmitting and controlling the drums/accompaniment etc perfectly on the Fantom....but no luck with the EL....don't know why....just another of these little mysteries that keep cropping up!!

   I'm away to grumpily pace back and forwards now while my husband "hogs" this computer for the next few hours :-(

   Bye for now

   Posted 2 years ago #

10. tony400
    Member

    ok nicola if your reading this now you must have stopped hopping about and again have acsess to the pc.. ok regarding those drums .. i had the orla GT model when i hit the start button i got the drums /percussion playing on the fantom must say it was excellent.. as ive been concentrating mainly on the "reg box" (t.o.i.a.b) i havent gone into much else on the fantom but as im learning more i reckon its just a setting in there needs adjusting. .. my orla also picked up the pitch bend too but i had to go into the fantom settings and select it there too .. now i mapped it on the midi box i went into the fantom and scrolled across to bend it goes from 0-24 semitones so just adjust it to suit you.. i worked on the sax you mentioned in a previous post of yours and now that sounds pretty good with a bend ! .. yeah im just looking into getting the 32 event processor in the next week or 2 .. i have mike ps email add so ill pass a message on soon if i manage to get one .. .. you must have been reading my mind !!

    with the HX not being linked up or having a speaker of its own it would be useful to get the drums /percussion as i did this before on the orla .. any way less of the technical stuff for now .. i`ll mess later see you later .. Tony

    Posted 2 years ago #

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