Roland Fantom 6 Synthesizer

At every turn, The Roland Fantom Synthesizer fulfills the need to create. Its smooth, rapid workflow has no confusing modes, frustrating technical limits, or trade-offs with sound quality. Fantom’s creative process reflects how today’s musicians work, with fluid composition tools, instantly recallable creative environments, and deep computer integration.

Fantom does away with confusing work modes, employing a seamless workflow. Likewise, with Fantom, you can focus on playing music, not rationing processing power. And with so much power under the hood, you can run all 16 parts with all available effects—simultaneously—with full patch-remain for seamless transitions. It’s like having the power of two complete Fantoms in one.

Sound Engine

Fantom’s flexible and expandable sound engine leverages decades of research and development, dishing out inspiring and authentic electronic, acoustic, and hybrid sounds by the bucketload. Combine different synthesis and sampling technologies along with the onboard analog filter for new and unusual sounds—and take advantage of new sound expansions and capabilities as they arrive.

Drawing from over four decades of genre-defining sounds, Fantom’s expandable sound engine nails Roland's classic synths but pushes into new sonic territory as well. Their custom Behavior Modeling Chips power Fantom’s core, with smooth and precise control, loads of polyphony, and full patch remain. And Fantom is part of an expandable platform, with new sounds and new possibilities coming.

Fantom runs multiple synthesis technologies simultaneously, for authentic acoustic and electronic sounds, both modern and classic. You can also sample your own sounds and trigger up to 2 GBs 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.

Fantom’s 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.

Low-frequency oscillators add movement to static sounds. More LFOs mean more modulation possibilities and more ways to explore new ground. 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. And Fantom’s Step-LFOs have 16 steps of beat-synced automation with 37 curve choices per step. This creates long evolving passages, modular-style animated textures, and sounds with deeply intricate movement.

Playability

For ultimate playability Fantom also features Roland's V-Piano technology for pianos that don’t just sound real, they feel real. Craft pianos that play and respond like their acoustic counterparts and match your personal taste.

Fantoms features Roland's best keyboards ever, including the acclaimed PHA-50 on the 88-note model and a brand new semi-weighted action on the 61- and 76-note models. Each feels solid, precise, and supremely playable, with the expressive capabilities of aftertouch.

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

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 of them—or all of them. You can even connect USB controllers to any of Fantom’s 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.

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—perfect for rhythmic parts—as used on Roland's iconic drum machines.

A great way to build up a track is 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.

The foundation of dance music is the step-sequencer, specifically the 16-step TR-REC variety found on Roland's drum machines like the TR-808 and TR-909. Fantom’s built-in TR-REC sequencer makes it quick and easy to create rhythmic parts and is modernized with support for polyphonic parts.

CONNECTIVITY

While Fantom is powerful by itself, its powers grow exponentially when connected to other gear like computers or analog synthesizers. 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.

Fantom doesn’t just work with computers—it fully integrates. It’s a high-quality 16x3 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.

Customize your sound by integrating your plugin 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.

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

A clean and intuitive layout, premium materials, and the best-ever keyboard action. The result? An instrument that begs to be played.

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.

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

Fantom is made of tough metal with high-grade components throughout. Everything about it is sturdy and built to withstand the perils of live gigs and life on the road.

Features:

• Seamless workflow with no confusing modes
• Expandable sound engine delivers authentic electronic and acoustic sounds
• Fresh hybrid sounds combining modern PCM, virtual analog, and a routable analog filter
• V-Piano technology for stunning realism and expression
• Scenes contain settings for all 16 layers, plus effects and patterns
• Deep integration with DAWs and softsynths and 16x3 stereo audio interface
• Multitrack clip-based sequencing with instant pattern recording and triggering
• TR-REC sequencer as found on classic Roland drum machines
• High-resolution controls with dedicated synth control section
• Massive DSP power for plenty of polyphony and smooth sound transitions
• All new 61-note semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch