SuperNATURAL
™
Expansion Board ARX Series
New Keyboard System
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Profile
Keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who also played with the
Strawbs and several other acts as a session player in
the 1960s) began releasing solo albums while still a
member of Yes, one of the most influential
progressive rock bands of all time. The ever-inventive
composer and player has released over 100 albums
since the '70s (nine in 1991 alone) and played on
many more. With elaborate stage-shows and a
musical style that balances progressive rock with new
age and just about every other keyboard-based pop
style in between, he's carved a unique niche for
himself. Between releasing albums, he also scores
films, has hosted a weekly radio program, and is a
familiar face on British chat shows.
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Profile
Jordan Rudess is one of todays top keyboard
virtuosos. He has worked with the Dixie Dregs, David
Bowie, Enrique Iglesias, Tony Williams, Jan Hammer,
Paul Winter Consortt and for the last 9 years has
been the keyboardist in Dream Theater.
In October of 2007 Jordan's newest solo album,
"The Road Home" was released on Magna Carta
Records. This year Jordan has been busy with the
Dream Theater "Chaos in Motion" tour, which will
take him around the globe, before finishing up in the
USA in the summer of 2008.
Technology has been
racing away
and everyone has forgotten
what the instruments are really for. When I used the
Fantom-X Series for the first time on a recent tour of
Canada, I was impressed with how suitable they were
for live performance.
Having such a large screen on the Fantom-G Series will
significantly improve their suitability for live performance.
Small screens are a nightmare as you are forever
changing screens to see what you did previously. Large
screens are also much easier to see out of the corner
of your eye when playing several keyboards on stage and
need to quickly check your settings.
I love the new faders. Unlike knobs, you get a much
clearer indication of what sound you are going to get.
There are a lot of younger players who want to do a bit
more than press a preset and I am pleased that this
has been incorporated not just for studio use but also
for stage.
This is not a makeover of the previous model. This is a
giant step forward.
One of the things
that gives
synthesizers expression is the ability to bend pitch with
a controller. On Roland's new Fantom keyboard, there is
a level of player control that far exceeds any existing
synthesizer that I have worked with. It opens up new
avenues of expression.
When I perform on a keyboard I need to be able to cycle
through many layered and split patches. Roland has
reached a new musical height with their Live Mode. No
matter how complex a Live Mode patch and its effects
happen to be, I'm now able to seamlessly change from
one big layered or split patch to the next, without any
interruption in the sound. This is the first keyboard
instrument to make this dream of mine come true.
There are really some amazing effects inside this
instrument. One day while listening to John Petrucci fine
tune his distorted guitar sound I was experimenting with
the new Fantom and realized that with the modeled
amplifier effects I could easily achieve incredible rocking
organ and guitar tones that used to either not be
possible on other equipment, or take multiple processors
to make happen.
Perhaps the most important thing to me in a workstation
keyboard is having tons of great sounds in the onboard
ROM. The new Fantom really delivers the goods here.
It has a fantastic and expansive collection of waveforms
at its core, that truly represents the next level of
keyboard workstation.
Fantom-G provides two ARX slots for adding
SuperNATURAL expansion boards to the already
powerful synth lineup. SuperNATURAL is
Roland’s unique behavior-modeling technology
that enables a new level of organic, emotional
expression previously unattainable in
synthesizers. Applied to traditional-instrument
sounds, SuperNATURAL enables the delicate,
natural tonal changes and playing nuances of
real musical instruments. It’s also a powerful tool
for electronic and non-traditional sounds,
breathing amazing new life and expression into
synthesis.
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The ARX-01 Drums expansion board enables
detailed and realistic customization of drum kits.
The ARX-02 Electric Piano expansion provides a
gorgeous selection of famous EPs, allowing you
to customize sounds in ways that were not
possible with the original instruments. More
SuperNATURAL boards will follow these two
remarkable releases.
SuperNATURAL expansion boards bring sound to life
The Fantom-G8 is luxuriously appointed with
Roland’s top-of-the-line PHA II keyboard,
featuring Ivory Feel keys, Progressive Hammer
Action. This amazing keyboard technology
reproduces the real feel of ivory for the natural
keys and ebony for the sharps, providing the
stability and comfort of a real acoustic-piano
keyboard. The natural keys are designed to
absorb moisture, ensuring a secure, slip-proof
feel that your fingers will absolutely love.
The flagship synth-action keyboards of the
Fantom-G6 and -G7 are Roland’s direct response
to field research from world-leading keyboard
players – incorporating their feedback after
testing a variety of prototype designs.
Whichever Fantom-G you choose, you’ll enjoy a
keyboard action that is a true joy to play.
Superior keyboard action, tested by
world-leading players
Finger moisture
Keyboard
Moisture
absorption
Moisture
absorption
2
ARTISTS'
IMPRESSIONS
ARTISTS'
IMPRESSIONS
* New moisture-absorbing Ivory Feel key material
ensures playing comfort and non-slip performance.
Your hands become one with the instrument.
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ARTISTS'
IMPRESSIONS
ARTISTS'
IMPRESSIONS
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ARX-01: Drums Screen
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ARX-02: Electric Piano Screen
*Image
Rick
Wakeman
Rick
Wakeman
Jordan
Rudess
Jordan
Rudess
