Roland Fantom EX series: new flagship Synthesizer workstation with familiar clothes but powered by the new EX engine with next-gen ACB.
In November 2023, Roland released the Fantom EX software update for their flagship Synthesizer workstation lineup. Among other things, it introduced the next generation of its ACB technology and much more. Unlike before, this update is not free of charge but costs Fantom users $199 or $99 if you own the N/zyme Modal Expansion.
Five months after the release, Roland now takes the next step and introduces the new Fantom EX series with three new synth workstations.
Roland Fantom EX Series
The new Fantom EX series comes in three sizes: the Fantom 6 EX and Fantom 7 EX feature semi-weighted synth action keybeds (61-note and 76-note), while the Fantom 8 EX offers an 88-note hammer action. They provide velocity and channel (monophonic) aftertouch. No poly aftertouch is a shame, especially on the 88-note version.
All three Fantom EX synths have identical hardware specs to the previous Fantom series. Only the EX print on the front panel indicates the new model. It hosts the same amount of buttons, knobs, and sliders. The color touchscreen is also unchanged in the middle of the panel.
On the right side, you have 16 RGB pads for trigger sounds, samples, and clips again. The Roland TR-REC step sequencer is onboard as well. The loaded FANTOM EX rear panel supports connections with a wide range of gear.
There are XLR combo connectors for mics and instruments and eight 1/4-inch outputs to route sounds to external destinations. MIDI I/O and dual CV/Gate outputs are also available for driving all kind of synths and other external gear. Fantom EX also works as a 16×3 audio/MIDI USB interface.
The EX Core
Inside, it’s different. The new Fantom EX engine works here, updating and expanding the Fantom platform with new sound design options, sequencing, and performance features. But no worry. It offers exactly the synthesis and sampling power that the previous Roland workstation generation offers with the EX upgrade installed.
A highlight of the EX upgrade is adding Roland’s next-generation Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) engine. It ships with new versions of the Jupiter-8, SH-101, and JX-3P. The Model Expansions are also running alongside the new ACB engine. It includes the n/zyme wavetable synth, JD-800, JUNO-106, JUPITER-8, JX-8P, and SH-101.
Then, the FANTOM EX series also features the two new deeply expressive grand pianos (German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01; SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3 Expansion) and the new Virtual ToneWheel organ. In total, you can compose and perform with over 7000 built-in Roland sounds.
The powerful custom processors in FANTOM EX provide smooth and precise operation with plenty of overhead, enabling loads of polyphony and full patch remain for seamless transitions, says Roland. I assume this is the same as in the previous Fantoms.
Further, it also benefits from the new effects, including the new shimmer reverb and the modulation reverb. Fantom’s DAW control has been expanded with profiles for Steinberg Cubase and PreSonus Studio One. Additionally, the Master FX processor includes new preset templates for faster workflow and refreshed graphical interfaces for the Mastering Comp and Mastering EQ sections.
First Impression
The Roland Fantom lives on as Fantom EX. Okay, but I wonder if this release had to be. Wouldn’t it have been easier to give people who buy a new Fantom a coupon during the registration than to publish a completely new version with an EX logo? It’s a strange release to me. Nevertheless, the Fantom, now EX, is a very powerful Synthesizer workstation. With the EX upgrade, the whole thing became even deeper.
Roland FANTOM EX series will be available in April 2024: FANTOM EX 6, FANTOM 7 EX, and FANTOM 8 EX for $3,199.99, $3,699.99, and $4,199.99 respectively.
More information here: Roland
Impressive. It was a bit limited in cpu power. Now it is a beast. The best synthesizer and the best workstation.
the CPU is the same. It’s the same hardware just now loaded with the EX upgrade
OK thank you. I thought it had an updated chip for ACB. Could have been even better with a bit more voices of polyphony. Never mind, it is still a monster and the Cubase control is a great addition. It is nice that Roland will not make this flagship obsolete, too many companies are milking their customers.
the new ACB runs on the new chip so no longer requires the old chip for ACB emulations
If I sold my old Fantom and bought a new Fantom does that make me an EX Fantom owner who owns a Fantom EX??
it’s the same thing, if you have a Fantom with EX installed and a Fantom EX hardware. If you want a sticker on it which says Fantom EX go for it 😉
and all the seniors rejoiced 🙂
Hello,
I think this new Fantom EX is here to solve a price problem, as often happens with online stores. Some big stores sell the Fantom at too low a price, because it is displayed for a long time (almost 5 years). So, to continue selling it, certain small shops had to sell it without making a margin because they bought it more expensively from Roland than the big shops.
The Fantom EX is not a Fantom. It’s a new model.
This release allows Roland to set a much higher price to improve the price margin. But that’s just my opinion. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this. This happens a lot for IT devices (computers, printers, etc.)