Fantom XR Rack or Kontakt 3 and Predator synth

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Hey guys,

Im looking for some more great R&B sounds. Im looking for a level of clarity and fullness that im not getting in my current collection of soft synths.

I was thinking of putting a Fantom XR rack on a payment plan or just investing in just the above synths.

I have been using software for the past 2 years and change. Im looking for that fullness that im just not getting in my current setup..

Is the fantom xr rack worth it or are the above synths the better route..

Please give opinions and i have used the fantom before and i think it's great but could never afford it....

[CharlesD]

Fantom X

[ToneCre8]

This sounds more like composition and arrangement to me...But you don't say what software you are currently using. Just to say "get this" isn't really going to help you. It could even be in your mixing.

[Left Headphone]

fantom xr is cool. I wouldn't get predator unless you're good at programming synths(the presets are lacking imo).

[MYAMS]

dude u seem like ur always struggling to update ur shit and get better sounds based on all your threads...

It definetely works for some ppl, but in general the predator sucks- ur typical thin sounding vst.

U keep posting about sounds like the underdogs, b cox etc.- u really want great sounds, get some real synths like a little phatty, which is unbelievable for leads and if the trilogy moog bass simulation doesnt cut it for u, ur hooked up.

The fantom is solid, but the v-synth is the upgrade version I would bet b cox uses that thing over the regular fantom. Kontakt 3 is clearly a solid investment- u could use the vsl library for your string arrangements. Tone2 gladiator has a lot of those corny synths u get with the fantom as well as the little pizzicato strings and other sound that actually sound really similar to the fantom. U should probably get the gladiator and kontakt 3 and I garantee u will be happy at least until u step up ur game to the point that u absolutely need anolog synths.

I always let u know what I think and try to help what I think but u gotta chill with these posts man its the same thing over and over again.

[MYAMS]

it seems like ur dream set up would be a little phatty and a v-synth as well as whatever soft synths u like

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

dude u seem like ur always struggling to update ur shit and get better sounds based on all your threads...

It definetely works for some ppl, but in general the predator sucks- ur typical thin sounding vst.

U keep posting about sounds like the underdogs, b cox etc.- u really want great sounds, get some real synths like a little phatty, which is unbelievable for leads and if the trilogy moog bass simulation doesnt cut it for u, ur hooked up.

The fantom is solid, but the v-synth is the upgrade version I would bet b cox uses that thing over the regular fantom. Kontakt 3 is clearly a solid investment- u could use the vsl library for your string arrangements. Tone2 gladiator has a lot of those corny synths u get with the fantom as well as the little pizzicato strings and other sound that actually sound really similar to the fantom. U should probably get the gladiator and kontakt 3 and I garantee u will be happy at least until u step up ur game to the point that u absolutely need anolog synths.

I always let u know what I think and try to help what I think but u gotta chill with these posts man its the same thing over and over again.

your absolutely right man. I think Kontakt 3 is my next purchase. I won't post about sounds again. I really believe that Kontakt 3 is gonna satisfy that lust for sounds. well at least for the next few months.. I have beeen messing with the demo for a few hours now in logic. Great sounds......

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

it seems like ur dream set up would be a little phatty and a v-synth as well as whatever soft synths u like

I might have to agree with that... But if i couldn't find a lil phatty i may replace with a se-1x....

[mangomixx]

A V-synth? What the?!
Maybe go over to v-tribe and find out what it actually does.

[Versatile255]

man get what you really want now man sounds like u want the fantom man and u wont lose by getting it dont set ur self up for an upgrade man just get the fantom man.as said b4 if ur postin bout b cox and them they use fantoms man and if thats what ur after dont kid ur self and get something similar man and then end up not liking it u cant resell vsts either.just get it now and save youre self some money and later on get a sex1 or lil phatty as said man.with the fantom you know you getting what u want man.

[Nahuel]

I have another suggestion for you: if you already own a cool pre (and DI) you can try to track your soft synth through it.

You can still get that kontakt and/or motif.

[kojo]

or for the price of the fantom xr you can get sonic cell (fantom x sounds but with 2 SRX ports and no sampler) + Kontakt 3 and have change left over. you can just layer the two and get that big sound youre looking for

[remo]

I was in the same boat, just about to buy a Fantom XR but decided to grab a Sonic Cell instead... as mentioned above it's got lots of the XR sounds in ti and 2 SRX ports which is great for flexibility and is a ton cheaper than the full XR. Another big ROMpler you might want to consider is the E-MU's Emulator X3.

Ships with over 3GB of sounds, including the complete Proteus 2000 soundset, a stunning 1.5GB Grand Piano, 24-bit drums and grooves, Xtreme Lead X, and more - additional soundsets available

[DivineMusic]

overall kontakt 3 has the most versitility... one of production partners got it a little while back and its the main thing he uses now. he converted a lot of sounds into kontakt format and used some program to sample a fantom-x, motif xs and a triton extreme....
his tracks are sounding better and better...

when i got to the studio last night he had a sample patched across the keys in kontakt... i'ma mess with it today

[amp]

Originally Posted by Versatile255;

man get what you really want now man sounds like u want the fantom man and u wont lose by getting it dont set ur self up for an upgrade man just get the fantom man.as said b4 if ur postin bout b cox and them they use fantoms man and if thats what ur after dont kid ur self and get something similar man and then end up not liking it u cant resell vsts either.just get it now and save youre self some money and later on get a sex1 or lil phatty as said man.with the fantom you know you getting what u want man.

yeah but by the time he gets the fantom up and running and learns all the ins and outs of it, b cox and that damn fantom will be old news. then what?

[themaestro]

Originally Posted by Versatile255

if ur postin bout b cox and them they use fantoms man

umm actually, b cox does a lot of his stuff in logic now

[Darm]

If you are looking for something different and something new- go hardware.
Using both hardware and software gives you more options.
You might try even the cheap stuff like Korg MicroX, and once you will take a time to read the manual- you will find something new and different!

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Originally Posted by Darm

If you are looking for something different and something new- go hardware.
Using both hardware and software gives you more options.
You might try even the cheap stuff like Korg MicroX, and once you will take a time to read the manual- you will find something new and different!

I would like to eventually get a nice keyboard I got my eye on that motif xs but seriously I have been messing with that Kontakt 3 demo and that is beautiful program. This is definately what i have been looking for. It has a ton of options and the tweakability is fantastic. As far right now im a cop that Kontakt 3 and mess with that but when money and time permits I will get a big 3 workstation or something........

[Darm]

Hardware just gives you different workflow.
Try it and you might like it)
Loooking at a keyboard and looking at your computer screen- different feel, different ideas...

[Versatile255]

Originally Posted by amp

yeah but by the time he gets the fantom up and running and learns all the ins and outs of it, b cox and that damn fantom will be old news. then what?

yeah true but this doesnt mean he doesnt use both he does use logic now so that doesnt mean he not using his keyboards.you think hes gonna stop using a moog or a sex 1.real producers use what ever possible so gdeusthewhizkid use it all man.u said ur gonna get kontakt and add logic if possible fine if u like it and it works for u cool also go to a store and try a fantom or motif also.

[Versatile255]

damn im gonna have to buy a macmini and get logic if possible to run it through a mac mini.

[Krumbz]

The V-Synth GT and the Fantom are COMPLETELY different animals.

That's like saying Dudley Moore and Mike Tyson are related.

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Originally Posted by Versatile255

damn im gonna have to buy a macmini and get logic if possible to run it through a mac mini.

it is very possible. I was running logic 8 on a G4 mac mini with a gig of ram. But it definately runs better on my G5 1.8 Ghz with only 2 gigs of ram. When my money permits i eventually wanna get a mac book pro and a mac pro. Logic runs sweet on those..

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Originally Posted by Versatile255

yeah true but this doesnt mean he doesnt use both he does use logic now so that doesnt mean he not using his keyboards.you think hes gonna stop using a moog or a sex 1.real producers use what ever possible so gdeusthewhizkid use it all man.u said ur gonna get kontakt and add logic if possible fine if u like it and it works for u cool also go to a store and try a fantom or motif also.

Everything will go thru logic that is my baby. I just would like more sounds and soundsets. My budget only allows me to get Kontakt 3 right now but as soon as my budget changes I will purchase a motif keyboard or a XR rack.

[Keyflo]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

it seems like ur dream set up would be a little phatty and a v-synth as well as whatever soft synths u like

Heres my dream setup for production

1.Akai MPC 2500
2.Yamaha Motif XS 6
3.Moog Little Phatty
4.Roland Fantom XR
5.RME Fireface 800
6.Edirol PCR-800

[Versatile255]

Originally Posted by gdeusthewhizkid

Everything will go thru logic that is my baby. I just would like more sounds and soundsets. My budget only allows me to get Kontakt 3 right now but as soon as my budget changes I will purchase a motif keyboard or a XR rack.

when it comes to those keyboards and stuff it so cheap to get em used its not worth paying monthly u end up paying like a whole grand extra u can get a both mitf rack and fantom xr like for 1300-1500 total used which like the price for one keyboard or rack.

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by Darm

Hardware just gives you different workflow.
Try it and you might like it)
Loooking at a keyboard and looking at your computer screen- different feel, different ideas...

True. It has its upsides and downsides.

Some of the upsides to software is how much easier your life will be to have everything you need consolidated into one machine. Recalling beat sessions that you have not printed yet is as fast and easy as it gets with software. No floppies or zip disks to contend with, no going around from unit to unit restoring previous settings, you're up and running within seconds.

Some of the upsides to hardware.... a lot of sounds seem more organic than some software stuff in some cases; some people find working on hardware more inspiring than working infront of a computer screen. There are still some hardware pieces that offer features in one complete package that arent offered in the same way on the computer.

I have always been into the whole hybrid thing myself, working with hardware and software: samplers, keyboards, sound modules, Vst instruments, etc.

I sampled out all the sounds from my XR rack and got rid of the damn thing a while back... I didnt really enjoy using the unit in the first place, but I enjoyed some of the sounds it had on it, so it was worth the time and effort.

If I had to make a suggestion today, I would say go with Kontakt 3 and start building up your collection of sounds on your computer. There is no real sense in jumping into expense hardware pieces at this time unless you really got the cash for it, and music is your current job (so your purchases will eventually pay for themselves sooner than later). If anything buy your hardware used, or get cloning software and start getting all them sounds that you want into the computer at analog quality. You could start with the Fantom XR. thumbsup

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Originally Posted by PettyCash

If I had to make a suggestion today, I would say go with Kontakt 3 and start building up your collection of sounds on your computer. There is no real sense in jumping into expense hardware pieces at this time unless you really got the cash for it, and music is your current job (so your purchases will eventually pay for themselves sooner than later). If anything buy your hardware used, or get cloning software and start getting all them sounds that you want into the computer at analog quality. You could start with the Fantom XR. thumbsup

Kontakt 3 is definately the next purchase. Thanks man. I was messing with the demo and I already have kompakt so i will definately be comfortable using the full version of Kontakt 3. It does have some great sounds...

[sonnyblack2000]

the fantom xr donesnt sound that great. There some data compression in that box that really meeses with the sounds in a bad way imho. Look into the XV series (XV5080, XV3080) those sound much better and its 90% of the soundbanks that you can find in the Fantom. Roland has been recycling the same sounds at least since the JV 880 (speaking of wich I still find the JV series better sounding thatn the Fantom line but not as good as the XV were)

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Originally Posted by PettyCash

True. It has its upsides and downsides.

Some of the upsides to software is how much easier your life will be to have everything you need consolidated into one machine. Recalling beat sessions that you have not printed yet is as fast and easy as it gets with software. No floppies or zip disks to contend with, no going around from unit to unit restoring previous settings, you're up and running within seconds.

Some of the upsides to hardware.... a lot of sounds seem more organic than some software stuff in some cases; some people find working on hardware more inspiring than working infront of a computer screen. There are still some hardware pieces that offer features in one complete package that arent offered in the same way on the computer.

I have always been into the whole hybrid thing myself, working with hardware and software: samplers, keyboards, sound modules, Vst instruments, etc.

I sampled out all the sounds from my XR rack and got rid of the damn thing a while back... I didnt really enjoy using the unit in the first place, but I enjoyed some of the sounds it had on it, so it was worth the time and effort.

If I had to make a suggestion today, I would say go with Kontakt 3 and start building up your collection of sounds on your computer. There is no real sense in jumping into expense hardware pieces at this time unless you really got the cash for it, and music is your current job (so your purchases will eventually pay for themselves sooner than later). If anything buy your hardware used, or get cloning software and start getting all them sounds that you want into the computer at analog quality. You could start with the Fantom XR. thumbsup

I got that Kontakt 3 finally. This thing is great with a ton of sounds. I's really deep though. Im gonna enjoy learning this thing for months to come. I think i finally conquered my keyboard lust. lol ** wait goes to open lab website starts eyeing neko workstation** lol