Packing all the features of its renowned predecessor — and much more — FANTOM EX brings you up to date with Roland’s most advanced technologies and gives you a robust creative ecosystem for music composition, performance, sequencing, and professional sound design. Onboard are dozens of simultaneous effects, including new studio-grade reverbs and updated Master FX for shaping your overall sound. With its ergonomic panel fitted with knobs, buttons, and sliders, FANTOM EX provides the real-time control you need to compose your music and shape sounds on the fly as its beautiful color touchscreen dynamically adapts to support the task at hand. And you can personalize the look by importing custom images for the screensaver and startup view.
Fortified with an arsenal of inspiring, authentic electronic, acoustic, and hybrid sounds, the FANTOM EX is powerful, versatile, and expandable. Its sound engines draw on decades of industry-leading Roland technology, powering the instrument with smooth, precise control, massive polyphony, and full patch remain for seamless transitions. This flexible architecture lets you combine various synthesis and sampling technologies along with FANTOM EX's onboard analog filter for new cutting-edge sounds and take advantage of new sound expansions and premium sound content on Roland Cloud. FANTOM EX gives you carte blanche to coveted instruments from Roland's vaunted legacy of genre-defining synths while blazing new synthesis frontiers. With all this firepower, you can focus on creating music, not conserving processing power. You won't have to concern yourself with how many effects you can use or if you can change sounds seamlessly without affecting existing sounds. With the massive power available in FANTOM's engine room, you can run remarkably complex patches concurrently with all available effects.
At the core of FANTOM EX is Roland's custom Analog Circuit Behavior technology that faithfully re-creates the richness and warmth of analog circuitry and its interactive behaviors at a component level in the digital realm. FANTOM EX features three ACB instruments that benefit from the latest technology, including Circuit Mod and Condition functionality that lets you dial in your preferred amount of vintage character. Launched in 1981, the JUPITER-8 is one of the most revered and cherished polysynths ever made. The JUPITER-8 ACB Expansion puts a complete circuit-level re-creation of this synth icon inside FANTOM EX. The SH-101 ACB Expansion is an uber-detailed sonic replica of Roland's SH-101 from 1982, a celebrated monosynth that continues to inspire electronic music to this day. In 1983, the landmark JX-3P introduced a new era of streamlined visuals, easy preset recall, and tuning stability thanks to the digital control of its analog oscillators. Nailing the sound of the original, the JX-3P ACB Expansion brings this classic to your FANTOM EX workflow. While the SH-101 and JUPITER-8 ACB Expansions are preinstalled, the JX-3P is a free download on Roland Cloud for FANTOM EX owners and purchasers of the FANTOM EX Upgrade for original FANTOM models.
Roland’s flexible and expandable ZEN-Core Synthesis System leverages decades of research and development to bring you a broad selection of premium electronic, acoustic, and hybrid sounds. Build expressive tones with up to four partials, each with an independent oscillator, filter, amplifier, dual LFOs, and effects. You can pack up to 16 tones in a Scene to build complex splits, layers, and sequenced parts. FANTOM EX ships with six preloaded Model Expansions driven by the powerful ZEN-Core system. From rare, coveted classics to the sounds of tomorrow, Model Expansions give you immediate access to the ever-growing Roland oeuvre. One of these Expansions is n/zyme, an interactive instrument with an all-new synth engine specifically developed for FANTOM EX. Incorporating wavetable oscillator layers, phase and shape modulation, resonant filters, and two Step LFOs, n/zyme will spark endless creative explorations. The JD-800, JUNO-106, JUPITER-8, JX-8P, and SH-101 Model Expansions capture the essence of sought-after vintage Roland instruments, fortified with more polyphony and additional features for today’s musicians.
Acoustic piano is home base for many keyboardists. The SuperNATURAL sound engine and V-Piano and technology in FANTOM EX deliver supremely authentic and deeply expressive pianos that sound and play like the real deal. The V-Piano interface has been updated for a streamlined workflow, and the German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01, developed for Roland’s RD-2000, comes preinstalled. Core SuperNATURAL acoustic and electric pianos are also onboard, along with the newly developed SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3 Expansion.
Roland’s Virtual ToneWheel sound engine faithfully emulates the sound-generation process of vintage organs, complete with multiple tonewheel types, adjustable percussion, key click, leakage, and more. There’s also a swirlicious rotary effect with variable speed and brake control, as well as tube distortion and overdrive. The FANTOM EX touchscreen, sliders, knobs, and keyboard action are automatically configured to give you an authentic organ-playing experience, complete with hands-on control.
With no confusing modes, technical limitations, or sonic compromises to derail your creative process, FANTOM EX fuels your creativity with its fast, fluid workflow. FANTOM’s creative process facilitates and enhances the way modern musicians work by providing intuitive compositional tools, instant-recall creative environments, and deep integration with your DAW. Forget about having to remember which features work in which mode — FANTOM is always in Creative mode.
Whenever you enter your creative zone, FANTOM EX is ready with custom creative spaces called Scenes that contain your sounds, clips, patterns, and performance layouts — all triggerable with a single touch. A Scene can be a complete song, a segment of a song, or merely a starting point with your sounds arranged just the way you want them. You can chain Scenes together or swap them out instantly — with no glitches or gaps
FANTOM EX is a self-contained, 16-part multitimbral music composition platform designed for rapid creation and fluid arrangement. You can create patterns on FANTOM in a variety of ways, including step- and real-time polyphonic sequencing or the TR-REC pattern sequencer — ideal for rhythmic parts — as on Roland's iconic drum machines. The cornerstone of dance music is the step sequencer, none more classic than the 16-step TR-REC found in drum machines like the TR-808, TR-909, and TR-8S. FANTFANTOM'soard TR-REC sequencer is completely updated with sub-steps for ratcheted parts, motion control for per-step automation, and support for chords.
Also at your fingertips are 16 RGB performance pads, real-time recording with piano-roll editing, and a grid for recording and launching clips. You can use any or all of these tools at any time to realize your musical goals. Build up tracks easily and quickly by arranging groups of clips. Record drums, bass lines, pads, and melodies into clips and trigger them separately or in Scenes. This is an expeditious way to compose — and perfect for triggering backing tracks onstage.
To achieve its stunningly authentic acoustic and electronic sounds, FANTOM EX runs digital modeling, sampling, and analog synthesis technologies simultaneously. You can sample your own sounds and trigger up to two gigabytes of loops and one-shots from the onboard performance pad matrix. For extra warmth and grit, there's also an analog filter that's completely routable, and you can even mix your favorite soft synths with FANTOM's internal sounds. For countless composers cross-genre, the piano is the heart of the creative process. FANTOM EX incorporates Roland's advanced V-Piano technology that meticulously models the components of the instrument and lets you fine-tune them to craft pianos that match your personal taste and respond just like their acoustic counterparts.
After sonic quality, there's nothing more important than playability — in other words, the way an instrument feels under your fingers and how it helps you express your musical intentions. Roland's acclaimed 88-note keybed combines wood and molded materials for superior feel and durability, enhancing the sensation that you're playing a fine acoustic grand piano. With authentic hammer action, the FANTOM 8 EX keyboard communicates every nuance of expression in your playing. Whether you're playing hard or barely tickling the keys, you're in control of a responsive keyboard that reacts to every nuance of your touch and technique. And it's also equipped with something serious synthesists covet: aftertouch. With FANTOM 8 EX, you can use assignable aftertouch to add a bit of tasty vibrato or other modulation to your sound without taking your hands off the keys. And speaking of modulation...
Low-frequency oscillators add motion to static sounds. Having more LFOs gives you more modulation possibilities and more ways to explore new sonic vistas. With two LFOs per partial, four partials per Tone, and 16 Tones per Scene, FANTOM EX gives you an astonishing 128 LFOs per voice to work with. FANTOM’s Step LFOs have 16 steps of beat-synced automation with 35 curve choices per step. This lets you easily create long evolving passages, animated modular-synth-type textures, and immersive soundscapes with deeply intricate movement.
To control a workstation this powerful, FANTOM EX offers a cockpit packed with an array of knobs and faders for immediate, intuitive real-time hands-on control, with high resolution for creamy-smooth filter sweeps and parameter fine-tuning. FANTOM even features a dedicated synthesizer section with oscillator, filter, and envelope controls, along with buttons and pads for triggering and sequencing. For enhanced expression, FANTOM lets you connect 3rd-party, class-compliant USB controllers to any of its three USB ports. And while FANTOM provides enormous creative potential, you may also want to integrate analog synths or drum machines into your rig. FANTOM EX features two sets of CV/Gate outputs so you can sync tempo or play them from FANTOM’s keyboard or its pattern sequencers.
While FANTOM EX is jaw-droppingly powerful in and of itself, its beastly power grows exponentially when connected to other equipment, such as computers or analog synthesizers. FANTOM's onboard 16x3 audio interface lets you record studio-quality sound and route it to and from your DAW. Plug mics and instruments into the XLR combo connectors and route sounds to external destinations via eight 1/4-inch outputs. FANTOM is also a masterful MIDI control surface for your DAW and plug-ins, letting you adjust 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.
The more you get into your FANTOM EX, the more you'll appreciate its superior design and the thoughtful details. From its customizable RGB-lit controls and buttons to the subtle curvature of the top panel that lets you see rear-connection legends from your playing position, FANTOM is built for one purpose: to supercharge your musical creativity. Whether it resides in your home or commercial studio or is part of your touring rig, FANTOM is built for the long haul with a robust metal chassis, premium components, and balanced connections to stand up to the rigors of professional use. The Roland FANTOM 8 EX: it's the ideal vehicle for your musical explorations.
FANTOM amplified. Introducing FANTOM EX, the most potent creative keyboard on the planet. The latest chapter in the FANTOM legacy supercharges Roland’s premier synth platform with next-level capabilities, offering multiple advanced sound engines, enhanced composition and performance tools, and superior playability. Equipped with 88 hammer-action keys, FANTOM 8 EX includes every feature from its acclaimed predecessor and so much more. Updated with our most sophisticated technologies, this robust platform brings you a complete creative ecosystem for professional sound design, sequencing, and performance.
Featuring LZARUS Watch producer and session keyboardist Laurence Jepson, aka LZARUS, perform with the most advanced creative synthesizer ever. Check out an array of FANTOM EX features in action, including the German Grand V-Piano Expansion, JUPITER-8 ACB Expansion, JX-8P Model Expansion with live bass recording, TR-REC step sequencing, vocoder, n/zyme Model Expansion, and Shimmer Reverb.
FANTOM EX includes every feature from its acclaimed predecessor and so much more. Updated with our most sophisticated technologies, this robust platform brings you a complete creative ecosystem for professional sound design, sequencing, and performance.
FANTOM EX includes the most expansive collection of premium sound engines available in a hardware instrument. ACB, ZEN-Core, V-Piano, SuperNATURAL, and other Roland technologies spark inspiration at every turn, providing expressive and inspiring sounds for every musical style.
FANTOM EX is designed for non-stop creation, with a highly flexible architecture that lets you bring musical ideas alive in seconds. Freely combine the internal engines to create classic sounds, unique voices, and complex sonic textures. Explore fluid composition tools and recall complete creative environments with a touch. Extend your range with integrated control modes for leading music production software. And go even further with a vast selection of premium sound content on Roland Cloud.
FANTOM EX delivers the power you need on demand, so you’ll never have to compromise your musical vision. Core custom processors provide smooth and precise operation with plenty of overhead, enabling loads of polyphony and full patch remain for seamless transitions. There are dozens of simultaneous effects, including new studio-grade reverbs and updated Master FX for shaping the overall sound. A characterful analog filter is also available, perfect for infusing tones with extra warmth and grit.
Shape sounds instantly and compose effortlessly with the friendly, ergonomic panel filled with buttons, knobs, and sliders. Immerse yourself in a gorgeous color touchscreen that dynamically changes to support the task at hand. And personalize the look by importing custom images for the screensaver and startup view.
FANTOM EX puts a colossal library of genre-defining Roland sounds at your fingertips. Create, compose, and perform with over 7000 onboard tones and a deep array of powerful synthesis tools.
Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology brings an authentic analog sound experience to life in the digital realm, faithfully recreating analog circuitry and all their interactive behaviors at a component level. FANTOM EX features four ACB instruments with the latest advancements, including Circuit Mod and Condition functions for dialing in varying degrees of vintage character.
Released in 1981, the JUPITER-8 is one of the most revered and sought-after polysynths of all time. The JUPITER-8 ACB Expansion puts a complete circuit-level recreation of this vintage icon inside FANTOM EX.
The SH-101 ACB Expansion for FANTOM EX is an ultra-detailed sonic replica of the famous Roland SH-101 from 1982, an influential monosynth that continues to shape and inspire electronic music styles the world over.
In 1983, the landmark JX-3P ushered in an era of sleek looks, easy preset recall, and stable tuning via analog oscillators under digital control. Indistinguishable from the sound of the original, the JX-3P ACB Expansion brings this underground classic to your FANTOM EX workflow.
Introduced in 1984 as an affordable polysynth for the masses, the JUNO-106 went on to become one of the most beloved electronic instruments ever. The JUNO-106 ACB Expansion recreates the original with stunning accuracy, ready to imbue your music with its unmistakable sonic vibe.
The flexible and expandable ZEN-Core Synthesis System leverages decades of Roland R&D to deliver a diverse array of electronic, acoustic, and hybrid sounds. Develop nuanced and expressive tones with up to four partials, each with an independent oscillator, filter, amplifier, dual LFOs, and effects. And use up to 16 tones in a Scene to build complex splits, layers, and sequenced parts.
From rare and sought-after classics to the designs of tomorrow, Model Expansions provide unprecedented access to the historic and ever-evolving world of Roland synthesizers. FANTOM EX comes with six preloaded Model Expansions driven by the versatile ZEN-Core system.
n/zyme is a thoroughly modern instrument with an all-new synth engine developed for the FANTOM environment. Combining wavetable oscillator layers, phase and shape modulation, resonant filters, and two insanely powerful Step LFOs, n/zyme is a highly interactive music tool that sparks endless creative explorations.
The vintage-inspired JD-800, JUNO-106, JUPITER-8, JX-8P, and SH-101 Model Expansions capture the essence of legendary Roland instruments, enhanced with more polyphony and other modern features for today’s creators.
Acoustic piano is the foundational instrument for many keyboardists. The V-Piano and SuperNATURAL technologies in FANTOM EX bring you deeply expressive pianos that sound and feel like the real thing. The V-Piano interface has been refreshed for a smoother workflow, and the German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01 developed for the RD-2000 comes preinstalled. Core SuperNATURAL acoustic and electric pianos are also included, along with the newly developed SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3 Expansion.
Roland’s Virtual ToneWheel engine faithfully emulates the sound-generating process of vintage organs, with several tone wheel types, adjustable percussion, key click, leakage, and more. There’s also a lush rotary effect with variable speed, brake control, and tube distortion characteristics. The touchscreen, sliders, knobs, and keyboard action are automatically configured to complete the authentic organ experience, providing hands-on control and classic quick-fire playability.
On Roland Cloud, you can find an ever-expanding selection of ZEN-Core Sound Packs and Wave Expansions to explore. There’s a diverse range of styles and new titles added each month, so you’ll always keep your music sounding fresh.
With its seamless computer integration, powerful composition tools, and diverse connectivity, FANTOM EX is primed to be the center of your production universe.
FANTOM EX flows effortlessly into any computer-based production setup. You have custom touchscreen control and dedicated modes for popular software platforms, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, MainStage, Cubase, and Studio One. With the built-in 16x3 audio/MIDI USB interface, you can mix and layer soft synths with hardware sounds, send sequencer parts to computer tracks, route DAW sources through FANTOM EX effects, and much more.
The loaded FANTOM EX rear panel lets you interface with nearly anything. Connect mics and instruments via the XLR combo connectors and route sounds to external destinations with eight individual ¼-inch outputs. Work with MIDI gear and control software synthesizers directly from the touchscreen. And drive modular and analog synths from the dual CV/gate outputs.
With FANTOM EX, you can sample internal and external sources—or both at once. Sample directly to the onboard pads for quick triggering or to the keyboard for instant pitched sounds. Or create detailed multisamples with up to 352 samples per tone. You can even use samples as the basis of a ZEN-Core tone, taking custom sound design to a new level.
FANTOM EX is a versatile musical composition platform that excels at speedy creation. Build arrangements in a flash with the clip-based workflow. Trigger sounds, clips, and patterns with the 16 RGB pads. Compose with the classic TR-REC style step sequencer or capture sounds in real time. And fine-tune tracks with the large touchscreen and intuitive piano-roll editing.
High-quality effect processing is essential to professional sound design and music production. FANTOM EX is packed with on-demand effects from the vast Roland library, ready to infuse your parts with color, space, and depth. Newly developed Shimmer Reverb and Modulation Reverb algorithms offer sonic quality that rivals the finest standalone processors. There’s also a dedicated Master FX processor with preset templates for fast results and refreshed graphical interfaces for the Mastering Comp and Mastering EQ sections.
Developed in collaboration with renowned synth designer Axel Hartmann, the FANTOM EX hardware and user interface is built to support your creative ventures with free-flowing operation and outstanding playability.
Each FANTOM EX model comes equipped with a premium keyboard and aftertouch support. The FANTOM 8 EX offers the ultimate weighted experience with 88 hammer-action keys, while the 61-note FANTOM 6 EX and 76-note FANTOM 7 EX feature semi-weighted synth action. Precision-crafted with decades of Roland development knowledge, these inspiring keyboards deliver the most expressive playability available.
There’s an ample selection of knobs and sliders for intuitive and immediate control, with high-resolution data entry for detailed tweaks and ultra-smooth sweeps. The dedicated synthesizer section features oscillator, filter, and envelope controls, and there are numerous buttons and pads for triggering and sequencing. It’s even possible to connect up to three class-compliant USB MIDI controllers to expand your workflow.
FANTOM EX is built using the high construction standards you expect with a flagship Roland instrument. From the sturdy metal chassis to the top-grade components and connectors, this synth is ready to withstand the rigors of nightly gigging and global touring.
| Type | Workstation Keyboard |
|---|---|
| Sound Engine Type(s) | ZEN-Core, V-Piano, VTW Organ, SuperNATURAL |
| Number of Keys | 88 |
| Type of Keys | Graded Hammer Action |
| Other Controllers | Pitch Bend/Modulation Lever, 2 x Assignable Switches, 25 x Knobs, 9 x Sliders, 2 x Wheels |
| Pads | 16 x Pads, 4 x Banks |
| Polyphony | 256 Notes (ZEN-Core), Unlimited (V-Piano) |
| Number of Presets | 10 Factory Settings, 20 User Settings, Over 3500 tones, Over 90 Drum kits |
| Filter | Analog: 3 x Lowpass, 1 x Highpass, 1 x Bandpass, 1 x Bypass |
| Effects Types | 9 x Chorus, 7 x Reverb, Master Compressor, Master EQP |
| Audio Recording | Realtime, Step, TR-REC |
| Arpeggiator | Yes |
| Sampling | Up to 24-bit/48kHz, WAV/AIFF, 8000 x Samples, 128 x Multisamples |
| Memory | 2GB Internal Storage |
| Sequencer | 16-track, 16 x Groups, 8 x Patterns (per track), 32 x Measures (per pattern) |
| Audio Inputs | 2 x XLR-1/4" Combo (mic/line) |
| Audio Outputs | 2 x 1/4" TS (L/mono, R), 2 x XLR (L, R), 4 x 1/4" TS (sub 1,2), 2 x 1/4" TS (analog filter) |
| USB | 1 x Type B (audio, MIDI), 1 x Type A (memory), 3 x Type As (external device) |
| MIDI I/O | IN, OUT, OUT/THRU, USB |
| Pedal Inputs | 1 x 1/4" (hold), 3 x 1/4" (control) |
| Height | 6.1" |
| Width | 56.3" |
| Depth | 17.3" |
| Weight | 66.12 lbs |
| Manufacturer Part Number | FANTOM 8 EX 761294522028 |
