I own an FA-08 for about 2 years now, nice to hear it is still relevant and can still compete with the modern expensive stuff that's come out lately. This confirms for me that I made a good choice back then
I just got one that was a demo in a store nearby. Its still in pristine condition and manage to get it for 800$. I think it was a bang for the buck. Do you still own your FA08 ?
@@4D_SpaceTime I still have it, and I'm still very happy with it. You won't regret it, certainly at that price. In my case, I've been using more VST instruments lately, not because the Roland sounds aren't good, but once you're into that "DAW world", you tend to use these instruments more. I do use my FA-08 as a DAW controller sometimes, mostly when playing piano as the weighted keyboard is more realistic for piano than my Komplete Kontrol S61 controller, but for other instruments I find it's easier to play on my dedicated DAW controller than on the FA-08. That said, I'm a hobbyist, not a professional player. Have fun!!!!
@@ivo4357how does it manage as a daw controller? I’m kind of thinking of a Fantom 08 but would possibly consider the Fa-08 if it worked fine for daw control
Even the Fantom couldn't cast a shadow on the FA series mainly because this is such a steal, given at the price it's available today. I've been waiting for this review. Thanks Stu!
I bought a roland FA-06 a few years ago, it's a fantastic keyboard, great specs and sound plus with the axial site you have access to thousands of new sounds for it. In 2020 it's a valid option for those looking for a feature packed quality keyboard.
I have the FA06 and it's been a stunning piece of gear for sound creation, inspiration. All these new synths now (2023) with a measly 1-2-4-8 voices and no multitimbral capabilities layering makes me so happy with my choice. As for all the "analog" snobs out there, I have created leads for ELP, Yes, UK and all the prog bands and played out with them and everyone noted how authentic they were. This beast can do it all
The Roland FA-0 and new FANTOM-0 lines are fantastic and present incredible value. The sonic possibilities are endless and the interface is quite user-friendly. We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying your FA-06! :)
I'm going to admit my stupidity: I too got this about 6 years ago, but i really go tit because I loved the guitar sounds in it. I played around with other stuff on it it a bit, but at the time was too busy to learn how to work it. I didn't realize it had a sequencer in it. . .well I kinda did, but I didn't. At the time I was recording on a 16 track digital recorder and didn't give it much thought. But I have time to learn now.
I "only" have the Fa 06 and it is the best sequenser songwriting tool i ever had. The sound you can tweak or double them up to get the expererience you like. Together with my Kross 2 i have an awesome gear rig.
Great review from Merriam! Excellent playing and explanation of the core features as with all of your reviews! Just bought a used FA-08 and really looking forward to it!
I have always wanted to learn to play, at present all I can do is hear a tune and play along with one hand. I now have a small Roland and I am going to learn to play property then I want a really good dream keyboard for my home, so I will be following your reviews so I can make the right future choice.
I haven't performed for a long time so that's not important to me. The songwriting part for me is massive with this. As well as the impressive sounds. Going to order the FA 07 version now
I am about to order an FA07 and making final checks. In case you did end up with one, could you please comment on the key width as well as the general feel of the keybed. Appreciate. Thanks.
@@volksbahn yes I bought it. The general feel is mainly fine for me. The black keys are a bit harder to push down but nothing major at all. The width I'm not sure how to describe as I can't really compare with other keyboards as not played any others for so long. You're probably best asking someone on a forum of some kind. Sorry I couldn't be of more help
Totally agree about the creativity aspect being part of the machine..I'm also happier with an old analog or digital multi-track than a computer..The FA is a real powerhouse and and with drums bass lines, guitar & keyboard riffs within the arpeggiator and a superb sampler & sequencer, theres not much that this wont do ! If u are not a lover of touch screens the saving over a fantom 08 is terrific!
Absolutely! The FANTOM-08 and previous FA-08 model offer an insanely good cost-to-value ratio. They are really impressive when you consider all of the features packed into these machines. Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)
Thanks for another interesting review, even if it was three years ago. My supplier lists the action as PHA-4. Many stage pianos and synths and workstations don't feature a graded action even when they do feature a weighted hammer action. Nord even had the grading removed from the RH3 action supplied by Kawai, on some models. So, can anyone comment on whether the 08 has a graded action? Anyway, this instrument is very tempting (wish I had had one a few years ago when I started doing a lot of sequencing) but now that I'm much more focussed on early jazz piano styles, I don't need the distraction. I'm impressed that so many features are offered on a medium weight, modestly priced instrument. Looks like it's still a great deal. Great going Roland!
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! The Roland FA-08 has been updated by the Roland FANTOM-08 model, which, in my opinion, is even more impressive. Both the FA-08 and FANTOM-08 models feature the PHA4 action, which, to my knowledge, is still grade weighted on these workstation models.
A while ago I got a keyboard. A really nice one. But I wanted one that was just a keyboard. No extra sounds. It may have like four tones to it. haha But in 2019 I saw this one and made a file on it. I just started thinking about synths again and looked at the file to find this. Since watching a movie on a guy names Moog, I like the idea of having something that would allow me to create so many different sounds. So I will totally be buying this soon. Cool review.
4:50 there is really that discussion about workstations being old school. Maybe I am old school. My workstation experience dates back to my old Korg M-1 in 1991. Back in the day I did not have Cubase (which was 100% MIDI only) because Machintosh pc's were just off reach so being able to make music using a keyboard with a sequencer was so powerful and handy. Avid had just come up with no linear Pro Tools. But now it is affordable for me to use Steinberg's Halion SE 3 which is shipped with all those nice Yamaha piano samples with 2ms latency in and 2ms out. Maybe Soundscape would even be a choice for the Roland boards that are shipped with a sound interface, just to have a lot more sounds. So it is arguable that having sequencer onboard is maybe a bit nostalgic. Despite the awesome display in this Fantom - 08, for my old and tired eyes a large PC screen is so much more comfortable. The same with other MIDI instruments. I own a Roland v-Drums, for example . Recording from that box is only useful to research some groove ideas or study because my Cubase DAW is so at hand and so full of features to manipulate the MIDI roll. My point being that recording or sequencing ideas in the instrument feels a bit old school these days. Maybe f it were not for the latency of audio interfaces, the concept of keyboard workstations would likely feel a bit redundant, imho.
BOOM! This is were I got sold right here..... 4:00 I produced over 1,000 songs on a ESQ-1 when I was in my teens and working on DAWs just don't do it for me.
Thanks man! I hate DAWs. Understand the value of them and I can utilize most of the recording features in Studio One and Ableton but I wind up spending so much time messing with different settings and learning even more features, I feel like it frustrates my process. Totally gonna get one thanks again!
More immediate. More visceral. These are like DAW focused pc's with specialized control surfaces, and displays. He didn't even mention the AXIAL libraries, nor the INTEGRA-7 patch compatibilities.
Roland needs to work on having more simple to use/beginner friendly/intuitive keyboards. I love my FA07 but it stresses me out sometimes trying to figure out how everything works. There's some tutorials on YT but they don't cover everything or go as in depth/step by step as I would like. Overall I'm happy with my FA07. I don't need the big flagship boards that cost double or triple what an FA07 goes for. I hope Roland makes an updated version of these or a new series with more realistic keys and more user friendly.
I appreciate the work you have put into theses tutorials; the text manuals are sometimes a bit obscure. Any help or links to explain how I can reach an FA08 solution would be great. I have established numerous studio sets (configurations for specific songs) in the user group. I would like to assign these to the pads so I can use them as 'performance patches' - in effect to arrange song scenes into various set list folders. You may have already explained how to accomplish this but I missed it.
Hi Dale! Brent from Merriam Music here! While I have played the Roland FA-08 before, it is not a model that I have dug into too deeply to be completely honest. The answer you're looking for should be within the FA-08's manual. While they can be a bit tiring to go through, if you access the online PDF copy, they are usually hyperlinked, which allows for much faster navigation to the specific topic you're seeking answers on. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
I don't have an FA-08 onsite to test (it has been discontinued and replaced with the FANTOM-08 model), but I am quite confident there is the ability to change the blend or volume levels of each layered sound. That info should be available in the user manual.
Hi great review I am looking at this keyboard and the Korg Krome se and the Yamaha modx all 88 keys just can’t decide any suggestions much appreciated as to which one to go for thanks
I own one, its great, prefer piano 3 sound, but love that you can EQ the piano to make it more bassy. Not the biggest fan of the weight action/feel to be fair. But its something very personal. Otherwise its a beast, has way too many features for me. I do love the sounds though.
@@EPSTomcat11 good action overall. Considering it's a full workstation that keybed is really really good. Having said that, not as good as the action featured on the FP90 or on the RD2000 (more realistic action). FA08 action not too noisy, feels definitely heavy and really solid. There´s no workstation in the market and in this segment in particular featuring an action like that. It reminds me to the RH3 action (Korg Kronos, Korg SV1/2, etc), perhaps the RH3 is slightly better but definitely by a short margin. The RH3 is also featured in Korg´s flagship and high - end keyboards / digital pianos. Hope it helps.
@@ivnsports518 What is this keybed called, Pau? I just set my FA08 (bought it immaculately used) and I’m still looking for touch (Vel) controls ( among a million things. The keyboard out of the box is a little light to me as I transition from Yamaha S80 and Privia PX5s. It is more solid than the Casio and key’s surface is better than the old Yamaha and almost as solid as SV2’s board. Kind of hard to find a better feel than the S80 under $2000. Navigation is different than the Juno DS that I’ve played.
@@papadopp3870 I think the FA08 features the Ivory Feel-G action or something like that. For a workstation is a pretty good action. In order to adjust those settings press the "Menu" button and go to "System". Now, choose "Keyboard" and from here you'll be able to adjust the keyboard velocity, the velocity curve and the velocity curve offset. Agreed, coming from Yamaha and particularly from the S80 you won't find the FA08 action heavy at all...Well under the 2000$ mark, some pretty good options such as the Yamaha P515, the Roland FP90, Korg SV2...the RHIII action from Kawai (MP7) is a pleasure to play. Having said that, none of them come close in terms of touch, dynamics, sensitivity and overall realism to the GF action by Kawai (MP11 SE), but those models are above the 2,000$ mark.
I'd looooooooooooooooooooooooooove to have this keyboard one day! I wonder, would it fit on a stand with wheels and a bracket? The bracket would prevent the keyboard from sliding.
The FA-08 is an awesome workstation! You should also check out the new FANTOM-08 model, which is even more impressive in my opinion. I believe it would be possible to fit the piano on that type of stand configuration.
@@MerriamPianos If you're actually talking about the Fantom8, the problem with the Fantom 8 is: 1. It's more spendy than I can afford $4200 versus $2149.99. and 2. It's too heavy for me to lift (80 pounds vs. 32 pounds). If you're talking about a "new" Fantom 08 model, what is it like compared to the "FA08"?
You can use virtually any amp/PA, but the Roland KC series keyboard amps are fantastic in my opinion. The Roland FA-08 has been discontinued and replaced with the Roland FANTOM-08.
I appreciate all your time and effort put in to demonstrate the F-08- 88. You have made my decision process much easier. And I will be purchasing the F-08-88 very soon.
Different kind of keyboards. The FP30 is a digital piano, portable, really light, good action. Don't expect too many sounds coming out from the FP30. Mainly piano sounds and a few pads, strings, etc. Awesome keybed, perhaps the strongest feature of this keyboard. I don't recommend if you are gonna use the FP30 while gigging or playing live. No proper line out. The FP30 costs around 500/550e in Europe, sometimes under the 500e mark. The FA08 is a workstation. More sounds, more options (sequencer, etc). Wonderful keyboard in this category/segment. For 1250/1300e cand easily be found. The keybed is fantastic, neither heavy nor soft. Good responsiveness and awesome dynamics. The FA08 features a huge array of sounds, including pretty good piano sounds, pads, strings, etc. Very useful in live situations. You can easily edit the sounds and the knobs come in handy when it comes to modify sounds and tones while playing.
Hey gang, Listen, this keyboards main output uses balanced TRS cables, but the Roland KC-990 amp appears to use standard cables on all the inputs except the XLR. I will admit I'm utterly stumped. Can you offer some insight. Kim
Hi Stu, thanks a lot for all those wonderful review! I heard you already have filmed the precious CA-99 review, is it gonna be released anytime soon (even an estimate would be fine by me, I am eagerly waiting for mine to arrive!) thanks a lot and keep up the good work
Скажите, пожалуйста, можно ли изменить частоту ударов сэмлов барабанов в загруженных банках этого синтезатора? Например, Bank 2, pad 16, мне необходимо изменить темп на более медленный, - имеется ли возможность это сделать?
Hey Arvin! Just replied to you in another vid, but here's my feedback: Really depends on the use I'd say. Super different functionalities, but both sound great. The RD88 certainly is the easier of the two to use from every angle: weight, interface, range of features. The other big consideration is action - they don't feel the same, PHA-4 Action vs GF action... so that might be the deciding factor right there if you're a fairly experienced player. Also the onboard speakers may be another consideration. More or less, the RD88 is designed as a slightly more stage-pianoy solution to the FP series, without going full-blown RD2000 or workstation.
@@MerriamPianos also wondering about the sound engine with RD88 is ZEN-Core which I can get the sound of Fantom and other synthesizers included in ZEN-core? Or I can also access the sound of Zen-core using this FA08? not yet familiar with Zen-core. supernatural VS ZEN-core.
You can check full FA sound list on Roland site: www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/fa-06/owners_manuals/a3ba4253-4589-4975-8896-7a71c1184516/ Also, FA allows internal sound set to be expanded by two EXP libraries, and two of these are dedicated purely for acoustic pianos (sound demos on site): axial.roland.com/category/fa-06_fa-08/
I would say (and before you say anything I love the FA series - I've owned the FA06 08 and now 07) that the Acoustic Piano tones are the weakest element of the keyboard compared to more recent models. That said its quite possible with some modules V3 Sound XXL or softsynths that you can get around those issues. The 08 keybed definitely makes the most of the samples but I don't find them particularly satisfying. Beware of trying to play authentic piano sounds on the 06/07 models as even tweaking the touch curves isn't enough to avoid hitting too many upper velocities. Unless they've fixed it recently the keybeds on the 06 are the worst overall, the 07 definitely responds better, and the 08 is good if a little sluggish for certain types of patches. For function work the FA07 I use is great, and I've used the FA06 as my top keyboard for several years and the 08 for musicals etc and they have all been bullet proof reliable even travelling abroad with the 06 on flights etc.. After gigging my 06 heavily for a number of years the pitch stick would sometimes get stuck slightly out of tune and needed a further wiggle to fix, but this is quite a commonly reported issue and can be switched by disengaging it in the menu unless its definitely needed for that particular patch, or of course by sending it in for a service/repair.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too much talking and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too little playing. I want to hear what this thing can do, an overhead camera would help you a lot as well! Not attacking, just constructive criticism.
Absolutely. This is sort of disrespectful of people's time, tbh. Instead of posting this, it should have been fed into a speech-to-text converter to generate a script, then that script edited down to 1/2 or 1/3 length, and refilmed (with some overhead views thrown in, as you say) Great player, smart, thorough, honest, objective, detailed, the depth of knowledge and experience really shines thru in how insightful the observations are. But the vids haven't improved to the degree one might expect, given that there are alot of them.
I just got the kawaii es920,great sounding piano,but maybe not enough functionality for what I want,it is along the lines of a P515 or the kawai es 8,how do you think it would measure up to the Roland FA08.
Different keyboards. The FA08 is a workstation not a digital piano or a stage piano. Having said that, it is a versatile keyboard and works brilliantly both in the studio and on stage. Got pretty good piano sounds and a very decent keybed. The action is arguably one of its best assets along with the pad sounds, lead sounds, strings, etc. Wonderful workstation. Kawai action is more realistic and the piano sounds are definitely warmer. I love the P515 action, heavy action indeed, the responsivness and the dynamics are amazing. FA08 action is also heavy and a little bit sluggish, dynamics are good, gets the job done overall but not the best option when it comes to play fast pieces.
@@ivnsports518 I saw somebody make that comment and I thought it was the most asinine thing that I had ever heard of. Now I realize that it was the comment itself that was asinine.
@@magneto7930 absolutely it was. In terms of connectivity the FA08 is great. The FP30 didn´t feature proper line outs, just the headphones output (and the speakers). Perhaps he was referring to the FP30...but it still has headphone out so I have no idea why he said that.
@@ivnsports518Now that I'm thinking about it he might have been referring to the FA06, but still I'm sure it's the same difference. I just assumed that he owned one to make such a comment, but obviously he did not.
I was thinking the same thing. Information is good but geez play some sounds in between time. Hell, I can’t figure out if I want it because I really haven’t heard it.
How do you do, Young fellow.... This is my take on what is relavent... sounds that are timeless . what musician gets tired of a D-50,jv 90,xp 30,Jx 10,jd 800,etc? it's the Junos that are irrelevant,.and a waste of resources to build.the vr 30 is a far better value, really,if a local musician wants Roland,he/she should purchase, the fa 08,fa 07(one at home, and one for the road)and the vr 730, this way, you the best keyboard actions, your content interchangeable between both Fa's, and the Option for a dual manual performance with a combined weight of roughly 40 pounds, you win the war.the price points are well within reach.
The first half of this video is pointless waffle. You should do some homework first and have a firm idea what you want to say before making the video. Sorry if that sounds harsh but hope it is constructive.
Exactly. If the creator doesn't do the work of scripting or planning and instead just adlibs, the viewer is left to do the hard work of parsing out the info.
I own an FA-08 for about 2 years now, nice to hear it is still relevant and can still compete with the modern expensive stuff that's come out lately. This confirms for me that I made a good choice back then
Love my FA08 too. Get along superbly well with my Kronos. Roland did a terrific job.
What’s the modern stuff comparable to fa08 as workstation? I thought by roland’s screen is too small. Maybe will upgrade if there are options.
I just got one that was a demo in a store nearby. Its still in pristine condition and manage to get it for 800$. I think it was a bang for the buck. Do you still own your FA08 ?
@@4D_SpaceTime I still have it, and I'm still very happy with it. You won't regret it, certainly at that price. In my case, I've been using more VST instruments lately, not because the Roland sounds aren't good, but once you're into that "DAW world", you tend to use these instruments more. I do use my FA-08 as a DAW controller sometimes, mostly when playing piano as the weighted keyboard is more realistic for piano than my Komplete Kontrol S61 controller, but for other instruments I find it's easier to play on my dedicated DAW controller than on the FA-08. That said, I'm a hobbyist, not a professional player. Have fun!!!!
@@ivo4357how does it manage as a daw controller? I’m kind of thinking of a Fantom 08 but would possibly consider the Fa-08 if it worked fine for daw control
Even the Fantom couldn't cast a shadow on the FA series mainly because this is such a steal, given at the price it's available today. I've been waiting for this review. Thanks Stu!
I bought a roland FA-06 a few years ago, it's a fantastic keyboard, great specs and sound plus with the axial site you have access to thousands of new sounds for it. In 2020 it's a valid option for those looking for a feature packed quality keyboard.
I have the FA06 and it's been a stunning piece of gear for sound creation, inspiration. All these new synths now (2023) with a measly 1-2-4-8 voices and no multitimbral capabilities layering makes me so happy with my choice. As for all the "analog" snobs out there, I have created leads for ELP, Yes, UK and all the prog bands and played out with them and everyone noted how authentic they were. This beast can do it all
The Roland FA-0 and new FANTOM-0 lines are fantastic and present incredible value. The sonic possibilities are endless and the interface is quite user-friendly. We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying your FA-06! :)
3:39 This describes the EXACT thought process I had when I started looking for something like this. I didn't realize other people felt the same!
Glad I'm not the only one!!
This 100%
Computer = when you like to compute.
Musical instrument = when you like to play music.
They still make the FA?! Wow....6 years and is still going strong.
I'm going to admit my stupidity: I too got this about 6 years ago, but i really go tit because I loved the guitar sounds in it. I played around with other stuff on it it a bit, but at the time was too busy to learn how to work it. I didn't realize it had a sequencer in it. . .well I kinda did, but I didn't. At the time I was recording on a 16 track digital recorder and didn't give it much thought. But I have time to learn now.
I just ordered one of these last night. Thanks for the great demo and nice playing. You’re overflowing with musical ideas.
I "only" have the Fa 06 and it is the best sequenser songwriting tool i ever had. The sound you can tweak or double them up to get the expererience you like. Together with my Kross 2 i have an awesome gear rig.
19:40 - That Part Select is one of the Best Features on this workstation - I have never seem it demo'd before - super helpful
I discovered your channel last night. Amazing work and reviews. Keep it up.
I have this worstation for months and it is imcredible and fantastic.
Great review from Merriam! Excellent playing and explanation of the core features as with all of your reviews! Just bought a used FA-08 and really looking forward to it!
Just when I was settled on the Nautilus and the MoDX. Fathom X6 was my first workstation. Tough choice ahead.
I have always wanted to learn to play, at present all I can do is hear a tune and play along with one hand. I now have a small Roland and I am going to learn to play property then I want a really good dream keyboard for my home, so I will be following your reviews so I can make the right future choice.
Great review!
Thanks! We're glad you enjoyed it! :)
I haven't performed for a long time so that's not important to me. The songwriting part for me is massive with this. As well as the impressive sounds. Going to order the FA 07 version now
I am about to order an FA07 and making final checks. In case you did end up with one, could you please comment on the key width as well as the general feel of the keybed. Appreciate. Thanks.
@@volksbahn yes I bought it. The general feel is mainly fine for me. The black keys are a bit harder to push down but nothing major at all. The width I'm not sure how to describe as I can't really compare with other keyboards as not played any others for so long. You're probably best asking someone on a forum of some kind. Sorry I couldn't be of more help
@@MrJondinham Thanks. Ordered mine today. Black Friday deals were help too.
Totally agree about the creativity aspect being part of the machine..I'm also happier with an old analog or digital multi-track than a computer..The FA is a real powerhouse and and with drums bass lines, guitar & keyboard riffs within the arpeggiator and a superb sampler & sequencer, theres not much that this wont do ! If u are not a lover of touch screens the saving over a fantom 08 is terrific!
Absolutely! The FANTOM-08 and previous FA-08 model offer an insanely good cost-to-value ratio. They are really impressive when you consider all of the features packed into these machines. Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)
Thanks for another interesting review, even if it was three years ago. My supplier lists the action as PHA-4. Many stage pianos and synths and workstations don't feature a graded action even when they do feature a weighted hammer action. Nord even had the grading removed from the RH3 action supplied by Kawai, on some models. So, can anyone comment on whether the 08 has a graded action?
Anyway, this instrument is very tempting (wish I had had one a few years ago when I started doing a lot of sequencing) but now that I'm much more focussed on early jazz piano styles, I don't need the distraction. I'm impressed that so many features are offered on a medium weight, modestly priced instrument. Looks like it's still a great deal. Great going Roland!
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! The Roland FA-08 has been updated by the Roland FANTOM-08 model, which, in my opinion, is even more impressive. Both the FA-08 and FANTOM-08 models feature the PHA4 action, which, to my knowledge, is still grade weighted on these workstation models.
@@MerriamPianos Ah, I thought the FA-O8 and Fantom-O8 were the same model. Silly me. Serves me right for never exploring this technology properly.
A while ago I got a keyboard. A really nice one. But I wanted one that was just a keyboard. No extra sounds. It may have like four tones to it. haha But in 2019 I saw this one and made a file on it. I just started thinking about synths again and looked at the file to find this. Since watching a movie on a guy names Moog, I like the idea of having something that would allow me to create so many different sounds. So I will totally be buying this soon. Cool review.
4:50 there is really that discussion about workstations being old school. Maybe I am old school. My workstation experience dates back to my old Korg M-1 in 1991.
Back in the day I did not have Cubase (which was 100% MIDI only) because Machintosh pc's were just off reach so being able to make music using a keyboard with a sequencer was so powerful and handy. Avid had just come up with no linear Pro Tools.
But now it is affordable for me to use Steinberg's Halion SE 3 which is shipped with all those nice Yamaha piano samples with 2ms latency in and 2ms out. Maybe Soundscape would even be a choice for the Roland boards that are shipped with a sound interface, just to have a lot more sounds.
So it is arguable that having sequencer onboard is maybe a bit nostalgic. Despite the awesome display in this Fantom - 08, for my old and tired eyes a large PC screen is so much more comfortable.
The same with other MIDI instruments. I own a Roland v-Drums, for example . Recording from that box is only useful to research some groove ideas or study because my Cubase DAW is so at hand and so full of features to manipulate the MIDI roll.
My point being that recording or sequencing ideas in the instrument feels a bit old school these days.
Maybe f it were not for the latency of audio interfaces, the concept of keyboard workstations would likely feel a bit redundant, imho.
Good demo
Thank you kindly! :)
This is an awesome review!! Thank you so much 🙂
BOOM! This is were I got sold right here..... 4:00 I produced over 1,000 songs on a ESQ-1 when I was in my teens and working on DAWs just don't do it for me.
Thanks man! I hate DAWs. Understand the value of them and I can utilize most of the recording features in Studio One and Ableton but I wind up spending so much time messing with different settings and learning even more features, I feel like it frustrates my process. Totally gonna get one thanks again!
More immediate. More visceral. These are like DAW focused pc's with specialized control surfaces, and displays. He didn't even mention the AXIAL libraries, nor the INTEGRA-7 patch compatibilities.
Roland needs to work on having more simple to use/beginner friendly/intuitive keyboards. I love my FA07 but it stresses me out sometimes trying to figure out how everything works. There's some tutorials on YT but they don't cover everything or go as in depth/step by step as I would like.
Overall I'm happy with my FA07. I don't need the big flagship boards that cost double or triple what an FA07 goes for. I hope Roland makes an updated version of these or a new series with more realistic keys and more user friendly.
How is the playing action compared to the fp30 and RD-88?
I appreciate the work you have put into theses tutorials; the text manuals are sometimes a bit obscure. Any help or links to explain how I can reach an FA08 solution would be great.
I have established numerous studio sets (configurations for specific songs) in the user group. I would like to assign these to the pads so I can use them as 'performance patches' - in effect to arrange song scenes into various set list folders. You may have already explained how to accomplish this but I missed it.
Hi Dale! Brent from Merriam Music here! While I have played the Roland FA-08 before, it is not a model that I have dug into too deeply to be completely honest. The answer you're looking for should be within the FA-08's manual. While they can be a bit tiring to go through, if you access the online PDF copy, they are usually hyperlinked, which allows for much faster navigation to the specific topic you're seeking answers on. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
Is there a way to reduce the pad sound in piano string sound source?
I don't have an FA-08 onsite to test (it has been discontinued and replaced with the FANTOM-08 model), but I am quite confident there is the ability to change the blend or volume levels of each layered sound. That info should be available in the user manual.
Hi great review I am looking at this keyboard and the Korg Krome se and the Yamaha modx all 88 keys just can’t decide any suggestions much appreciated as to which one to go for thanks
Korg Krome EX lacks audio ins and any computer integration. For some people this could be a deal breaker.
Thanks
You're very welcome! :)
Good review But im kinda missing the cons part in the video wich makes a review video complete.
Which speakers and mixer do you use?
I own one, its great, prefer piano 3 sound, but love that you can EQ the piano to make it more bassy. Not the biggest fan of the weight action/feel to be fair. But its something very personal. Otherwise its a beast, has way too many features for me. I do love the sounds though.
That’s the only thing I’m concerned about. What’s the feel like compared to a regular acoustic piano? Are the keys noisy or too shallow etc.
@@EPSTomcat11 good action overall. Considering it's a full workstation that keybed is really really good. Having said that, not as good as the action featured on the FP90 or on the RD2000 (more realistic action). FA08 action not too noisy, feels definitely heavy and really solid. There´s no workstation in the market and in this segment in particular featuring an action like that. It reminds me to the RH3 action (Korg Kronos, Korg SV1/2, etc), perhaps the RH3 is slightly better but definitely by a short margin. The RH3 is also featured in Korg´s flagship and high - end keyboards / digital pianos. Hope it helps.
@@ivnsports518 What is this keybed called, Pau?
I just set my FA08 (bought it immaculately used) and I’m still looking for touch (Vel) controls ( among a million things.
The keyboard out of the box is a little light to me as I transition from Yamaha S80 and Privia PX5s.
It is more solid than the Casio and key’s surface is better than the old Yamaha and almost as solid as SV2’s board. Kind of hard to find a better feel than the S80 under $2000.
Navigation is different than the Juno DS that I’ve played.
@@papadopp3870 I think the FA08 features the Ivory Feel-G action or something like that. For a workstation is a pretty good action. In order to adjust those settings press the "Menu" button and go to "System". Now, choose "Keyboard" and from here you'll be able to adjust the keyboard velocity, the velocity curve and the velocity curve offset. Agreed, coming from Yamaha and particularly from the S80 you won't find the FA08 action heavy at all...Well under the 2000$ mark, some pretty good options such as the Yamaha P515, the Roland FP90, Korg SV2...the RHIII action from Kawai (MP7) is a pleasure to play. Having said that, none of them come close in terms of touch, dynamics, sensitivity and overall realism to the GF action by Kawai (MP11 SE), but those models are above the 2,000$ mark.
@@mlgl9728 Thanks for this amazing reply. Almost a week down the road, and many points are dead on. You cut through a lot of chaff!
I'd looooooooooooooooooooooooooove to have this keyboard one day! I wonder, would it fit on a stand with wheels and a bracket? The bracket would prevent the keyboard from sliding.
The FA-08 is an awesome workstation! You should also check out the new FANTOM-08 model, which is even more impressive in my opinion. I believe it would be possible to fit the piano on that type of stand configuration.
@@MerriamPianos If you're actually talking about the Fantom8, the problem with the Fantom 8 is:
1. It's more spendy than I can afford $4200 versus $2149.99.
and 2. It's too heavy for me to lift (80 pounds vs. 32 pounds).
If you're talking about a "new" Fantom 08 model, what is it like compared to the "FA08"?
How much do these run? What type of amp do you need to use?
You can use virtually any amp/PA, but the Roland KC series keyboard amps are fantastic in my opinion. The Roland FA-08 has been discontinued and replaced with the Roland FANTOM-08.
Is it possible to do a Stylophone-type sound with gliding between notes with the FA-08?
I appreciate all your time and effort put in to demonstrate the F-08- 88. You have made my decision process much easier. And I will be purchasing the F-08-88 very soon.
Did u get ? Or going for tanton 08 ?
I'm in the market for weighted keys, I want piano action. Is this sufficient? I was originally going to get the FA 06, but I'm tired of synth action.
Yes, the action feels similar to the rd 2000 action of which is amazing
Oh, I need urgent advice, - what to choose (what is the better) - Roland fp-30, or this fa-08? !
Different kind of keyboards. The FP30 is a digital piano, portable, really light, good action. Don't expect too many sounds coming out from the FP30. Mainly piano sounds and a few pads, strings, etc. Awesome keybed, perhaps the strongest feature of this keyboard. I don't recommend if you are gonna use the FP30 while gigging or playing live. No proper line out. The FP30 costs around 500/550e in Europe, sometimes under the 500e mark. The FA08 is a workstation. More sounds, more options (sequencer, etc). Wonderful keyboard in this category/segment. For 1250/1300e cand easily be found. The keybed is fantastic, neither heavy nor soft. Good responsiveness and awesome dynamics. The FA08 features a huge array of sounds, including pretty good piano sounds, pads, strings, etc. Very useful in live situations. You can easily edit the sounds and the knobs come in handy when it comes to modify sounds and tones while playing.
@@mlgl9728 Thank you very much!
@@Вадим-з7к7н you're welcome.
Hey gang,
Listen, this keyboards main output uses balanced TRS cables, but the Roland KC-990 amp appears to use standard cables on all the inputs except the XLR. I will admit I'm utterly stumped.
Can you offer some insight.
Kim
Sounds good to me.
It sounds great to my ears too! It is a very impressive workstation. :)
Hi Stu, thanks a lot for all those wonderful review! I heard you already have filmed the precious CA-99 review, is it gonna be released anytime soon (even an estimate would be fine by me, I am eagerly waiting for mine to arrive!) thanks a lot and keep up the good work
Скажите, пожалуйста, можно ли изменить частоту ударов сэмлов барабанов в загруженных банках этого синтезатора? Например, Bank 2, pad 16, мне необходимо изменить темп на более медленный, - имеется ли возможность это сделать?
Hi there! Yes - it is possible to adjust the tempo for drum loops and programmed musical excerpts. :)
@@MerriamPianos Спасибо Вам большое! Thank you very much! 👍
The new RD88 or this FA08? Give me some advice
Hey Arvin! Just replied to you in another vid, but here's my feedback: Really depends on the use I'd say. Super different functionalities, but both sound great. The RD88 certainly is the easier of the two to use from every angle: weight, interface, range of features. The other big consideration is action - they don't feel the same, PHA-4 Action vs GF action... so that might be the deciding factor right there if you're a fairly experienced player. Also the onboard speakers may be another consideration. More or less, the RD88 is designed as a slightly more stage-pianoy solution to the FP series, without going full-blown RD2000 or workstation.
@@MerriamPianos also wondering about the sound engine with RD88 is ZEN-Core which I can get the sound of Fantom and other synthesizers included in ZEN-core? Or I can also access the sound of Zen-core using this FA08? not yet familiar with Zen-core. supernatural VS ZEN-core.
Roland RD-88 or FA 08 for a church. Which one is a better choice?
Fa08.
@@donlucas3984 can tell me more .? I am not a musician and it would be really helpful
How many acoustic piano tones does it have
You can check full FA sound list on Roland site:
www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/fa-06/owners_manuals/a3ba4253-4589-4975-8896-7a71c1184516/
Also, FA allows internal sound set to be expanded by two EXP libraries, and two of these are dedicated purely for acoustic pianos (sound demos on site):
axial.roland.com/category/fa-06_fa-08/
I would say (and before you say anything I love the FA series - I've owned the FA06 08 and now 07) that the Acoustic Piano tones are the weakest element of the keyboard compared to more recent models. That said its quite possible with some modules V3 Sound XXL or softsynths that you can get around those issues. The 08 keybed definitely makes the most of the samples but I don't find them particularly satisfying. Beware of trying to play authentic piano sounds on the 06/07 models as even tweaking the touch curves isn't enough to avoid hitting too many upper velocities. Unless they've fixed it recently the keybeds on the 06 are the worst overall, the 07 definitely responds better, and the 08 is good if a little sluggish for certain types of patches. For function work the FA07 I use is great, and I've used the FA06 as my top keyboard for several years and the 08 for musicals etc and they have all been bullet proof reliable even travelling abroad with the 06 on flights etc.. After gigging my 06 heavily for a number of years the pitch stick would sometimes get stuck slightly out of tune and needed a further wiggle to fix, but this is quite a commonly reported issue and can be switched by disengaging it in the menu unless its definitely needed for that particular patch, or of course by sending it in for a service/repair.
0:51 is that the Instagram ad background music?? 😱
I don't believe so...at least as far as I am aware!
does anyone know if there is an editor for mac or PC that makes your life easier when you want to modify the order of studio sets?
Check the Roland forums. Someone created an editor, but not sure what all the editor can do. Worth a look.
check out Roland Clan Forums, a user posted it's own editor and works fine. It was posted last year (in October, I think).
@@ivnsports518 thanks
I guess you have to set them before you show up to practise with your set list ready to go
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too much talking and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too little playing. I want to hear what this thing can do, an overhead camera would help you a lot as well! Not attacking, just constructive criticism.
yeah I would have liked a little more overhead so that I could see what he was doing
Absolutely. This is sort of disrespectful of people's time, tbh. Instead of posting this, it should have been fed into a speech-to-text converter to generate a script, then that script edited down to 1/2 or 1/3 length, and refilmed (with some overhead views thrown in, as you say)
Great player, smart, thorough, honest, objective, detailed, the depth of knowledge and experience really shines thru in how insightful the observations are.
But the vids haven't improved to the degree one might expect, given that there are alot of them.
I just got the kawaii es920,great sounding piano,but maybe not enough functionality for what I want,it is along the lines of a P515 or the kawai es 8,how do you think it would measure up to the Roland FA08.
Different keyboards. The FA08 is a workstation not a digital piano or a stage piano. Having said that, it is a versatile keyboard and works brilliantly both in the studio and on stage. Got pretty good piano sounds and a very decent keybed. The action is arguably one of its best assets along with the pad sounds, lead sounds, strings, etc. Wonderful workstation. Kawai action is more realistic and the piano sounds are definitely warmer. I love the P515 action, heavy action indeed, the responsivness and the dynamics are amazing. FA08 action is also heavy and a little bit sluggish, dynamics are good, gets the job done overall but not the best option when it comes to play fast pieces.
This isn’t live performance friendly though. No faders for layers is the biggest thing.
Okay, I was told that there was no headphone jack on this keyboard. I guess I was wrong. Great to know!
lol who said that???
@@ivnsports518 I saw somebody make that comment and I thought it was the most asinine thing that I had ever heard of. Now I realize that it was the comment itself that was asinine.
@@magneto7930 absolutely it was. In terms of connectivity the FA08 is great. The FP30 didn´t feature proper line outs, just the headphones output (and the speakers). Perhaps he was referring to the FP30...but it still has headphone out so I have no idea why he said that.
@@ivnsports518Now that I'm thinking about it he might have been referring to the FA06, but still I'm sure it's the same difference. I just assumed that he owned one to make such a comment, but obviously he did not.
We are talking too much guys, let's play🤦♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
I was thinking the same thing. Information is good but geez play some sounds in between time. Hell, I can’t figure out if I want it because I really haven’t heard it.
I would like this but it's at 69 likes and I don't wanna ruin it
You can like it now, it's over 200
How do you do, Young fellow....
This is my take on what is relavent... sounds that are timeless . what musician gets tired of a D-50,jv 90,xp 30,Jx 10,jd 800,etc? it's the Junos that are irrelevant,.and a waste of resources to build.the vr 30 is a far better value, really,if a local musician wants Roland,he/she should purchase, the fa 08,fa 07(one at home, and one for the road)and the vr 730, this way, you the best keyboard actions, your content interchangeable between both Fa's, and the Option for a dual manual performance with a combined weight of roughly 40 pounds, you win the war.the price points are well within reach.
Disappointed
Why are we facing this guy? We can't see what we would actually see if we were using the keyboard.
The first half of this video is pointless waffle. You should do some homework first and have a firm idea what you want to say before making the video. Sorry if that sounds harsh but hope it is constructive.
Exactly.
If the creator doesn't do the work of scripting or planning and instead just adlibs, the viewer is left to do the hard work of parsing out the info.
Too much self indulgent chat. It’s the machine that’s important not you.