Owner's Manual - Roland

Overview of the Fantom-XAbout Simultaneous PolyphonyThe Fantom-X can play a maximum of 128 sounds simultaneously.The following paragraphs discuss what this means, and what willhappen when more than 128 simultaneous voices are requested fromthe Fantom-X.Calculating the Number of VoicesBeing UsedThe Fantom-X is able to play up to 128 notes simultaneously. Thepolyphony, or the number of voices (sounds) does not refer only tothe number of patches actually being played, but changes accordingto the number of tones used in the patches, and the number of wavesused in the tones. The following method is used to calculate thenumber of sounds used for one patch being played.(Number of patches being played) x (Number of tones used bypatches being played) x (Number of waves used in the tones)For example, a patch that combines four tones, each of which use twowaves, will use eight notes of polyphony at once. Also, when playingin Performance mode, the number of sounds for each part is countedto obtain the total number of sounds for all parts.How a Patch SoundsWhen the Fantom-X is requested to play more than 128 voicessimultaneously, currently sounding notes will be turned off to makeroom for newly requested notes. The note with the lowest prioritywill be turned off first. The order of priority is determined by thePatch Priority setting (p. 61).Patch Priority can be set either to “LAST” or “LOUDEST.” When“LAST” is selected, a newly requested note that exceeds the 128 voicelimit will cause the first-played of the currently sounding notes to beturned off. When “LOUDEST” is selected, the quietest of the currentlysounding notes will be turned off. Usually, “LAST” is selected.Note Priority in Performance ModeSince Performance mode is usually used to play an ensemble consistingof several patches, it is important to decide which parts take priority.Priority is specified by the Voice Reserve settings (p. 111). When a notewithin a patch needs to be turned off to make room for a new note, thePatch Priority setting of the patch will apply (p. 61).About MemoryPatch and performance settings are stored in what is referred to asmemory. There are three kind of memory: temporary, rewritable,and non-rewritable.fig.04-006.eFantom-XPreset A (PR-D)Preset A (PR-C)Preset A (PR-B)Preset A (PR-A)Patch128Rhythm Set32 * 1Performance64 * 1SelectEXP D SlotEXP C SlotEXP B SlotEXP A SlotPatchRhythm SetPreset A (PR-H)Preset A (PR-G)Preset A (PR-F)Preset A (PR-E)Wave Expansion BoardGM (GM2)Patch256Rhythm Set9Select Select * 2Temporary AreaSelectSelect* 1 Only in PR-A (PRST)* 2 The selected Patches/Rhythm Sets cannot be changed.SystemUser (USER)Patch256Rhythm Set32Performance64Patch256Rhythm Set32Performance64Memory CardWriteWriteVoice ReserveThe Fantom-X has a Voice Reserve function that lets you reserve aminimum number of notes that will always be available for eachpart. For example if Voice Reserve is set to “10” for part 16, part 16will always have 10 notes of sound-producing capacity available to iteven if a total of more than 128 notes (total for all parts) are beingrequested. When you make Voice Reserve settings, you need to takeinto account the number of notes you want to play on each part aswell as the number of tones used by the selected patch (p. 111).It is not possible to make Voice Reserve settings that wouldcause the total of all parts to be greater than 64 voices.28