Roland FANTOM-8 Music Workstation 88-key Semi-weighted Synthesizer Keyboard

Edit - I had to update this review since my original review was written in 2019. Roland has steadily updated this beast in both features and sound set. Accordingly, this thing competes with the best of them (i.e. Yamaha Montage and Korg Kronos/Nautilus). You can have a preference for a workstation's sound set but this workstation is amazing.

The sound is incredible. I love roland's keyboards. I like that they include their old synthesizers and drum machine sounds. The Fantom 6 is an awesome keyboard. The keys feel so nice to play, it's got all these cool lights and knobs everywhere. It really makes you feel like a sound designer. I've owned a Fantom-08, so I'm already familiar with how to use this synthesizer. I've had plenty of practice with TR-REC. These larger buttons and the larger screen are amazing. Though, the Fantom 0 has a nicer looking screen even though it is smaller. Glad I could get this before they're gone. It's cheaper to buy one of these and upgrade it to the EX version, than it is to buy the EX version.Also fair warning. The keybed is loud. It's amazing to play, but it's quite noisy.

I didn't buy this product but I've seen them many times in person. The interface is easy to use if you know what you're doing. There's a really good soundbank too. Made of good material too and they are full-sized and weighted keys. You can customize just about everything on this keyboard. It's absolutely beautiful.

Bought this keyboard new for more than $4000 US. There seems to be poor quality control at Roland, especially for keyboards. All black keys from Ab3-Gb5 made a loud (return) noise when the key is released. All other keys (white, or black) work perfectly. This is so distracting, I can't concentrate on playing and I suspect the noise may even be heard through the sound system. I also had unacceptable noise with a Fantom 08. However, Roland got it right on my RD-2000 keyboard.

Roland has put almost their best foot forward, in trying to be very innovative, and have a measure of control, highlighted by a very brilliant and large viewscreen to accomplish this.However, be forewarned: just like the issuance of new I-Phones, it is definitely a work still in progress...They have already issued a key update in OS 1.50, and anyone purchasing this keyboard should inquire from the seller which OS resides in their product, otherwise, you will have to immediately do an update as soon as you get it, a process, that is not impossible, but tedious depending upon your computer skills, as it involves downloading and unzipping files and sending them to a thumb drive, and then a multi faceted process of operations when you attach the thumb drive to the keyboard.Be assured, the update only addressed SOME of the problems, or lack of additions, that users have been clamoring for, as such, it is a good 2 updates or so away from becoming the crown jewel that Roland intended it to be

We paid $4000 for a piano and they had 2 keys that were broken. Very disappointed

Studio use only - never gigged - died within a year! None of the local Roland repair agents would touch it, so I had to pay $150 to ship it back to Roland. They never told me what was wrong with it, sent it back without tracking, leaving it sitting on my porch while I was out of state, and didn't use the original packing when sending it back in it's original box. Just wrapped it in bubble wrap and threw it loose in it's box. Communication with Roland was dreadful, they were completely dismissive, and extremely unhelpful. Now sold, and I will never buy Roland again after being a customer of their's since 1983! AVOID!!