A stage and studio instrument? It seems like a contradiction, but the Fantom G is sure to defy any expectations you might have as to what a "workstation keyboard" is. It's got thousands of beautiful, sophisticated sounds, yet they're easy to access quickly and adjust on the fly. It's got a powerful sequencer that supports both MIDI and audio recording, yet the smart control layout and mouse support make it easier to navigate than even most computer-based software. It's a road-worthy, rugged instrument, yet it's one of the sexiest looking keyboards around with its huge, full color LCD screen and gleaming aluminum chassis. SuperNATURAL Sounds Regardless of how sexy the Fantom looks, how many functions it boasts, and how easy it is to learn, a sub-par sound would be a deal-breaker. Fortunately, the Fantom G boasts all these amazing features as well as one of the most amazing sound engines in the industry. The Fantom line has always been hailed for the quality of its voices, and this newest incarnation has double the wave capacity of its predecessor. Classic acoustic and electric piano sounds, thick and flexible synth patches, and an assortment of orchestral sounds all sound impressive, but the Fantom G really shows off its stuff when you add an ARX SuperNATURAL expansion board to one of the Fantom's two expansion slots. SuperNATURAL is one of the most powerful synthesis engines at any price range; it's called SuperNATURAL, because the sounds these expansion card produce goes beyond realism. For example, the ARX-01 card specializes in incredibly detailed and realistic drum sounds, and thanks to SuperNATURAL technology, you can build the simulated drums from the ground up, dictating things like shell width, wood type, snare buzz and room dimensions. Since the ARX expansion cards sport their own processor, the complex sound generation won't slow down your Fantom in the least. If you dig tons of layered, lush, stereo effects, the Fantom is your best friend. Each multi-voice patch can support up to 22 simultaneous effects, with extensive routing and editing options to keep the tweak-prone happy for hours on end. Touring Machine You'll undoubtedly want to show these stunning sounds off on the road, and the Roland Fantom G7 is geared for world-class live performance. Like a luxury sports car, the Fantom has the power of a sophisticated machine, but the feel of a finely-tuned instrument, due in large part to the G7's top-notch, semi-weighted keyboard. 76 "Ivory Feel" keys have the action of a concert-class piano. They're quick and robust enough for the most wicked of chops-meisters, but anyone who's tickled some real ivories will appreciate their satisfying feel. The Fantom's intuitive control layout also contributes to the keyboard's live credentials. Eight sliders provide quick control over assignable parameters live multi-voice mix levels, and five rotary encoders are solid and smooth; in conjunction with the combination pitch-bend/modulation joystick, the additional real-time tactile controls make every patch even more expressive, and are sure to inspire some wild live performance moments. The phenomenal "Ivory Feel" keys are matched by equally responsive, groove-box style trigger pads. These sixteen rubberized pads can be used to trigger samples, construct rhythm patterns, play loops, or mute or un-mute individual channels in a sequence for DJ-style dropouts. Clever organizational features like "Set List" make it easy to access specific sounds quickly on stage, and the huge LCD screen makes it easy to double-check every aspect of a patch with a mere glance. More Than A Sequencer, A Complete Studio The generous screen also comes in handy when you're using the Roland Fantom G in its alter-ego mode: as a totally decked-out production studio. Any workstation is going to have a sequencer on-board for composition, but the Fantom G7 boasts Roland's "Power Sequencer", a fully fledged, multi-track audio and MIDI sequencer that behaves more like a computer-based DAW than a traditional keyboard workstation. The Fantom G's arranger can handle up to 24 real audio tracks in addition to 128 MIDI tracks, with an expandable recording memory for up to almost two hours of CD-quality digital audio. With its plethora of analog inputs, audio can be recorded from just about any source--even high-end condenser mics--thanks the the phantom-power-supplying, Neutrik "combi" XLR-1/4-inch jack. Use it to sample live drums, record studio-quality vocals, or plug a Hi-Z instrument like a guitar or bass directly in and make use of the Fantom's guitar-based effects. The G7's sliders, rotary knobs, four-way cursor control and Jog Wheel make it easy to operate and navigate through the mixer window and effects patch lists, but the Fantom G also supports USB mouse integration. Who needs a computer? The Roland Fantom workstation has been around for almost nine years now, and with every iteration they get more powerful, sound more amazing, and are even easier to use. If you're looking for a single instrument that can master every aspect of modern music, from performance to composition to production, look no further than the Roland Fantom G7.