Hi, well, im new in the forum, been using sonar for like 6 months with no problems and im planning to keep using it and build a professional studio using it, but this is the thing.
Im planning on buying a Roland Fantom X8 for 2 purpouses.
1. main synth on the studio
2. controlling plug ins in the sonar
I know via midi i can control the plug ins, but i see the roland x8 have the stop/play/rec buttons on board, if possible to use these buttons onboard to control the stop/play/rec in sonar??
 
Thanks
Joel

I cant see what not, use ACT.
I don't have the X8 but ive used other control surfaces as remote controller.

Short answer is No.
 
Please do not purchase the X8 in the belief that it is a control surface, as it is not. Even using the Fantom transport controls for control of Sonar is a major pain in the butt and is better to be avoided.. Rolandclan has historic threads on this from several years ago.
 
I have the G6 and the main issue is that being both sequencers, neither Sonar nor the Fantom like being a slave.. So, while you can slave the Fantom to Sonar (the best approach for tight timing and reliable song location setting), you cannot use the Fantom transport controls to control Sonar.
 
You are better off with anyone of the cheap usb controllers like korg mikrokontrol, or even an app on your phone/tablet, or even a second wireless keyboard.
 
The majority of controls on (particularly older) hardware synths are NRPN data, not CC data and you will find that there is very very limited ability to control anything on Sonar or a VST from the Fantom... as ACT and pretty much everything else ONLY senses CC values..
 
Also, check the status of any USB driver and Editor for the Fantom X to ensure its compatible with your operating system. I currently have no issues with Fantom G, its USB driver and its Editor (which works fine) with Windows 7.1
 
Regards

You can use it theoretically but it does not work. In fact Fantom is a pain. It randomly starts playing sequences from the sequencer when you press Play in Sonar, it is too complicated to be a midi comptroller. It does not transmit MIDI data to any outputs in Single mode- you have to set it up to even play notes in to your sequencer and save it on USB drive. It does not work with any USB drives- you need certain USB drives from the list found on Roland Clan forum. My USN port broke off. Fantom USB driver is not compatible and will not be compatible with Windows 8 computers. My main controller is Yamaha Motif. If you have money for Fantom 8, please, do yourself a favor, get Yamaha Motif FX 8. This board is amazing. It is also a great controller. I have no issues with Motif XS 8. Keyboard is great- keys- awesome. Midi works. No timing issues. And- no it does not control play/stop in sonar, but my qwerty keyboard does.

all right, thanks, the thing was because i record alone very often, and i dont always have the keyboard around so i was thinking as a remote, but yeah, i will use a phone app or something. and sure vlad, i will check the motif.
 
Thanks.
Joel

Well, pretty clear you don't like the Fantom G..lol, however there is a lot of misinformation in your post that needs correcting.
 
1. When you press play in Sonar, if you have setup the fantom correctly then there are simply no issues. There is the possibility to control the Fantom SPP from Sonar but its clear you have not set that up. You can also control Sonar and the marker from the Fantom, but using Sonar as a slave on a regular basis is not practical.
 
2. While like every traditional synth, every single knob, control and internal parameter is accessible over midi, it is not a CC based midi controller and was not designed or advertised as such...its a synth. The fact that it isn't a CC based midi controller shouldn't be a surprise.
 
3. It absolutely DOES does transmit midi to outputs in single mode. In fact the Fantom has push button access on the pads to transmit to any, some or all of the 16 midi channels. In Live mode, with the ability to setup keyboard zones for all external channels, as a keyboard controller the Fantom is outstanding.
 
4. It may not work with every single USB drive on the planet, but this is not uncommon for any device. I have purchased several sandisk and HP (without reference to the Rolandclan) and had zero issues in 5 years.
 
5. Breaking off a USB port is more a reflection of your care of equipment. The Fantom is built like a tank.
 
6. The non-existent driver for windows 8 is here http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=downloads&p=FANTOM-G8
 
I am delighted that you enjoy Motif, and agree that ongoing support is likely to be better for the Motif, but its also much much harder to use with a very complicated UI, much menu diving and a tiny screen. If you value immediacy, particularly in the control of external gear, the Fantom is superior imo.
 
Whether any synth is a viable midi controller for complete control over VST is still a question for me. Even dedicated midi controllers like Novation still leave lots to be desired and have a high frustration level.
 

vladasyn
You can use it theoretically but it does not work. In fact Fantom is a pain. It randomly starts playing sequences from the sequencer when you press Play in Sonar, it is too complicated to be a midi comptroller. It does not transmit MIDI data to any outputs in Single mode- you have to set it up to even play notes in to your sequencer and save it on USB drive. It does not work with any USB drives- you need certain USB drives from the list found on Roland Clan forum. My USN port broke off. Fantom USB driver is not compatible and will not be compatible with Windows 8 computers. My main controller is Yamaha Motif. If you have money for Fantom 8, please, do yourself a favor, get Yamaha Motif FX 8. This board is amazing. It is also a great controller. I have no issues with Motif XS 8. Keyboard is great- keys- awesome. Midi works. No timing issues. And- no it does not control play/stop in sonar, but my qwerty keyboard does.

I am not totally clear what amount of control you are looking for.
 
imo there is no perfect solution for controlling all the parameters of a VST remotely.. even dedicated controller units (such as the Novation automap solutions and similar) have major frustration factors in setting up, indicating the control parameter and its value. Then you still have ongoing connection and setup issues to Sonar, then even when setup you need to remember yourself exactly what knob, button and slider actually controls.
 
From a control perspective, on the Fantom G, the 4 knobs, 8 sliders and s1,s2 buttons are freely assignable to any CC value that you desire. These, along with pitch, mod, two control pedals and PC messages are plenty adequate for real time control of external devices.. but inadequate for crafting sounds in a VST...where you want OSC1 pitch control, LFO waveform control etc.
 
regards
 

jtrochez
all right, thanks, the thing was because i record alone very often, and i dont always have the keyboard around so i was thinking as a remote, but yeah, i will use a phone app or something. and sure vlad, i will check the motif.
 
Thanks.
Joel

Well, to be clear, i personally want to get a fantom g8 more than any other, but for me a the moment is too expensive, maybe i will wait a save for it, i will see, also the amount of control i want is minimun, besides the keys and the pitch and mod shifter, only the transport buttons, not really the whole synth, not that i would complain.
 
I will buy a vs-700 console mixer for my control room DAW controller, so a extra control elsewhere it would be only to press the record button remotely and not going back to my control room, at the moment it wont be like that, cuz i need to build the control room first lol. but im not a guy who can spend thousands every year only in gear, so, im planning for the future
 
going back to the synth.

 
i found that on youtube quite i while, that why i wonder if it possible to doit that way with sonar.
Thanks
Joel

/watch?v=BilsFmFjEzk
 
thats the link

Controlling Sonars transport is easy with a wireless keyboard. I put mine on a music stand 12' away. I also now use a USB foot controller so I can keep my hands on my guitar. 
 
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/reviews/911117-pcsensor-footswicth.html
 
This is all you need for playing 
 
http://www.gearslutz.com/...17212-roland-49-a.html