About Simultaneous Polyphony

The Fantom can play a maximum of 64 sounds simultaneously. The following paragraphs discuss what this means, and what will happen when more than 64 simultaneous voices are requested from the Fantom.

Calculating the Number of Voices Being Used

The Fantom is able to play up to 64 notes simultaneously. The polyphony, or the number of voices (sounds) does not refer only to the number of sounds actually being played, but changes according to the number of tones used in the patches, and the number of Waves used in the tones. The following method is used to calculate the number of sounds used for one patch being played.

(Number of Sounds Being Played) x (Number of tones Used by Patches Being Played) x (Number of Waves Used in the tones)

For example, with a patch combining four tones, each of which uses two Waves, the actual number of sounds being played comes to 8. Also, when playing in Multitimbre mode or Performance mode, the number of sounds for each part is counted to obtain the total number of sounds for all parts.

How a Patch Sounds

When the Fantom is requested to play more than 64 voices simultaneously, currently sounding notes will be turned off to make room for newly requested notes. The note with the lowest priority will be turned off first. The order of priority is determined by the Voice Priority setting (p. 47).

Voice Priority can be set either to “LAST” or “LOUDEST.” When

“LAST” is selected, a newly requested note that exceeds the 64 voice limit will cause the first-played of the currently sounding notes to be turned off. When “LOUDEST” is selected, the quietest of the currently sounding notes will be turned off. Usually, “LAST” is selected.

Note Priority in Multitimbre/

Performance Mode

Since Multitimbre/Performance mode is usually used to play an ensemble consisting of several patches, it is important to decide which parts take priority. Priority is specified by the Voice Reserve settings (p. 47). When a note within a patch needs to be turned off to make room for a new note, the Voice Priority setting of the patch will apply.

Voice Reserve

The Fantom has a Voice Reserve function that lets you reserve a minimum number of notes that will always be available for each part. For example if Voice Reserve is set to “10” for part 16, part 16 will always have 10 notes of sound-producing capacity available to it even if a total of more than 64 notes (total for all parts) are being requested. When you make Voice Reserve settings, you need to take into account the number of notes you want to play on each part as well as the number of tones used by the selected patch (p. 102, p. 118).

Overview of the Fantom

It is not possible to make Voice Reserve settings that would

cause the total of all parts to be greater than 64 voices.

Overview of the Fantom

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Roland Piano About Simultaneous Polyphony, Calculating the Number of Voices Being Used, How a Patch Sounds, Voice Reserve