The most disappointing reply from product support...

[Myrk-]

Hey guys, had a disgracefully disappointing email from Roland regarding issues with the fa-06. I queried why the ext/int/both selection for the sound engine doesn't work with external midi gear (which is the whole point in the function!) and also why half the features in part view mode do not effect midi gear (essential for splitting the keyboard effectively). Here is the reply I got, which I think is the biggest fob off ever:

Regarding the FA-06 - the behavior you mentioned is the way the FA-06 is designed. The Track Output setting is for the sequencer only, and does not affect the parts as they are being triggered by the keyboard of the FA-06 itself. This model allows you to trigger external MIDI gear, but does not have a lot of functionality for controlling external MIDI devices separately.

So there we have it guys... according to product support apparently all the advertising material is a lie, and all the product specialists don't know what they are talking about! Wondering if I can get a refund on my FA-06 based on the clause of false advertising (utilizing sales law rather than store policies etc).

Can anyone advise a master keyboard that is good for controlling external midi devices? Either with workstation sequencer or multiple arpeggiators (like the Kurzweil PC3k series, but I don't wanna be spending money on it's internal sound engine, I just want it's control capabilities!). This fa-06 will only work for me as a writing tool, it's live functionality is just way too limited - if it fixed the midi features it would be perfect, but alas it seems Rolands view is that it functions fine.

[Skijumptoes]

Reading that, i guess that In the design process they've put the weight towards incoming midi and utilising the FA's sound module.

[Lunar]

I'm going to jump in here, probably shouldn't, but I will.
The adverstising for the FA is not a lie nor misleading on Roland's part. The Int/Ext/Both setting is only mentioned in the sequencer setting of the manual, it doesn't pertain to playing along triggering an external midi device with the sequencer live, only triggering a pre-programmed sequence. I've been gigging with the FA hooked up to a Motif rack, using a combination of FA & Motif sounds triggered from the FA sequencer with no problems whatsoever, providing you don't want to play an external midi device while doing so.
What you're proposing is using midi to play an external device while the FA sequencer is triggering external gear as well as it's own internal sound engine. The way the FA is designed, that's not possible, nor is it a bug. I also don't recall Roland ever saying that the FA could do that. You mentioned if there was a workstation/synth that could do what you are proposing, the short answer is yes. My Kronos is the third board in my gigging rig and it will quite happily allow you to trigger external gear while the sequencer is playing back both external & internal sounds without it's own sound engine triggering on that track. I just use the FA sequencer for programming/triggering live because it is a great deal easier than faffing around with the hugely complicated Kronos sequencer & interface.
Which leads me to my point; the Kronos will do what you want it to do, but it costs 4 grand. The FA06 has limitations, particularly as a master controller board, but it's 2800 USD cheaper. Where the FA truly shines is in the studio, not on stage. It's great for controlling soft-synths in the DAW, not so good at controlling hardware.
If you want a hands-on control keyboard, with multiple arps, workstation sequencer & synth capabilities, honestly, I would suggest looking out for a used Motif, the sound engine is much better than Kurzweil in my opinion, it's fairly easy to get to grips with, and will do pretty much what you want. With Yamaha discontinuing it and replacing it with Montage, the Motif XF should start cropping up on the secondhand market reasonably priced.

[Myrk-]

True, if you look at their specific wording it doesn't officially say it does those functions, but the general advertising heavily implies it is a midi controller workstation (it's one of the phrases they use in the marketing material). Generally one would assume a company wouldn't go massively backwards and undo functionality when they make the older version of the product redundant. So I would argue that the advertising is misleading in its implications, but on a legal standpoint it isn't.

I should perhaps be more clear in the issues though - the keyboard can control external gear, but based on the "way it's meant to work" it is a very unusual device, would have been infinitely helpful if they had put that info on the features page so people can understand it isn't what its implying (really makes me wonder wtf is going on with the midi routing inside the keyboard for it to be able to interpret half the playing but ignore other key menus - is it not sending the midi octave command to the internal engine, then why not external?!). Half of what you say it can't do it actually can, quite fine! The FA-06 can control external midi gear, and it's great at writing in the studio for this, but when it comes to splitting the keybed and shifting the octaves of instruments then this feature is only for internal sounds which means I can't use it live. But I have to ask, who thought that was a good idea for any product? At what point was that feature omission classified as a benefit to the system?! This is a huge company with multiple people signing off on stuff, and somewhere they agreed to omit standard features. I see your point, it's valid, but you also have to look at this logically, and in that case the omissions make zero sense. If they corrected just those 2 issues then this keyboard would be a powerhouse! Add in more pad functionality too and it would be a monster (especially disappointing as I'm sure many of us have seen the video of the Roland Rep saying "we left half these pad utilities blank so we could make some more features based on you users' feedback" - bullshit!). Also take into account these devices are being sold by in-store staff, and everyone I've spoken to in shops said this was a feature of the keyboard, so it's not as if this is just 1 grumbling customer, this is the expectation from the market.

I suppose it will just live in the studio...

[Ricoche]

I have a Nord Wave that needs arps, splits, and a sequencer for two midi channels. The Roland FA-06 is exactly like my Fantom X6 in that you can not "mute" external midi. It also triggers both ext and internal sounds as well. The Roland Fantom G got it right, but for some reason ( probably cost ), Roland reverted back to the old way. The FA-06 is "almost" there and that for me is the problem with Roland. They are always "almost there".

I now use the Yamaha Moxf6. It fixes all of the problems on the Fa-06. I get zone splits with midi out. I get all 4 arps and pattern sequences with midi out. I can also have external only and not have to worry about internal triggering. A big bonus is getting the multisampling host ability as well. YES, it can be done as Yamaha is doing it right now. Whether it's intentional or not for Roland to have it their way I don't know.

So, yes it's possible but with a different brand and/or by using the Roland Fantom G. I also remember that my Roland MC-909 works well to for triggering, muting, and fixing the ext/int sound problem. So there is the G and the 909. A big no on the Fantom X and FA-06.

Other than sound, the FA-06 is a big step backwards in many respects.

[Myrk-]

Thanks for the post Ricoche, gratifying knowing that other people can see the issues, especially the "almost there" view which I often share but tolerate (because no one else is offering a better device half the time)! I've been researching the G a bit lately - so annoying that I have to kinda downgrade to upgrade though, and I ask myself the question whether the G is just an old computer in a keyboard case, especially with it's mouse support... Almost tempted to try utilizing my touchscreen laptop with Bitwig 1.3 again, at least that way its free (I could always stick my laptop in a shiney box and it would basically be a G, haha)! Any ideas of a Fantom G esque device that doesn't have a sound engine to inflate its cost per chance? Or is this something companies just don't do fear that making it once would be all that is ever required - screwing over your future sales (if a company made it in the 80's it would still be pretty relevant today as the behind the scenes functionality of synthesizers hasn't changed at all since they added in midi!)