Frank,

I agree with all the previous posts.

Over the years I have found your research on software-based systems fascinating and your results very encouraging (not to mention your dedication...).

I believe that at this time when the hardware instruments have basically stopped improving, it is the efforts of system integrators, like yourself, that will keep pressure on the hardware manufacturers to keep improving their offerings. As a result, every user benefits, whether they are using a hardware instrument or a software-based system.

As I mentioned elsewhere, I am about to give another try to a software-based system myself. I am working on a somewhat limited budget, and the last time I tried this, I got a feeling that at this time the software based systems will range from a good and moderately expensive to very good (or better) and very expensive, depending how much money you want to spend on various individual samples. Hence, my results were somewhat underwhelming. Hopefully with a better laptop, and perhaps spending a bit more money on software, I will have better results this time. Your system represents a gold standard of software-based arranger, and it is a beacon to many of us.

I, for one, always enjoy reading your posts, even when they disagree with my point of view .

Please keep those posts coming.

Best regards,
Alex