First of all, I'd like to say it is an honor for us all here to be able to converse with one of the most talented players and programmers we have ever had here. Those ARE exceptional demos, and go a long way to selling the product...

I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding here about what, exactly, a demo is supposed to be. Many here feel that they ought to be of basic arranger play, essentially a 'capture' of someone playing the arranger live. Personally, I'm not one of those, preferring to hear just how far they CAN be pushed, by the most talented players that can be obtained by the manufacturer. If I want to hear simple live play, by a moderately decent player, I can play the damn thing myself! I want to hear what it COULD do when played and programmed the very best it can. Give me something to shoot for, damnit!

At least the demos ARE being played by the arranger itself, and not audio tracks that could have all kinds of unavailable tricks put on the sounds

The thing is, at Yamaha's website, there are PLENTY of audio demos of their arrangers, being played in standard arranger mode, to give those that want to hear straightforward arranger play a listen, but the demos in the arranger itself...? Those are supposed to show just how far you CAN take the instrument, if you use all the technology that is available in it, and computer sequencing, etc... I believe the whole point is to show that, far from being simple 'home entertainment' products, modern TOTL arrangers are capable of close to TOTL workstation results, if you use them that way.

Another widely held misconception is that the demos were done by multiple players on MIDI instruments. Thank you for clearing that up, and showing that you don't need a roomful of expensive MIDI guitars, MIDI drums, etc., etc. to play amazing stuff. But you DO need to work incredibly hard at your craft, to understand how a guitarist thinks and plays, how a drummer creates grooves, how a saxophonist phrases...

Far too many assume that the instrument is supposed to do it all for you, play a simple melody, you are done! The Insider has given us all an invaluable insight that great recordings, and great playing, especially imitative playing, comes from long and hard study of how the best actually play real instruments, and tireless work at getting behind their thinking and technique, and working out how to do it on a keyboard. This is not rocket science, guys...! It's MUCH harder than that

And, for all those saying (or thinking) 'oh, it's all done by sequencing and editing', trust me here... I am positive that, was The Insider to simply PLAY something for you, your jaws would all drop! You can't edit genius into a track... You can only polish the genius that is already in it You polish a turd, you still end up with a shiny turd!

I can only hope that The Insider will stay and drop in as often as he can, and perhaps throw us a tip or two, perhaps some insight into creating good demos, and some advice about playing techniques that get the most realism out of today's incredible arrangers. I know we come off as a crusty bunch, from time to time, but trust me, there ARE some here who would be incredibly grateful for any advice and wisdom you can pass on...