Ian,

Matsushita owns Technics and the sales of arranger keyboards for Matsushita was such a small portion of their business I don't think it even mattered much to them if they ever sold a keyboard or not. Technics arrangers actually sold fairly well, had a good following, and were quite technologically advanced. I suspect with the MI division being so small in comparison to Matsushita's other companies, it was probably just easier for them to stop making keyboards since the niche for arrangers in general is very small. Even Yamaha's arranger sales make up but a tiny fraction of their MI sales and barely register a blip in overall Yamaha company sales.

I'm not really sure why you are making it seem like Wersi and Lionstracs are in jeopardy? Wersi's been around for a long, long time and their sales may be smaller than Yamaha's but their sales figures certainly aren't weak. Wersi's products are far more technologically advanced than anything Yamaha makes and Wersi is continually updating their products to always stay two steps ahead of everyone else. So far nobody, not even Yamaha, has caught up with Wersi when it comes to making an advanced arranger/workstation.

Lionstracs may be a newer company to the arranger world but Domenic has been around a long time manufacturing components for OEM applications. I doubt Domenic is worried about Mediastation sales as he seems to have a fair share of customers across the water. Lionstracs has also drawn great interest from the big three (Yamaha included) and it wouldn't surprise me if Lionstracs and one of the big three partnered up. Don't be shocked if you see a Mediastation marketed under the Yamaha name in a few years because it's entirely possible.

Just because a company is smaller doesn't mean its products aren't as good if not better than the competition. Sequential Circuits was a fine example of a small company with great products but they just didn't have the money to continually develop and manufacture new products. Yamaha bought Sequential in the late 1980's and it was reported they'd release many of the Sequential products branded under the Yamaha name. In the end Yamaha opted instead to use Sequentials technology, sell some of the technology to Korg, cheapen it, then market it in various low level synthesizers rather than continue manufacturing high end synths. Much like Yamaha does now with their arranger keyboards.

You also elude that Roland and Korg may be in trouble if they don't "wake up and catch up". Unless you live under a rock Roland and Korg have a huge share of the MI and arranger market in the USA and abroad. Korg has made some of the most successful music workstations/arrangers and Roland some of the most successful synthesizers ever produced. Roland was at the forefront of arranger technology and had it not been for Roland, your beloved Tyros 3 would likely have never been a reality. I seriously doubt either are quaking in their boots merely because Yamaha has come out with the Tyros 3. The Tyros 3 is far from a technological marvel and Korg and Roland already manufacture arranger keyboards with better sounds, more features, better build quality, and a lower price than the Tyros 3. Imagine if Korg utilized software from the PA2X Pro and merged it within the Oasys. That would be a mega arranger that would easily rival any Yamaha offering to date.

I'm also curious as to why you wouldn't immediately pony up the cash for a Tyros 3 being you feel it is "Perfect" and it wouldn't be that expensive for you. Since you're a demo guy for Yamaha you're allowed an accommodation price on their keyboards which means you can buy them at 50% off retail (even less if its a B or C stock unit). With all that dough you saved buying the S900 you should make the leap and go get a Tyros 3. After all, it is the best arranger ever made with the perfect layout, perfect styles, and perfect sounds. What more could anyone else want?


[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 09-02-2008).]