I see more arrangers in use in a band than ever before...just because you don't see them on TV doesn't mean that they aren't being used professionally.

There are several bands in my area alone using PSR/Tyros/Korg/Roland arrangers, either as stand alone instruments and/or part of the group sound by using style accompaniments.

Today's arrangers are far beyond the old style instruments...most have enough workstation features to act as one, and still retain all the advantages of the arranger (quick record, styles, pads etc.)

I've worked many years in a studio, and our production time was greatly reduced by using an arranger (and yes, we used styles).

At one time arrangers and workstations were job specific, but, in my professional experience, the line has blurred considerably and today's arrangers are as powerful (in some cases more powerful) than workstations.

I personally know several pros using styles in the studio as well as the ones I mentioned in my previous post...and, I'm sure my experience is not isolated.

No, I wouldn't use a family sedan for "off-road", but, I don't go off-road...most people who own a SUV never ever take them off road, although I suppose the potential is there. More "bragging rights" than actual usage, in my opinion.

No, I'd rather use an arranger, (in my case a Tyros4 with 1 gig expansion pack) which is far faster and far easier to use than a workstation.

Ian