Vocals are important as well as a good drum beat. But the actual sounds are very important too needless to say. You want a piano sound to sound like a real piano. You want an organ to sound like a real B3 if possible. The list goes on. Higher end keyboards have superior sounds and authenticity is what should you should strive for. Whether a guitar, sax, clarinet, strings or any other sound in any other category, realism is the best insurance for a fabulous performance. Yes, good vocals are a must and superb vocals are even better. Good sounding Drum kits are actually necessary to produce that "good sounding drum beat" in a song.

I listened to some of the latest demos of the Roland BK-9 and, quite frankly, I'm more impressed the more I hear it. A fifteen year old Roland arranger simply cannot compete with today's Roland arrangers. Technology has vastly increased and that includes in the realm of sound realism. An audience likes good vocals and a good drum beat driven through an expensive sound system. They also no doubt appreciate instrument sounds that sound like the real thing if possible. A cheesy piano sound combined with a cheesy organ sound combined with a cheesy bass sound could end up backfiring and your audience possibly diminishing as a result.

Now if that fifteen year old Roland suits your audience then more power to you. We are in the 21st century and therefore authenticity of the instruments cannot be understated. Realism should be the goal. Whether vocals or "drum beat" or whatever.

All the best, Mike