Completely agree, Chas… it’s amazing how the ’average user’ has got used to using advanced features like articulated sounds (SA2 & SN sounds) bass inversion recognition and multipads because the manufacturers did a good job of making them completely transparent to the user. You just play..!

I could foresee, if manufacturers ever decide to give us definable sliders, controls etc, or USB control of computers, that control templates for different software and hardware could be provided or downloadable from users. For instance, a Genos template for a PA4X with full integration of the two wouldn’t scare off the casual user, as long as it just WORKS.

Likewise a template to control Garage Band or Mainstage VSTI’s from an SX900 might not intimidate our ‘average user’ if integrated well. But don’t get me wrong, I would be as happy with a nice spoon fed system as the next average user! I don’t mind rolling up my sleeves and getting under the hood when I HAVE to, but when complex tasks are made easy by good OS design, I am a happy man!

But usually, there’s a period when new feature introduction involves a fair bit of head scratching (Korg’s KAOSS stuff comes to mind!) but usually the next gen keyboard gives the design team a chance to simplify and refine it so it isn’t scary for our average user. Like I said, compared to early arrangers, our average user is doing all kinds of things that would have seemed daunting initially. Good design can help with almost anything!