To - Lance,Ted, & John,

What an interesting thread. I agree with you Lance. That whilst the use of 'Midi' files when used as accompaniment to supposed 'live' playing, may enhance the overall sound of the performance, it must surely be far more satisfying to know, that your backing accompaniment, is also 'all your own work'. !!!

After all, we can all accompany Mr Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald from our keyboard, but nobody would consider such playing as satisfying or rewarding. - If the point Lance is making is - that using someone else's musical skills to enhance our own 'lack of skills' is not so enjoyable and rewarding as using our own skills, then I wholeheartedly agree. A point well made Lance.

Ted's point about posting 'instructional' advice on the subject of sequencing, sounds like an excellent idea. ! - But, it's been my experience that the method of 'doing things' when sequencing, especially when utilising facilities such as - composer -sequencer - panel memories - sound panel voice mixes - step record - MSA - etc etc, may vary enormously from one player to another. - Dependent upon each players strengths and weaknesses. (musically speaking that is). Meaning, that because we all have different musical skills, (some read music, while others can't and don't read a note), our actual method of sequencing may be totally different than someone else's. Because, we will each develop a method and 'sequence' of sequencing, which fits exactly into our particular skills. (or indeed, lack of skills) ! - So, nothing is written in stone. It would be impossible for me (and I know for Ted as well), to explain to anyone intending to sequence from a basis of reading and recording from the dots, how to sequence. All my sequencing is done entirely from a basis of not referring to a single note of music. As such, the 'principles' of what I do, are totally different than they would be for a skilled and highly trained music reader. - It is too lengthy to describe here why this is so, but it is.

Finally John's point of helping people to learn what to do on the sequencing front. - It is indeed very admirable to go out of one's way, to assist others. But, the subject of multi-track sequencing could easily take up a whole small book. And at the end of it all, success will still be dependent upon the musical imagination and keyboard skills of the player.

There is some wonderful Midi stuff available to use as backing accompaniments. But, to play and produce your own backing accompaniments, is surely more satisfying and enjoyable. As Lance has so readily described, our keyboards give us a myriad of wonderful facilities, designed to allow us to exercise our musical imagination. As such, we will all have varying ideas on how these facilities can be best used and utilised. And at the end of the day, although each individual facility can be explained as to how best to use it, that 'best' is only as each individual perceives it. And also (unfortunately), the musicianship of the player. !!! - Happy sequencing,

Colin.