As I mentioned on another thread, acoustic instrument players tend to eventually settle on a single instrument that they develop a lifetime playing bond with. On the other hand, electronic arranger keyboards (as evidenced by members here) tend to be continously sold or traded in for 'next years' model. I suppose the big reason is that electronic technology is continously improving (by the week) whereas acoustic instrument physics remains constant.

Still, I thought it would be interesting to speculate, if for whatever reason keyboard manufacterers suddenly decided to no longer release NEW model arranger keyboards, do you think the 'arranger keyboard' make/model you currently own, would continue to provide you music making/playing satisfaction TEN years from now? - Scott

Scott, absolutely...What I have been using for the last six years is still my favorite so it will work for me another ten year...I don't agree with this "dated" concept...A piano sounds like a piano today just like it always has..same with a sax,trumpet,guitar choir etc.
A rhumba,cha cha,swing ,bossonova etc are the same as twenty years ago..
If they stopped making new models..I still would be content....besides new models are usually new toys to me..I try them because they are new..

I would go to a soft-synth computer based arranger setup.

I'd have to agree with Fran
If somethin' works....don't fix it!

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...L

There's lots of keyboards over ten years old now that are in demand, and synth technology really hasn't made any quantum leaps forward lately so current instruments will certainly have a useful life of ten years or more, in capable hands of course.

Arranger keyboards are probably the most common type of electronic keyboard in the world currently. They aren't going away, but the so-called "pro models" might. I don't think they've been marketed in a way that attracts pro players and they are often too sophisticated and expensive for casual players. Yamaha has broken a little of the ice by including chord-recognition in the arpeggiator function of the Motif ES, but I think we're awaiting the next advance in arrangers before we can say whether pros will ever take to arrangers. That next step is probably arranger-type functions that work not only with MIDI but with MP3's, WAV files, and "Acidized" loops. We'll certainly see softsynths become more commonplace so in the next ten years I see many of us moving into softsynth host instruments, which will take us away from the Y/K/R relationships we've all come to love/hate. Once we integrate soft arranger programs with softsynths and reliable host instruments, it won't be a question of whether arranger keyboards stop being made but whether they will simply become old fashioned.

Yes I agree.
I had a Solton ms60 for years before I brought a Ketron XD9. I still see people using the Solton ms60 keyboards and unless you’re a musician or in the music business, your average person won't really tell the difference.

its an interesting question. I have been very very close to purchaseing the Korg PA1X . I currentley have the Yamaha PSR 8000. I went to a shop and played the PA1x and was really smitten by it. But then i went home and tried to reproduce some of the programming and styles that had so turned me on.My keyboard is probably ten years old now. But i was able to reproduce some of the styles quite easily and started to dig deeper into my board . So i asked myself the simple question. Is my prospective new keyboard giving me £1500 additional value compared to my existing board ?The answer was no..... So i started to spend time with my keyboard again, and i have realised that there are functions on the board that i never utilised because i never took the time to get to grips with it.

If there were no updates and no new keyboards we would become much more creative with the instruments that we have. And we would become experts on our machines and actually get more than £1500 worth of value from the boards we currently own. The technology does not make us better players.But familiarity and practice does

The only way an arranger keyboard can become obsolete is if you only use the built in styles etc. to define your sound. If you add your OWN style, chording, and personal input to basic styles and arrangements, it will be as fresh as you feel on any given day.
As long as the player adds a personal touch, the instrument is a distant second to the mix.

Spaulding: I agree. Yours was 'just the answer' I was so wanting to hear.

Looking back among the sz threads, there appears more interest in what the 'next new arranger model coming out is going to be, than discussing the more important topic to actual players: arranger 'playing techniques' universally applicable to most ALL make/model arrangers.

These topics include (but are certainly not limited to) how best to utilize: intros, fills, variation changes, multipad hits & patterns, and endings, wheel & foot pedal assignment & playing techniques in auto accomp mode, registration programming, suitable choice of different harmony types for specific song genres, performance in different arranger keyboard modes: from 'on the fly' playing to utilizing 'registrations', and other playing modes, from split keyboard, one finger, 3 finger, full keyboard mode, etc; and finally: discussing specific arranger KB 'practicing techniques'. For example: I occasionally devote 10 minutes practice a day, focussing on the timing (triggering) of the arranger transition buttons/footpedals to ensure that a 'fill', break, or variation comes in at exactly the right moment, and by touch (no looking) as well. This is just ONE of many arranger specific practice techniques I think worth discussing.

These techniques are universal to all arrangers, so in an effort to PROMOTE better skilled and musically CREATIVE arranger keyboard 'PLAYING' no matter which arranger we own, I think more interest & discussion of creative arranger playing techniques would prove beneficial to ALL Synthzone Arranger keyboard forum members. What do you think?

Scott

DITTO!!

Chico