Hi guys I'm new here and am considering purchasing an arranger or a synth workstation...I'm a Singer/Songwriter who is NOT the greatest at "arrangements"..

First & MAIN use will be as a songwriting tool...

I would also like to be able to use this instrument "live"...So the piano sound is paramount for ballads...Does it stack-up soundwise to the Triton/Motifs/Fathoms of the world?

I write on acoustic guitar and keys...

My budget as of today is $800 though I may be able to 'squeeze" a few more hundred to maybe $1200-$1500...from somewhere if it will really make the difference "sound-wise"..

Any suggestions??

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Steve A
http://www.soundclick.com/stevealtonian

[This message has been edited by Steve A (edited 02-08-2008).]

[This message has been edited by Steve A (edited 02-08-2008).]

If you need preprogrammed rhythms(yes you can edit them) for gtr based songs

$ 1000 - psr s700.
Great styles and good flow,basic sequencer,has OK piano other must have
sounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmkBSJLIxo

No other choice,unless you want a wk station(all big 3 have wk station like versions (Triton TR,Yamaha Mo etc).

$ 1500-1600

Pa 500 and psr s900.



[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 02-08-2008).]

THANKX JAMMAN

I guess a better question is what works better as a songwriting tool.....AN ARRANGER or A WORKSTATION....????

Drums are a weak point for me and generally I will play "basic" bass......

I do write solid songs

I'm willing to spend in the $1200-$1500 range

An awful lot of the decision is decided by... exactly what style do you write in?

Current, cutting edge styles are better served by WS, IMO. But if you write in a more classic, or simple songwriter style, an arranger is the better tool.

At the price point you think you can manage, probably a Yamaha S900 might be your best bet.

Another take might be; if you are just concerned with WRITING the songs, the arranger is by far the best tool. If you want to RECORD the piece (for final release, not just a demo), a WS might be the better choice.

But if you are a complete newbie to sequencing and recording, the learning curve on an arranger is a fraction of what a WS is going to make you have to deal with...

Me, when I'm writing, I want as little technology in the way as possible. That's the NEXT step of the process! In fact, 90% of the time, I just write at a piano....

PA 500 has a full blown seq like a work station and sound editing(exept combi mode).

But for western(US and UK based music) styles (simple 3/4,4/4,6/8): Yam's preprogrammed styles are simpler and fills are smoother.


PA can do the exact thing if you edit(fills etc).

[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 02-09-2008).]

I use an arranger to "get in the ballpark" when working on a film score. I then sequence the rough. Finally, I do a full blown multi-track production of the final.

Never record anything final on an arranger, but, yes, they're extremely useful for my film score work. Others do the same writing original music with much success.


good luck!

R.

I agree, I think that most arrnagers have built in multi-track sequencers so you're getting the best of both worlds by getting a good arranger. Of course, due to my namesake, the PA50 or 500 would be the best bet.


Jeff

From the description of your needs, I would seriously consider the Yamaha PSR-S900. Loads of great features, outstanding styles to work with, plus outstanding numbers of third-party styles, and excellent online help available 24/7.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Thanks again everyone....

Like I said FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS IS A SONGWRITING TOOL TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF THE TUNE

The search continues

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Steve A

http://www.soundclick.com/stevealtonian