Originally posted by miden:
I rarely if ever, use more than two variations on any song that I use the arranger for.
Well, that MIGHT account for why you get tired of the repetition!
There's nothing to stop you copying one of the variations that you DO use, and make some small changes to it...
You can't really blame the arranger for sounding the same all the time if you only use 1/2 of the patterns. Oh, and less we forget, you are using an arranger with only two fills (and a break fill) where many of us are using arrangers with six or seven. Do you use the velocity to style feature? You can get some nice subtle variation out of vel-switched kits and sounds with that. Multipads can add a LOT of variation to a sound. The sampler, used with these, can extend your palette almost indefinitely. Trigger loops, sparse patterns with extra drum notes, anything you want.
And, I don't know if you ever tried the Cover Tools much on the Roland's, but here is a one button complete re-orchestration of the entire style...
Arrangers provide diversity if you MAKE them provide it. And limit what they do to the absolute minimum you HAVE to have, and the rest is up to your playing! That can be as different as you want to make it!