There are Arrangers (without the sound editing and sequencer)...and there are Arranger Workstations (with sound editing and sequencer).

Simple, eh?

And no, there is not a huge difference between arranger workstations and workstations...you already implied that by your description of Korg's arranger workstations.

There used to be a big difference...not so today...the line is blurring considerably.

I still think Squeak said it best.

Ian



[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 09-21-2009).]

lol.. Lets agree to disagree.

In my opinion you have...

Arrangers
1: Home Keyboards
2: Pro Arrangers

Workstations
1: Workstations

At no point can an arranger be classed as a workstation as the only word in it's description.

Cheers
James

No problem.

I do understand about "workstation" being a stand alone term, but arranger-workstations, and workstations, and their intended users, are not as distinct as they used to be....I work in the field and demo and promote these products. I have seen both types of users change camps.

It's like digital stage pianos with pitch/mod wheels, and a whole bank of sounds, some types even allowing basic editing (or in the case of Korg's PA-588, arranger functions, sequencing with detailed editing, and decent synthesizer functions as well)...the line is becoming a tad murky with these products as well...are they weighted action romplers, or digital stage piano/arranger workstations?

I always say, we live in an interesting age...technology has advanced geometrically in the past few years, and no doubt, will continue to do so.

BTW, I liked the Oasys a lot...would be a monster for film scoring, just to name one use that comes quickly to mind.

Ian

this is a good discussion. I owned the yamaha PSR8000 years ago and the sequencer on that was termed a "song player". I dont think yamaha at the time themselves dared to call it a sequencer. I used it though as a workstation and found angles on getting the best out of the song palyer function that even yamaha had not thought could be done. I had an interesting discussion with one of the product managers on the Motifator forum about the Motif XS and how it was a workstation and how the yamaha arrangers could not do similar functions and i had to correct him many times. But thats another discussion however although the song player features on the Tyros 2 and 3 are virtually still the same as the PSR8000 they now call it a sequencer !! Go figure !! its all good marketing fun :-)

And then it always comes down to the non "Pro TOY" Arranger"...vs the so called "PRO Workstation" label which is totaly BS IMO....some things never change.

Spalding brings up a good point...Yamaha always called the sequencer on their arrangers "SONG CREATOR"....not "sequencer" Still do), figuring that the home user, for which the instrument was mainly intended, would become confused...they even made and named the controls to mimic those of a tape recorder.

Workstations are designed for the pros, and aren't afraid to use big, fancy, manly, techie words.

Bottom line on all this is that, if you ONLY consider the old fashioned description of a WS, then pretty much ANY keyboard can live up to it.

But, MODERN WS's are rife with features and abilities no modern arranger (MS excepted, and that suffers in the arranger part) has. Arpeggiators, loop slicing, beat synced effects... control of computer programs, VSTi's... random arp generators (up to and including Karma).

You want to use a twenty year old description of a WS, to make your arranger look more important, have at it. But CALLING it a WS doesn't make it one. t least, not in the modern sense of the word.

Yes, but Yamaha and Roland have to do SOMETHING to catch up with Korg.

If you can't beat 'em...redefine.

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 09-21-2009).]

And besides whoneeds all that so called workstation stuff on a keyboard when today you can do it all and better using computers in so many ways with some awesome programs...

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 09-21-2009).]

The Tyros 3 sounds so boring I fell asleep listening to this video. Besides funny people here on this forum. Tyros 3 a workstation HAHAHAHAHA so funny.