I suggest that new style categories be added on the next generation of mid and high-end YAMAHA arrangers:

1) FREE TEMPO Category
The popularity of "Ethereal Movie" has struck a chord (pun intended) with many of us. EM has opened a door to a whole new genre of style which Yamaha could develop - to our delight.

2) UNPLUGGED Category
I realize there are a few styles titled, "Unplugged" scattered about on my S910. However, those of us who also own a Korg PA arranger, have been spoiled by the large number of unplugged styles available on our boards. I was delighted to find that one of the buttons on my PA500 is dedicated to "UNPLUGGED" - and under that heading comes an entire family of unplugged styles...unplugged rock, unplugged latin, unplugged folk, etc., etc.

With the new guitar engine in the T3 and S910, Yamaha should focus on making this technology shine with fresh new unplugged styles recorded by a live player. I realize I can take an existing style and dumb it down to make it sound unplugged, but it's not the same as a style that's produced solely for that purpose.

So that's my million dollar suggestion for the next-gen Yammy arrangers...Yamaha, are you listening?

Tim


[This message has been edited by CoasterTim (edited 02-16-2010).]

[This message has been edited by CoasterTim (edited 02-17-2010).]

Great ideas!

Whatever the names, if the manufacturers won't hit a sweet point with the next arranger generation, be it more realistic loops, modern-contemporary sounding, present styles and so, they will really go the dinosaurs way.

I hope they all listen and get notice, not only Yamaha, I think the classic aproach in arranger world (ballroom, latin, jazz, 8/16 beat etc.) simply won't do anymore. I don't care much about names, but I certainly hope mt next arranger will bring me some better and more tools for the music most people like to hear today.

Maybe hiphop, alt rock and house need adding? You know, just in case, by accident, someone under the age of forty tries one out in the store?

HipHop, New Hiphop, House, Trance, and lots of others are already in the Dance category, but I doubt if anyone under age 40 would bother looking at an arranger keyboard, even with these styles. Seems like the youngsters all wannabe guitar stars.

Cheers,

Gary

Step away from style groups and make an easy browsable interface... Maybe even a semi intelligent interface..

I guess I'm a little dense, but what makes a style "unplugged"? I've played lots of country and rock unplugged styles with the past several Yamaha boards I have owned. I've liked them but seem to be missing what defines them as unplugged??????????

Call me a dummy... -charley

Charlie,

I could be wrong with this, but I always thought it had something to do with the type of instruments in the style being all acoustic. Primarily guitars, slap bass, drums, harmonica, etc.., nothing electric.

Cheers,

Gary

Plenty of young people who play arrangers. Just do a search on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olZbxHOTKj0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43XNXwad9LQ&feature=related

[This message has been edited by FransN (edited 02-16-2010).]

But 'Dance' is the category, all those styles sit withon it. You want to attract younger players, you drop the Ballroom categories, and replace them with whole 'categories' of hiphop, Alt Rock, etc..

Most of us older players are smart enough to find the ballroom stuff if we need it, but the kids are NOT going to want something that looks as if designed for a 50+ OMB... Thing is, we NEED these things to remain competitive with WS's and synths, for there to be any more serious R&D and improvement. But labeling the front panel for a NH gig isn't going to attract them.

Hiphop, in case you missed it, is NOT a style in a dance category. It is an entire genre to itself, with many sub genres. It deserves its' own category, as being the most popular, best selling music on the planet. No doubt there was the same blank stare when it was talked about adding 'rock' and 'disco' to the style categories back in the day... Music evolves, moves on, and only the products that acknowledge that evolution survive.

The kids deserve their own categories, not to be shoehorned into some blanket 'Dance' category. My Roland has a Bossa/Samba category AND a Latin one. Strikes me they BOTH should sit in the same one. Ballroom and 50's and 60's could easily be grouped together (they deserve it more than house and hiphop deserve to be in the same one). It's not like there isn't room...

Admittedly, you give Hiphop its' own category, you better have some styles in there that DO sound contemporary, though.

I don't know. I find the Roland GW8, Prelude and the Korg PA's already very suitable for Dance music. I don't care for hiphop so if they put a lot of these styles in a keyboard then they proberly loose me as customer. I find the keyboards OK this way. Do you like oldies and easy listening you buy a Yamaha. You like modern pop and rock and dance music buy a Roland or Korg.


[This message has been edited by FransN (edited 02-17-2010).]