Hi Scott and fellow "Zoners:"
The big deal about arrangers to me, as a songwriter... is that it gives me "real-time" feedback about the melody. I can make changes on the fly and modify the lyrics to fit the melody as needed. Then, when I have the song "roughed out" I can select instruments (within the limitations of the arranger) and "tweak" volumes, add multi-pad parts and eventually work my way into a gem of a song or a dud.
I write in several genres and wish ever so much that the guitars sounded a little more "country" on many of the styles and available "voices." (To me, voice is a poor description for an instrument.) I'd also like to see more stringed instruments (such as a dobro) available.
Regardless, the arranger (no matter what brand) is a gift from Heaven to songwriters.
Thanks for bringing this up, Scott. Merry Christmas everyone.
Dave Rice
http://www.ShowCaseYourMusic.com/DaveRice/