With the introduction of world wide available internet Companies finally got the chance to communicate openly about their products with their customers..

In many technollogy based branches open communication is key to developing new products.

But in the keyboard buiseness things are somewhat different... Most companies keep really quite about the stuff they have under devlopment and don't talk directly with customers about their wishes through forum discussions or chat sessions..

Thats what i like about Lionstracs, they are the only one in the buiseness being honest about their future developments and the shortcommings in their current products..



But how honest are Yamaha Roland and Korg?



I think these multinationals should remove their cloaks and start discussing certain subjects with their customers through only means... It would help them becomming more innovative...

Why does the fact that these companies must have to guard their research have to equate to *dishonesty*?

I doubt that has much if anything to do with it.

And I'm sure these companies *do* have some users, both pro and amateur, among their researcha and development resources, it is just that they do not put the thing out there for any and all to get into the act, which may or may not be a good thing for the company's overall health or at least may not be a part of their chosen business model.

For one thing, there is likely to be a certain modicum of secrecy involved with this type of thing, one company may not want to let what they view to be their competition have a look at whatever upcoming release may have that could let the other company "scoop" a certain feature or feature set that the former may have spent quite a lot in resources to initially develop. That kind of corporate security only makes sense.

We now return you to whatever pet conspiracy theories float yer boat...


--Mac

I agree with what Mac said...Most of these companies also have responsibilities to shareholders, which broadcasting everything to the world could very well compromise earnings...

While Liontracs is held in high regard by some, they're not in the same ball park as the bigger keyboard mfg's...

Actually you don't have to share your secrets when you have open and honest communication.... Thats a misunderstanding made to often...

In business, you hold your cards very close to the vest. Yes, you want to have a close relationship with your customers. You want to know how they feel about your products, the strong points/weak points, new features they want etc. However, across virtually all industries, that information is highly valuable and private.

Sure, we'd love to see the big 3 arranger makers announce they were going to all merge their efforts to create a super arranger, but that's not going to happen.

Its a bit of a tight rope act...communicating with your customers, but not revealing the wrong information at the wrong time.

The thing is, despite the 'open' communication with Lionstracs, just exactly how much of what we have asked for has actually made it to production? Communication without results is often even MORE frustrating that no communication at all!

Most of us (all but the dedicated tech-heads, to be honest) have been trying to tell Dom since the very first MS that it will sell (make us give him OUR money!) very well if the CONTENT is on a par (or preferably exceeds) the current available TOTL closed arrangers, and that the standard arranger controls (like On Bass) are implemented.

This has been utterly ignored for five years or more.

What value communication here?

A very wise soul once said, "A camel is a horse that was designed by a committee!"