Arrangers and workstations are two different instruments. An workstation can do things an arranger can't for example the Kronos has Karma and arrangers can do things a workstation can't.

Combining the 2 is the best I think but personally I prefer only an arranger and maby on top an module or labtop for extra sounds.

ok so it's final...The Tyros 4 is the best sounding arranger workstation Kb ever made in the world today......I am so glad we got that all straightened out! Thank you

The question is very simple.....

If i added the option to play styles on the Kronos, would that make the Kronos an arranger?

Most would call it an arranger then.....


So the answer is very simple.... an Arranger is nothing else then a workstation with Styles added (including intro/ending/fill)...


The only thing that got me wondering is why they don't add some of the high end Workstation features to Arrangers... (sounddesign /tweakabillity /arpeggios /KARMA /Synthengines/vector stick /ribbon controller /Computer integration)

Why does Yamaha still think that a TOTL arranger doesn't need the stuff they put in their MOTIF line?

I love the way you and Donny just side step the points i raised in my previous post and move on to something else :-)

Was there anything in the example that you saw done in the clip Donny posted of the Kronos workstation that any arranger could not have done ?

Of coures the weight and detail of the features will be different as the arrager market and the workstation market share many aspects of making music but have different customer profiles, price ranges and feature requirements . One is aimed at live performance play and another at live and studio integration. But both are capable to a greater or lessor degree of both live play and studio play .They are two different markets , each with different profit margins and buying characteristics etc . We have danced this dance countless times before .

What is common between them is that if you have musical ability you can create original music content in similar ways on either an arranger or workstation but you are hamstrung if you wish to use styles or create your own styles on a workstation

The point i hope i have clearly made is that all that is required to do most of the stuff Donny talked about in terms of creating original musical content in both arranger and workstation is talent. Period.

As this thread developes please dont miss this point.

- Stellar sound Quallity of Piano/synth/pad and many others..
- Sound dessign.. the synth engines allow you to create your own sounds, rather then to use the same as everyone elese (arranger)
- Flexibillity of KARMA is way beyound arranger stylesas a composing tool
- Vector stick and ribbon controller and the use of the touchscreen as a controller... allow much more controll over your performance
- The Kronos can run as a VST in your computers VST host..
- HD recording is way beyound anything available in arrangers..

How many more points do you need?

Hi Spalding

Finally you get it!

An arranger is great for knocking things up quick (On the fly so to speak) but can be customised to an extent to the player’s requirement.

The Workstation is infinitely flexible (Way beyond any arranger on the market today) and is thus ideal for band and studio work.

Both of the above is what I said in my very first post, when the question was asked what is the difference between an Arranger and a Workstation,

Regarding the questions in your previous post:

Many of the sound engines used in the Kronos are available as VSTi, it plays voices like VSTi, the screen layouts and operation is just like the various VSTi, in fact it is effectively a pre-set VSTi player/Host, so it is perfectly legitimate to compare it with VST instruments.

Regarding the link to the Kronos Nylon Guitar, I couldn’t find it with the link you posted; the only thing I heard was a bit of steel guitar and distortion guitar as he passed through some of the voices.

Bill

Bachus all very valid points...!

Again it's all a marketing strategy..... give people MORE choices they BUY more... ever go in a supermarket and see LITE Salad Dressing AND Salad Dressing? or Regular Cigarettes, Lite Cigarettes, Menthol, etc, ?...same scenario....more sales that way... under heavy scrutiny Yamaha still will not make a 76 key Tyros...they lose a few sales?...so what ...in the oerall keyboard picture they still make a hugh profit worldwide way above all the others.

And I hear many musicians on the Motifator forum squawk about not having features and functions on the Motif the Tyros 4 has. The T4 costs more than the Motif; the acoustic sounds are somewhat better on the T4; the Super Articulation is better on the T4, and of course the styles are much more robust.

Given the choice between a Motif, a Kronos or a Tyros4, I'd take the latter in a heartbeat (hey, I already did!)

The Tyros4 is perfect for my performing needs...the other two would be far too much work...that's why they're called Workstations.

If you want to work, get a Workstation, but, if you want to be able to sit down and just play to your heart's content, with little or no fuss, the arranger is the keyboard for you.

Ian