Just to make clear something, Yes, styles are "BITS" of midi files, that may make you sound great IF playing in REAL time, depending on the sophistication of the arrangement, chops of the player, not just playing the proper chord progression, but also making the necessary variation, fill, break, etc changes...all this ON TIME.

ALL this things HAVE to be accomplished BY the musician.

Playing along with the "non" style/ Regular-normal Midi file(is also considered Real Time), will have the chord progression, and changes embedded without the intervention of the player.
SO, it does not require skill other than play ONLY the melody right.

Funny but over at KSS and other fora they wouldn't consider you a real musician just for the fact that you use an arranger.

No Professional player that plays over/with SMF's will ever "just play a melody line"...The melody is usually "sung"...The proper way to use SMF's is to remove the parts you want to play "live" ..they could be a counter line, embellished chords, brass parts, organ parts ..or riffs..even bass lines...

It takes more talent to play with Smf's than chording a left hand and a simple melody on the right hand...I can see most folks do not have a clue to playing professionally with sequences...

As for "Pros" that play arranger keyboard...we apparently are the smart ones...Maybe "purist" should learn the benefits of arranger keyboards....they are not only for "auto play"...They are designed for fast set ups and will accept great players abilities..as any workstation available...

Ketron User,

Do you feel like turning all your arranger features off and go back to basics, see how you sound, what would that look like a Hammond B3, nice one Carlo I was going to say just that, you can take the rap for it now, still you are right, lots of things to help you on an arranger, look how far the Tyros has come over the years that make it so easy to play, professionals and amateurs.

Tony

Thanks for the videos Scott. Playing along with SMF or styles, both have their challenges, but I do know, I was entertained by Rico's 'Tico Tico' and his performances. I hope he decides to join SZ.

BTW, Does it take more talent to play a non arranger keyboard if you have a live 5 piece band backing? My opinion, it takes as much, or even more effort to play as a OMB using an arranger with either styles or SMF as the band.

So for me, either playing a keyboard with a 5 piece band, or playing an arranger with styles, or playing an arranger along with SMF's, or playing solo on a piano or organ are all good.

Lately. I just sit back and enjoy them all.

After all "It is what it is"

Lets not forget the TALENT it takes to create a SMF file also..

Hi all,
What's wrong with some of you guys?
I'm finding it interesting that posting Rico's videos has only turned this into a debate over auto accompainemt vs midi backing track performance,
and that hardly anyone bothered to appreciate, or even acknowledge the technical artistry and musician showmanship of Rico's live keyboard playing.
I admire his polished 2 kb playing technique & precise timing, as well as the musical expression (emotion) that he exudes in his playing.

Rico's playing style is really no different than a traditional keyboard player might use when playing tradition keyboard with a live top orchestra backing him,
or as dralion put it: "A performer/singer's backing band is a human midi file".

Whether you choose to use backing tracks or play with styles
remains a personal chose, each with it's unique set of benefits, challenges and limitations,
all of which have already been discussed and debated here.

IMHO, mastering both auto accomp 'arranger style' playing, 'playing along with high quality backing tracks',
as well as being able to play our arranger keyboard as a 'traditioanl solo piano' can only then make us a more complete arranger keyboard musician.

I don't give a rat's ass what method someone uses to play their keyboard, as it's the (honest) content & character (musical expression) of the music,
not the method used to achieve it that impresses me, and
I for one am very impressed with Rico's musicianship and think he deserves appreciation and respect for it.

Rico has informed me that he has joined Synthzone and is simply awaiting email address confirmation from Nigel.

Rico, welcome to you Synthzone buddy. I'm really looking forward to your participation.

Scott

well said, Scott ...

Scott,

" You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink ".

I think Larry Hawks tells it all, as Larry always does, the guys is very good, I will drink the water with you, if others can't see or don't want to say he's good, just move on.

If he is now a SZ member, I think we had all better look out for better things to come, maybe this is what SZ really needs new good young blood, there's certainly not a lot of it around.

Regards

Tony

Very well put, Scott. I couldn't have said it better myself!