I think Chas made my original point better than I did. I don't believe the Roland styles are more "cheesy" than Korg or Yamaha. I had a S-750 and there were some good styles and some I didn't care for. Same with Roland-Korg I can't say.

I would like to hear Fran's opinion though.

Just make the styles your own.....edit them, rerrcord parts,swap parts,change sounds, efx,etc,make it exactly what you want after all it's an arranger!!!!....there are no bad styles but tbere are bad musicians...dont blame the styles....

Yes, that's what I'm working on doing.

Update: Today, I pulled the trigger on a very lightly used (home only) Tyros 4 and speaker system for £1,500. Picking her up Monday.

In the end, I decided I just couldn't justify spending twice the money on something which is only going to play a secondary role in my work pattern (at least for now). Having watched lots of Tyros 4 videos, I concluded that there was plenty of inspiration in the T4 to keep me busy for some time. It also means I can afford to keep the Kurzweil, which is a very capable and convenient board to have.

Once again, thanks for all your input. I'll tell you if I made the right call in a few days!

Hi Aidan: Before I forget, welcome to "The Zone's General Arranger Forum." Nice choice considering economics, quality of most Arranger Keyboards, etc. I think you will enjoy it. You can always switch to something else after learning the ropes on this excellent machine.

I am neither, a performer nor a musician. Songwriting is my source of entertainment these days and I use a Yamaha PSR-S910 to create demos of my catalog. (Some would laugh uncontrollably at that statement... but hey, you only get one chance!)

My best, free advice... is to pay attention to Don Mason in particular, plus all the other experienced performing Arranger Players who earn a pretty good living doing gigs at all manner of venues.

As an interested observer, I have noticed a fairly massive move in Korg's direction among many of the guys and gals here. Because economics plays such a big role in my retirement, it will take a warp-speed leap for me to change "boards" unless I discover something that will lend itself to enhance my desire to move my songs up the invisible ladder to success.

Here's hoping you have found a community of like-minded and always helpful folks and will eventually share your success and wisdom as we move along this interesting pathway.

Best regards, ----Dave Rice

Perhaps you cannot blame the styles themselves, but it is the technology, voices and programming of the brand that dictates the quality or realism of the style.

I have auditioned different brand arrangers in the past. Yamaha technology, vast resource style/multipad libraries, and best support system makes Yamaha my best choice for my arranging and live performance needs.

My last Ketron product I tried was the Audya. The audio style parts were really well done and authentic sounding, however the rest of the style parts and most of the regular voices were very GM2ish.

The present Korg PA2X, though almost catching up to the Tyros 5, the styles are thin, uninspiring, and with lack of resources towards arranging needs could become quite boring over time.

Yamaha in the other hand with present Sweet, Mega, SA, SA2, and audio drum parts within the style technology and great programming, plus huge resources, gives you limitless potential to your arranger needs.

The unique Yamaha programming that goes into their present styles is mostly interchangeable to be used in the Multipad parts or vice-versa. Korg or Ketron styles converted to Yamaha don't translate as well or can be as good as Yamaha styles because the style part "programming" (eg. Mega/SA) is missing. Just as Yamaha styles don't translate that well into other brand arrangers, because the Mega, SA, SA2 technology or programming is obviously not compatible.

My solution is to stick with the Yamaha brand, with the top quality voices, styles, multipads, and the large resources and support proven over the years. All my custom work must be compatible or up-gradable to the next model arranger. I wouldn't have the selection and creativity switching brands.

Aidan, the Tyros 4 is a nice board. surprised you didn't go for at least a used Tyros 5-76, for piano playing. Maybe if you like the Tyros 4 and how well it works as an arranger, maybe upgrade to a Tyros 5-76 in the near future. You will love the Organ World and Ensemble features, especially with added MIDI bass pedals.

If you assign your forth Ensemble voice to your MIDI bass pedal channel, you actually can create a five part independent voice ensemble. Truly remarkable for classical and church use. A lead solo instrument (with legato-4 Voice Incremental - from highest), 1st Violin, 2nd Violin, Cello, Bass Cello (with bass pedals), as an example custom ensemble voice. Ensemble is truly amazing, works with styles, and assignable to OTS positions. Many SA2 Ensemble lead voices to choose from.

The choir and vocal effects introduced on the Tyros 4 and carried over and improved on the Tyros 5 are second to none, including within the styles and multipads.

There is an inherent bias against the Yamaha brand in this forum, so not the greatest place for unbiased advice, but you have to try yourself what works for you.

Regards, Marcus

Good catch! Enjoy.

With all my Roland style bashing in this thread (comparing to Korg, that is) I have a new addition coming to my studio - VA76! Should be a lot of fun for a very skinny price.

Again, it was really a question of economics. Used 5s are still thin on the ground, and would have cost me probably about a grand more. Also, I would never want to play high-end piano parts on an unweighted action, so if I ever need more keys, chances are I'll break out the CP4 as well.

Of course, I could have waited until Genos arrives and a flood of used T5s hit the market but there's a lot of road yet between the announcement and more still before the flood on eBay. Actually, the guy who's sold me the T4 is doing so in order to buy a T5.

And thanks, Dave, for the welcome – nice to be here.

"Would I absolutely need a 76-key model? Overall, my feeling is that the answer to that is probably yes, bearing in mind that I am principally a pianist, but again, you may have your own thoughts on that." excerpt from original post.

So why would you suggest that a 76-key arranger model would be a priority, you are principally a pianist, and then state you would never play high-end piano parts on an unweighted action board?

As far as Yamaha bashing or (Roland bashing) here in this 'General Arranger Keyboard Forum', it is mainly because if you don't own the latest and newest arranger board, as most members here apparently jump back and forth to the latest board or suddenly jump up to a TOTL (Top of the Line)from a MOTL (Middle of the Line) arranger and are wowed by the newer novelties and presets presented, rather then learning how to get the most out of their original board.

Marcus