I believe that is a distinct possibility.

This potentially opens up a huge "tit for tat" than can go on forever... though I am happy to agree over all it is "a tie"

It is awesome that Yamaha have introduced or "re introduced" some awesome new features into the arranger market, BUT they still lack in a lot of prehistoric features that other boards have been doing for years...

- No octave adjustment of song / style parts in the mixer settings
- factory Non drumkit style tracks can only be erased instead of edited in the style creator / editor.
- Extremely limited voice editing capability
- Super Articulation voices include random generated noises that cannot be muted (random guitar fret slides etc)

As you say an eye for an eye, soon enough the whole world's blind. I find plenty of things in the Korg pretty stone age too. That's kind of the point. You figure out what you like, you figure out what you need, and you get whatever does the job FOR YOU best.

But no one makes anything technologically and sonically superior across the board.

Me, I tend to look for simplicity and convenience. Others look for micro editing and infinite customization. Others just want to hit the power switch and play without reading the manual..!

No one piece of gear is EVER going to please all three of us!

I've had one from each of the "big three" for many years now. There have always been one or two things that one brand does better than all the others. Once I figured out how to drive the second arranger's style engine with output from the first, a two-tiered, two-arranger setup became practical. When I decided that was too much visual bulk for the dining room, I switched to an arranger and a module. Frankly I don't care if they ever make a better model because I'm pretty content with what I have. Not selling any of mine anytime soon.

Fortunately, Roland took the decision out of my hands... No new arrangers!

That made it easy! 😂

It is a shame too, I had several Roland synths, plus the G70, and the BK-9. I loved the Leslie sim on the BK-9, and the two small windows were no problem because they had a useful purpose. I couldn't abide the lack of balance from the factory, and I lost patience with re-balancing most of them.

The strange thing is, I always look forward to redoing everything each new arranger I get! Admittedly, I’m a lot slower to get new gear than many here, so it doesn’t happen often... G1000-G70-BK9, that’s it over 22 years!

But each time I do it, I figure now’s my chance to do some housekeeping, to review how my show and audience have changed, how my taste in sound or my audience’s may have evolved, how I can perhaps improve something I used to think was ‘good enough’, how I can leverage each new kit or sound or feature to change what I have got used to, or dare I say it, complacent about?!

What initially felt like limitations, backward steps in the OS, can often lead to firstly ‘workarounds’ that often end up being better workflow than I was used to! I definitely found myself using multiple Performances per song with the BK-9 because of the lack of an UPR3 Part. And this has lead to far less button pushing and more playing, which is always better!

I agree with you that the BK-9’s Hammond section is killer by arranger standards, and far superior to the G70’s, then add in the Chord Sequencer, the SN guitars, the audio stuff (I use a LOT of audio tracks these days with embedded lyrics), the better drum kits, the massive increase in MFX, the slider control of MFX, the 999 sized Performance List, etc., etc. I honestly felt that even if I need to rebalance many styles, what I gained was worth the work, even if I DIDN’T want to work on it anyway!

Oh, and that drop to 20lbs didn’t hurt either!!!

But that’s what I feel is the biggest advantage to finding one piece of gear and sticking to it for a decade or so... a willingness to do whatever it takes to make it sound its best, knowing it may be a decade before you have to do it again! 🎹😎

Well said, Diki. Unfortunately, I was going on the premise that Roland, surely, knows far better than I about styles, rather than taking your route. Oh well, hindsight and all that.

Sure good to have you board.

Bernie

Diki, I asked to know more about you, I now know why. I find many of my beliefs in your posts.

For me, a new keyboard is like getting a gift at Christmas time, it’s exciting -- it’s like having a new toy; I get better, and I also learn more about keyboards. I begin to get bored when there is no more to learn; but the new keyboards have taken care of that problem.

I have no idea what people who do not have creating music as part of their day. Listening to music is nice, but not enough for me.
Last night I was restless. so, I out of bed and to my Sx900. While I was playing, I stumbled over something new I could do with the multi-pads; I went back to bed smiling.

John C.

John
I agree 100% about the value of creating music in staving off boredom or insanity during these down times. I listen to neighbors and friends that have no meaningful hobbies, and feel sorry for them. I too love to learn new things about my keyboards, something I should have done before, but too busy. I don't have to buy anything new, but simply dig down in my toybox, so to speak, and move to the next keyboard I already own.

I learned as a child that we are supposed to use our God given talents to the best of our ability. As much as I dislike our present environment, I am grateful for the chance to further my abilities. It is like God is giving me one more chance.

Bernie