Alex K, thanks for your acknowledgement of my efforts on a PC/software based arranger keyboard solution.

Just as an update, I have now fully converted to a software based solution. I use one of two approaches:

1) If I am just going to play instrumentally, I launch Cakewalk P5 with LiveSynth (Auto Accompaniment Instruments) and Kontakt (Melody/Lead Instruments). I then launch Live - Styler (Yamaha Styles) and I am ready to play.

2) If I plan to sing (have pity on my soul), I launch Cubase SX with Kontakt & DecaBuddy (vocalizer) and then P5 with LiveSynth rewired to Cubase SX. Finally, as before, I launch Live - Styler and I am ready to play & sing!!!

The above system has proven to be stable and now use my Audigy sound card only for midi In/Out and Mic In. I sold my M-Audio AudioPhile sound card and replaced it with the Steinberg VSL 2020 sound card. I am currently operating at roughly 3ms latency with no pops or crackles. The computer is overall only moderately tasked at 40 to 60% performance.

I would say for Home & Studio this is a viable alternative to hardware based solutions. You can make this system sound better than any hardware based solution on the market to day or tomorrow. You can make this system suitable for live performances using things like Laptops or Shuttle computers, etc. If you use lower quality voices like you find in today's top of the line workstations or arranger keyboards the loading times for 8 instruments into Kontakt would be less than 10 seconds. If you used Soundfonts and LiveSynth Pro for everything then loading times (changing registrations) would be close to instant.