Thanks for your evaluation Frank. I am not certain yet whether Bandstand will be the right choice for me, but I look forward to hearing more about it and how it works out for you. My question is, for style voices only, whether it's a major step up from something like the SGM180 soundfont.

I used the AJM2006 arranger system with my Motif ES as my controller and OMB and my somewhat modified SGM180 soundfont as my style player at a live performance on Friday night. It went relatively well, and all in all it sounded good. I'm not 100% sure, as it is setup right now, that it's a better alternative than a top end arranger in live performance though.

Pros, Cons, and tossups as follows for me vs using the PA80 in live play:

Pros:
Very easy to play and change variations/ intros/endings with the ES as my controller.

Superb lead voices. Huge gain over the PA80. Also better overall effects.

Every manufacturers brand of styles sounded relatively good without tweaking.

I have one shot sequences setup that work in a similar manner to Yamaha's Multipads. This is a tossup vs a Yamaha arranger but a big gain vs the PA80's pads.

Cons:
Not as easy to change styles or voices on the fly.

Overall the interface is less intuitive. Not always plug and play like a hardware arranger.

No harmonizer ( I could add an external one )

No registrations that are easily accessible like the performances on the PA80. I do have several setups stored in chainer, but I have to use a mouse to access them.

Having to use a mouse to do some other functions.

Tossups:

Style voices pretty good in either system.

Midifiles play relatively well in both systems.

In the end, I still think I lean toward a top quality ( better than the PA80 ) hardware arranger in live play, but in a studio or even home use setting, the AJ2006 is a clear winner for me.

AJ


[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 11-22-2005).]