Cliff, thanks for the info. I think I am less interested in the auto-accompaniment than being able to thoroughly compose and arrange my music from every aspect. I just liked the idea of using the auto-acc. for quick demos. My problem is that I want very interesting atmospheric synth pads and sounds, and good grooves, but I also want some good horns. I guess I am asking for what eveyone would love to have. I guess the reason Yamaha didn't put all the "sweet" voices in the MOTIF is because they want you to have to buy both. This leads me to another idea. Does the PLG150VL Virtual Acoustic Plug-in Board with the breath controller give more realism to the sounds? Are the VA plug-ins sounds better anyway and so I don't need to worry about the absence of the 9000pro sweet voices if I add this to the MOTIF?

I've pretty much decided the KORG horn sounds are no good anyway so I should probably rule out the TRITON and the KARMA, but I want to know what I'm missing with these "polyphonic arpeggiators." I still don't understand what they do that the MOTIF's won't. Can anyone explain that?

FANTOM seems to be a less powerful version of the MOTIF, but essentially functioning pretty much the same with its sequencing abilities and groove generator.

I guess if I really need the "sweet" voices I will just buy the PSR-550. Are the sounds the same sounds as 9000pro just less of them? Also I can use its auto-accompaniment features for my "quick demo" keyboard and leave the heavy stuff to the MOTIF.

I still have a long way to go on all of this. I greatly appreciate any and all who contribute to my quest for knowledge.

Thanks