Donny,

I actually agree with you on this and work a lot of my show the same way you do myself. For much of my show I just load custom 'genre specific' voice registration banks and then pick/choose sounds, styles & variations 'on the fly' while performing. I too like this method because it allows the most creative flexibility and performance spontaneity.

I generally reserve the fully pre-planned custom 'registration bank' song setups for those special showcased songs/medleys which require a tight script of complicated 'voice (instrument) change' setups, key modulation, and simultaneous volume changes which would not be possible to achieve otherwise. Hey, I only got 2 hands (ten fingers) & 2 feet and my mind can only focus on a few things (sometimes even less :eek at one time. Singing, 'playing' the keyboard (both hands plaing different parts), and giving my full attention to the audience as well is difficult enough. I don't want to have to devote any more energy to button pushing than I have to. With a customized Registration Bank devoted to a song, you only need to remember to push ONE single (reg memory increment) button during the ENTIRE song. As you can see, each arranger keyboard setup method has its advantages and disadvantages. The great thing is that our arranger keyboards allow us to mix/match our approach. I also like to get out in the audience to sing and smooze with the crowd as well, so playing a midi file backup is yet another arranger keyboard feature which allows us to do this.

- Scott