Now you've got me all blushing.......

I hope that anyone who actually READS my posts rather than just lumping me in with the 'lovers' has realized that I'm no Roland apologist (come to the Danish site if you don't believe me!) and am very prepared to offer criticism, and suggestions to Roland about things that could be improved, and OS changes that could be implemented (and I've been honored that Roland actually have implemented some of my suggestions)

I think that ALL of our arrangers could be improved if, instead of getting into pi**ing contests about who has the BEST arranger, we ALL concentrate on what needs improving the most. I can imagine the smiles on the marketing divisions of Roland and Yamaha while all this rampant evangelizing goes on, but what we really need to see is sweat on the brows of the R&D divisions.........

I am still waiting to hear someone from the Yamaha camp step up to the plate and admit that, yes, perhaps there's a thing or two that could be improved there, also. Let's see if they have some honesty, too........

Spalding, if you re-read my post, you'll see my comment about OOTB perfection aimed squarely at those who want to use it OOTB. OF COURSE, everyone can tweak to their heart's content (and I truly respect those that do) but a large number of posters here seem to think that they don't want to/haven't got enough time to/shouldn't have to etc..

I come originally from a more workstation background (although I go FAR further back that those!!), and I usually EXPECT to have to tweak to get things my way. Even my G1000, well I've got old Mixermaps made up for Cubase VST (and earlier Atari Cubase!!) to control EVERY internal aspect of sys-ex programming for it...... It's incredible how much you could mess with the raw sound of Sound Canvas engines with sys-ex and controller codes!

Fortunately (or unfortunately, if workload is a criteria!) the G70 can be messed with at least as much, so, after much work, I am truly satisfied with the way my G70 sounds. I haven't yet heard a Tyros2 soundclip here that comes close to capturing the 'live band' sound that the G70 CAN achieve. Once those V-Kits are dialed in, and you start using a lot of the ghost notes and stick drops on the snare, this is the closest to a real drummer I've yet heard out of an arranger. After all, even real drummers are pretty happy with Roland V-Drums (they outsell Yamaha electronic drums by a wide margin)........

The truth of it is, you get of any keyboard what you put into it......... some you have to put more into than others, but the result is worth it.

Roland have a good start, and from what I've heard of the E80, they've already made considerable improvements to OOTB happiness (and tweaker's delight!). Now it is up to them to feed these beasts right. A steady diet of well tweaked styles - there's no basic reason other than Roland's laziness in producing new styles - and once again Roland can hold their head up high.

One last piece of honesty........ I rarely play solo (I enjoy musical dialog too much) and usually play with at least one guitarist, if not two, so a lot of the Yamaha's superiority in the guitar department is lost on me. If I played solo, I would definitely consider a Tyros2 as well as my G70, but I'd do my level best to not have to play it from it's own keyboard...... what a piece of (whoops, nearly started it all over again!!)......

And lastly, I probably do 50-60% SMFs (HIGHLY tweaked, mostly originals - I have a Hart Dynamics drumkit to trigger the drum sounds) and 30-40% just using the drum part from the arranger and kick LH Bass, and only use the full arranger 20% of the time. I am afraid, as an ex-bass player, pre canned basslines just don't cut it for me much of the time. So, in essence, I am using the G70 mostly for it's sounds, and the way it can be foot-triggered from the FC-7 for hands free operation, but in this way of using it, I haven't found it's equal, so for me (note the qualifier!) this is the perfect gigging keyboard.

Your Mileage May Vary, Objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear, Yadda, Yadda, Yadda........