There were three demos posted (the first with the trombone has expired), the second featured saxes and trumpets, the third, I have no idea WHAT that lead sound was supposed to be.

The second demo with the trumpets was very problematic for me. I wasn't sure if that was the most inspired recreation of a bunch of REALLY bad trumpet players (!) or something about the GIGA triggers was giving him fits....

The third again has me puzzled. Firstly, the lead sound was unfamiliar, and then lacked nuance, plus ran through the entire piece. Kind of dull.

But even more, I thought that all three styles themselves were very uninspiring. Admittedly, they may be very authentic styles, as to the basic rhythm, but I never felt for a minute that I was listening to a real band (which T2, Ketron and Roland TOTL occasionally do), and I never got much in the way of any 'build' from the variations and fills that I get from most arrangers (even the mid-line ones).

I 'get' that you can put great solo sounds on top of styles with an 'open' arranger. No argument there. I only wish the styles themselves were of the quality of the lead sounds. It's not enough (for me) to have great lead sounds over an average (or below) style. To be frank, I think I would prefer the other way around. In fact, that is what I HAVE got... Inspiring styles, with only average lead sounds (comparatively to GIGA).

Seeing as how a song (when in full arranger mode) is 75% style, 25% lead sounds, I think this is the correct priority for an arranger. If you HAVE to give up one, you've got to play your ass off to overcome a poor style...

Richard, sorry about missing your demo in the Xmas rush... Nice tune and playing, but.... Sadly, again, it seems to demo how good the lead sounds can get, and how poorly (compared to T2, etc.) the styles are balanced, effected, and voiced. The sound quality is great, no doubt about it, but it only helps reveal the style shortcomings, IMO.

Fortunately, these problems ARE fixable (unlike the glacial sample load up times of the T2, or the VK organ routing problems of the G70/E80 - see, I'm NOT a rabid 'my arranger right or wrong guy!), but Domenik REALLY needs to concentrate on the CONTENT of the MS, not it's FEATURES for a while. An arranger is a combination of the two... neither side works without the other.

But keep the demos coming. What I'd REALLY like to hear is some styles re-worked for VSTi's, like DFH for drums, Scarbee Bass, GIGA brass and so on. No more Dream Chip GM rubbish. The styles need to be voiced for sounds that are as inspiring as the leads.

I have said all along that Dom needs to license a GOOD giga drum library, bass library, percussion, etc., and then develop the styles for THAT. Anything less just exposes the flaws in his earlier, less developed sound libraries. Time to ditch the Dream chip and ALL the GM dreck, and make the MS into what he has promised since day one.

If I had bought an MS two years ago on the strength of those promises. I'd be one pretty frustrated customer by now. Until ALL the pieces fit, it is STILL just that.... Promises.