I have been thinking about using the music software for just one purpose, to make my PSR3000 keyboard sound better. Better sound = more fun. But, the notion of software only approach for the sake of going "software only" is no my motivation. I want the best possible and comfortable setup, the best of both worlds. If it takes using a $1500 arranger keyboard as a control surface and style player while turning off all local sounds and compliment that with a software sound module, so be it, as long as it produces a better result. Better than my standalone arranger that is.

The problem for me with the software style players is that the navigation will require the use of a mouse, even if minimally, I am not excited about it. I want the convenience of the hardware arranger board with all the bells and whistles and a better sound. So, I will continue to look for solutions like that. If it is my PSR3000 plus laptop with Bandstand or some other mute controller plus MidJay plus Bandstand or... I think that everyone here is trying to make their system better and more power to them. It is very helpful for all of us to read about these experiences and learn together.

By the way, Frank, you are one of the major contributors on this forum that ventures into the software world and I have followed your quest for a "software only" solution with great interest. I am definatly pulling for you and I am sure that you will succeed. Perhaps, you will also see alternate points of view such as this; to me the dedicated "hardware" arranger is just a controller keyboard loaded with a processor and "software" to play the styles and "software" to produce the sound. Some of them even allow OS updates. Technically, it is really the same as a controller, plus computer , plus software. Does not matter how it is done, as long as it is the best sounding and easiest to use system for me.

So, good luck to all and thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and ideas with the rest of us.