I wanted to share some thoughts with you guys regarding the issue we bring up from time to time regarding arrangers and the lack of "modern styles" more specifically in the electronica department.

Personally I would love to see these arranger have a more modern set of styles. However..., when you look at it realistically I think it's safe to say we're not going to get them.., and here's why I feel this way about it.

The only way arranger makers can do this (logically) is by doing what Yamaha did years ago. Years back Yamaha released a low budget arranger keyboard called the DJX (I'm talking about the original blue baby.., and not that gawd awful DJXII). Those of you who may not remember the original DJX.., this was an arranger keyboard made SOLEY for electronica. This arranger was choc full of up to date modern styles in dance, trance, hip hop, rap, drums-n-bass, ect. Not only were these styles modern and up to date, but the DJX had a voice set unlike any other Yamaha arranger of the time. It was also loaded with drum kits that were specific to these styles of music and these kits weren't found on other Yamaha arrangers. There were also numerous other one shot samples such as vocal hits and stabs included in the soundset too.., that later found their way into other Yamaha models.

Some of you may not realize it.., but over the years (being a former DJX owner myself).., I can tell you that there were quite a few styles on upper, mid, and lower Yamaha arrangers (that were released well after the original DJX) that had their modern styles taken from the original DJX. Even my old Yamaha PSR-550 had a few DJX styles.

The DJX also had real time control knobs and other features that gave the player a DJ type control over the mix..., such as direct part muting of style parts (where a section of the keys became controllers for this). The DJX also had (although limited) a sampler.., it even had a ribbon controller that has assignable settings. There was even a dedicated (groove knob) that changed "swing" in real time along with other controllers..., not to mention this was also a big seller for Yamaha.., but they killed the line with the second generation model.

Anyways..., when you look at it today "realistically" keyboard companies cannot produce these more recent arrangers with modern styles because the only logical way to do this would be to release a keyboard specific to the styles themselves (like the DJX).

Consider this too... It's much easier to create an arranger keyboard that 99.99 caters to the tradtional and classics. Why...???? Well simply because if you think about it.., 4 weeks from today (hell even 4 years from today) jazz, big band, swing, waltz, classic/traditional rock, funk, polka's, cumbas, rhumba's ect are still going to sound the same.

You look at these modern styles of music and ONE word stands out and that's MODERN. Hip Hop and Rap are styles that change by the the day and by the week. Arranger makers would have to constantly be updating these boards in order to keep them "up to date" with what's considered current. They would have to employ style creators who would have their hands full trying to keep up with the market.

So the makers have a choice of either releasing a board specific to these styles with a whole team releasing weekly or montly updates for the styles or just giving you a few basic one's that cover the generics. Money invested would also be an issue. So makers choose the least expensive route which is giving you some styles that cover the basics. They're not so bad that you find yourself doing the moonwalk or dancing like MC-Hammer, but they're not so great that JayZ and others would take an interest.

You also have to consider the "typical arranger player" and the targeted market for them.

Bottom line is this... if you want modern styles.., you're gonna have to make them yourself. If your keyboard has a sampler you'll have to make use of it and build your own kits. It's a lot of work to do this on any arranger....., which is clearly why the workstation sells 1000 times to 1 for these styles of music. They have the sound set, easier to use samplers, and onboard sequencers that are better designed for creating it.

Any other views on it from members here?