Hi Newbe,

An arranger contains autoaccompaniment in various styles. Normally you can choose a style (i.e. bossa, rock, twist, bigband, etc) and you trigger a chord (c, f maj7, g+, etc) with your left hand and the arranger plays your chosen style with a full virtual band (drums, bass, guitar, brass, strings or whatever). You can then choose a sound (virtual instrument) for your right hand and play a melodyline accompanied by the arranger. You have to trigger a new chord with your left hand whenever the song you play requiers that.

An arranger contains often build in speakers - synth do not.

A synth doesn´t contain this arranger (autoaccomp) feature. A synth typically just contains various sounds (virtual instruments). The sounds in a synth (samplesynth!) are very much the same as the sounds in an arranger, but normally you are able to edit the synthsounds more in detail. Then you have the analog synths. They are not good at sounding like pianos, saxophones, guitars etc, but they are excellent at sounding like - synths!

The VA3 is an arranger (a samplesynth with autoaccomp.) The E-300 is the same thing! But older and not up-to-date.

If you play in a band and just want to have excellent sounds, you will do fine with a synth. If you want to be able to accompany your self with drums, bass etc you´ll go for an arranger.

Regards Michael