The thing is, even as low as Roland have fallen, unlike most other arranger manufacturers, they haven't forgotten that what perhaps the best of us want is a substitute for a REAL LIVE BAND...

Some others think we want a replacement for a CD, or karaoke system...

For all their faults (and I am willing to point them out as explicitly as any fanboy of another brand) they still stand head and shoulders above the rest in their ability to make instruments that sound LIVE... That litany of great arranger features above that Roland do not have is balanced by the fact that NONE of them (IMO) have anything NEAR as live a sound as the Roland's do.

So where do you place yourself? Features over sound? I have to place myself in the sound category, fully and squarely. Yes, I miss those other features VERY much. But, I confess, none of the others' 'sound' makes me willing to jump ship. I had a friend's PA3Xpro at my house for several weeks. Yes, it was a joy beyond belief being able to lay chord changes down quickly and then solo over the Chord Sequencer. But, apart from the few standout styles and sounds it had, it STILL didn't make me go 'I got to use one of these!' over my G70.

I would LOVE to see any and all of those missing featured in a modern Roland. Sadly, looking at the company's current direction, I doubt any of them ever will... But I guess, despite watching over the demise of my favorite arranger line, I have what was the zenith of Roland's arranger offerings... the G70. And so far. no matter what the others offer, it still beats them handily at sounding like a LIVE rhythm section. In the end, I guess that's all you can ask for... NOOOOOOOO!

I can ASK for a lot more! I just feel it's unlikely I'll get it!

So, after extensively A/B'ing the two best contenders for 'best live sounding arranger', despite the Korg's impressive list of 21st century features, I guess I remain squarely in Roland's camp. Doesn't mean I wouldn't LIKE some of the PA3X's features on a new Roland, but if they NEVER bring out something FAR more advanced to the G70, so far, no-one else has brought out anything categorically, undeniably superior. That is, if you are shooting for that 'live band' substitute.

There's a reason I have TWO G70's... I have a nasty feeling I fell in love with what MIGHT be Roland's greatest hurrah, and no other arranger manufacturer seems to be the slightest bit interested in what PRO'S (rather than 'home players') want in the way of a basic sound. I guess that's not the worst thing to happen to a guy! But I still feel betrayed by Roland. There are so many logical extensions to the best they produced, so many features from other arrangers that could ONLY improve and extend the legacy... but Roland seem determined to do this 'one step forward, two steps back' dance they have done for years in the Arranger Division.

If they ever woke up and took a long hard look around. my God! What an arranger they could make..! Take the BEST of what the G70/E80 had to offer, add the basic features of their competitors, and keep the live sound and styles that the pro finds easy to play along with, who could stand against them? From playing most of their competitors' arrangers against my G70, I would say none...

But will Roland find the strength and stamina to do this..? Sadly, from all evidence they have shown from the last five years or so, it appears not.

What a waste.