Bad news, everyone... EVERYTHING is complicated! NOTHING is 'plug and play'!

If you want to get the best out of any keyboard in the 21st century, either buy a digital piano, and play one sound for the rest of your life, solo (not a bad idea, actually!), or be prepared to do some considerable work.

The only people that think all this is easy are people who have done it on one manufacturer's arranger so long, they have forgotten how long it took them to learn it all. And they seldom have a CLUE how much work it takes, transiting from one manufacturer's OS and workflow to another. This forum is full of stories from people that had been on Brand A forever, then got a Brand B and couldn't figure it out and get comfortable as much as they were on their Brand A arranger. So they got rid of it and went back to Brand A, and gave a poor review of Brand B.

But owners of Brand B had as much problems transitioning to Brand A. And Brand A gets the poor review.

But bottom line is, nothing wrong with EITHER of them. Simply put, the problem resides with the operator, not the equipment..!

The other problem seems to be, so few people HAPPY with what they have. Or they wouldn't be changing brands and models as often as they do. Perhaps it is the fact that, no matter what you buy, it's still YOU playing it! The sad fact is, no amount of change of equipment is going to alter your playing... That has got to come from practice and hard work. And who has time for that, much, these days (wink)?!

But, I don't think I have heard a single story about how someone thought they sucked until they bought a Brand A arranger, and now they think they are much better! 90% of your satisfaction comes from how you play. The 10% extra or less the different brands give you isn't really significant compared to what comes out of your fingers. If you are getting antsy about a new arranger, ask yourself WHY..?

And maybe try a study book, a few lessons with someone who's playing you admire, maybe learn up a bunch of tunes in a style you are unfamiliar with, buy a few CD's of new music and learn it...

It will probably make you sound better than buying a new arranger, and playing the same stuff on it.