...But here's the thing. With all the features and potential attributed to the Arranger, why hasn't it taken the keyboard world by storm. Even after at least ten years of modern, capable arranger keyboards, they still haven't been able to make any kind of meaningful inroads into overall electronic keyboard sales. According to it's small but devoted following, anything any other keyboard can do, Arrangers can do as well or better, and yet.......

Apparently Donny really enjoys being the bearer of bad news and sad tidings, but in this instance he's probably correct in predicting the gradual downslide and eventual demise of the arranger keyboard (in it's present form). There are already, and will continue to be, easier and cheaper ways to accomplish what arrangers can do. For (most of) today's audiences, only the extreme optics of a live band or the extreme audio of today's DJ's, will do. As Donny pointed out (and like it or not), in these situations, a OMB with an Arranger KB just won't cut it.

But what is the REAL reason Arrangers never really penetrated the market (at least, the PRO market) and seems destined for extinction? One word...STIGMA!!! This single thing has kept more than one good product from achieving market success. You can make all the arguments you want about it's professional features, it's stellar audio qualities, it's flexibility and ease of use, ect., ect., ad nauseum, but if most musicians and the general public still consider it an expensive 'toy', it will never achieve the kind of legitimacy that will make it acceptable in the marketplace.

As Tony said, when he goes out to be entertained, he wants to hear 'live' musicians, and I feel the same way. But until the general public reverses it's current trend and starts feeling the same way, the DJ's and KJ's will continue to rule (with LOUD Rock bands a close second---Jazz only seems to do well in concert and festival settings). So, aside from OMB's playing the Nursing Home circuit, where do Arrangers fit in? Beats me?

chas