...."Yamaha styles
For me personally I find them to be the least realistic of any manufacture (They also make it difficult to edit or change the Mega/SA voices) as they are overblown, with everything overemphasized, which while sounding great in isolation (Which is ideal for the home player market for which they have always been designed), but if you listen regularly to live bands you soon realise just how unrealistic and artificial the styles are. (Other manufactures are much better at giving a more realistic backing sound; however it requires more understanding of music to play them as you have to think as if you are part of a band, rather than solo)
Intros and endings are great for impressing the neighbours (At least for the first few styles) but are not used by professionals as they are unchanging and lead you into their way of doing things, rather developing you own style of play. (If you listen to 10 different professional musicians playing the same tune they will all have their own individual style, however if you listen to 10 arranger players doing the same then they will all sound the same, as they are following the style rather than doing their own thing)
As Gary has said many times though, if it’s just solo entertainment you want, then deep routed skills would just get in the way, (Unless you were playing to musicians of course) so canned styles do have their place.
Anyway that’s my view and I am sure others will have different views, which is what makes life so interesting.
Regards
Bill".......
Wow,quite a quote. Sorry, but I have take issue with some of your remarks. Maybe a little harsh towards Yamaha users. Yes, these modern arrangers are geared mostly towards the home market, but the TOTL versions are becoming so advanced that more pro and semi-pro users are adding them to their home studios and using the full aspects of the arrangers capabilities towards recordings and live performances.
As far as arranger styles are concerned. Yes, the styles are mostly setup and presented for the home market and hobbiest. All the major manufacturers have some styles that are based on a specific popular song. Yamaha TOTL arrangers mostly sets the Intro 2 and 3 for a totally different song and usually obscure enough to use with other songs, especially if you hint your alternative song intro with some right hand melody parts over top the intro play. Some songs work by using the ending part as the intro. So there are flexibility in using the panel styles (Yamaha).
An arranger keyboard is exactly that, a keyboard with arranger capabilities which goes far beyond simply chording your preset styles and sound like you are being accompanied by a live band. You want an arranger with all the tools and realistic voices you can use in your creative process. Styles are only a small part of it and are there to help rearrange, borrow parts, and manipulate to your liking.
On my Tyros 5, all but two of my preset styles have been modified to one extent or another with parts, voices, volumes, parameters, and DSPs changed to suit my needs. I don't feel any limitations whatsoever or boxed in ("canned"). I chose Yamaha for this reason, freedom to create, yet one of the best sounding and realistic TOTL arranger yet (for my needs).
The closest arranger, to me, with overall features, sound and quality compared to the Yamaha Tyros 5 is the Korg PA3x (LE).For me, the more "live feel" presented by the Korg product has more to do with the default DSP settings Korg and Yamaha chooses in their products. We should not be limited to the out-of-the-box characteristics of the arranger or brand, but adjust to our needs or preferences. I tried the Korg, I would be quite happy owning one, but all my time and investment has been spent on mastering the Yamaha O.S., and love the flexibility, availability and quality of the Yamaha style library.
The Tyros 4, has that heavier processed sound (factory default), yet Korg leans towards backing off the master reverb and other DSP effects. This naturally will give you a more "live feel" to the backing styles, yet either brand can be easily altered to give a more drier or processed overall sound. Yamaha has backed off the more processed (CD like) overall sound on the Tyros 5, with some Tyros 4 owners choosing to keep their Tyros 4 because of their preference towards the default level of DSP processing. While I enjoy the high quality Yamaha DSPs, the Tyros 5 has a nice overall balance between the Tyros 4 and the Korg PA3x.
If anything, you want a "live" sound to your style or mix, check out the new "Real Reverb" DSP on the Tyros 5. Realistic ambience control to simulate the (live) sound enviroment, to your style and final mix. The tools the the TOTL arrangers are all there. No excuse to blame a "canned" like sound or style. Yamaha has the best chord tracking I have tried. Chords and chord interpretation must be accurate or your "live" feel disappears with unrealistic style play. The Yamaha Pro and Session styles are a pleasure to modify and play along with.
Sounding "live" also has to do with sounding real with authentic sounding voices and behavior nuances of the voice that minics the actual instrument or drum kit. Enhanced style programming to better facilitate the latest voice technology, with Mega, and SA style voicing, in the case for Yamaha. It is not difficult to change your Mega or SA style voices on the Tyros 5. All style Mega voices are now in the same folder, easy to modify and save your style in Style Creator, plus you hear your changes on-the-fly for the best suited voice or change. These voice technologies are mind boggling on the full orchestral and standard styles with realistic brass, strings, guitar, vocal and choir parts with the appropriate SA and Mega voices with the high quality DSPs. Some arrangers fall apart with the more complex styles, because the voices and programming fall short. So while one can argue that their simple styles sound real or live (usually because of the drum part being the best part), as you add more voices or style parts, the style becomes more unauthentic sounding and dull.
Basically, it is true, you get what you pay for. You have to decide for yourself, what budget needs, what features, sounds, and capabilities of the keyboard is going to do for you. All the major arranger brands do the modern technology justice. You have to research and decide what works for you.
Marcus
Just adding some demos
Korg Pa3x LE Style Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yaow18QTXXMChoose Your Style: The Pa3X LE High Performance Arranger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x7YZGNuMt4&list=RD2x7YZGNuMt4#t=3Kraft Music - Yamaha Tyros5 Performance with Peter Baartmans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYEiFBaKh1M
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