The problem the arranger keyboard has with professionals, (And always has had) is that it developed from the easy play features of the home organ, (It’s nothing more than a sophisticated version of that) and easy play doesn’t go down well with pro musicians.
Ironically easy play is also one of the reasons for the demise of the home organ (Or organ in general, although we are getting a bit of a comeback) in that why would anyone pay a lot of money for a 2 manual and pedal organ, then have to learn to play it (including left hand, swell and bass pedals) when you can buy a cheap single manual instrument where you can just push a button and everything is done for you, (Hold a few chords and just play the melody) with no reason to learn left hand, bass pedals & swell.
Things have changed over the years, but you are still limited to what you can play live on an arranger, hence the reason users keep clamouring after new orchestrated styles, as it’s not possible to play your own backing, bass lines etc. on an arranger live. (Unless of course you do like a lot of arranger users are now doing by adding bass pedals and/or a 2nd manual so that they can start playing live again)
Whichever way it goes, the arranger keyboard will survive (Probably in a similar form it is today) just like organs have, (Although organs seem to be on the up with manufactures introducing new models) they will just be at a more subdued level.
Bill
The biggest problem, is the fact that there is no easy way to create song specific user styles.. altough Yamaha has probably user created styles for all amd everything..
Anyway... if you want a pro version of what arrangers do (styles) you should have a look at the latest feature of the SD9 pro....
A single track in a style is nothing different from a sequenced that gets transposed based on the notes played... actually it isnt all that different from the arpeggio's created in the motif or montage.. altough they still have some limitations like a limit of 16 different notes..
Montage people are allready using their Montage in a way we recognise as playing styles.. just a little different.. more basic.. with the popularity of the Motif/Montage range and its advanced arps.. i think its just another step away to step up to a system even more akin to styles... if they crossbreed ableton lives clip launching with Style tracks, everyone will love it... for what it is and nit recognise how close it comes to styles... again i point out to the Ketron SD9 luanchpads, as this is what they are trying to do...
Combine this with a feature that lets you be creative in creating your own stuff.. and you have the perfect tool for pro live use...very flexible, witouth the simplification and limitations of the 4 varriation arranger styles.. yet essencially the same as those styles..
I think i would becready for that step, however, most here wont, because they to much love the easy accesibility of the current style format... i really think SD9 is on the right track in improving styles...
Previous Topic
Index
