First lets start keyboard workstations like korg kronos, yamaha montage and modx, roland FA series

So what does a synth workstation combined with an arranger module have to offer that we can not find in todays arranger keyboards?

- where todays arrangers are limited to 3 right and 1 left sound. The workstations allow 8 up to 16 sounds directly connected and split and layered over the keyboard..

- these can be local or remote parts, remote parts are easily defined by midi channel/bank change/program change instead of an instrument name

-to each of these parts, arp’s karma, motion sequences and more can be assigned..

- all comtrollers like sliders and knobs can be programmed freely with both internal as well as external cc parameters.

- they all function as a usb audio interface, allowing for much better daw controll

All of this makes for an incredible versatile setup.. not just controlling the arranger module and internal sounds at the same time.. but also with enough options to controll other modules and a daw/vst sounds at the same time..
This goes far beyound whats possible with todays arrangers. Altough for other things like playing midi files and audio files, i think arrangers (including modules) offer a better experience


Next up, there is high end stage piano’s. These don’t offer the arps/ multiple voices nor the daw controll, but quite a few of them have external channels for controlling other devices..

Kawai mp11 3int sounds + 4external
Roland RD2000 8 channels each can be int or ext or both..
Nord stage with 6 int sounds + 2 external
Casio px-5s 4 int sounds + 4 external

These also make great controllers for an arranger module
Altough with only 2 channels the nord stage can not controll more then left and right hand sounds on the arranger... so does not have much more room for controlling other devices or a laptop at the same time, but it does have a nice build in arp..


And then there are the traditional masterkeyboards.. they don’t offer sounds/audio interface but often come with programmable buttons knobs.. but i don’t see much reason for combining an arranger module with a masterkeyboard.. because it would be easier to just buy a normal arranger keyboard.. where the other 2 options add a lot more depth..



And then there is using a module with an organ... also a great solution but the organs are to diverse to put under this topic..


And lastley controlling an arranger module with an arranger.. in general arrangers are less suited controllers then the other 3 options above.. as they lack much of the flexibillity to become a great midi controller.. but a ketron sd90 combined with a genos would give a bit more style flexibillity..