Hi Dave,

1. You only need a tablet plus your arranger.
2. You can bind commands to your unused keys like I did.
3. The software plays the Yamaha which plays the amps.

I no longer find it awkward. I use my upper last keys for:
1. Fill next
2. Fill prev
3. Fill curr
4. Intro 3
5. Ending 3

Auto splitpoint lowers the split to the lowest possible place when I play so there are ample keys left to play. This way I do not have to touch the software during playback of the current song.

If all of this can be done easily when using an added module like i.e. the SD90/40, then nothing is more difficult IN THE LEAST using Groovyband Live!

Rather think of Groovyband Live! as another module that you could load onto a tablet of your choice - the tablet now being the module but using the audio outs from the Yamaha.