As I can see it, Yamaha has the most success with PSR-S670 as an arranger, MX61 as a synthesizer, P125 as a piano and DGX-660 as a hybrid. These products are below $1000 and offer convincing sound. For less than $500 Roland offers XPS-10 as a synthesizer and GO:Piano as a very portable piano, and people appreciate it. KORG decided to go into entry-level as well, EK-50 and i3 are the result of that decision. Casio has always been an entry-level player; somehow they know how to get their keyboards to the shelfs of stores which are not musically-oriented. Perhaps Casio is the most popular “my first keyboard”.

Today we see some development in entry-entry level which is reincarnation of Casiotone and Yamaha PSS, these are below $300…

Those who work mostly in studios are now all about VST, this is not news; for young enthusiasts “FL Studio” is like where everything starts.

Personally I often want a new arranger, sometimes it even makes me angry and jealous that I don’t have one, which is my weak and dark side (weakness and darkness do go hand-in-hand); but I also notice that I already have too much arrangers in my life and when I put my PSR away and leave only guitar and digital piano (I see my Juno DS 76 as one) I feel much better and occupied. I’m not going to get rid of an arranger, but it’s nice not to be dependent on it.