The complexity of using virtual instruments has diminished radically in the last few years. There are quite a lot of host applications designed specifically for live playing that make using virtual instruments almost a joy compared to 20 years ago.

And honestly, if you compare them to the complexity of using a top-of-the-line hardware arranger, I honestly don’t see much difference at all!

I am starting to get a little tired about the argument of how poor arranged players in general tend to be. I don’t believe that is the case, and I’ve heard much playing here that supports that. The truth is, it doesn’t matter WHAT sound we are talking about, in the hands of a bad player it is going to sound bad! And the greatest virtual instrument piano is still going to sound bad, Just like if an eight year old sits down at an REAL piano!

The thing is, do we just stop here, and say “OK, that’s good enough!“, or do we strive for ever better for the apparently few of us that can either hear the difference or play the difference? Me, I’m inclined to think that more of us CAN hear the difference, and CAN make musical use of the difference. Settling for what’s ‘good enough’ for the average arranger user would have stopped the last 20 years worth of progress. It was ‘good enough’ back then too…