It’s not so much about why people buy arrangers… that’s pretty predictable. New sounds, new styles. As you correctly point, not too many of us salivate over the OS’s (although I’d venture that Korg users tend to be among the more technical amongst us), but I’m pretty sure I know why most of us want a new one…

New sounds, new styles.

Well, here’s the solution to new styles. A myriad easy ways to combine two at the same time.

And a pretty big sampler and the fresh feature of being able finally to import sf2 multisample files, of which there’s a never ending supply, so new sounds has become much easier.

Time after time, again and again, everybody focuses on the new styles and new sounds. In truth, very little else has been added to arrangers in the last 20 years. A wrinkle here, a wrinkle there. But truth be told, most of us would be able to sound nearly as good (or bad!) on what we played 20 years ago. But many of us have bought each new arranger. At considerable cost. When all we really wanted was some fresh styles and some new sounds.

Well, here it is. The math is pretty staggering. 2 styles with eight Parts, that’s 64 possible combinations of muting different parts to make unique (but related) styles. Way more when you allow two similar Parts to play simultaneously…! The end of style fatigue, with none of the technical skills needed for making your own styles, or even hand combining them the way current arrangers allow.

Yes, you and I chas are not big fans of the arranger section up to this point. Both of us are probably more focused on the playing part rather than the backing part. But this is, after all, an arranger forum. So I thought I’d try to shine a brighter light on a brand new capability that radically changes the arranger experience.

It’s not the first time, LOL..! For years I praised the chord sequencer to little interest, back when only Roland had it. Now they all have them at least on the TOTL, and more and more are beginning to see it’s usefulness. Few thought there was any need for a 76 keybed. Now it’s common on most brands, and some flagships are available ONLY in that size. NO, I’m not prescient! But I have used the arranger section enough to spot something that has a MUSICAL use, and a way to extend the span of time it takes before you want something fresh.

You and I have hung on to arrangers much longer than most, primarily I think because we aren’t that fond of the arranger section. N the bad old days, we had many members buying the latest thing every single time a new model (often of any brand!) came out. And I guarantee it was boredom with the styles and sounds that triggered it.

So, before it takes months or even years for us to recognize it, allow me to gush about the new Korg! I probably won’t be getting one. I’m still not that much in love with tying up my LH playing rote chords. But for those of us who do, here’s IMHO the biggest step forward they’ve made in decades…. 🎹