As always, I see a difference of opinion when it comes to tracks (whether audio or SMF) and arranger use, but to be frank, I see little difference between the two. The degree of musical involvement it takes to play the correct chord (or whatever!) at roughly the right time with your left hand is pretty minimal (at least for decent players), but what is coming out of the arranger is still tracks… whether audio (Ketron) or SMF (the rest).

Sure, short tracks, and you are stringing them together, but tracks nonetheless.

As I see it, the difference between DJ-ing and actually PLAYING comes from what you actually play, what the audience hears YOU (not the arranger) playing, from your singing (if you sing) from what they can actually SEE you doing (it’s not just musicians that can tell when someone’s hands have nothing to do with what they can hear!).

But more and more these days, I see arrangers designed more for DJ’s than musicians. Whole features designed specifically to allow you to input your one finger chord and then the arranger does everything else, including the solos. And I have to ask myself, who are these designed for? Apparently, someone who wants to DJ, but is too old to want to stand behind a table with the usual collection of DJ tools, CD decks, pad bank triggers (like Maschine) etc. and actually DJ!

Is this the future of arrangers? I sincerely hope not..! 🎹