Not trying to say this as a disagreement at all to what you said New Yorker, but I wonder what could be done differently without sacrificing features. I'm trying to imagine the Motif with a better OS, ( I'm sure there are improvements that could be done ) but I'm not exactly sure what I would do or where I would start.. Perhaps better access from the main screen and buttons, ala the Fantom. I know I'd have liked a bigger and better screen, but I can live with what's there.

I really don't have problems accessing any of the ES features or using them to this point. I haven't done any sampling on the new ES yet, but I did some sampling on the original I had, and while I struggled at first, I was able to use the function just fine once I understood it.

To this point it's been fairly easy, but then again, in spite of some added features, it isn't radically different from it's predecessor. It did take me a good deal of time to be able to understand and effectively use the original version.

What I want to do is start from scratch, by mixing and matching my real time play with the arps and patterns, including arps that I make from scratch ( real easy to do and quite effective vs I think vs trying to make arranger styles). I can set arps up to follow a progression of my choosing. I find this to be much easier and more intuitive to do on the ES than on any arranger, especially the PA80. The 2000 was better at it, and the multi pads were available to add some flavor, but I still find the Motif to be better geared to composing. Ok, I'll grant that the arranger can be lightning fast in comparison if you are willing to use the preset styles as they are, but that isn't what I want to do at all.

This is not a criticism that is directed at anybody in particular, or toward anyone at all, and I hope it isn't offensive, but I think part of it too is that we need certain skills to create the music, and that includes at the ability to play the instrument, unless of course one wants to make an entire tune up using the preset phrases and / or samples, or by adding external phrases . Even then, knowledge of and a feel for how music is put together is needed.

AJ