I'm confused with all the midi file comparisons around.I would not buy any of the arrangers around right now.Is a Roland 76 note due out shortly. Help I think I'm going insane.

Mackie,

a 76 key arranger is whay you're searching for?
it's called a Roland G-70
top of the line Roland which has been out for quite some years now...

Thing is, Mockie, to get a great sound from a web SMF, you are going to have to edit the file no matter WHAT you play it through.

If your goal is to have something you can play these through with no editing, your best bet is an older Sound Canvas era product from Roland, G1000, SC880pro, that kind of thing. Things have got a LOT better since then, but of course, the musician that wrote that SMF didn't know that! His PC# and Bank Change #'s only addressed the sounds he had available at the time, and to preserve the intent of the early SC users, as Roland have added newer, better versions of sounds, they have not REPLACED the original sounds, but added them as different Bank Change sounds to what was already there...

No-one is holding their breath for a new Roland G-series arranger, if you are looking for a great SMF playback arranger, the G70 is a GREAT 76 that excels at this job, and can be had used at a pretty low price (little more than an S900). It also has BY FAR the best SMF editing tools of ANY keyboard (not just arrangers), so tweaking what you have to use the new sounds, drumkits and the like is so easy, you will actually want to do it!

It's heavy (45 lbs.), but still little more than the older G1000. If playing SMF's live is a primary focus, you can't pick a better 76, and at nearly half the price of other 76 arrangers (used).

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 06-04-2009).]

Thanks for the reply Diki, infact I've no interest in midi files at all, LETS PLAY LIVE or as near as possible.
I was following the debate as to which arranger is best, AUDYA TYROS 3, PA2XPRO based on midi file "playing ability".However I'm waiting a while to see what Roland might bring out and hopefully it might be a 76 arranger, capable of taking those ARX brass expansions boards etc, Wow. I'm sticking with my Tyros 1 for the moment.


[This message has been edited by Mockie (edited 06-04-2009).]

If Roland bring out an arranger with ARX expandability, I hope they have the sense to NOT drop the SRX expandability, too. Sadly, their WS line has not been that practical, and many users have complained. There are only the three cards, they cover very few bases, are very expensive, and the expanded sound ROM only has SOME of the great SRX sounds.

My take on the whole thing is that there is NO one 'best' anything. Only shades of gray. It would be SO much simpler if there were...