My goodness! What on Earth happened here in the Synthzone. I'm on hiatus for a few months and I come back to....everyone here looking for the Mona Lisa of arranger keyboards...the Holy Grail....the keyboard equivalent to the Fountain of Youth....the keyboard fit for the Energizer Bunny....the ultimate arranger showpiece that might just get locked away safely in a safe deposit box and taken out only as a showpiece/conversation piece.

This is still a great room, but nothing like it was in the days of Diki and Scott Yee. Diki alone had so many great ideas on not only equipment but making music.

I DID read some posts, over the last few weeks, about some members making comments about getting back to "music" discussions. I think that's a heck of a good idea. What's the point of owning a Numero Uno arranger keyboard if you've spent most of your free time shopping for it and no time left to practice music.

So.....do you think the "leaders" here would serve the group better by leading discussion back to actual playing and getting better instead of the present "shopping," analyzing and then posting a video of their dream keyboard? Or is everyone content with the status quo?

YES______(fill in blank)....... NO ______(fill in blank)........... Mark picked no.

Mark if you don't like it here
why complain, there are so many other forums out there to
discuss whatever you like or PM Scott or Diki to chat.

Welcome back. Diki really knows what he is doing, that is for sure.

Glad you're back, Mark.

Russ

Welcome back.

Always enjoy your thoughts on variety of subjects.

I agree, Scott Yee was a great contributor to the forum. Always willing to help and share his knowledge.

Jerryghr

Wow! I can't believe I read that. Gee Mark, how dare you suggest that a MUSIC forum should be about MUSIC and not about America's original sin; SHOPPING, or more specifically, 'How to use FedEX to correct your bad decision-making'. Ok, I'm trying to remember; when exactly did we cede our democracy? When did only 'Dear Leader's' opinion count?

I re-read Mark's post again, looking for bad language, personal attacts, arranger bashing, etc.; hmmm, couldn't find a single thing; just a suggestion that some of us might like more MUSIC discussions than SHOPPING discussions. Oh well.

chas

Fran is my goto for Roland for sure... Although Diki is knowledgable too for the most part.

Donny...thank you so much for being first in line to comment and being part of the Welcoming committee with your kind words. You always have great things to say no matter what the occasion. Like the other members, you made me feel right at home after my absence. But I think you confused the words "complain" and "comment." I believe it was "comments" that I made.

Now.....for the record, I like this room very much...good energy and a lot of personal friendships formed here. What displeases me is when you take advantage of your unofficial role as Commander in Chief and Lord of the Flies to remind (convince?) everyone how you are the ultimate musician (which, of course, we already know you are) and superior to us ordinary mortals.

Not to mention your constant "clapping hands" and your cliched 3-4 word replies to just about anybody who writes something (even a meat loaf recipe). But the purpose of that is you "rachet" up your "post count," so that's a good thing.

What really displeases me though is when you try and pass off a professionally done arranger demo as your own. Your most recent being your post on 09-07-19 (which of course you edited it out). I still have the recording if you'd like me to refresh your memory of it.

And then I think there was your dual identity a few years back.

Other then all that, you're an OK guy in my book! Glad you got over you're "self pity" last week and rejoined the group. Everyone here looks up to you.

Welcome back Mark, I hope you're all good.

Btw, what happened to Diki and Scott? And also Ian? Their posts were very valued and enjoyable to read.

Donny, sorry, you just showed us the difference between class and no class – and you earned that one.

Mark’s remarks were right on, and we have lost some very good men who played very well, who wrote about music, who I enjoyed.

I had a tough day, and when I read Mark’s post I smiled, he is different, and very special. When I read on, I got an ugly feeling in my stomach. I come here because I enjoy people, especially musicians, it is normally a good way to end my day, but not today.

Gary adds a touch of class to this forum. His 14403 posts were informative, blessings those who needed help. Don makes me smile; he is a gentleman all the way, and there are many more who add. Rikki is back again; I do not want to lose her. I would like to see Gail post more.

My requests:
1-Post your positives, and let your negatives come softly.
2-I do enjoy reading about the new arrivals, but keep in mind that this is a music forum.

I hateded writing this one, John C.

Chas you need to check your spelling.. and this is not an "attack".

Personally I don’t like to talk much about music, to me music is one language, speaking is another language, so instead of talking about a language I prefer to speak the language itself. Usually I spend a lot of time playing the instruments, so speaking about equipment and other stuff is a sort of healthy distraction to me which not only may help with equipment, but also provides me with some sort of balance.

Everyone has his own need to talk, to socialize, and products are just a comfortable subject to use.

Also, I find it interesting what DNJ does, because he shares his feelings about variety of products, with passion, and this is what a reviewer does. I value his opinion as he is a very experienced and talented musician.

Hi Mark,
Ditto, welcome back

I’ve been wondering the same thing, about Diki ,Scott and Ian.
I’ve had the occasional break over the years, they must have stopped posting during these periods, so never knew what happened .

I remember the days of Diki etc...If I remember right there were lots of personal things said that were in poor taste...
IMHO, this is not a place for it....

Seems some of it still going on...

Why does any of that need to happen?

Just saying.....
Lee

Yeah Fran, my spelling sucks. I once spent $50.00 to spend the night in a warehouse .

chas

Diki is on the Roland Arranger forum.
Scott is fine, not playing quite as much, has a Korg PA1000.
Ian is retired, still playing Yamaha and he drops in occasionally.

Thank you Don.

John, you didn't enjoy reading it and I didn't particularly enjoy writing it! But some things have to get "done" and some things have to be "said." Otherwise, I usually prefer "positive mode" myself.

When I read the replies on here, to be honest, I didn't even think anyone noticed I haven't been around lately. You guys really made me feel important with your "welcome backs." Almost made me regret my decision, six months ago, of "more practicing and less talking."