Where have many of the old timer Synth Zoners gone? I believe somewhere in Facebook?

Thanks, Glenn

Yep.Fallout from the political damage of the last 4 years. Hope they come back, it was a fun group with a lot more activity.

Sadly, it's all about politics.
But, if look to the users list, even if not much new threads or posts, many still peek in to read....

If any of you old goats are lurking, let me know.

gtoth@zoominternet.net

That's too bad, we are all musicians, right? All the other stuff shouldn't really matter.

It is true that some of the members now communicate on FB in “Arranger Keyboard Players” group; but, I guess, the initial problem is in the product itself. As I keep complaining, by today’s standards, keyboards are rather expensive and not so good. It’s hard to attract a crowd with an entry level product which costs around $500 and a decent model costs $2000-$5000. I imagine that $500 is something that most people consider a sensible expanse for a thing like this, and for $1000 you should be able to get a whole package. So people just walk away, get distracted by other things. In my case I’m more busy with my guitar right now.

I understand that it works like a circle, people should buy more of a product to make it cheaper and the product should be cheaper so that people would buy it. This logic doesn’t really give a hope that arrangers will get cheaper.

So far people prefer to buy a MIDI keyboards and to use it with VSTs. I don’t find VSTs that great, but flexibility and affordability do a trick.

Perhaps, in some not English-spoken countries arrangers are more popular. Not sure that Russia is one of them, in some way we are much closer to US than to some neighboring states.

So far, with this prices, it’s hard to promote arranger keyboards; and just look how little PSR-E463 has improved comparing to PSR-E403. It’s not really the kind of progress which people expect in today’s world.

It takes time to rebuild a family. Blending personalities on SZ did not happen overnight; that is the sad part. I guess this is what happens when people try to perfect things.

I miss the craziness of Donny, and the perfection Don M. – and Tony, and Steve, they became my friends. So, with a touch of sadness I visit FB. – Sometimes I think about asking them to come back to SZ.
John C.

been here for 18 years ,
i'm here for the music, arranger help , and friendship
if i want politics i turn on the tv and get all the opinions i need.
not going anywhere , but also belong to fb arranger group and others. its about the music and only the music.

@Kabinopus

Currently, I think the way to achieve the best final product in a non-live situation if trying to create older music is to use an arranger to create a MIDI file and then substitute the individual parts with VSTI’s. And for this, it really doesn’t matter much the difference between a TOTL arranger and a consumer level one, as long as it can play the styles from a higher tier arranger at all.

Run a basic arranger drum part through BFD or Supreme Drums etc, do some basic note editing, you’ve got something a Genos or PA4X struggles to equal and usually fails. Same with bass guitar VSTI’s, orchestral and pop brass libraries, keyboard libraries etc..

Put $500 into an arranger, and that leaves you $3000 for VSTI’s before you even approach the cost of a Korg or Ketron or Yamaha TOTL arranger. You can buy a boatload of VSTI’s for $3000 and I doubt that even 10-20 years in the future hardware will equal...

As to the absent members, to be quite honest, the shift away from endlessly discussing what gear Donny had migrated to for a few weeks until he changed his mind again hasn’t hurt the forum one bit..! 😂

I ain't dead yet - a lot closer to dead than alive, but I still check the forum on a regular basis to see what is taking place. In reality, the lockdown from covid and inactivity of performers and players has led to the near demise of many of these site. For me, personally, diminishing health issues, multiple, no longer having the ability to sing, distal neuropathy in both my hands and feet, coupled with constant pain, has kept me away from the keyboard and the internet forums. Sure, I glance at the forums once a day, mainly for email, and PMs, try to solve problems for a few folks while I'm still able to do so, then put my arse in a recliner with my oxygen lines and watch old movies. I watched Cocoon a few days ago - it was still a neat movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. This morning I checked the Email, messages and the door bell rang. It was the snow plow guy - he just finished plowing 6-inches of snow and ice from the driveway and shoveling the sidewalk, then dusting everything with rock salt so it would melt any residual. With luck, tomorrow, I will be able to drive to the VA and get my first Covid-19 vaccine shot.

Just another fun day in Paradise,

Gary

I remember watching Cocoon as a young man, it’s a completely different movie now I’m getting old myself!

Hang in there, Gary..!

Those actors in Cocoon don't looks so old to me now.

Jerryghr

Wishing you the best for the vaccination. Surprisingly, I was invited to a BioNTech/Pfizer vaccination today. I was included in the vaccination list of a rest home in which I often play the organ in church services. I‘m very grateful for that.

the new generation don't use arrangers , only adults and old people still use it , but there is not enough places to perform , so the market of proffesional arrangers players become little , so the companies stop to produce flagship arrangers , therfore all those talking and arguments are not relevant , and synth zone arranger cecome less atractive.

SZ was much more active not that long ago. Unfortunately during the past few years USA political differences have become downright nasty, and some of that vitriol infiltrated the SynthZone forums. Many active members decided to leave this long time service because of political discussions in the "The Bar" forum. This is why SZ has slowed down a bit, although age and arranger keyboards is indeed, also a factor.

Perhaps those "regulars" will decide to come back, they'll remember their "roots" and what the SZ has provided us these past 30 + years. I'm certain we can get back to a more normal forum without politics. Besides that, I miss those 'ol guys.

May SZ Live On

Dud, I think younger musicians would be a market for arranger keyboard manufacturers if there were music stores in their area that actually had someone selling them that had some rudementary knowledge of their many, wonderful features and the versatility of an arranger keyboard and what they offer for an entertainer. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Ironically, the guy who worked in that department of GC used to call me to find out how to do things with their arranger keyboards - he didn't have a clue and he was the head of that department at GC.

When I was vacationing in the Florida Keys, I took my gear with me and I was only one of two arranger keyboard players from Key Largo all the way to Key West. Some had small bands, while the vast majority of entertainers were "Have Guitar Will Travel" folks that accepted whatever the bar and restaurant managers offered, which frequently $35 to $50 for a 4 hour job. Personally, I would not get out of bed for $50 for a 4-hour job. Turns out that I managed to get $200 for a 3-hour job in the Keys, I could have been booked every evening, but Hell, I was on vacation, therefore I decided to work just 3 nights a week so I can get some sailing and fishing time in during the other 4 days. Yes, I fished from the deck of my sailboat and caught lots of fish. It was a bit cumbersome with all the rigging, but I managed to work around it. We ate fresh fish, shrimp and lobster 4 nights a week - OH YEAH!

So, just because us "old" guys are the major consumers of arranger keyboards, I sincerely believe it's an educational thing more than anything to do with young V/S old musicians. They see lots of guitar players where they frequent, and don't realize there is a lot more than just guitars in the world of musical instruments - they just have never been introduced to them.

The nights I was performing in the resort restaurant, I had a packed house, and while some were glued to the screen of their cellular telephones (so called smart phones) I managed to get a fair number of folks off the bar stools and away from their tables and up on the small dance floor. The manager was amazed and said no one ever got up and danced when the other entertainers were performing. Additionally, the crowds seemed to stay longer, consume more food and beverages and spent more money. An average night of tips, mainly from tourist, was about $150 to $200, far more than any of the Have Guitar Will Travel guys experienced. If they got $50 for the entire 4-hours, they were happy campers.

All the best,

Gary

Yes , politics and keyboards are a very bad combination .

I totally agree. I don't come here for political enlightenment.