Hi Bugsey:

I'm never going to convince you that BIAB or a Casio Keyboard will sound better in the hands of an experienced and capable musician. I won't even try. I respect your opinion but I respectfully disagree. I don't use BIAB but I know roughly how it works. The initial set-up process, selection of instruments that compliment each other and then being able to play the right note or chord in exactly the right sequence seems very important to me. I will agree with you that a keyboard or BIAB or any of the other techno-computer based instruments can sound like elevator music, a complete symphony or a small jazz trio, depending on how it is used... and by whom.

This gizmo is not limited to any single genre and I believe it has it's place in the world of music. If nothing else, it allows a novice songwriter/singer to create a melody with lyrics in order to give a pro-demo artist an idea of how the song sounds in the hands of an amateur. This is a tremendous weapon in the "arsenal" of the underfunded songwriter.

One thing BIAB won't do for you: Sing! If the artist's phrasing and range are out of kilter with the song, all bets are off.

I have a sneaking feeling that during our lifetimes, there will be a version of BIAB or it's competitors that offers vocal variations capable of taking the person singing's voice and modifying it to sound like Sinatra or Dinah Shore, etc. Whether or not it can correct pitch "on the fly" or provide automatic de-essing is another subject altogether... but we have entered a marvelous age for people who want to make music and compete with the big studios.

I don't mean to imply that having all the talent and techno-resources in the world will open any doors for a new would-be artist. The music industry does not work that way. (At least not now!) Knowing who can help you get your "product" into the right hands is nearly as important as talent.

Best of luck with your music.

Dave