I never cease to be amazed at all the ways song and melody creators have available to them now. The quandary is on making the most cost effective decision combined with the learning curve needed to "master the beast." I have always kept within the bounds of Yamaha Arranger Keyboards, particularly the PSR series as opposed to the Tyros and Genos models with all their super capabilities. Despite all that, the need to select the best Computer and Operating System to take the work to the next level after the recording is complete... and equally important, the Microphone Brand and Type to bring out the best vocal possible... are all important factors to my way of thinking.

I tend to stay with the same machine until I recognize it can no longer compete, sound-wise or due to other limitations. My first PSR machine relied on floppy discs, had no USB port and weighed a ton. It did have the best manual. Fortunately, the following PSR machines I acquired had the same basic layout, knobs, switches, ports, etc. so the learning curve was fairly smooth. The sound and variety of the "available instruments" always seems to bet better but Yamaha is very conservative and their "country sounding instruments" don't offer the wide variety I would prefer when I work in that genre. No Dobro or Resonators and the Fiddles don't offer much variety. Banjos are usually adequate... but just so. Fortunately, their guitars have improved on a broad front with many great sounding types now available.

Thanks to Marty, I will explore EZ Keys and see if it might be of interest. Best of luck to all of you... and you bet, I envy those of you who play "real instruments" and can combine them with other forms of backing. Arthritic fingers keep me out of that league but I do my best to make up for it with fresh ideas and interesting lyrics.

Regards, ----Dave