What a rich subject!

I was mired with computers and music back in the late 80's, early 90's, and got so frustrated and side-tracked from actually making music that i haven't used computers for music since. I know though that using sequencers, samplers, voice editors, librarians, computer technologies that augment what a hardware keyboard can do, makes it so much more powerful and capable.

But Dave, you're in the business- so many people that have a lot of great programs running on desktop and laptop computers have spent the time 'cause they have to, but for a lot of us, even those of us with some degree of techinical inclination, we don't always have a ton of time, money, etc. for getting proficient with a computer; music is something we're doing with the precious spare time we have. Getting up to speed with a computer set-up, or even a keyboard, is a major investment of time.

I do agree with the person in an earlier post who was talking about how computers need to be seemlessly integrated so that you can be an artist, not a technician or an engineer. The days when i was doing a lot of computer recording using a desktop, i began to resent the engineers mindset i needed in order to have those incredibly powerful tools for my music.

I guess my larger point is that in these various user interfaces, whether for a computer or a workstationk there need s to be a built-in system for the work/play flow. For example, the new XS is touted for being able to just hit Record, and you've captured your moment- invaluable advances like that where the engineer/musicians have come up with fast, intuitive, spontaneous, fun, rewarding ways of working, and building it into the interface.

I WANT to like using computers for music making/recording/shaping, and am eagerly anticipating how well the XS is integrated with the computer for a satisfying, not-overly-technical music making experience.

And WHEN!? are manufacturers of such incredibly powerful and technical capabilities going to start including built-in tutorials? Serious, I-can-do-specific-tasks, step-by-step tutorials?????????????? To me that seems like such a no-brainer: if you desire the maximum number of people that want to buy your product and get excited by it 'cause they can do cool shit with it, they need training for gods sake!

Whether a DVD, internet video/flash or whatever, there needs to be tutorials addressed to specific groups (Jazz players, techno, one-man-bands, church groups, etc.). In video form that wouldn't be that hard / expensive to produce (like a more comprehensive job than Roland does for its Fantoms). That would give that manufacturer a significant boost- far too many players never use even the cool,fairly easy capabilities of a synth, there's just so much to learn-