I certainly do not mean to be harsh with you Bob, or anyone. If what i said came over as over the top, then i apologize. You are an interesting, and very fun guy to have around these parts. Certainly a huge contributor here. As Pat said, and he was right on, i was responding to your comment. One that i respect your right to have, but i have the right to speak my mind as well.

I have never appreciated blanket statements, but when i see one, i sometime i use one to make a point. There will be as many opinions here as there are folks to toss them out. I once felt just as you do. I felt that unless you play an instrument, like a guitar, piano, sax, whatever, you were not a musician.

After spending a ton of time over the last 10 years here, at Cakewalk.com, and acidplanet.com i developed a different view. I saw people take simple acidized loops and make songs so complex and deep that i could never in my geetar playin' mind begin to make something sound that good.

A musician to me is one who creates music, a guitarist is one who plays guitar. An electrician, works with electricity, but some work with a plethora of different areas of their field. They are all electricians. Is the guy that grinds the valves, and mills the head on an engine more of a auto mechanic than the guy that reprograms the computer system? Whatever form of music they choose to use, whatever tools they chose to use to create their art form.

Sure i can see the view point, that one who opens Band in A Box, and types in a three chord song, and hits play is not fully creating the arrangement on his own, but most of those folk who work with these incredible tools do far more than type in chords and hit play. They type in chords, re type them in, test many options, pick bar settings, generate and regenerate tracks and sections of tracks, manipulate the panning and effects. Move them to their DAW of choice, add automation, re effect, record over and dub in new stuff, and finally mix down their baby, for the whole world to hear, and tear to pieces.

Different views from different locations on the street. Peace, Rob.

HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96