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I was on the fence between the PSR-SX900, and a few other non-arranger workstations. I chose the SX900 because it seemed to be the best route for creating musical beds for my songs quickly with the smallest learning curve. I was right.For songwriting, I will enter the chord progressions in the CHORD LOOPER, then set the tempo, and then audition styles. When I do this I use a setting where you can turn off all the instruments except the bass, drums and usually the rhythm guitar. So I don't get distracted by the horns, strings etc. This set up allows me to build the song, or what I have so far of a song, and continue working out lyrics/ideas/structure.I will use most of the sounds/parts from the arranger tracks (9-16), although I usually tweak them in the mixer either through effects, tempo, volume, EQ, etc. You can mute instruments leaving them out completely.This isn't a beginner-lever PSR. This is the MINI-GENOS people are calling it. The sounds are great, and you can tweak them. The strings and vocal presets are AWESOME, along with many of the orchestral instruments. Pianos are good, but there's something about them-the Roland board I had was better in the key department especially-electric pianos. But, you can create custom patches, I just do not like to do that. Surprisingly, the acoustic drums are very good. Cymbals have surprisingly realistic decay. Of course there are only a few acoustic sets, but the realism is on par with some sets I have on EZ-Drummer 2. I do demos with both drum sets, and cannot tell the difference by listening. I don't use synths often, but the SX900 has many very cool retro patches. Lastly, the REGISTRATION function is unbelievable for recording and for live playing. With registrations you can literally set up song sections with very specific modifications including patch changes and effects changes and using either button pushes or foot pedal to change to the next section all while you record. Speaking of recording, in the mixer, you can automate settings, effects, volume-everything just about. Using this board has improved my playing, but it's functions are helpful for folks with not so good playing chops.Did I mention the harmony engine is easy and very good. Needs to be tweaked slightly to avoid the robotic sound, but save your patches because they are very good. Lastly, to clarify, you can record audio-clips or the entire vocal track of a song for example, but you will need to assign the audio to the Multi-Pads and then trigger in time to the Performance or midi song. It can be difficult to line things up. Again, I go out to a digital recorder or DAW to add the lead vocal and or sometime multiple guitar parts (because I'm a guitar player), But it is possible to record a midi production on here, then add audio tracks which you assign to the Multi-Pads. (which are limited to four at a time, a COOL way around the 4 pad limit is to use Registrations. Again, and lastly, Registrations are PHENOMENAL for song production/midi recording , not just live performance, which is what SO many people use arrangers for. I have Studio One DAW, Ez-Drummer II, Antares Autotune (with Harmony generator), I have played guitar for over 20 years, and yet I will use much of the music I create in the PSR-SX900 for demo/release. I will start with a preset style, but more often than not, from that preset I go into STYLE CREATOR and modify it, or modify in the mixer-deleting and creating new parts. Remember, there is a 16 track sequencer onboard. This keyboard can do it all. ****Of course if you're a electronic musician you may find it limiting in sounds/patches/presets, but the production power remains. IMO, I think it is loaded with electronic music instruments.

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