This is what AJ posted the last time the Audya issue came out:

LIVE AUDIO LOOPS EXPLAINED FURTHER.

2 Drum tracks (Drum 1= Midi, Drum 2 = Audio).
1 Bass track (Audio/Midi depending on style).
4 Arranger Chord parts (Midi).
1 Arranger Chord part (Audio/Live).
2 Chord parts - instant/lower (midi).

STYLES WITH AUDIO LOOPS.
* Use all tracks (especially the AUDIO tracks).
* Recorded as 3 styles (e.g Ballad Slow (0-30%), Ballad Med (30-60%), Ballad Fast (60-100%) [where % marks tempo] so there are actually 3 'styles' per style depending on tempo selected! This eliminates Audio disruption when tempo is stretched beyond limit of the 'styles'.
* User can create their own AUDIO styles, but yes, extra work is needed ONLY on audio tracks if user decides to use audio.
* Extensive Editing available on non audio tracks.
* Limited editing available on Audio tracks (as you can expect).

STYLES WITHOUT AUDIO LOOPS
* Use all NON AUDIO tracks (Drum1, Bass, Chord 1-4).
* Recorded as 1 style (e.g Salsa) with midi tempo variation (as present).
* You can create all parts from scratch.
* Permits you to load previous Ketron styles (that don't use Audio loops).
* Permits you to edit ALL tracks extensively.

STYLE CONVERSIONS.
* Applicable? Yes, since MIDI tracks on styles still exists.
* Converting from other manufacturer to KETRON? Yes via external software (e.g EMC).
* Converting from KETRON to other manufacturer - yes, but you'll loose/miss the audio tracks.
* 3rd party styles usable? Yes. You can simply inco-orporate whichever loop into 3rd party style (if time signatures match) once loaded into AUDYA.

* Recording your won loops? Possible. Using these with styles (factory or user)? Possible ... after some extra work editing the loop(s).

Hope I answered most questions (especially those in doubt).

Thanks,

AJ

So, what does this mean? I think that the most significant part is the first one:

2 Drum tracks (Drum 1= Midi, Drum 2 = Audio).
1 Bass track (Audio/Midi depending on style).
4 Arranger Chord parts (Midi).
1 Arranger Chord part (Audio/Live).
2 Chord parts - instant/lower (midi).

To me this means that, after experimenting all these months, the software designers at Ketron have given up the idea of creating an arranger totally based on audio loops and opted for a more conventional approach, one they have already a lot of experience with.

In other words:
1- the Audya will have a midi drum track coupled with an audio one, just like the SD1, the SD5, the Midjay, etc; hopefully the drums will be of studio quality, just like the other sounds.
2- the other rhythm tracks (bass, guitar, piano...) will be either audio or midi, depending on the style chosen. My guess is that styles that require complex chords (like the Jazz-Swing ones) will be based on midi loops that will respond in real time to every kind of chord played (they will also probably improve the chord recognition), while simpler styles will have the choice between midi and audio parts.
Example: a style like a Rock&Roll is usually played only with majors and sevenths, so they will no doubt include one or more styles based on an audio guitar riff (a la Chuck Berry) recorded in all the tonalities but with only major and seventh chords. If someone fancies to experiment and see what happens playing a minor or a diminished chord, he/she will have the option of the same (or a different) R&R style, but with a midi guitar loop. And the same goes for the other parts, like bass, piano (think of a boogie woogie style with audio loops) and so on.
Of course the Audya will be able to play all the old Ketron styles, but with the benefit of the new sounds, of much better quality.

Well, this is my take on the subject...