Having the EXP upgrade a few months now, I had intended to wait until I had become familiar with all aspects of the EXP before presenting a review, but who knows when I'll get around to "syncing waves to styles and SMFs"... so all I can say is that AJ claims the proceedure is now greatly simplified and I'm sure it is.

All other components of the program are very straight forward, easy to incorporate, and provide an immediate improvement to an already excellent keyboard.

There are new sounds, most noticeably a grand piano, electric pianos, organs, and guitars... all excellent. The new guitars include realistic bends and 'noise', with a true strum incorporated in some styles. The Grand Piano is without doubt one of the, if not THE best I'VE heard. The new EPs are very cool, and an organ sounding much more B3ish than previously.

Also included is the addition of new, very cool SD1 styles. Plus the inclusion of several Yamaha, Korg, and Roland patterns, all converted for the SD1, now residing in their HD folders and ready to go. The manual simplifies the previewing, editing, or immediate use of all styles.

My upgrade required sending the KB off to AJ and being without it for longer than I wanted. Than being the case, it was still worth the effort and expense. Now that it's been simplified to a software upgrade, at less cost, it's a no-brainer. If you're a SD1 owner, go for the EXP, you'll be very happy with the results.

Whenever I get around to utilizing the wave sync to style/SMF, I'll update my review... this is one of the unique and cool features of the SD1.

Glenn

BTW, if you haven't updated yet to OS 4.0c, do so... it minimizes the latency issue to minimal. I'd like to say 'elliminates it', but 'very minimal' is a worthwhile improvement.

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[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-08-2006).]

Glenn,
I too just received my SD1+ with AJ's EXP modification installed. I met with AJ at the Winter NAMM show and Ketron's US distributors allowed me to take one of the two SD's being shown back to my store. I've been playing with the new sounds and styles for a few days now and I couldn't agree with you more. If I would have put my review into words, they would have been almost exactly as you stated.
I do believe, for those who already have an SD1+ with the auto load feature enabled, the New Grand Piano is the same new samples as AJ's comes with. The new Rhodes pianos and electric and acoustic guitars are a major improvement in achieving a similar sound to what Yamaha calls Mega Voices with multiple samples at different velocity levels. Ketron will now be installing and selling SD1+EXP's here in the USA. If anyone is in the Los Angeles area and wants to try one out, it's available at my store.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

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[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-08-2006).]

Check out the New EXP Gospel, Jazz and Balad styles. These were designed to make you 'want to play'.

Scott Yee, I spent sometime showing you the EXP during the NAMM shows esp. with the above styles in question.... what is your take on it?

AJ

I wonder if there is any chance of those styles and sounds being made available for the midjay?

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[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-08-2006).]

Here's what I expressed in my NAMM Report thread . . .



AJ Demoing the SD5:


A/B comparing the stock SD1+'s instrument sounds to AJ's 'new' EXP version was quite dramatic. The enhanced sound to my ears brings a new depth & body to the sounds, and I think the EXP guitars & organs now rival the S.A counterparts on Tyros2. Ketron took a DIFFERENT approach to adding instrument efx (string squeak noise) than Yamaha. Where's Yamaha chose to automatically add it randomly, Ketron mapped specific instrument efx sounds an octave below the pitched notes, requiring you to apply it manually (ie: via footpedal) instead. IMO, both Yamaha & Ketron have distinct implementation advantages & disadvantages. On one hand, having the squeaky fret noise added automatically (Tyros2) quickly becomes annoying, yet having to remember to set up & apply it manually (SD1) could be inconvenient, especially in live playing situations where you're also having to juggle other many other playing tasks as well. I personally would prefer having a combination of both manufacturer's methods at my disposal. This means both the option of turning on/off the automatic squeaky fret noise, as well as being able to apply instrument efx manually as well.

My only complaint with the SD1+ w/exp board is that the jazz & ballad style drum patterns sound (to my ears) too much in 'your face', because they include 'kick drum' for fills. A more appropriately authentic approach, which jazz ballad drummers do, is to instead, utilize snare (brush), cymbals (brush) & toms for fills instead.


Glenn: I assume when you're referring to latency, it's the delay time between when you press a key, and the note is heard, right?

I detected no note latency on the SD1+ when demoed by AJ. Can you please provide more details on the latency issue experienced on pre 4.0 SD1's? Just how much (second/milliseconds) are you talking about here?

With Ketron Team Members: AJ & John Deep


AJ, many thanks for the extra warm welcome you, John Deep, and Lou Lazzaro gave me when I stopped by the Ketron booth. AJ took extra time out to both explain and demo all of Ketron's new arrangers from the SD5, Midjay, and SD1+/w EXP. These are all exciting new products each tailored to a specifically different audience. The Midjay makes it possible now for non-keyboard players to now have everything (except keys) all in a small convenient box for uncluttered on stage vocal/dj performance. Most solo vocalists I know prefer not having a keyboard standing on stage idle while they sing behind, or next to it, so the Midjay answers that call. The new SD5's stand out (imo) is its new 'riff' feature because it promises to bring added excitement to your live performance but not only memorizing your chord changes, but what licks you play as well, and then allowing you to interact (jam) with the resultant new enhanced style playback loop. If I had to choose between the 3 keyboards though, my choice goes to the SD1+ with AJ's EXP. With the SD1+ w/ EXP, you have the advantage of semi-weighted action 76 notes in the shortest length kb shell possible and sounds which (with EXP) competitive with Yamaha Tyros2 and KorgPA1Xpro, making these 3 the best sounding arrangers out today, with the Roland G70 trailing behind. If Roland would only improve (freshen) a number of their dated styles/sounds, as well as update their chord recognition palette to include pro jazz chord voicings; as Yamaha, Technics did from the get go, and of which Ketron & Korg have added more recently, they could easily displace the current top three. Only time will tell I suppose.

Back to the SD1+ w/ EXP: I STRONGLY recommend someone producing some high quality A/B song demos to highlight the dramatic sound improvements afforded with the EXP board.


Scott

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http://scottyee.com

Scott and Glenn:

Great review of the Ketron products. Scott,if you ever give up playing as a pro maybe you would want to consider a 2nd career in sales. Your comments about the Ketron product line are very convincing. I've been a real Yamaha fan having owned a CVP 107 and now a PSR 3000 and a CVP 307. After reading your review as well as others concerning both the SD1+ and the Midjay (DNJ and DonMs) positive comments one of those units look like a very appealing option. The SD1+ because of it's many fine points and 76 KEYS and of course the Midjay because I can use my 88 controller board to drive it. Umm, very interesting, just not sure what road to take.

BTW Scott the MPP you also sold me on was a wise investment. Got about half my material into it. It's a time consuming job and when you have a full time job, part time job playing gigs, taking some voice lessons and taking care of a family it's a slow process getting everything I want loaded into it.




[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 02-03-2006).]

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[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-08-2006).]