Just me all alone with a Ketron SD1..........
..........and a usermanual left at the store!

So at last, a Ketron SD1 is standing along with my excellent KN
Oh no, I've not bought it yet, just have it for tryout this weekend
to see if it is a keyboard that I'll go for.
Long time since I was playing so heavy as today, and as long as I
used the buildt in styles and presets, it is just G R E A T!
The accordeons is better than I remember it from the demo/stand
that I was visiting some time ago, but still not as good as the KN's.
The patterns/styles is playing as a real band, and I'm looking
around me for the other bandmembers, but don't see any other...
The 76 keys are good to play on, and the key-springing feels OK to
my kind of taste and type of playing.
So far everything is just nice, but how long was Adam in Paradice?

About 3-4 hrs. if you ask me, because when I start to really explore
it, I tought I would be able to handle the most elementary things such
as load from diskette and HD, do a simple record and save, even if I
did not manage to grab the manual before I left the shop.
NOPE, it seems that I have to spend several years at the college of
advanced technology to find out how to operate this machine.
Guess who was going to try out converted styles from KN's and other
keyboards to see how it work, and still know nothing about it...

During playing and changing patterns without stop the rhythm, I had
two times totally "freeze", and had to turn the power off and on.
(The OS version is 1.0a)

I've given it up for today, turned it off - and turned on the KN5000.
The buttons on my KN do exactly as they suppose to do according to
the letters/marks who tells what happens when I push them.
Strange that that's not what happens when I try to navigate by the
buttons at SD1.

Did I hear anyone mention the word userfriendly, well I guess it don't
fit to Ketron SD1.
Well, at least not when I try to do anything more than just play it
"as it is".
Maybe I was too full of expectation, and got myself a kind of disappointment
that I did not expected when try to do some "simple" steps without the
"cookbook" at the front of me.

I'm going to give it another try the next two or three days, but as long
as I don't have the usermanual, I guess it's wasted time....

GJ

BTW,
next week I'll try out the KN6500 to see if there is just as hard to
figure out how it work too, but I have a feeling that I'm going to manage,
even without a usermanual.

Hi Gunnar,
I do agree : We need a good manual !
As long as I use the SD1, I had NO freezes at all.
The user interface is much better than the X1's, but still not always intuitive.
For example : I want in power-on setup the Keystart and aftertouch ON and on top of that a RAM-block of my choice loaded.
(I don't know how to arrange this)

The KN's interface is easier to operate and even a non-technical user will find his way.

Well, perhaps Ketron one day presents a real document..... I hope so because musically the SD1 is the best ever, at least for me. (Technics is a way behind in styles / sounds...... IN MY OPINION !)

Roel

Gunnar,

I had similar feelings when I purchased my X-1. (My previous keyboard was a KN5000.) I purchased the keyboard from a dealer in another state....George Kaye. After a day of banging my head against the wall I called George and he was quickly able to answer all of my questions. Roel's comments apply for the X-1 as well as the SD-1. It's not that it's difficult to learn your way around it. There are just a few "peculiarities" that you need to know to make it easy to operate. Hopefully your dealer or one of the SD-1 users on this forum can answer your questions. I'd hate to see you give up on this board without knowing what it can do. I have absolutely no regrets from switching from Technics to Ketron. Styles/sounds are awesome!

Bob

Gunnar,

Funny you mentioned the Dreaded "FREEZE" while changing patterns. This was my major concern when I had the X1, and one of the major reasons I sold it. This would happen on stage while performing and I would have to reboot (most embarrassing )it would take 4 minutes or so due to the Super Sounds loading. I thought they fixed that but I see its still happening on the new SD-1 also. This is unacceptable for a pro to go thru in a live situation. This has never happened (knock on wood) with my i3, K5, or psr9k.

These comments are ALL making me THINK ! !

Throughout my love/hate relationship with the X1, 5 nights a week, 4 hours a night, for some seven months or so, it never froze up. Problems, a few, but no freezes.
DonM

Roel,Bob and Dnj, Thank's for your replies

As said here, the manuals have to be very good as long as the user interface
is so "bad" as it is on the SD1. But I asume it is a matter of learning
how too do this and that.
That's remains me about Alec Pagida's excellent new "add on manual" for the
KN's. Someone should have done something similiar for the Ketron's too.

If I don't remember it wrong, the Norwegian importer is going to make a
special manual for this country, so it maybe something more coming to add to
the original one.

I agree in the meaning about the native styles in SD, this is rhythms who
fits very good to Nordic/European users.
Also SD1 plays very "live", and it's no problem to "reach the goal" when
gigging Saturday nights only by use of the internal styles.(At least for a while)
Technics have really good styles onboard too, but more the USA and Alps/Tyroler
way, with too much BigBand and "Ompa-Ompa & Jodel" for my taste.
But that's not any problem, if you remember the excellent composer you'll find
in the KN's, and who is so very easy to use.
Regarding the sounds, the warmth sounding tone is something both Ketron and
Technics have in common in my opinion, i.e. Yamaha sounds much "harder".
But that's my ears, others may hear it totally different.

And yes, my dealer is very competent and serviceminded, and I'll get all the
help and service I'll ever need, that's not any problem at all.
It's just that I was trying to find out something by myself, and it's the first
time that I've struggled so hard with finding out elementary things.

The "freeze" issue is something that amazed me a bit, because I thought this was
history nowadays, at least when only changing rhythms during play.
And I agree, it's not acceptable during a performance.

But now it is too much focus at the bad things, I'll try to find some more good
things during the weekend, if I only can figure out how to do things......

GJ

Gunnar,
I'm anxiously awaiting your honest evalution of the SD1 after you have a chance to spend a few days with it. As you all know, I am SERIOUSLY considering purchasing the SD1 myself. I am particularly interested in your evaluation because BOTH you and I are current Technics KN5000 keyboard fans & owners. It will be particularly interesting to hear your comments in DIRECT comparison with the KN5000 (as well as how the SD1 compares with the KN6500), which I remember you saying you plan to evaluate soon afterwards as well.

I can only say that I am envious of you guys in Europe who not only have convenient access to many of these top of the line arranger KBs (and even in the SAME store too - WOW), but to have the oppportunity to take one home on loan to evaluate as well really blows me away. Here in California (San Francisco Bay area), I can't find a single store that has a Solton SD1, Yamaha 9000pro, or VA7 to try out. Interesting considering the huge population (over 7 million) and large musician base here.

Looking forward to hearing your 'follow up' feedback on the SD1 as well as your evaluation of the KN6500 compared to the KN5000.
- Scott

Gunnar,
I think we Technics users are spoilt!
For ease of use / navigation the technics simply cannot be beaten. I think once we are used to this then anything else seems illogical and convoluted.

I know I had an awful time adjusting when I changed over to Roland and never quite got to grips with it. As for Korg.....I stopped downloading/ buying styles altogether as the method for inputting them into the machine totally and utterly baffled me!

Maybe it is time someone designed a universal 'front end' for keyboards and then we could buy as many 'engines' as we like...attach the front end and away you go!!!

ttfn
Tony

Scott,
as you know, I'm not a pro, only a amateur and my opinions is very
personal too.
Therefor I think my rewiev (and maybe point of wiev) will be a kind
of different regarding to many of the posts/discussions already going
on about this topic.
Probably more on an average home-users level I think, and my "report"
must be viewed in the light of that fact.

Just now I try not to compare too much to the KN, but find out how it
stand for my kind of use if I change keyboard, and not keep the KN.

I had to put it on again tonight to have some more fun, and I have no
problem to tell that there is some new functions that I found interesting.
I.e. if you have to use the transpose-button, the display shows the
actual sounding chord (that you hear) and not what keys you're
pressing down. First keyboard I've seen it that way. Good tool.

The 3 "intro/fills/ends" is well made, the "break" , "to end" and not
to forget the "key stop" functions is things that i like.
But I miss the "wheel" to do quick changes, all things have to be done
by pushing buttons, and they're too small.
Wondering about why, when you see all the empty space on the top.
The display is "flat", and you have to stick your head forward to read
it proper. Should have been option to rise the angle a little, and it's
not nessesary to keep it the "old fashion way" in size, when you see what
other manufacturers do these days.
Maybe they keep it at that small size just to avoid that the drummer runs
away?? He is really good, and he play steady!

GJ


Some questions to the experienced SD1 users around:

- How do I turn off the "one finger mode", because I feel that it's on.
I use left hands chords, and there's something who "disturb" me. If I
don't unpress all the keys at the very same time, it change the chord
played. I've been through a lot of options without find anything about
it.
- How do I load patterns stright from diskette into whereever it goes
to make it possible to play.
It seems to me that the only way is to place it on the HD?
- And when try load patterns from HD, it tells me that it is password-
protected etc. etc.
- How do I record my "masterpiece" and save it as a standard GM file
in a easy way?

Scott,

why don't you buy a SD-1 from Dan O at GC try it out for 30 days if you don't like it return it and get a 9kpro to try?

The SD1 is a marvelous keyboard. The sounds and styles are quite good. My customers love this keyboard, but they are also complaining about the difference in the way the features work compared to other Ketron products.
So far, disk management seems to be the biggest complaint from former X1 users who have upgraded to the SD1. I have not had any SD1's freeze or lock up to my knowledge. I'm sure my customers would call me if this was a problem.
Where I do see a need for a lot more explanation is in the area of disk management. The way you select and load styles from the master folders style folder is very confusing. I have been able to show and explain how to call up disk styles but I don't completely understand how and why certain things are happening and this is frustrating at times. I'm sure this will eventually proove to be a very convenient way to call up and play styles, but It's really not clear to me or others yet. I've gone to the pattern copy page where you copy parts or all parts from one style to another, but I have not understood how to choose a destination location other than number 1 in the style folder, and when doing this, I substitute what was originally in location one (example: dance 1) with the style I am selecting as the source (example: slow rock). At this point, dance 1 now sounds like slow rock and I have lost dance 1. I've gone into every folder on the SD1 and i can't find the original dance 1. I don't have this problem with the X1 because all patterns are loaded into pattern locations which are seperate from the patterns on the hard drive folders. On the SD1 the patterns are always in the hard drive folders and never in a seperate pattern memory area (I think) and so when I lost the dance 1 pattern, it was lost forever because it wasn't saved in two folders, only on the one. I don't know if anybody understands this, if I made any sense, but this is something that Ketron really needs to explain to the end user and to dealers in much more detail.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene

Team,
I will start working on an SD1 manual as of this coming week. I have had a chance to observe most of the issues many users have and will attempt to document these in my new SD1 - User's guide. I collected some ideas of enhancements over the X-series user guides (which appear to be doing well). These are currently being marketed via George Kaye.

Once I get the ball roling on this, hopefully, we'll get one out in about 2 weeks! Just sit tight.

Thanks,

AJ

maybe its me but why does the buyers of a new unit like the SD-1 have to make their own user manual? It seems odd that the company that makes these units should at least make a manual good enough to explain easily how to operate all the aspects of the unit. Or maybe supply a instructional Video. Am I not seeing something?

To all potential SD1 buyers (including myself):
do you want a friendly piece of advice?
Before you consider the purchase of this unit, wait at least 4 months. It's NEVER wise to buy a new keyboard as soon as it comes out. My VA7 had a few bugs which have been corrected only with the release of OS 2.0 (more than six months after its debut on the market).
Are you so anxious to be the first ones to experiment at your expenses the flaws of a new piece of gear? If you want to be a tester, at least try to get paid by the brand you are testing for.

[This message has been edited by Dreamer (edited 08-03-2001).]

Dreamer,
I think the four months have already expired for the SD1. Sandro (Ketron) wrote me the new OS upgrade is expected at the end of August. (including Scott's RLCR )
I did NOT discover real OS bugs in the SD1 and all units have OS version 1.0a.

Scott : After all effort that Ketron put into the RLCR on YOUR request .... not going to purchase an SD1 ?????

It is unique Ketron is willing to satisfy his customers (even online) and I like that very much !

Roel


[This message has been edited by Roel (edited 08-04-2001).]

Roel,
the main problem with the SD1 is the noisy DSP; the noise is evident in the "cyclic" effects, like chorus, flanger, rotary, etc.
When Ketron will have fixed this problem the SD1 will be a keyboard worth buying; until then, like I wrote some time ago, you have to consider the possibility of routing the SD1 outputs to an external DSP.
With sympathy and friendship,
Andrea

Well, it goes forward, little by little.

When speaking with my dealer today, I got more info about things. The
things George mention here is pretty much the same info as I got, but also
that this very SD1 as I have here have to be upgraded to get rid of the
"freeze" problem, and to add some more features who is not present at
this one before it's done.
Then my report about "freeze" is a kind of "out of date" for the users
who have the latest updates.
I've also got more info about that this kb use the HD in quite another
way that we have seen before. The patterns have to be loaded into HD
before you can play, and it's been readed stright from the HD, as it does
with all patterns and sounds. Also editing works like this, but yet I
have not managed to access that part to try out.
As I said before, no problem if you only load native patterns and sounds.
But maybe there is (or will be) any sofware to manage this in a easy way
at the PC?

When clicking around as h...., I've found the "easy chord" and could turn
it off. MUCH BETTER to play at once!
Again, the userinterface is too bad, Ketron have to put the heads together
and use the empty space at the top of the keyboard in a better way than
we see here!

Dreamer have a great point about that we are a kind of "betatesters" for
free, and that is the kind we see Microsoft and other softwareprodusers do
all the time.
We buy things full priced, and have to experience all kinds of "bugs".
I guess this is ourselves to thank, because we are so quick to go for the
new things, and the manufacturers have cut-throat competition to be in the
leading position all the time.
To see that they listen to the customers is a good feeling, and that is
what Technics have done all the time as long as I have known about it, and
it's no doubt about that's why the Technics products are as Tina Turner
sing: SIMPLY THE BEST!
Technics-users as most of us, we have to download updates to fix bugs or
add new functions too.
Much easier nowadays when we dont have to strip the machine to put in new
microchips, just "flash" it onboard.

But just now I'm going to see if I'll manage to try the things as I had in
mind when I got the SD1 for "testing"
GJ

Hi Roel: I am (of course) very happy that Sandro is implementing the RLCR (rootless chord recognition) I requested. But PLEASE understand that my request was not for some esoteric feature added for my benefit only. MANY pro keyboardists play these type of chords. I think Sandro (Ketron) realizes that adding RLCR will only help expand the potential SD1 market to include more jazz influenced keyboard players as well. Afterall, both Yamaha AND Technics have been supporting this exact same RLCR in their keyboards for quite some time now.

As I have reiterated here many times, I am still VERY interested in purchasing the SD1. I think its' styles (from hearing Notlos' demos and the style samples you sent me) are one of the most impressive and realistic sounding I've heard. I did have a brief moment to play it at the NAMM show way back in January but unfortunately not enough time (10 minutes?) to make such a major purchasing decision.

I know that purchasing the SD1 (at least for me) will involve some risk. First of all, I realize now that I probably will NEVER have the opportunity to audition one BEFORE purchase because there is not one in my local area (within 300 miles) to try out. Secondly, if warranty work is ever needed, I will have to ship it back to Bell Solton in New York (or possibily(?) if I'm lucky) an authorized Solton repair center in Southern California). Either way, this means being without the keyboard for at least a week (or two?!. This could prove disasterous, especially if I had a critical gig which required the use of that specific keyboard. I 'might' be willing to put up with these risks (am I a gambler?!) to gain the exciting SD1 sounds/styles, but the other issues highlighted on this thread are other legitimate concerns which need to be seriously considered (weighed) as well.

That being said, I'm still considering the SD1, but I must be assured that it will perform reliably (no freezing) and be relatively easy to master (which I assume means, at the minimum, having a decent operating manual). Dreamer may be right, that I should be patient and give Solton (Ketron) at least 4 months to work the bugs out first.

In the meantime, Gunnar, MANY thanks to you for taking the time to both test out the SD1 and share your findings here as well. I'm also looking forward to hearing your feedback & findings on the Technics KN6500 as well. Gunnar, 'home user' or 'pro', your opinions count. BTW, Technics has also been responsive to customers needs. In the early days of the KN5000, I had spotted a couple of OS errors and Technics was quick to fix them.

This forum is simply terrific (Thanks Nigel) and I thank the many wonderful people here for taking the time to express divergent opinions. The internet is truly a great place where we all have FREEDOM of expression!

- Scott

GJ,

I NEVER had "freeze" problem with my Ketron X4 or the SD1. In my first few weeks with these 2 keyboards, I constantly switch styles while the arranger is running and never had any problem. Freeze up is total unacceptable! But I never had any with X4 or SD1...

GJ, I believe you have a pre-production SD1; it's probably one of the demo unit that was shipped in January after the NAMM show. Upgrading the OS to the production 1.0a should fix the problem. The pre-production OS also displays 1.0a but it's not the same. If you decided to buy a SD1, don't buy this demo unit!

Anytime you change from one keyboard manufacturer to another, it will take some time to adjust to the new operating system. It's like going from a Mac to a Windows PC. There is no doubt that KN has one of the friendliest user interface and Ketron has some catching up to do. But once you learned how the SD1 operates, you will find that there are many convenient features that are not found in other keyboards.

I will try to answer some of your questions:
*Finger mode - there are 4 different modes under F5 (Arrange View), Page 2, F6 -Easy 1,2, & Finger 1,2. There is another setting under F3 (Utility), F5 (Pianist) which defaults to AUTO. It controls whether the chord change is controlled by the sustain pedal.
*Load style from diskette - It can not be done. Styles must be first copied to the hard disk. This is not really a problem, there is 6G of storage on the hard disk.
*Record a song. Press the Song Record button, type in a song name and press Start. Press End when done with recording.
*There is a $20 File Transfer software with a link cable that connects a PC with the SD1 to manage, upload, download files and folders.

George Kaye,
loading style is different from X1.
*The style should be in folder STYLES if the MASTER FOLDER button is activated. Press the BLOCK/LIST button (under RAM STYLE)and select the styles you want by pressing F10, then press F1 to load.
*If the MASTER FOLDER button is OFF, you can load styles from ANY folder by pressing the BLOCK/LIST & SINGLE buttons, then press F10 to load.
*When you load a style from the DISK menu, it overwrites the FLASH styles. But it gives you a warning that it's locked. To unlock, you press F3 (Utility) and F6 (Password), F6 (Unlock).
*Style "Dance 1" - you were in Pattern Edit when you did the copy. When you press Pattern Edit, you can select an existing style to edit or create a new one (F10). You chose to edit "Dance 1" which became your destination when you perform pattern copy.

Ketron_AJ: Regarding the SD1 manual that you are writing. Is this the SD1 final user manual or is it something that you're working on your own?

Dreamer: You are correct that every new keyboard has bugs in their initial release. But this is not the case with SD1, so far there has not been any confirmed bug in OS 1.0a.

Roel: I'm also very pleased with Ketron's engineering efforts in getting new features added to the OS so quickly. Sandro has been very professional and prompt.

Henry



[This message has been edited by Henry01 (edited 08-04-2001).]

The freeze problem I mentioned always happend on stage. When you play live as much as we do nightly you are constantly switching styles and sounds on the fly to create sought of a medley when you have a full dance floor, so you may be doing 4, 5, songs in a row with different styles without stopping thus having to hit Buttons very fast on the fly (one of the reasons I dislike a touch screen unit)and this is where the problem lies. I think the unit is confused somtimes creating "LOCKUPS or FREEZE" problems. But a unit MUST be able to work flawlessly Under Stress on stage unlike home use. Just my opinion.

Scott,
I was only joking, but curious how you would react

About stressy stage-work :
A few weeks ago we did our first gig with the SD1. I think about 15 times we had main-power failures .... and they were very 'dirty' : Short, extremly short or long !
My Korg ih locked up often but the SD1 showed not a single problem.

We had no idea what caused the interruptions until we pulled out the powerconnector from the cable that supplied us : One of the pins was totally defective.
(That cable was NOT mine )

Roel

Henry,
you're right, this one miss the latest update, and I've been told by my
dealer that it will solve the "freeze" problem and more.
Since that seems to be history, I'll not tell you how many times I have
restarted this thing until now....
Thanks for your description about how to do things, all tips helps, and
at last I've managed to load and save to and from both HD and floppy.
Even recorded a little tune, but not yet for other ears to hear.

Scott,
I've converted some different patterns from KN5 to X1 format to try out,
and it works fairly OK. Have to do some adjustments, which I don't know
how to execute yet, also change some instruments, but the few I have tried
sounds pretty close in volume/balance. Very similiar as we know from the
converting of other brands into Technics.
Now I have to get myself some sleep before I fall down from the chair.
GJ

Added / Editet the next morning

Andrea,
when I started it up today, I've finally start the "solo" sound exploring.
Until now I've mostly tried to figure out how things work, and examinated
all the styles and variations etc.

Yes, you are absolutely right. It is a noisy "grumble" who is in present,
just as you have told us all the time. When using the organs you can hear
it very clearly, in fact very loud too. I.e. you can hear it in a more
"tiny" way when using the Stage Piano
I have not done any adjustments to the effects yet, just playing the sounds
in the preset mode.
I cannot understand why I did not notice this at once, because it's easy to
hear. (Guess I was too anxious to find out how to operate this thing)
GJ


[This message has been edited by Gunnar Jonny (edited 08-05-2001).]

Hi Gunnar and Everyone
I have to say, in the 10 minutes I had to try the SD1 at George Kaye's store - I felt rather bewildered. Never having played any Ketron/Solton keyboard, I found it very difficult to perform things that come simply on other keyboards. I would describe it as user-unfriendly. And, oh my god, ALL those teeny little buttons all look the same. Not good for me - my vision is not what it used to be!
But, I guess one would learn it within a reasonable time. Although it's disconcerting that even George is struggling with some operations on the SD1. I find it incredible that they would make a complicated keyboard like this and have no User Manual?!?
And to Tony, yes... I would like to see more standardization in the "front ends" of all these keyboards. It would be nice if all the companies all agreed on standard terms for things, and implemented more uniform ways of doing things from one keyboard to the next.

Well, I guess I'll be holding off on buying an SD1 at least until a proper User Manual come with it.
Tom
Tom

Wow, this is certainly becoming an interesting topic. The SD1 reminds me of a mystery adventure. Every twist and turn seems to turn up new surpises. I can't wait to hear what the NEXT chapter will bring. Keep the news coming folks ! - Scott

Henry01,

The manual I'll be writing will NOT be a final product of KETRON, rather - something I'll be doing on my own (similar to what I did for the X-series units).

I just had my SD1 this weekend after a long wait ... [it might have been biked from NY to Phili] <- (a joke). I have so far spent a total of over 8hrs with it not figuring out obvious style and sound operations but rather trying to access the 'hidden' features ... and I think I did get access to a lot, e.g the audio wave file syncapate to MIDI & arranger - rather cool! I have actually been able to download some wave files off the web and sync these up to the POP1 & Latin patterns - sounds like I had Janet Jackson and Maria Carrie in my house (wish I physically did!).

GEORGE: Your destination selection (in the SD1 unit) is determinded by what RAM style you are in PRIOR to entering the PATTERN EDIT mode. So if you want to edit any pattern (I believe) you will have to select the pattern to be edited (i.e have this pattern as your current selection) prior to pressing the PATTERN EDIT button. The difference with the X1 here is in the PATTEN EDIT mode, the X1 gives you the option of switching b/w patterns (using F6) to determine which pattern you want to edit and selecting the pattern with the SELECT buttons WHILE YOU ARE IN PATTERN MODE, whereas the SD1 does not - you'll have to determine this PRIOR to PATTERN EDIT mode. I will address your other questions via an email to you later today.

Anyone know what the voltage value is for the *RED
*BLACK
*YELLOW

wires from the transformer to the POWERBOARD of the SD1?

Added to the above what about * WHITE (for the X1)?

Thanks for the info.

PS: The manual will cover most of the functions currently supported in OS1.0a.

AJ

What a shock! I didn't expect to see your name testing out a Ketron. I thought you were a real Technics fan. But then read your review sounds like you are not real sure on that keyboard after a test drive.
I hope you get a chance to try the KN6500 soon! and before you make a decision.

Marilyn

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gunnar Jonny:
[B]Just me all alone with a Ketron SD1..........
..........and a usermanual left at the store!

So at last, a Ketron SD1 is standing along with my excellent KN
Oh no, I've not bought it yet, just have it for tryout this weekend
to see if it is a keyboard that I'll go for.

I too envy the people from across the pond. They seem to have access to all the brands to demo. I live in Florida. There is a local dealer that has the VA7. I have gone to the store where I bought the KN6000 but they didn't have a KN6500 in stock. They were more of an acoustic piano store and never had more than one KN6000 in stock at a time. So hard to check one out here also. Yamaha and Soltron or Ketron I guess, you never see around here. Well you see the smaller Yamaha's but not the top ones. So know how you feel!

Marilyn

As a Technics user I understand where you're coming form in being spoilt! I'm the opposite from you, I had Roland keyboards before I went to the KN6000. All the things that annoyed me on the Roland......were done differently on the Technics. And done better! The Roland operating system just was not as user friendly by a long shot. The VA7 has the same things that annoyed me on my last Roland. Too many pages to scroll through to get anything done!

Marilyn

Marilyn. I too, live in FL, so I know what you mean. The best I could find in my area, Tampa, was the PSR9000, but already owning the 740, I found it too similiar, to expend that many bucks. I recently picked up a 6500 on Ebay, without a manual, so I downloaded the 6000 manual, then later I found the 6500 manual. the only difference seems to be the extra styles and some more voices, so I wouldn't worry too much about the upgrade. i also recently bought a Solton X1, so, am in the process of comparison. The Sax on the 6500 doesn't compare to the X1 sax.

Hi Marilyn.

OOPpss.., I did'nt mean to shock anyone, and yes, I am a big Technics fan.
You know time goes fast, and so do the development of keyboards, and it is
very exciting to see if there are any new ones who catch my interest that
much that it's time to have a "add-on" or maybe find a new "baby".

Then some more about my PERSONAL experience/wiev about the SD1.

This afternoon we "gigged" up and had some nice hours playing and exploring.
A friend with his guitar and excellent voice, the SD1 and me.
No matter what's said or not about the SD1, there is no arranger keyboard that
I've ever played on (or heard) who have this "live" feeling and good collection
of onboard patterns more suitable for my way of use.

One more thing, most keyboards sound like a totally different band each time you
change a style/pattern and play it "stright as it is".
Not this one, it sounds like "The XYZ Band" all the way, and that's great if the
machine is a "One Man Band" and "Duo/Trio" play at weddings, X-mas-partys, dances
and more.
I have a strong feeling about that this is something Ketron have done just for
that purpose, because it's so consistent. If so, they have been successful in that
part as far as I can see it.
Yeah, I know, there is probably more to it if you look at the big HD and all the
multifunction buttons that I never managed to find out how to operate during
this few days.

The SD1 really sounds good through both the Novanex and Laney systems, as long as
we forget about the DSP noise mentioned earlier by Andrea.

What did you say? About what? If I'm going to buy it?
Hhmmm.., no, not today, have to try the KN6500 first!

GJ

[This message has been edited by Gunnar Jonny (edited 08-06-2001).]

Team,

The SD-1 User manual is currently 30% complete. This manual will be a lot more detailed that what I did for the X-series (coupled with the fact that there are a lot mor functions to document). In about a week or two, I will have demo versions for the dealers (Dan Oniel and George Kaye) to look at prior to distribution. Again, they will marketed through the dealers.

Thanks for your patience ... and we will soon be there.

AJ

Hi Gunnar . Looking forward to your (unbiased ) review of the KN6500. The primary reason I never upgraded to it (from my KN5000) is because the KN6500's (optional but essential) HD-SX6 hard drive STILL cannot be backed up to an external PC. This is VERY disapointing. Keysoft Service (makers of the hard drive & hard drive software) have been promising a software fix for MANY months now, but still no news. AT this rate, by the time Keysoft comes up with a software fix, the KN7000 will be out (and hopefully INCLUDE a Technics (Panasonic?) proprietary hard drive with the keyboard. Afterall, hard drives have been dropping a lot in price recently, so the cost of INCLUDING one in an arranger keyboard (including hard drive backup & management software) should be pretty minimal. - Scott