anyone out there who has tried or used
both and can compare as to quality for
a jazz player re sounds, styles (especially
drums/bass- I don't use full backgrounds) and ease of operation on a live gig --would appreciate your input. or even
if you can compare ketron to yams and/or korg pa's if unfamiliar w/Gems...

Hi:

I had use the Ketron SD1s for almost 5 years, is a wonderful instrument, if you need a lot of different patterns for a Jazz oriented performance, you may fall a little short from the factory styles, you may have to add either converted styles from other boards etc. Is easy to "mute" the unwanted parts, no need to go to menus, with the left side buttons, but for a more consistence use and faster way to recall them would be using the registrations. The XD9 is smaller than the SD1+ and it would have the limitation of how many styles/patterns you can have, even with the 2 meg memory expansion that is a most, I would probably wait for the release of the SD5 in that case, but I probably scratch this model out (XDs).
The Korg depends on what model you want to use, and I also would use their "performance"=registrations too. In the PA1Xs you have the sliders that allow you to control the volumes in a similar way the SD1 does. In the PA80/60/50 you most enter in a menu, Mixer, then part then muted them, I would save the changes.
Probably the easiest of all, it would be the Yamaha Tyros2, easy to mute parts and I also would save the changes in registrations, one more thing, there are LOTS of styles for this brand, even more than the others.
I had use the Ketrons, Korgs and Yamahas for many years and I do perform mostly standards and ballroom music, if you have more questions, send me an e-mail. I did have for around 4 months the Roland VA7 when it came out and got rid of that, I would not recommend you that, and as far goes the GEMs, I did audition them, and I found them a "tad" short in quality vs the Ketron, I put it this way, Gem=Yugo and Ketron=Mercedes. Of course this is MY perception on their sounds, styles, user interface and SUPPORT.

Hi,
one thing that might be worth taking into consideration, is the sd1+ can play audio drum loops (in sync, drum track 2) in styles .
You have to incorporte them yourself & it can be a bit of a learning curve.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by keysvocalssax:
[B]

GEM GENSYS PRO is having RASS for long time. That means, that you can play drum loops and change tempo of style. Hard is to program that, but is really useful. For JAZZ is better play with GEM because of good organs sounds and el. piano. There are a lot of styles with funky.
But also SD1 is good. Sounds are less powerful some styles are good for jazz. But if you are player with filling that is better GENESYS.

On PA is that possible to hear as complete live band.

Best regards.

Hi again:

The opinion of the products is subjective, but one thing is not, the PRODUCT SUPPORT by the manufacturer/importer and third parties like clubs of users.....availability of STYLES many FREE for download.
And my remark in regards to the Gem product is 100% acurate, here is why, I work as product specialist a music store (I have near 40 years of experience even I am only 50).
In the music store has or had the Gem products, when I was hired over 3 years ago, I notice that we had 2 NEW WK6 Latino desabled, WK modules and other digital piano the PRP7( those where in working conditions, and I sold them), so you know I am familiar with those products, well, both of the WK6 Latinos NEW, with a problem that consisted in the the styles where corrupted and when activate the drums, sounded like someone was shooting at you, and as well the orquestration was not sounding correctly, I first tried to dowload the lates OS, and because is not available to the general public, I had to write a series of mails to GEM and I got a few replies but not real answers to our problem, and UNTIL NOW, I am still waiting for the dealer SUPPORT, we can not sell this units, and if they do that to the dealer, those WK6 still colecting dust in the back of the store, I would not want to even think what could happen to a customer if it had a problem, the dealer is not able to do nothing without the manufacturer/importer dealer support .
Almost 4 years ago I had a small problem with my KETRON SD1 long time ago, I got the support and problem solved and even emails to follow up even from KETRON Italy, that is what I call REAL PRODUCT SUPPORT.

thanks for all the replies. I have been using a Korg is-35 and Technics KN2600 for a couple of years, still use them..I got a used Gem sk-76 keyboard cheap on ebay and tried it for a few months and liked some things about it, not others,
and thought if I traded it in for a new Genesys Pro it would be a super upgrade but I'm not liking the sounds and styles and keyboard feel and some of the operating procedures and was wondering if switching to the SD1 would be more to my liking. As far as the quality and support, I have found the Genesys to be very well-made and the dealer and the
company rep have been extremely helpful, so maybe the WK was a dog, but
the Genesys is another league and the
support has been beyond my wildest
dreams (rep sent me new battery in a day, gave me a 2-hour tutorial
by phone, is willing to do much more,
dealer spends phone time too, has made me discs, etc... unbelievable service!)
No, my quandry is that i am not loving the
Genesys as a musician. I loved having
the 76 keys, but the semiweighted action
on the sk76 was heavy, and aggravated my tendinitis.(I can't play acoustic pianos any more for that reason.) but something
too mushy about the genesys action I don't like, being used to the Korg and Technics. However, I'm kinda scared that
the SD1, having a semi-weighted board,
might aggravate my hands too, unless it
is a very light action. Is it? I am a converted sax player, not a legit pianist,
and having a real piano feel is not important to me. I like a light quick action,
without much resistance.
Also, as i said in my original post, i don't
loop, make trax, etc etc.. I just play and sing as a "one-man jazz trio"..which means i want great choices of bass and
drum lines (don't like to play LH bass too often) and don't use any full arrangements except occasional big band and/or latin band if they want to dance. I need to go from one sound to another and one rhythym to another fast and easy, not have to look up menus, etc. I need to be able to mute the
arrangements with one button without going into the screen, and leave
the bass/drums playing ..not just the drums. I need easy registrations, great
piano, elec piano, jazz and classical and
spanish guitar, Jimmy Smith style organs, flute, muted trumpet, other brass, scat and doo-wah voices, lots of great swing, bop, bossa, samba, latin, world, funk, blues rhythms that are not stiff, that have nice moving bass lines with variety to them.
Yamahas have great new sounds but require going onscreen to transpose, mute parts, etc. I need those controls
at my fingertips- I play everything in C and
use transposer to change keys.
..I tried the roland G-70 in a store for
an hour and don't understand what it is
that makes everyone so enthusiastic about them..seemed more designed
for amateurs than pros to me..the VA7
had the corniest sounds and rhythms..
really the worst hi-end machine i ever tried out..Oh I forgot..the Genesys has a fade-out that is only 2 bars!!horrible..is the
Sd1's fade programmable or at least 8 bars?
If the sd1 is not for me I may try to sell the
Genesys on ebay(and/or synthzone) and just upgrade my Korg with a pa-50 model.
Or do you think getting a midjay with a
controller could be the way to go for me?

"Yamahas have great new sounds but require going onscreen to transpose, mute parts, etc. I need those controls"at myy fingertips-"

No they don't. On the TYros 2, transpose buttons are easy to reach as are the buttons to mute parts on the styles and/or songs. I use them every night.

The SD1 fade IS programmable. I have the same problem as you regarding the hands. The T2 touch is a little lighter than SD1, but not as light as PSRs. I am able to live with it.
DonM

Don M:
I guess the T2 has transpose ease the
psr's don't..so from your experience with sd1 and T2, which would you think would better suit my live action performance and style/sound/needs, as I describe them
in my last post..and did you find the sd1
hard on your hands?....thanks
Mo