Friends,

Once more, following in our plan for 2009 to bring the "ARRANGER KEYBOARDS" to you the end-users, Ketron has scheduled an ARRANGER FIESTA at:-

Don Halls Guesthouse
1313 West Washington Center Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Tel:- 260 489 2524

Date Sunday March 15

Time - 11:30am - 7:00pm.

Come and check out and get information on the latest KETRON AUDYA (along side other Ketron products) and get your hands on a Korg Pa2xpro and Yamaha's Tyros 3 - all in one place at the same time.

Please let us know those of you who can make this session so we plan accordingly.

Thanks,

AJ

I plan on being there.

tom

Take pics & videos

Tom,
What area are you comming in from?

Lee, In Ft. Wayne, IN

Muskegon, MI

Members

We are happy to announce that Ron Crites who uses the SD-3 alongside his Guitar will join us at the Brooklyn NY, workshop on Feb,22 to showcase this great instrument

It will be a fun day to learn about the upcoming Audya (seems it was pushed forward till Apr) G-D Knows why.. As it will demo' d by AJ.

I follow many of the postings about the Audya and have seen the many questions asked on the technology of this new instrument,What I can say is this It is not been completed yet and that only a few units have been released to the Ketron importers like myself so that we can beta test it and find issues that it my have to report to Italy.

Seems that 1 or 2 units got out to end users (not sold) and they are the ones posting questions on the instrument, which is not so relevant yet as the Keyboard has not been completed yet.

About marketing.. as we are the importers for this brand its in the contract that we do all the local marketing and that is why we started these workshops around the country feeling that this is the best way to show the instruments to the musicians.

We also shot some new video footage on the Audya and its many functions that already work it will be available on our website in a few days

Also I stated to Italy that the local market (USA) should not get any Audya's until it is completely done, not to have to deal with a non complete instrument, which they agreed on

Ted

Look, AJ....

You are here. You are posting. You are even promoting the Audya.

Why can't we get a simple denial of some of the wilder speculations going on here. You apparently have time to promote the thing. Why not a simple post to squelch the rumors?

ARE Audya's shipping ANYWHERE? Are Audya's in still a 'beta' configuration? Will the audio loop section (NOT the audio/MIDI hybrid) play more than maj/min/7th?

Surely a quick, definitive answer to these simple questions cannot hurt? Particularly as you are about to let the public actually PLAY the thing (you ARE going to let the public touch it this time, aren't you?). Wouldn't the information sound better coming from you than from someone unconnected with Ketron...?

I am sorry that my speculations and criticism of the audio loop section have spiraled out of control (who would ever expect that HERE, of all places? ), but I fail to see how your silence has benefited Ketron. This wouldn't even have been an issue if timely, honest answers were given, IMO.

An audio demo of the audio/MIDI hybrid, if it works adequately, would have squelched the whole thing. Are you SURE that stonewalling us is the best course of action?

Let's start over....

OOPS, just saw Ted's post. Talk about going off half cocked !

I guess, at this time, it simply remains to question WHAT is 'half-finished' on the Audya..? I am still unconvinced, after so much complicated work has been done on the MIDI section to fill in the gaps in the chord audio selection, but perhaps if I'm wrong, you could squelch that here and now?

I am also concerned for our European brethren. Why was it necessary to get an agreement to NOT ship unfinished units here in the US? Why would Ketron even consider doing this anywhere else? I can only say, were I a European customer, I would for now insist on a 'no restocking fee' deal with any dealer I buy one from, in case necessary upgrades to basic features don't appear in a timely manner (or work poorly).

Oh, and Ted... will US customers REALLY be allowed to actually PLAY the Audya at the "Fiesta'?

AJ,
I'll most definetly be there.
All day for sure.
Do you need any additional help to setup?

Lee

we plan on being there. comming in from
columbus ohio. might make a side trip to sweetwater music. i think i better leave the credit cards at home.

Damn! I'm a Ketron fan, but will not be at this event, even though it's close.

And, I'm not going to be involved with Ketron in any way until what I consider to be ethical issues are cleared up. I've got an SD-5 still in the box and a Midjay I'm not going to use in the near future, until things get better. Ted and some of the dealers know what I'm talking about. I've talked to Ted (a year ago, now) and to George and Fank about an ethical breach that would have gotten them kicked out of most retail establishments.

DonM is also aware of what I'm talking about.
It probably doesn't matter, but I could write a check for a container of the new Audya boards and not miss lunch. And when people ask me about the old MS-60's I play, I tell them that the company is in transition and that wouldn't recommend buying from them at this time. I use alternative keyboards as often as possible.

Ketron and their people in the US need to get their act together!


Russ Lay

I'll be there. Coming from Indy.

Bart

Can you share what happened with ketron. I'm a big ketron fan and I'm looking to purchase an audya. I recommend ketron to music buddies, but before I continue I would like to know what happened.

thanks.

None of my business, but suggest this be discussed on private email.

Your right or nothing should have been said in the first place, but since the door is open, I want a peak.

Every single sale of any Ketron product should go through an authorized Ketron dealer ONLY!
Correct? All agree?

It's just a question......

Is that how it works..Ted?
Lee

I see where you are going with this(reading in between the lines), so I'm not going to comment, since we may have different opinions on how CMC should sell their products.

thanks,


[This message has been edited by mc (edited 02-12-2009).]

There is nothing wrong with personnel from a factory or a distributor/importer deciding to sell directly to end users and building that activity into their distribution/marketing plan.

There is also nothing wrong with setting up the traditional distribution relationship and selling at a discount to authorized distributors, who retail into a designated geography.

There is a lot wrong with factory/distributor representatives who have an existing distributor network selling directly to end users at trade shows or elsewhere, asking that checks be made out in the name of the person selling and asking that the transaction(s) be kept from existing authorized distributors.

Russ

How many people here are going to this Arranger fiesta?...

+1

Lee S.

Not me, obviously.

R.

Members..

Here is the official invite to the workshop in Fort Wayne
http://www.ketron.com/pdf/Arranger%20Festival%20Jay%20Fox.pdf

Ted

Please take some nice pictures for us here on SZ...it's always nice to put a face on the names....& see what went on at the show also.

You mean like people choking each other? Its very nice...very relieving.

Oh course!......any pictures will do just keep your clothes on

And a lot easier than answering questions accurately, promptly, and politely...

What I want to know is AUDYA going to make you play better?

Practicing, rather than posting here is the only thing going to do THAT, Donny!

What most people want to know (including yourself, as evidenced by your arranger odyssey) is whether any arranger can make the same playing SOUND better...

As much as many of us rely on the styles to be our rhythm section, playing better isn't going to change that one iota. But a better, more live sounding arranger style section is.

Friends.

As the days draw nearer for this workshop, I just wanted to let you all know that our Ron Cris will be with us too demonstrating how to use the Ketron SD3/Arranger Module(s) with an electric and accoustic guitars.

You can find some of his 'impressions' at www.ketron.com -> SD3 -> DVD tutorials/demos.

We will also have KetronUS show us how to use these same Arranger Modules with a Midi Accordion.

So, for all those Accordion and Guitar players, this is a show/workshop you won't want to miss.

Your suggestions are also welcomed.

Thanks,

AJ

PS: Next scheduled Arranger Workshop/Fiesta will be at George Kaye's Music Scene in CA sometime in April, closely followed by one in Texas (venue to be determined).

AJ,
I know Jay Fox..he is a accordian player.
(a darn good one!) :-)

BUT...

From what you just posted...I hope this whole thing is not going to be guitars and accordians playing SD modules??????

I hope the main direction for it is KEYBOARDS.???

Lee S.

Take pictures & video for us

btw AJ where is the next Arranger Fiesta going to be?

My wife and I are planning to come.

Gene

AJ,
will the same models/strippers from our NY clinic be there this coming Sunday, the 15th? :-)

Will there be an all you can eat buffet at this one also?

i can donate the case of beer that's still in my trunk for the 15th, the one Nedim never won :-)

I thought from that picture that he simply mugged you for it...

I'm not sure how well the idea of bringing in accordion and guitar players to see a five year old module is, when you'll be demonstrating a keyboard that is a whole generation more advanced, but NOT available in a module...

Kind of a slap in the face to those guys, isn't it? "you're not important enough to us to develop a module, but hey! Here's some old technology you can use..."

leezone

You mean the 2 Italian **** ? Yep.

Next one (Donny) will be at George Kaye's Shop in Redishia, CA (hope I spelt it right George)?

Thanks,

AJ

OK, Lets take a poll...how many Accordian and/or guitar players are comming???

If a lot are...fine...no problems, but if not...AJ I would rather see keyboard players demo/test/audition the Audya.

I'm hoping this is a Audya show...not SD3/5.
What does everyone else think??

Lee S.

WOW thats gonna be a good one AJ.......just to see all those arrangers under one roof in Georges store is great!!!Whats is the date?....Maybe Scott Yee will be there also?

AJ,
It's Reseda, California ( about 20 minutes west of Downtown Los Angeles.


------------------
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

George what is the date of the event at your store?

AJ will there also be a FLORIDA aUDYA show also?

Donny,

I believe FL (Miami) is next ... after TX. They are pretty much lined up targetting where many Arranger owners in general reside (in and out of SZ).

Thanks,

AJ

PS: Hopefully we can bring more awareness as to the possible uses of Arrangers in the US.

Thats great AJ......the more you demo the more the word spreads WTG!! Hope to see pics from this weekend fiesta also.........maybe Diki will get a chance to see one in FL also ....

I'd love to check it out personally, but I live at the other end of the state... a 1300 mile round trip!

If it gets shown withing a couple of hundred, maybe...

so the clinic is tomorrow,

you guys excited?

i hear AJ is taking with him a bunch of finished AUDYAS to sell, cuz it's March 15th, the releae date :-)

Lee...Ha ha ha..
That's a good one....What size truck is he bringing???

I am not excited...I am interested...there is a lot of questions I have.

AJ is a good guy...I am looking forward to a FUN day.

Lee S.

Maybe a Midway Orlando site would be much better?...AJ?



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-14-2009).]

Orlando/Jacksonville might be better - we'll see.

AJ

See Diki you might finally get a crack at the Audya after all

Is that where Diki is? Fl?

http://www.thebeachcomber.org/wag.htm

So how was the fiesta Audya jam today?

where are the pics and details....who went?

Good question. How did it go? Or did it go at all? Hello?? Anybody out there that can provide us with some Jam details?

>> Maybe people are a little gun shy Donny. With all the negative publicity going on with the Audya and all they probably don't want to get in the middle of any "flame throwing" if you know what I mean. They don't want the possibility of possibly getting bashed or burned by the conservative watchdog media.. So in not wanting to "rock the boat" it's better for them to keep quiet I reckon. Good for them.

In any case I hope everybody had a good time. The Audya can only get better as time goes by and future OS updates should start to really bring the Audya up to snuff and in line with the Big Three's current offerings. At least that is my hope anyway.

All the best,
Mike

I went...and it was a lot of fun. Two other members were there, Tom C.(Michigan) and one other(can't remember his ID but Tom will. (Others may have showed up while I was at lunch, so if I missed someone...sorry) We have some photos and they will come later.

It was very interesting...Audya (AJ), Jay Fox playing SD-3 with a accordian and Ron Crites playing a SD-3 with a MIDI guitar. Ron plays ctuise ships. All the audio was played thru a PRO sound system and it kicked serious butt! (Yorkville). No, 8" $250 speakers would not have been the same!

Everyone did a great job and lots of music came forth! What great talent! These guys can PLAY! Big Time! My wife came over for a while and also enjoyed it, especially the accordian part as she used to play one.

Audya sounds excellant! It was a pretty full day of demo playing and presentation (Audya, Accordian, Guitar). Several folks tried out the Accordian with SD-3 and after all the excitement throttled down I spent an hour one / one with AJ on Audya. Jay was tearing down (6:30PM)...darn it...I would have liked a couple more hours with the keyboard.

I liked it a lot. Spent a lot of time on solo voices which were excellant. And lots of features were checked out. Listened to some styles, but would like to hear many more.

Also had AJ show me this issue (I asked) about complex chords using audio having some notes added by MIDI sounds...We muted everything but the Guitar (audio track) in our test style...while changing to chords that needed MIDI note(s) added was slightly noticable, if you listened carefully...not a very big deal to me.
While playing the full style I could not tell any real difference. YMMV.

AJ and I dinked around with many songs...I found the styles very good indeed and the solo voices very realistic. (Guitar could still use some work IMHO) but it sure wasn't bad either.

The Audya is truely multi-tasking OS...AJ was loading styles/and/or solo voices streaming from disk AS HE PLAYED a complete arrangement..Audya handled it perfectly.

As an example the new PRO level voices (forgot what he called them) loaded in just a couple seconds from HD. Ready to play.

Jay had a special price on Audya for anyone buying TODAY ONLY! $4,895. While I was there one was sold to a guy from Chicago. Bought and paid for. Delivery to be in a couple weeks (max). He was a current SD1+ owner. For me...the price is a negative.
If I used it for work...probably would be a lot less of a negative.

The Audya we had was pretty up to date but AJ said one level back. Also told me some of the things forthcomming soon. Style building/editing on the keyboard was one. Sound editing another. Full English manual also comming soon. More styles also.

The way I left it with Jay was when one came into stock (was told soon) to call me to come over and spend a full day with it on my own.I would need to spend a lot of time with it to decide if I would give up my PA2XPRO for it.

Not saying I won't...not saying I will.

My personal opinion is it is superb...anyone looking at it should spend a day with it to see how they like it overall. Probably Ketron fans...just buy it.

I was very impressed with AJ's presentation, he stated it is not a perfect keyboard, and no other one out there is either. I concur. He showed us a lot of the sounds / features.

I can tell you this...if I took Audya to a gig...(especially a dance gig) played all kinds of music..and 'if' I played well..I think the crowd would be impressed. It sounds terrific.

It really was a fun day for me....

Lee S.

MIke,
'In line with the big three' ???
Theres no wait required.

Lee S.

That's good news! I was going to ask about the sound editing capabilities on the Audya. Will it be "full fledged" editing capability? In other words, "micro" editing hopefully? If it does then that would be absolutely fantastic! If you don't like the sound of for instance a guitar, etc., you simply edit it to make it your own sound according to your own preference. That is the great thing I like about my Fantom G7 i.e. "micro" editing of the sounds. It's amazing how much better a person can get a certain sound to sound even better by simply sculpting it through editing it. If the Audya can do something similar that my Fantom G7 can it would really increase the Audya's value in my opinion. Especially for those who like tweaking sounds. That would be a very welcome addition indeed.

All the best,
Mike

I was also going to say that Korg's Pa2XPRO has micro editing capability. I think the Pa800 has that ability too. Unfortunately Yammie has dropped the ball on the Tyros line. If you want micro editing on a Yammie your only option is their totl workstation line e.g. Motif ES/XS. Maybe the Tyros4 will be different but knowing Yammie I won't hold my breath. Same goes for 76 keys.

All the best,
Mike

Mike,
Based on what AJ said today, yes full editing and ability to do sampling/edting for new sounds.

Yes the PA2XPRO I have has great programming capabilities and the PA800 is the same in that regard...however the 800 does not have as much RAM for samples etc as the PA2.

Lee S.

Nothing beats Korgs Sound Editing yet, no Yammie no Roland nothing and nothing will
for a while, not even Audya can beat that.

Nedim,
Yep...We will have to wait to see what full editing means on the Audya...Do you know any more details?
Lee S.

I mean there is gonna be editing features, more complex then the SD1 and the others but
it wont be as it is on Korg or Rolands MicroEditing as far as i know for now.
But i dont really see any bright future on it.

I guess I should play the part of Nedim, right now, and berate him for doubting that the Audya will have full voice editing capabilities. It's a fantastic instrument...

Why should he doubt this when he didn't doubt that audio chords wouldn't drop out after it was reported that they DID?

So it appears that perhaps I am not the ONLY one to doubt certain features... This is too funny!

You always try to put some fire but with me you never succeed it nor ever will.
I always stay behind what i say and you just always blabber on empty.
You might be a great musician thich i respect but i dont think you have any clue
of technology, like a blind person looking for beans inside a pot.
Yes i talked about Chords dropping...did you prove me wrong anywhere? Di i change
my thought of it? No! Todays reviews of the Audya prove i was right, dont they? And
thats an improved Audya since last show, next show it will be even more approved.
Which means it will come to the point where everything is perfect and that makes me
i was right, desnt it? Only if you are ignorant you would say no. As for Korg editing
or Audya capabilities, trust me, i know WAY better then you do, i work for both companies,
i know what they do, how they deal with things, how they implement things...and no,
Audya wont have a better Sound Editor then Korg, why? Its not mine or AJ's fault.
Ask Ketron Italy, the investors that put money into it. Why do i doubt this? I dont doubt it,
I KNOW IT FOR A FACT, i will be proven right once again when things settle down, same
as i was proven right for the CHORDS, wasnt i? I dont know if you are that ignorant and
iletarate or you just have nothing better to do then having fun here intimidating people
but thats your bussines, as i said somewhere else, people should ignore your comments.
Then this forum would be a lot beter place, we are mocked on every other forum, people
are laughing at us, only cuz of you...want a prove of that? Links to English forums or other
languages forums where your name is metnioned? This forum became a joke.

But those reports slightly changed today, didnt they? Trust me, they gonna change WAY more.



WRONG!!! You Doubt and Guess. I know for a FACT! That goes for the Sound Editor too.

One, Two, Cha, Cha, Cha,

Lee thanx for the report on the Audya....pretty much my thoughts when I saw it at the Shreveport, LA demo in January.....do you think the price is a big deterrent to many buyers or?....
Hope to hear more reviews as the Audya Demo Tour goes around the country....next George Kaye's store in CA.... then somewhere in Florida.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-16-2009).]

George is having a Jam at his store?? When will this take place? I only live a couple of hours from George Kaye's Music Scene store and I would like to go if at all possible. Donny, can you give us more details about the California Jam? Or perhaps AJ? Somebody? Anybody? George?

All the best,
Mike

Hey guys and gals,

Donnie wanted me to post some pictures from the workshop so here ya go:



















I can't leave these up for very long since they're on a test box here in my office. If Nigel or somebody else wants to transfer them to a more permanent space, go for it.

-mike

[This message has been edited by msutliff (edited 03-16-2009).]

Nedim...

Do I honestly have to link to every post where you first denied that the audio chords WOULD drop out when you played dim/aug/sus chords (and flamed anyone that disagreed with you)?

Trouble with a forum is you can't rewrite history.

Put your money where your potty mouth is. Put an audio ONLY demo of the Audya (got yours yet?) playing this chord sequence on the guitar part...

C - Am - Csus - C11 - Fdim - F7 - Gaug - C

Let's put this to rest once and for all. You say it sounds unnoticeable (as do some others)... Well, let's HEAR it.

Minute I hear something better than mrdave's examples (you tried to claim he had a beta unit), this issue goes to bed, with an apology from me, to boot...

If it doesn't, don't worry. I have already seen how hollow YOUR apologies are. I don't think I'll need one.

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 03-16-2009).]

Diki,

i hope the AUDYA clinic comes to your area, and you are able to go check it out

would love to get your review and opinion after testing the AUDYA for yourself

if i goto Portugal this summer i will go check it out at FCMUSICA

something tells me that the AUDYA will not be here before summer :-)

Diki please make it a point to go the Florida Audya demo & lets finally put this to rest !

I can't really see driving or flying 600-1000 miles or so when all it would take is Nedim (or Ketron, who REALLY ought to be demonstrating this issue) to post a different demo than mrdave if he claims that the release version is any better than what we have already heard.

I am sure that in a full arrangement, the issue is masked somewhat. Never HAVE said any different. But I do a LOT of folk-rock and acoustic music, and, if I'm going to ponk down that kind of cash for something that gets close to my guitarist, I need it to get exposed quite often... To be honest, I don't see how you can do much music from the seventies (or today's alternative scene) without either a real guitarist or at least arranger guitar parts that utterly convince the listener (me! not some drunk customer ). A LOT of what I do is based around LH bass, RH piano (or whatever) and one acoustic guitarist. You can't really mask the guitar when you are that stripped down...

If Nedim wants to convince me, it'll take a lot more than flaming me every chance he gets. It will take me HEARING this feature, pretty much exposed. And just as no-one REALLY wants to take just my opinion on anything on faith ( ) I'm sorry, but positive reviews from others don't replace me hearing it for myself, as exposed as I need...

Anything that is maybe $1500 MORE than a T3 or PA2 has got to have more than just words to convince me of it's value... Certainly not the word of some jumped up newcomer with more vitriol than credibility.

Oh, and one thing is for SURE... if I buy one of these (and I still might), it will NEVER be from him or anyone associated with him

You can't unburn a bridge...

I'm the other guy that was at Fort Wayne. Unfortunately, My wife and I had time constraints and couldn't stay as long as we would have liked. Coming from the Chicagoland area, it took us over three hours to get there but, it was well worth the drive. I'm an SD1 player and up 'til now, IMHO it has had the best overall sounds around. However, the new Audia is the finest sounding board I've ever heard. My wife completely agrees. The styles have such a presence that you want to look around to see if you can spot the bass player and drummer. I've put this keyboard on my wish list. If all goes well, I'll have it within a year. There's always going to be something newer and better coming out, but I feel it will take a while before anything surpasses this.
THANKS, AJ and all who pitched in to put this together.
Gene

I DID NOT hear any actual note drop outs! NONE!
I only heard the additional notes being played with a ROM sound ADDED to the audio base chord sound. So , most of the chord was still audio.

I suggested AJ put up here the exact test we did togeher at FtWayne...He said it was a good idea...hope he does it when he has time.

Lee S.

If the observations by those of us on the Audya chord issue that have actually heard it live (in person) don't count..fine no big deal. Audya's are around for you to go test out yourself.

Lee S.

I would say that the selling price is a much bigger deterent to purchase the unit versus the chord regcognition. Plus time is ticking away for new models tyo come to market by others also.

Donny,
Yep...Bottem line: If anyone is interested in buying an Audya...go to where one is...spend at least a full day with it.
Try everything you care about...if it fits your needs, you love it and have the $$...buy the darn thing and enjoy it.

I guarentee you if you line them all up, spend a lot of time with each one, you will find things you do not like...and many things you do.

The fact is Suday that machine sounded terrific!

Lee S.

I'm not sure there's ANYONE on this forum willing to bang down $5k without fully testing it for themselves. I certainly can't pull the trigger based simply on someone else's opinion, especially someone I have not heard their own playing and finickiness about sound detail. As is evident on a forum with such a wide range of ability and tastes, one man's meat is another man's poison.

What works for me may not (in many cases, DOESN'T ) work for you... and vice versa.

For now, I remain skeptical until I hear it for myself. That can either be in a day If some owner would put up the audio guitar loops chord sequence, or a year or more, when one finally makes it to a dealer anywhere near me. To be honest, I don't feel like driving more than a few miles to try one out, given the reluctance of the manufacturer to post the demo. I'm pretty busy right now.

I don't feel it is MY job to track one down and drive a day or so, just to get a simple answer and a simple demo.

If the factory or a dealer wants MY money, they can be straightforward about features, and prompt about demo requests. Or at least get on the manufacturers case and say their potential customers have questions that a demo would answer.

Ketron, I am positive, made a VERY deliberate decision when posting their 'unplugged' demos on their sites to NEVER play any of the missing chords. If the problem was as unnoticeable as some have said, why go to that length?

These guys are not making these things as a favor to us. They want money, and lots and LOTS of it. Why a request to have a feature adequately demonstrated is an issue for slander and flaming from representatives of theirs beats me.

Want my money? Come and get it... Don't expect me to crawl up to your door and BEG you to sell me one!

How about some names to the faces in the Photos?

AJ is playing the Audya

Donny thanks for that clarification. I didn't recognize AJ

The man giving AJ the bunny ears is Leeboy. The larger man in the leather jacket is unknown but I think he is the man that bought the Audya. The man in the brownish jacket is gps12 from this forum. I'm the other guy without glasses.

Tom

How many people total were at this event?

You're right.

Thanks to Tom for the names. I added them to the last picture in the list. Just refresh your browser (Ctrl + R) to reload the pictures.

-mike

Thanks Mike. I would say only about 20 people were there.

Tom

Mike and Tom thanks for the update with the names

Tom, I'm sorry I gave you the wrong password. I'm not gps12 with Synth Zone, I'm genesis12. It was nice to meet you at Fort Wayne. I guess I have too many passwords.
Gene

Anybody else need a name change....or maybe a chicken hat added?




-mike

I'll take a chicken hat! Don't have one anymore...
Lee S.