I recently received my SD1 EXP upgraded by AJ. This is the next generation KB for me. His upgrades, OS tuneup and manual gives me an improved keyboard with a minimal learning curve. My sequences, registrations and styles are still there, with better sounds, better vocalizer, lots of other styles and better performance than ever. The newer, colored buttons makes live performance even easier.
Now some specifics:
SOUNDS: The new RAM sounds are great, especially the Grand Piano, B3 Organ, and Guitar. Many ROM voices sound cleaner and improved.
STYLES: With the Yamaha, Korg, Roland, etc. on HD, it was easy to copy parts to my favorites and still keep the great natural Ketron sound. His manual simplified previewing and editing those styles I liked.
HARDWARE UPGRADES & OS TUNEUP: It reminds me of taking your sportscar to a great mechanic for a complete overhaul. I don’t understand what he did, but it just runs better. More polyphony, faster loading, less minor glitches. He found some problems with my installation of OS4.0C and the mother board, and cleaned up everthing.
VOCALIZER: AJ’s settings are better than the original, and with just a few tweakings, I like it better than my old Digitech Vocalist.
WAVE SYNC, LOOPS & SAMPLES: I haven’t had the chance to work with these, but it’s a future project I’m looking forward to.

SUMMARY: With my “new” KB, I have the next generation Ketron, at a price I couldn’t refuse. It was easily worth twice what he charged. I would heartily recommend it to any working musician with an SD1. In fact, at that price, you’d be foolish NOT to consider it.
Call me (or AJ) if you have any specific questions.

Don Kane

Don,

Thanks for the review. I'm sure many of us SD1 owners have been waiting for such a review and I would encourage any other EXP upgraders to also add their impressions. I'm especially anxious to learn how well/easily the WAVE SYNC-TO-STYLE/MIDIFILE function works. Please let us know when you've had a chance to check it out.

Glenn

How do the trumpets and saxes sound compared to version 3.0 ?

They are v4.0C sounds, with improvements to the saxes. The brass is the same as the SD1 Plus. I really like the GrandPiano, B3 Organ, and Guitar in the new RAM Sounds.

For the Piano sounds, each key was sampled/recorded 5 times (at 5 different velocities) and a cross average of about 18 mics at different positions to the "XXX" piano was used. (Can't say what piano was used).

The Hammond B3 was captured in a similar fasion, however I had to use some software for the true 'tube/pipe' feel and lesslie! Also I had over 3 great players play this beast during recording!! The idea was not to work with pre-recorded samples (the market is flooded with those), but to create mine from scratch with true 'live' feeling and not CD perfection!!

As for the Guitars, ofcourse I had to add some 'noise' to attack and sustain... now you've got that true 'strum' which has also been incoorporated into some of the styles.

When you start using the LOOPS, then you'll discover what you really have at your fingertips with the SD1Plus-EXP - esp. those incorporateed with wave sync to midifiles (hope you've had a chance to try the example I gave you)!!

Thanks,

AJ