Hi all,

Last night I hooked my Audya to our sound system as I've only used earphones up to now. We have a very powerfull system as we use it for outdoor open air outreaches only.

All I can say is WOW!!! Even Monica could not believe what she heard. We have heard NOTHING like it to this day.

There's only one way to describe it: a real band playing. It was hard to believe that it was my very own fingers controlling all of that!!!

The drums are in a league of it's own. And then those live guitars...

No equalizer tweaking required like with my Yamahas. Every single instrument stands out and sounds crisp & clear. No plastic, muffled sound like we are used to.

As soon as I can afford (after all these software upgrades) I'll get a proper video camera with an audio input & I'll start capturing some videos of the music part of our next open air outreaches and post some footage to show off the Audya.

In the meantime, I want to thank Ketron out of my heart for creating this truly AMAZING arranger. I cannot believe that I've been without a Ketron product up to now. And to think how hard I worked to modify all those super fantastic Ketron styles for the Yamaha community and today I have the REAL thing!!!

I'm going to make a statement that you will not understand and you'll laugh at me. When I read the Audya manual, I feel GOOD. When I listen to the Audya, I feel GOOD. When I visit the Ketron website I feel GOOD. When I modified those Ketron styles for my Yamaha, I felt GOOD. I cannot describe it, but everything about this Ketron product just makes me feel GOOD. It's like it's made to gell with my nature - honestly, I'm at my right mind, sober and this is the only way for me to describe this.

I'm not saying their service is excellent - I really do not know. But there's something about Ketron that makes me feel GOOD. And I'm not ashamed to say so. Maybe their kind of styles are to my liking, maybe the way they create things are to my liking. I don't know and I don't need to know. It's nice to feel GOOD and that will suffice.

I am elated & it shows. And every day I discover something new on my Audya that blows me away all over again. AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! We tried to focus on the Hillsong stuff lately with my Yamaha, but with the Ketron, even the oldies are becoming alive again and I've allready created quite a few registries for those.

Keep well all,
Henni

Hi Henni

I think it is great you are so thrilled with your Audya. I have always felt the same way about the sound of mine.

Bernie

hear this Tony?

i think those that don't think much of this keyboard
have never really hooked it up to a REAL PA.

i have used all 3, korg, yamaha, ketron on my same PA
and there's NO comparison,

but this is just 1 man's opinion, or maybe 2,3,4

It's not the sound that made most dislikes and complaints about Audya as far as I know, or is it?

I remember inititially how the live guitars were critisized for dropping in & out because they cannot "follow all the types of chords". Nonsense, I experience nothing major like that & I regulary play my share of "odd" chords. And the one or two odd instances where this happens does not bother me or effect our music in the least.

Next I remember how streaming from the HD was critisized. Nonsensense, al my audio parts play in synch & that with OS20C only. Yes, If I listen very careful, I can hear the odd out of beat drum bit every now & then, but so does a live band sound and for me this makes the Audya more live.

Restoration DVDs are available. Many who had problems could have solved theirs in this way. AJ's new HD upgrade has been around for a while & some allready testified of the problems that it solved - it's all right here, on this forum. If one still has problems after installing this, then one can know for a fact that it is hardware related and start cleaning ribbon contacts like suggested over here that solved problems for most complainers.

Look at Nitelife. He had a major problem. Instead of just bad mouthing Ketron, he actually DID something about it. And now he ranks amongst some of the most satisfied Ketron customers. I read the contineous stream of negative comments from those regular naggers that gave up before trying anything themselves. Well, they are loosing out big time now. No T4 can ever make up for an Audya. It's a nice very arranger, but still plastic in comparison.

The negative hype about the Audya was way out of proportion. This is one stunning arranger indeed. And the support I've received through this forum in the short time I've had mine is also stunning. I am well satisfied.

I can very well remember the furious attacks against Ketron even just before they launched the Audya. Such verbal abuse... I cannot blame them from having a deaf ear now.

Yes, they are slow in what they do & promise. But what they've accomplished with the Audya surpass even the most creative ideas the competition have to offer, even after nearly four years.

Every time I play mine, I'm blown away with the fact that anyone could even come up with this idea, let alone make it work. I'm really amazed that other manufacturers have not yet followed suite. But then, I'm totally convinced that Ketron are allready busy with something even more awesome and that they will not be surpassed in any way or form even though they are often critisezed for being a "small company".

Ketron, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

Keep well all,
Henni

Hi Henni - GREAT to read all your positive Audya comments, nothing like finding exactly what you need and love.
You said above 'how hard I worked to modify all those super fantastic Ketron styles for the Yamaha community' - are those converted styles available from you for T4???
Keep the positive comments coming Henni - this forum needed a shot in the arm!! Carl

Hi Carl, yes, they are. And all of them now use mega guitar voices which made a huge difference. They are available for download over at the PSRTuturial forum under Henni's style collection.

http://psrtutorial.com/sty/collections/henni.html

If you cannot find, I can look for them at home & email to you.

Of course they can even be tweaked more for the T4, but I have no interest in Yamaha's for the moment. They are great, but the Audya surpasses them in just about every way, and especially now that AJ added those AWESOME T4 choir voices to the Audya library!!!

Keep well my friend,
Henni

Hi Henni - thanks a lot for your prompt reply.
Found your styles at psrtutorial.
I'm not much of a tech guy - a bit confused as neraly all your converted styles at psrtutorial seem to be for the PSR-3000. Are they all compatible with my T4??? Sorry to ask again Henni!! Carl

"and especially now that AJ added those AWESOME T4 choir voices to the Audya library!!!"

really?

AJ can you post samples?
were they sampled from T4? same?
it's "cool" to do that? hmmm

i'd love to hear them voices coming from the AUDYA

Hi Carl,

Anything for the PSR3000 will play just fine on a T4. However, because of the T4's better voices, these styles can now even be enhanced more. But it takes quite some time & effort.

I've now sold my Yamaha (I'm totally sold out to my Audya), so you'll have to do yourself. However, they should sound just super on your T4 as is. Go give them a try...

Keep well my friend,
Henni

Hi Leezone,

Am I missing something here? We both have Audyas - we both want our Audyas to be the best it can be. I've loaded AJ's demos direct on my Audya in MP3 format. (Search for AJAM demos over here & you'll find link).

In my modest opinion, AJ did a fantastic job. I listened more than once to every single demo and I am amazed by the quality.

I could not care less where those samples are from. (Most use other's midis & MP3s, they gig with it and they are paid well for doing so) In his readme file AJ describes the professional musicians who were hired to create all the new Live guitar and other audio parts.

It is such a pity this friction between AJ & Ketron. I honestly do not know the history behind this.

Now I'm forced to decide:

1. Do I want to add AJ's fantastic additions to my Audya & loose all support from Tonewheeldude. And for me his support thus far has been as AWESOME as my Audya by itself. I do not have enough good things to say about Darren!!!

2. Do I loose out on this GREAT addon, but still get help in case needed.

I do not want to become Ketron's enemy - but then I really also want everything AJ has for my Audya. Not an easy one to make...

Such a pity we cannot all just rather work together to make the Audya all it can be. Maybe a solution would be an extra HD, loaded with the latest Ketron stuff only. Then an AJ HD loaded with his stuff. If I experience problems with his & the help is not available promply like with Darren, I can re-install the original Ketron HD till help arrives.

Leezone, do yourself a HUGE favor - load AJ's demo MP3's on your Audya. Then use a pair of good quality earphones and go sit undesturbed and listen. I'll say no more as I'll not become part of this "fight". I love my Audya, but I also love all you guys and appreciate everything that everyone of you did for this AWESOME arranger.

There are tons of free stuff available for the Yamaha's (Nearly 65 000 styles only on PSRToturial alone). I'd like to see something similar starting to happen for the Audya. And this will greatly benefit the popularity of this AWESOME but much neglected product.

Unfortunately it won't, not with our current attitude towards each other and it's such a pity...

Keep well all my friends,
Henni

Hennie, AJ has led us to believe his modifications changes the Audya to a point that it is impossible to support someone in the way we can original instruments. Its not an unwillingness to assist you caused by any friction.

Certainly there are no 'enemies' here as you mention. Granted I have taken issue with AJ over misrepresentation of his relationship with Ketron, but now its out in the open and everyone knows he is not associated with Ketron Italy and operates a private company those issues are largely resolved and we can both enjoy interaction between fellow Ketron enthusiasts.

AJ has been working with Ketron products for many years and has a good understanding which benefits the community when he is able to visit the forum. I respect him greatly for this.

If you choose to purchase AJ's 'upgrade' then you are not making any enemies, either on here or at Ketron Italy - after all you are still a Ketron owner, its just that you will need to contact AJ directly when you have a problem and before using any official Ketron updates which may render your Audya inoperable. AJ has promised to take over support of his customers wherever they are and so when you ask a question you should get a prompt reply.

Hi all,

You know, I've given this some serious thought. How do I compare AJ to Ketron? I came up with this answer for my own satisfaction:

1. To me AJ is to Ketron what AMG is to Mercedes.
2. There are many other similar examples in the motor industry.
3. There are even more similar examples in the computer industry.

It's an enhancement by a 3rd party to an otherwise already wonderful product. I'd like to see it in this perspective.

AMG can NEVER take over Mercedes or claim to BE Mercedes, but they can improve on it to the liking of SOME. Therefor not everyone owning an Mercedes wants or cares for an AMG conversion. But those that do, are very well pleased for choosing to do so.

And if one wishes, instead of buying from Mercedes direct and having an AMG conversion installed, one can buy direct from AMG and have the badge on the back to show off.

How I wish we could all come to this simple, but effective agreement...It all boils down to the benefit of the Audya, and the more AJAMSONIC sells, the more Ketron sells as a direct result.

Please note: I do not have an AJAMSONIC converted Audya as yet. All I did was apply a bit of common logic to this hostile situation for all to see & understand. I do not know the history behind this & neither do I care to know.

When I play live with my Audya, none of this matters but what comes out of my speakers...



Keep well all my friends,
Henni

Sorry Darren, did not see your previous post before posting my previous post.

Fraid that's not the case with AJ for whatever reason (I am always completely honest in everything I post). And it's not purely "sales only" related as suggested by others, for I've not even received an official invoice for his upgrade despite asking for it.

But then the same can be said for the Ketron factory - I've read of many such horror stories and even my friend, who'm I bought my Audya from will testify to same.

Over here you and Frank from Audioworks, amongst others, are trying your utmost best to get rid of that bad Ketron reputation and you certainly did.

The two Hard Drives option will then definitely be my solution as it is not as expensive as another Audya. I believe a ribbon can be had that allows one to connect both. Maybe there's a way to determine which one to boot from...

Thank you for your reply.

Keep well all my friends,
Henni

Friends,

I think Henny and Tonewheeldude combined have explained this well, to the best of their capability.

Ketron (like other companies) sub-contract work to other firms (like ours); we also design and build upgrades (such as the AJAMSONIC series) for keyboard manufactures (sometimes in collaboration with them ofcourse in order to align with their specifications ... etc). However, we all share a cordial and very friendly relationship. We also have the pleasure to work closely with some of the Ketron Engineers both on Ketron and other products and developments ... as permited so it's not a black and white relationship (hope this isn't taken negatively in anyway).

As to our commitment to helping others, I think our feedback (or mine as was the case since I first joined this forum on 21st/03/2001 @ 01:00 PM) should speak for itself. If we/I was willing to offer my help and support to the Ketron products family then, what more of now with our product? Again, I have always found and treated forum members as 'family' members, something I learned from both the Italian and many African cultures ... it's about putting PEOPLE FIRST!

As to using Yamaha samples, no, we didn't do that (it's illigal!!). However based on our library source (which isn't exclusive to AJAM - yet) plus further tuning (and in some cases re-sampling all together so as to maximize memory allocation in AUDYA), it is true that the new AJAMSONIC sound sets are on par with many other top Synth and workstation manufactures (especially with Ver 2.0).

Having said that, I will continue to offer my services and support where needed and welcomed, including those with products purchased anywhere, and to our customers, have no fear!

Thanks,

Hi again Henni - I have now downloaded all your styles from psrtutorial and unzipped them into approx. 135 seperate folders (wow what a volume of work you have done!!!!). I have them all on a USB stick - plug that into my T4. I can click on any of the 135 folders but I cannot see or access the styles themselves - any ideas Henni?? SORRY to bother you again!! Carl

Hi my friend,

Make sure that you first select "User Style". Next you select any folder and they should show up.

Keep well,

Henni

Hi Carl,

Forgot to answer that remark. You can NEVER bother me. As you can see by now, I REALLY like to discuss the things that interest me. And the rest of the guys over here are not overly talkative.

Keep well my friend,

Henni

GOT'EM Henni - just a button push or two away. THANKS again, you're most generous with your help & styles - will take me some time to explore all this lot, huge range!! Enough for a life-time here. All the vey best Henni. Carl

Hi Carl,

You're most welcome my friend. Hope you enjoy. I spent many, many nights on those.

All the best,

Henni