1- ok we've all heard the New SD7 demos..............
how do you think they compare to the Tyros 4 or 5 S950 / Pa900/3x?

2- SD7 "Features" which are very usable for the OMB pro performer on stage........how do you think they compare to the
Tyros 4 or 5 S950 / Pa900/3x?

Thoughts?

My thought is you can't judge it until you get your hands on it. And if it's anything like Audya it may be a year before they are available. Make it two years. Hope I'm wrong.

One thing I have to give Yamaha credit for: They have spectacular, really, really AMAZING intros and endings, something Ketron lacks & I believe they do it on purpose so that the styles are not too song specific.

For this reason alone it's great to have my S950.

Henni

It will all depend on your specific needs (or wants, in some cases), but, for me, I could get by very well on a Tyros3, S950, S910...even the S750 would be very giggable and also great for home use.

I am seriously pleased I wound up with the Tyros4, as having both the FSX keybed and being able to use SA voices in the styles, although not entirely necessary features, are incredibly good to have all the same.

The Ketron SD7 sounds pretty damn good in the demos, and it looks to have lots of useful features, but my biggest concerns would be reliability (and the possibility of dealing with any repairs) and followup support. I realize AJ is more than capable at his job, but one also must be concerned about what happens if, for some unforeseen reason, he needs to take some time off or decides to do something else.

Do they have a backup plan?

Ian

in reality how many times do you really need service on a keyboard,?

Impossible to say. Let's see first the specifications and hear more of the demos.
I like it, particularly I like the touch screen and how it can be used (it seems) for many more functions that were physical buttons before.
The sound is very nice indeed. I'd like to hear the vocalizer too.

I guess it would depend on how reliable the unit is, plus, it is a new model with the possibility of bugs and other issues. I know that I would want to have good fast service available if I needed it...especially if I was using it to make a living.

Not all keyboard issues are about reliability either...there's always accidental breakage, such as a key or button/slider, or the instrument gets knocked off the stand. It happens.

Have the reassurance of a relatively quick and reasonably accessible repair facility isn't too much to ask for, especially considering the cost of the instrument.

Ian

True, but all you need is one time, and if the manufacturer won't back it up, where are you?

We're getting off track with the so-called reliability issues if any at all...
Let's get back on topic and discuss the a/b of the sound vs features of all mentioned.....

Certainly the audience can't A/B the sounds..."close" to our ears is "awesome" to theirs.

I still believe reliability and service are major factors to consider, especially if you intend to gig with the instrument.

Unless we go entirely on the on-line demos, the only way we are going to be able to A/B them for ourselves is to actually play them side by side. There's more to the instrument than just the sound...there's the key response, feel of the buttons and switches, touch screen reaction etc..

Perhaps, at the very least, someone will do a comparison video when the instrument gets in the stores.

I think Korg's PA-900 and Yamaha's S950 are very competitive sound wise...just go back and listen to their demos to refresh your ears.


Ian