Been visiting with a few folks about this keyboard. I'm still curious about the SD7.

The closest experience I would have with a keyboard with speakers(like the SD7)is my S970...at about half the price.

Fran mentioned in a thread that it was one of the better keyboards for the money...the other being the PA 4X...which I would have to agree with.

I've heard the SD7 has to be paid for up front with no time to try before you buy. Also that there could be a three month wait...🤔

I'm at the point of talking myself out of buying the keyboard even though it doesn't sound like I could get one anytime soon anyway. I don't think I'm interested in an SD40.

Thoughts?

Tx in advance.

Thoughts?....If I'm being honest,
you have one of the best arrangers on the market with the Pa4x ...
keep it, start learning it DEEPLY and make great music....the SD7 although a very nice Kb isn't gonna make you play better or sound better then what you have already IMO I've used them all.. that said if your serious about the SD7 just sell the Korg and S970 ASAP and buy the Ketron SD7 and learn that well, no need to hoard 3 arrangers.....problem solved..

good luck

Tx Don for replying.

At this point, I can't imagine selling my 4X. It's my main gigging keyboard...doubt that will change.

However, I can imagine selling my S970 and replacing it with an SD7. The SD7 seems like it would be perfect for my smaller gigs, and home jams with friends, especially if I could use the on board speakers.

Also, I've heard that the SD7 does not use compression in its sounds. If true, I like that.

It's interesting to me that you have kept your S970 but must have sold your SD7?

Lets me start by saying that the SD7 can be just as deep of a learning curve as your Pa4x, you will have to learn KETRON OS language,...AJ will become your go to for help,.......as far as speakers the S970 sound system IMO is more then adequate for your "Small gigs/Home jams" also,..just hooking up a speaker to your Pa4x in the house or small gigs is no problem either,...that said I have owned and used almost every Ketron arranger KB including the Midjay. with a controller,.....the SD7 I purchased was in the very beginning stages when it was released,..... it's built like a tank and sounds terriffic but at that time some updates needed to still be addressed. ....all Ketron Kbs have that "open sound" to them, some call it a more "live" uncompressed sound, vs the others but keep in mind it still has to be tamed and it's not an out of the box go and play unit,..... Don Mason is well aware of that also as we had the SD7 together,.. Why I said to sell your other two Kbs is so you can cram down and really dig deep into ONE KB OS fully and make it your own,.....having so many operating systems can be daunting and confusing.

Don(Donny?)

Tx for sharing your insights. You share some excellent insights.

I understand learning a new OS isn't easy. Going from my Yammie to the PA4X wasn't easy....and I'm still learning.

There are times that I think....just order a Tyros 5....current prices for a new Tyros aren't that much more than a Ketron SD7 and there's all the advantages of payment plans.

But I've owned a Tyros 4 and it can't compete sound wise with my 4X for audiences. I'm also thinking a Ketron(SD7) is probably a step above my Tyros 4 as well for gigging.

And gigging is what I do....although a KETRON SD7 would be for small gigs and home play.

Tx again Don(Donny?). You are a lot o help.

guitpic1.....

First off I'm Donny......

Don M is that big southern gentleman lol..

Secondly you are very welcome, I don't mind helping fellow musicians in any way I can...what confuses me about what i read into your posts is that if I'm being honest your all over the place with each post on which KB to choose for what ever reason,.....let me ask you this, are you putting mega hours into the operating system of these keyboards each day to achieve the styles and sounds you need for your "live Audiences"? let me tell you it sometimes takes years to develop a fantastic act with great songs and arrangements to wow the crowd each and every time, dedication and total love for the craft is needed so that it can be reproduced and conveyed to your audiences every single gig no matter what!! Singing and Playing & Performing in front of people is a true art form. The keyboard is a tool you use to partially make it all happen along with your talents,...I also suggest you get together with some other people who might have the same arranger KB as you that can show you some things, or even try to do a simple "Skype video conference" on your computer as we have done in the past and this can alleviate the traveling and still participate in the showing and learning process of each keyboard online this can really help!!..I cannot stress this enough...there are no shortcuts to doing your "homework" but once it's done you graduate and your audiences will love it!!....have fun.

Donny,

Tx for the info. Don't read more into what I'm saying, than what I'm saying. I'm 68 yrs old, retired, been playing in public since I was 12. Music has always been my first love but not my primary income...still isn't.

Arrangers are tools. Like other tools, I purchase whatever gives me an edge....even when it takes a while to recoup my investment. OS(Operating Systems) of keyboards, regardless of brands, have been made to be more easy to work with, in the past few years.

You asked me if I put mega hours into operating systems. The answer is no. At least not since I left industry a few years back. I wrote code then.

It's also why I won't delve too deep into my PA4X editing system. Could I learn it? The answer is yes. Been there, done that since the early 1970's.

Here's a thought.

So, could I learn, using my 4X in depth editing system, to produce a Yamaha Hawiaain steel guitar? The answer is yes. Will I spend the time(to write code)to learn my 4X in depth system? The answer is no.

I'd rather spend the money on a system that has what I need. By the way, if my PA4X doesn't have the sound I need, an SD7 does.

😊

Spending $4k because you NEED one sound - a Yamaha Hawiaain steel guitar; not ANY Hawiaain steel guitar, but a YAMAHA Hawiaain steel guitar, wow!

God seems to have a unique way of telling you that you've got too much money.

Those are MY 'thoughts'.

chas

Ok well then that explains it....thanx for the verification and good luck in your music.

The SD40 Operating System is very easy to use - I find myself wishing my Audya had the same. The touch screen icons are large, easy to use and sensibly placed with the important arranger buttons still being tactile (below the screen). It takes only miniutes to get used to the new OS.

Ketron sounds are always superb and the new sound engine used in the SD7 offers some very lovely voices not found on the Audya even. But where the SD7 wins out over other models including my Audya is with style compatibility. The Audya's live drums and guitars are incredibly impressive - so live and real sounding that people will comment on the sound at gigs...but the downside is, if you need to use a standard style (midi based) there is a massive difference in quality on Audya; the older styles or third party/converted styles from other manufacturers sound flat and dated in comparison.

The SD7/40 live styles have been toned down and the midi drum kits and midi guitars improved which means that older styles sound miles better than on any previous keyboard (including Audya) and the live styles can be used seemlessly. Suddenly you have the possibility of selecting from thousands of older styles from other sources, including Ketrons own back catalogue.

The result is you can use, for example, a converted SD1 style (i love PUB SONG) for one number and then an SD7 live style for the next with no massively noticable transition.

I also noticed the SD7 is not so fussy about PA and sounds great through just about anything including the onboard speakers.