Hi Donny: I hope you can be TOTALLY CANDID with 'everyone here' and reveal exactly WHY you dumped the XD9 so SUDDENLY ! Afterall, it was only '2 days ago' that you stated: "Nothing can compete with the sound of the Ketron Kbs: XD9/SD1".

Donny called me from the parking lot after the first (and LAST) gig with the XD9. He couldn't even wait till he got home to tell me how much he hated the overall sound from the PA. Now, of course, this is a subjective observation, but the real truth lies in the navigation. The Yamaha has him sooooo spoiled that the extra work involved to make fast changes during a show took his attention away from his game.
We all pretty much agree that the solo sounds are terrific, but with all the extra mixing and effect sections that the PSR gives him, the sound is paling by comparison.

The piano in the XD9 is not as good as the SD1, and that really makes a difference to alot of us. He's just bored with the same ole, same ole and wanted to make a change.

Some sounds have a basic, wonderful tone at a certain velocity and range, but the "playability" isn't there. This is why I dislike the grand piano sample .... the tone is nice, but it lacks the "emotion" that someother samples have. I still prefer Roland acoustic pianos over all the rest. I'll take a basic sound canvas piano over any of the ones out in today's arrangers.

The expression is there. It's not just a case of volume changes .... the tone of an acoustic piano changes as you strike it harder....this is where the samples have to really shine - to get the subtle changes that occur during the actual PLAYING of the sound. Just striking a key is not a good enough test of a tone that requires "finesse" to sound it's best.

Did I get it right, Donny?

Dave,

Thanx for the truthfull lead in... Of course I was excited when I first got the XD9 as many are with a new toy. But that started to dwindle day by day afterwards. I diligently spent many hours late at night in my studio trying to set up the XD9 for my style of playing, tweaking, and tweaking and tweaking, and learning the OS along the way. I appreciate all the help Dan O and AJ gave me also. The navagation isn't that difficult, I used the single registraton method, with my folders. The Vocal efx are just ok, Harmonizer is above average. Getting the right balance between the Mic vol and Style and SMf song vol is very tricky by lowering the MUSIC VOL vs the Mic Vol. The mic doesn't give enough gain for me. Most of the Instrument SOUNDS are Excellent, and very unique vs other KB's, but some are lacking Grand piano and Growl Sax are some of them. Most styles are very good although some are very busy in the intro and endings vs the variations, but overall they are very usable.Weight is good.
But my problem lies in the overall Sound Engine when played thru a good PA system. And I only discovered this when I gigged with the XD9. Anyone who has seen me peform knows I am a perfectionist on stage, and I'm sorry to say that the XD9 fell short of my expectations. I think in a recording situation, the instrument sounds could be very effective. There is a Muffled Overall Sound vs that Crystal Clear sharp sound of a PSR 9k/9kpro/2k, or PA80/60 to my ear. I knew right away I couldn't use it due to this problem. I am trying to convey "My Experience" to you people, but please let your self be the
judge. When you play live for a living every night like UD and myself and others, we can tell in a few minutes if a KB is usable as a tool for our performances. My 9k is still my main unit, but I'm glad I'm lucky enough to try others for a backup for sure, that's what keeps the thrill going. If you think we're quirky, finiky, thats your opinion, its just another keyboard on my journey to perferction.

Dnj



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 11-16-2002).]

Hi Donny: Because I, as well as many others here , was so surprised at your sudden turnaround view of the XD9, I really appreciate that you responded with your honest yet balanced explanation. As you all know, I too have been recently auditioning the XD9 and trying to determine if it would work in my live performance setup. Though I too am impressed with many of the Ketron styles & sounds, I have to be admit that I also noticed the same "Muffled Overall Sound" that you pointed out here. - Scott

My personal experience with my Ketron (X4) is that the overall sound pretty much depends on your PA choice. I used to play live with a very good PA (RCF italian powered speakers, a company now bought by Mackie). Although these speakers sounded great with all kinds of sound sources, I only found how better the keyboard (and me!) could sound when I purchased my present PA. Maybe it's a matter of having the right sound balance...

>> Getting the right balance between the Mic vol and Style and SMf song vol is very tricky by lowering the MUSIC VOL vs the Mic Vol. The mic doesn't give enough gain for me.

This was also a problem for me for a while. I normally set Music Volume at 40 (near Minimum, which is 32) and use either a dynamic microphone with the highest possible gain I can find (the best I could find, from this point of view, was Shure Beta 58) or a preamp before injecting the signal the keyboard mic input. I presently use the second solution with a condenser mic (Shure Beta 87), and using, as preamp/feedback eliminator, the Behringer Shark. Works great, I never had mic volume/feedback concerns again.

-- José.

Jose, what is your present PA?

Glenn

[QUOTE]Originally posted by matias:
[I only found how better the keyboard (and me!) could sound when I purchased my present PA.

Donny, I forgot to ask you... what KB do you think has a better Growl Sax? I love my XD9 Growl Sax.

Glenn

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dnj:
but some are lacking Grand piano and Growl Sax are some of them

I never heard a better growl sax other then the PSR9000/9kpro on an Arr KB.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 11-17-2002).]

Hi Glenn,

My present PA is from a german company: Hughes and Kettner. A sub 15'' + two satellites (total of 600 Watt RMS), under the name LUCAS. Very compact and well balanced sound. Here's the link to it:
http://www.hkaudio.com/as/lucas/index.htm

-- José

I tried a Roland for experience, and I agree that the sounds and instruments are very good. BUT, the OS is an absolute nightmare for a beginner. To many models of Technics, I suppose. ARJ