Hello,

I've been playing for two weeks with my new SD1. It is a GREAT instrument, incredible sounds and excellent features.

However, I'm still missing some features which I really need on the SD1, and which (in my opinion) I think could make this instrument even better than it already is.

1) My biggest problem: there is no way to turn off all accompaniment sections except drums and have an instrument (piano) on the WHOLE keyboard, and when necessary, be able to turn on all accompaniment sections. Almost all the music we play, we start with piano, then I start the drum sections (and I continue playing the piano on all the keyboard), and some measures later all accompaniments start playing. This creates every time a stronger and stronger feeling on the music. The song starts at a certain level of complexity which we make it grow as we play. On my old yamaha, this was as simple as touching the "auto-accompaniment" button on/off. AJ: it would be great to have one button (or a combination of two) to make this possible. I already know that there are certain ways to do something SIMILAR (hold button, change the split point, lowering the volume for each part, pianist, etc..), but it is still too much complex and requires much time for one measure to another (and remember, I'm still playing the piano part).The pianist function is not good for this application, because it will detect when a chord is playing and, again, accompaniment parts will start. Turning off the hold function also is not good, because I don't have all the keyboard for the piano, I'm limited to the right section only. Changing the split point to the lowest note, turning off the hold function works great, but I don't have enough time for pressing so much buttons and functions.

2) Key Start / Stop response time: In the repertoire we play (keyboard + 2 violins) we include some tangos. As you may know, there are certain passages of tangos that require the key start & stop functions turned on (for example on "Jealousie" and "La Cumparsita"). I changed this parameter to the lowest value, which is 150 ms, and for us this is still too high response time. It is getting difficult to us to "synchronize" with this 150 ms delay. This could appear stupid, but this is a real problem. On my old yamaha psr-740 there was no delay (or, at least, not enough delay to be detected by human ear and by the violin players). AJ: Is it possible to permit lower values than 150 ms ? It would be great, specially for tango players.

3) I have the footswitch (FS13). I was trying to assign the CRASH sound to one of the switches. While I was testing it, somehow the arranger began to play FILL 1, FILL 2, FILL 3, FILL 1, FILL 2, FILL 3..... repeating time after time. I pressed the switch I was using (#13) and no results. I tried pressing all other switches and still the same. I had to stop the style and try again. Same results. The "crash" was no longer a crash and all fill-ins started playing over and over. I had to turn the keyboard off and then on. Is this normal? or is it a bug? or there's something I did wrong?

4) Is there someway to configure polarity for the sustain pedal? I have a roland sustain pedal which I like very much, but the polarity is correct on the SD1. It works backwards.

I really like the SD1. With this instrument I can bring more life to the music I play. The point is that I'm getting desperate because this small group of missing functions (specially #1) are making my music to loose some feeling. Anyway, is the best keyboard I've ever played. For now, I'm still carrying my old Yamaha for playing the piano parts while the SD1 plays only drums, and also, for the tangos, due to the high millisecond response time on the SD1.

AJ: I hope Ketron can do something to make this instrument even better. I simply cannot conceive the idea of missing my old YAMAHA, still have to carry it... the sd1 is heavy enough for me !!

Best regards,
Guillermo.

I forgot to include another point:

6) Some styles (specially latin) are too fast for playing the music they are supposed to be used to. We're trying to play latin boleros, but we get the lowest tempo for some 70, for other 80... this is not slow enough for latin boleros. I already know that the reason for this is the real percussion issue. I clearly understand this. But Ketron should think on including an "override" option on the config for this, so the musician can decide to degrade the quality of the percussions BUT be able to play at the desired tempo. 20% less then the default minimum is enough for all styles we found with this problem.

Thanks again,
Guillermo Rosado.

GuillermoRosado,

Let me see if I can address some of your questions:

My biggest problem: there is no way to turn off all accompaniment sections except drums and have an instrument (piano) on the WHOLE keyboard, and when necessary, be able to turn on all accompaniment sections. ...Changing the split point to the lowest note, turning off the hold function works great, but I don't have enough time for pressing so much buttons and functions.
>>>AJ: This (currently) can again be reduced with the use of REGISTRATIONS (Block). This way each registration you call up (with independent settings) will be able to automatically call up/use the status of the HOLD button and SPLIT point. However, you're right ... a delicated Auto Accomp. button would be ideal.

2) Key Start / Stop response time:
>>>AJ: I believe lower response time (than 150) is permitable. I will have to do a little more reasearch into this.

3) I have the footswitch (FS13). I was trying to assign the CRASH sound to one of the switches. While I was testing it, somehow the arranger began to play FILL 1, FILL 2, FILL 3, FILL 1, FILL 2, FILL 3..... repeating time after time ...
>>>AJ: You might have connected the footswitch to the SD1 while it was turned turned on. It is recommended that you make all conections to the SD1 prior to turning it on. Also, you might want to DISABLE the AutoFill (LOCK, F2) so that if you press and HOLD a FILL, the SD1 will not cycle through all FILLs.

4) Is there someway to configure polarity for the sustain pedal?
>>>AJ: I think this could be possible in a later release. Currently, KETRON products work with pedals that are naturally OPEN - which is configured to work with the optional pedal available. For now, when you want to buy a sustain pedal for your product, do request a naturally OPEN pedal.

6) Some styles (specially latin) are too fast for playing the music they are supposed to be used to.
>>>AJ: Technology is being developed that will be able to improve the use of live drums in future products. With existing products, if we slow down the beat past the current set minimum, we massively loose quality in the audio loop. This is a great point though that will be considered in future products.

We appriciate your ideas and patience.

Thanks,

AJ

AJ,

Thanks for your response.

About your answer to #1: is it possible to have a registration which ONLY modifies the hold button and the split point? I'm not yet familiar with registrations. On my old Yamaha, registrations would change the current style and voices. If this is possible, I think this would solve my problem. Anyway, do you think that this could be implemented in a future O.S. release? A combination of two buttons would be great. I think I'll not be the only one who will appreciate this feature a lot.

About the 150 ms and the polarity issues, it would be great if you find the way to implement in future o.s. releases also.

Thanks AJ, for your support,
Sincerely,
Guillermo.

Hi Guillermo & AJ,
On the older Yamaha's you could change the polarity by holding the button down, and turning on the power! Pretty simple huh?
Still loving my 2000!
All the best,
Nobby

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GuillermoRosado,

Pls see response below.

About your answer to #1: is it possible to have a registration which ONLY modifies the hold button and the split point?
>>>AJ: Yes. When you press UTILITY -> Page 2 -> REGIS MODE; in this screen, YOU can determine what a REGISTRATION should/should not change/memorize. When set to 'ON', a change in REGISR will endorse whatever value the new REGISR holds; however, when set to OFF, a change in REGISR will maintain only the settings within the current REGISTR. This way you can use the REGISTR feature to it's max. I will endevour to do some more research on the other points you mentioned.
Thanks,

AJ

I must say that it is great to have someone sponored by Ketron involved with this forum !

dano

I couldn't agree more. Nowhere in my country I could have a better help

-- José.

I will add my vote to Dano and Matias...its absolutely great!

AJ,

Do these settings apply only for the regiter I'm working with, or apply to all registers?

For example, on the utility menu I set the register to apply only for the split point, this will apply to all registers or only to one? How I tell the sd1 to only affect one register?

Thanks again for your help and excellent support,
Guillermo.