Fran is right - the mic settings were not very good. I remember the X1 being much easier to get it right.

I was brave tonight, but I worked with a net .... I left my Korg on the stage last night, so I just set the XD on a stand next to it. I played the first set on the Korg, and the second on the XD, and the first impressions are as follows:

1) Bass and drums are indeed, awesome - like the SD1
2) Button layout is more cryptic than the X1, but easier than the VA7 was. I need more time to decide if it's logical enough for me .... so far it's a little clumsy.
3) Patterns - hmmmmm, not an earth shattering difference from other Ketron lines, but again - it's early I only played it an hour.
4) Sounds - typical Ketron - wonderful, expressive, in your face
5) Mic - the factory settings did not work well for me, and when I did a quick tweak, it was better, but no where near acceptable yet. I'll be fair ... I need more time with it to fiddle. It has to get better, cause it really was sub standard tonight.
6) No dedicated 1/4 inch jack to control the harmonizer on/off. You must use the big, bulky, heavy 6 button FS that is made by Ketron.
7) Sequence play - didn't load the hard drive yet, but Dan and I discussed the "search" while playing feature, and we don't think it does this after all. This will be a disappointment for me if it remains true.
8) Overall impression: It sounds every bit as good as the SD1, and feels great too. It's not too heavy, and it's pretty to look at (if you like that siver/goldish look) It's the color of the new Triton Studio. (sort of)
9) Price was well within the range for what you get. seems like a better value than the SD1 was.

10) Problems?

a) Tempo did NOT lock 100% between style changes, as it should. Could be gremlins, could be something else - can't live with that if it's a bug
b) Poor access to fast octave switch for right hand sounds, or bass sounds - menu driven
c) So far - we can't find a quick, dedicated button that controls the song volume in real time during seq playback. Might be there, but hidden from us - we'll explore more.
d) NO stereo audio in's - maybe the extra mic in can work as a line level, audio in ... don't know yet
e) No dedicated on/off for arranger, or pianist or bassist modes - all menu driven .... may be a problem for me, maybe not.

I did not spend that much time on it ... I'll fool more after the weekend. I will not take it to my wedding tomorrow, it's just not feasible without a F/S for the harmonizer, and I can't pump the Digitech into it, because there are no audio IN's!
So ... untill the next session with it ...... This wil have to do. So far .... the only real advantage seems to be the drums, and it's a slight advantage over the Korg, cuz they rock too. More later .... I have an early start tomorrow .