Both of you have good arguments. What I heard on the Live Demo was very good but realistically if only a handful of these real audio constructed styles pass muster and there are a total of e.g. 400 styles onboard, it won't be very comforting to know roughly 350 of them are medicore at best compared to the 50 or so excellent ones.

Now from what I've heard so far of the individual instrument sounds on the Audya most of the ones I've heard have been very good to excellent sounding. Of course Ketron is trying to put their best foot forward with the audio demos and also the same with the video demos on their web site and with a total of maybe 50 different solo instruments we've heard so far over the span of a year now i.e. Musikmesse 2007 to Musikmesse 2008 it speaks nothing of the more than 1,000 or so we haven't heard yet and most likely won't until the person can actually play it firsthand. And to be able to do so before you've actually first purchased the Audya may be a miracle in itself. I know Guitar Center doesn't stock Ketron products. With them it is strictly a special order item only. I think those in the U.K and Europe as a whole will have a significantly better opportunity to demo the Audya firsthand without having to buy it sight unseen first because the Audya is made in Europe and the distribution over there is a lot more connected and cohesive i.e. 'tightly knit' within the European countries. I will usually never buy something I can't try out beforehand first to see if it suits my needs. So for me to play an Audya I would have to drive to either L.A. i.e. George Kaye's shop (which wouldn't be too bad i.e. 100 miles or so) or out to Arizona where AJ works i.e. 400 miles or so. It shouldn't have to be that difficult and/or time consuming to go play a $4,500 dollar keyboard especially with gasoline prices sky high and then on top of that to find it doesn't suit your liking.

And as Donny said, how about service centers for the Audya? Will I have to ship it a 1,000 miles to have it worked on? Will they have to keep it several weeks or months before I get it back? If a person gigs, what do we use in the meantime for our gigs? I realize most musicians have back-up gear but the main axe is the one you're counting on and it's getting worked on a 1,000 miles etc., from where you reside, and may be tied up for several weeks to over a month getting fixed?!?!?! So Donny's point is well taken also.

And nothing in reply from Ketron so far?

It just goes further to show people that the support is just not there, either verbally and/or quite possibly contractually with Ketron products. Maybe AJ has orders from central headquarters i.e. Ancona, Italy to say as little as possible, with Ketron not wanting to stir up any pressing debates or controversy regarding the Audya, so if he has to remain quiet he may be only following orders and you have to respect him for that because he is simply being a 'good' employee. We don't want him getting in any trouble either.

Again, all good points and all points well taken guys. I'm still debating whether I should risk getting an Audya sight unseen. Maybe by Musikmesse 2009 when they demo it again I will be more open to it though. Just kidding AJ and Ketron! lol.. I hope you can take a joke!

Best,
Mike

[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 03-21-2008).]