Well, these are more American than the last ones, for sure! I have to agree that they are some of the best rock patterns I've heard in an arranger, but in all fairness, a LOT of my G70's rock stuff comes VERY close to this, at, of course, a FRACTION of the price (and being four years old or more and discontinued! ), and an infinitely more 'tweakable' form.

Rock revolves around the kick pattern. Got the perfect style, but ONE kick hit ruins it? G70, no problem, Audya, sorry... no can do.

BTW, I don't agree that the drums ARE too loud. If you imagine a RH part over the top of this (and maybe a LH synth sound, too) at the usual volumes that many like to play them, the drums ARE going to have to be this pumped up for it to still rock! Mind you, keep them (YOUR Parts) down IN the mix, and not ON the mix, and yes, you COULD bring these drums down a bit. But few that I've heard here ever manage that trick!

And, no offense, but pump my G70's Rock drums up to that level, and things get seriously similar. I do agree that, other than the drums, there isn't hardly anything that screams 'next generation' here. And, given that the SD-1 did drums exactly the same way, it makes you wonder just exactly WHAT do you get for all that extra money?