Unless I missed it, don't Ketron's STILL only provide audio loops for Maj/Min/b7th?

I am sorry, but I remember the examples, and it was, at least to me, PAINFULLY obvious when you switched to a diminished chord, a suspended 4th or an augmented one. Sure, it's not QUITE as obvious with the simple extensions (although I could hear them) but those all MIDI chord types rarely matched the audio ones at all. Sorry, perhaps I am applying too high a standard to this, but a feature that goes backwards from where we are now (some of Korg's and Yamaha's MIDI guitar parts can sound pretty realistic, with no change in tone and sound when you move to chords more complex than maj/min/7th) is no improvement, IMHO.

My major problems with audio styles have not been addressed since the idea first came out. Incomplete chord types, and a lack of continuous NEW style production. Obviously, the cost and complexity of producing new audio styles makes them rare, and even rarer in the more local styles I would like to see. If you play music round the Mediterranean, you are decently provided. But much American music is still completely ignored (or with so few styles that variety is a problem on a gig). You can only play so many songs with the same style before it all gets bland.

And, on top of all that, you STILL after what, four years of production, do not have the computer tools to easily create your OWN audio styles for the Ketron (including pitched parts) from existing loop libraries, or easily edit the existing ones beyond the simplest things.

The Ketron, if you are content with what content it comes with, is an excellent arranger. But if your musical needs are not met by what it comes with, you are pretty much out of luck.

I am sorry that some think that pointing out drawbacks that actually exist is 'trolling'. Maybe if I was making this stuff up, you'd have a point. But unless some major revision of Ketron's OS, and a major revision to the ROM to include at least twice as many audio chords per style, and software tools to easily import and create your own all audio styles snuck by me, the reservations I had at launch still exist.

And, as I keep going on (and on!) about, much of what some tout as audio loops' advantages, the sonic authenticity of audio performances, is rapidly disappearing, as ROM sizes of included samples gets larger and larger. I honestly feel that MIDI drum loops, if played through a considerably better set of samples, if performed on MIDI drum kits by good drummers, and MIDI guitar performances, if played on SA2 quality MIDI guitar sample sets, and played by good guitarists, they rival audio loops with NONE of the drawbacks.

They are cheaper to produce, simpler to edit and transform, and make vastly less demands on the hardware than audio loops. Plus, you can take all your legacy styles, and run them into these new, larger sample sets, and lo and behold! All your OLD styles sound better now!

That's a win/win, in my book..!