Maybe so, but why the total silence?
And... there most be trillions of bugs fixed during the long
time since the first hype started, can't be many left to solve if
thats the problem.
Probably more serious than just a few bugs... and the silence are
in the wrong end of the marketing strategy, if any at all. :P

GJ

or maybe, they kinda reworked the AUDYA, new samples, SA voices etc., to OUTDO the Tyros3

i mean for $5,000, i hope it's better than Tyros3 or Ketron is in trouble

Let's hope it just WORKS...

I have had my doubt about the practicality of loop-sliced audio as an alternative to MIDI files and an NTT for a long time. I STILL don't see how they get around the limited selection of chord types problem, or the 'gap in the sound' problem as you slow loops down below their original tempo.

Personally, I think they bit off more than they can chew. And, as hard as it is to get decent third party styles just for regular MIDI based arrangers, how hard do you think it is going to get finding new styles that use loops? Ketron have an abysmal record of providing new 'Live Loop' styles for their existing arrangers. What makes you think that suddenly they are going to be a fount of them, now?

The ROM loops better be f*-ing amazing, and extremely versatile, because don't hold your breath waiting for new ones! This ain't like simply chopping a drum loop up... You need a guitar loop in ALL keys and modes and chord types, all perfectly matched and evenly played. Best of luck.

Forget editing the styles. A loop is a loop. Game over.

Time will tell, but although if ever brought to market it will sound initially quite distinctive, I worry about how little NEW content you'll get from that point onwards. How many of us are STILL using nothing but ROM styles, after a year or two of ownership? You are NOT going to want to buy the Audya2 after a couple of years at these prices!

You all make very good points; Why announce a keyboard, when you only planning on releasing almost two years later. DNJ, your also right, I have been the test dummy for ketron for a number of years, x1, xd9 & sd5 and I want a keyboard that works and does not freeze or the screen fades out with lines, etc. Diki, you also bring up good point, with this new wave loop styles.Can they be edited, how will the 3rd party styles work, etc. I can tell you when MS series was first release and the follow years after, they have one of the best style library out there, to further expand the MS keyboards. After thatthey only release very few, to none at all.

I was a die hard Ketron supporter and user. But I simply lost faith in there products. They still sound very good, if not the best. but no more for me, for now.

[This message has been edited by mc (edited 10-16-2008).]

DIKI,

very good points

i like audio loops used in styles,
they give it the "live" feeling that Korg, Roland, Yamaha cannot produce

of course i understand your points about slowing down styles with say a guitar accomp., the choppiness etc., that's probably why it's taking Ketron so long.... they probably realize, ye it works , but after deviating more than say 15% from original tempo, it starts to sound chooped up and is unuseable....

if any editing of these live loops were possible, via recording your own, importing, this AUDYA would be THE BOMB !!!

LIVE AUDIO LOOPS EXPLAINED FURTHER.

2 Drum tracks (Drum 1= Midi, Drum 2 = Audio).
1 Bass track (Audio/Midi depending on style).
4 Arranger Chord parts (Midi).
1 Arranger Chord part (Audio/Live).
2 Chord parts - instant/lower (midi).

STYLES WITH AUDIO LOOPS.
* Use all tracks (especially the AUDIO tracks).
* Recorded as 3 styles (e.g Ballad Slow (0-30%), Ballad Med (30-60%), Ballad Fast (60-100%) [where % marks tempo] so there are actually 3 'styles' per style depending on tempo selected! This eliminates Audio disruption when tempo is stretched beyond limit of the 'styles'.
* User can create their own AUDIO styles, but yes, extra work is needed ONLY on audio tracks if user decides to use audio.
* Extensive Editing available on non audio tracks.
* Limited editing available on Audio tracks (as you can expect).

STYLES WITHOUT AUDIO LOOPS
* Use all NON AUDIO tracks (Drum1, Bass, Chord 1-4).
* Recorded as 1 style (e.g Salsa) with midi tempo variation (as present).
* You can create all parts from scratch.
* Permits you to load previous Ketron styles (that don't use Audio loops).
* Permits you to edit ALL tracks extensively.

STYLE CONVERSIONS.
* Applicable? Yes, since MIDI tracks on styles still exists.
* Converting from other manufacturer to KETRON? Yes via external software (e.g EMC).
* Converting from KETRON to other manufacturer - yes, but you'll loose/miss the audio tracks.
* 3rd party styles usable? Yes. You can simply inco-orporate whichever loop into 3rd party style (if time signatures match) once loaded into AUDYA.

* Recording your won loops? Possible. Using these with styles (factory or user)? Possible ... after some extra work editing the loop(s).

Hope I answered most questions (especially those in doubt).

Thanks,

AJ

What's kind of interesting is that AJ, Sandro and I were having breakfast one morning , before heading to the NAMM show
and discussing how to have an abundance of styles. I had mentioned that it would be cool if you could incorporate sample loops from all the different "sample" librarys
in to the keyboard and have them respond to chord changes.... I kind of feel the concept of Audya was born that morning !
AJ .. call me 410-598-2618 . I think you have a different # now ....

Cool features, but when will we see this for real,
demostrated and possible to lay hands on
in the stores where we use to do business?

Cheers.
GJ

AJ,

so you're saying we could use loops from libraries? and have AUDYA correspond to chord changes?

and record our own, lets say real rhythm guitar, and have that correspond to chord changes?

but then we'd have to record ALL chords, minor, 7th, 6th, dim, aug, sustained, ??

or would AUDYA transpose the Audio? so you'd record 1 Cm, and AUDYA would shift audio to say Fm, which can be done quite well now via software. (Melodyne)

No, the nature of guitar chords means that a C chord is fingered completely differently from a G chord, etc., etc..

Plus, as I've stated for a LONG time, what do you do about extensions..? Most modern arrangers give you a choice of three patterns based on chord TYPE - major minor, and 7th (and a few have Dim). The rest are extrapolated using Note Transposition Tables (NTT) from what YOU play.

But let's look at a 'live loop'... Each chord you play HAS to have a corresponding loop, or it will simply play the simplest chord it can. Play a min6, get a min... play a 7b10, get a 7th. Play a maj7, get a Maj. Not what you want at all...

AJ... how about posting EXACTLY which chords are recognized, and which aren't? Seeing as you are handing out specs

And for anyone thinking you can make your own loops up, think about this... A four bar loop, in twelve keys, with at least three main chord types, in three different tempo ranges. That's 108 different loops! All played perfectly all laboriously sliced at each transient point. And that is ONLY three types of chords. Maj, min & 7th. Add 25% for a dim, add another 25% for a sus, etc., etc..

Sorry guys, but yes, there are a few of us here that don't play anything more complicated that a Maj, a Min and a dom7th. They probably use a One Finger Chord system too! But I can't for the life of me imagine how this is going to impress any player that CAN play more complex chords. And, let's face it, at that price, how many One Finger players are going to buy it..?

We need a LOT more details about this, AJ....