Just a few thoughts after using it on the job for two weekends and one private party...
Of course the drums and bass are wonderful, as expected.
I love the "natural" sounds, guitars, pianos, saxes, fiddle, pedal steel, trumpets, harmonica, flutes, organs... Those are the ones I use and I want them to sound like they are supposed to, and they do.
I'm becoming more familiar, or re-familiar with the operating system and it has some good features.
The huge touch screen has really great definition and it is very responsive as well. It helps that the screen is large, so the icons can be large as well.
The onboard speakers are fantastic. I had not been using them until Monday night at the party, when I had to set up a little behind the two Maui 5 speakers.
I decided to turn on the speakers and the sound was great. In fact too loud, so I turned the keyboard volume down. Then I realized I was not hearing the Maui 5s. I had to figure it out quickly and I wanted to make certain I wasn't missing something so I called AJ and asked him if turning the speakers on would affect the L&R outputs.
He said "no way". But he said they are really strong.
Then I realized that I had to turn the keyboard volume down, and the speaker/mixer volume UP to balance everything. A few minutes of experimenting and everything was fine! Those speakers are so powerful I could have done the job with just the keyboard.
Of course there are some things I don't like much. The power supply is external, adding another "wall wart" to the setup.
There is no indicator light to tell you if the vocal harmony is on or off; you have to remember it.
There is no phantom power for the mic.
It's a TAD heavier than I thought it would be, but I'm not moving it much and when I do I have lots of help. It is three pounds heavier than the Korg PA-4X61. Doesn't sound like much...
It's too long, just like all the other Ketrons. I had to change stands from my 61-note size to a 76-note size, even though the keyboard is a 61. Same thing for the carry bag.
However the wasted space on the right makes a great mouse pad! Or you could easily set a mini mixer or whatever there.
Just thought some would want to hear my first impressions.

Great review Don. How's the SD7 built-in speakers compared to Pa1000's?

Don: Any initial thoughts on how it compares to your PA4X?

Thanks,
jingleman

They are really different animals. The 4x has fantastic real-time controls, even down to details such as labeling on top where the pedals, mic, etc plug in, so you don't have to fumble or lift the kb to see them. The vocal harmonizer is o.k. in the SD7, but simply great in the 4X. I prefer many of the lead sounds on the Ketron. Styles on both are good, but I enjoy a lot of the Unplugged styles on 4X.
Screen resolution is better on the SD7, BUT it doesn't tilt.
I prefer the easy hookup for Korg EC5 pedal. The Ketron still has one of those old screw-in cables that printers used to have.
I prefer the standard power supply on the Korg, rather than outboard. Size of the Korg is much better and the layout is nearly perfect for live play.
Chord sequencer and midi-to-style converter on the Korg are nice.
I prefer the keytouch on the Ketron, but bear in mind that for me, lighter is better. Both are fine though.
The sliders are in a great position on the SD7, but there are more on the Korg and they are all programmable.
The Korg fits a 61 note stand and bag. SD7 is 76 note size.
Many more differences, some of advantage for each kb. As I said they are really different.
It would come down to personal preference.
Ketron has only AJ for support in US. However he is easier to reach than anyone at Korg, although Paulo monitors the Korg forum and is helpful. You can't pick up the phone and call him though.
I like both arrangers. Hope I'm still around when the successor to the 4X comes out in a year or so!

Donny, as I said, I don't even buy green bananas these days. Hope I'm still around when and if one comes out, but I won't buy anything ever again until the bugs are worked out, and they all have bugs at first.
When are you getting a Genos, seems like you sure talk about it a lot.

Donny, as I said, I don't even buy green bananas these days. Hope I'm still around when and if one comes out, but I won't buy anything ever again until the bugs are worked out, and they all have bugs at first.
When are you getting a Genos, seems like you sure talk about it a lot.

They are really different animals. The 4x has fantastic real-time controls, even down to details such as labeling on top where the pedals, mic, etc plug in, so you don't have to fumble or lift the kb to see them. The vocal harmonizer is o.k. in the SD7, but simply great in the 4X. I prefer many of the lead sounds on the Ketron. Styles on both are good, but I enjoy a lot of the Unplugged styles on 4X.
Screen resolution is better on the SD7, BUT it doesn't tilt.
I prefer the easy hookup for Korg EC5 pedal. The Ketron still has one of those old screw-in cables that printers used to have.
I prefer the standard power supply on the Korg, rather than outboard. Size of the Korg is much better and the layout is nearly perfect for live play.
Chord sequencer and midi-to-style converter on the Korg are nice.
I prefer the keytouch on the Ketron, but bear in mind that for me, lighter is better. Both are fine though.
The sliders are in a great position on the SD7, but there are more on the Korg and they are all programmable.
The Korg fits a 61 note stand and bag. SD7 is 76 note size.
Many more differences, some of advantage for each kb. As I said they are really different.
It would come down to personal preference.
Ketron has only AJ for support in US. However he is easier to reach than anyone at Korg, although Paulo monitors the Korg forum and is helpful. You can't pick up the phone and call him though.
I like both arrangers. Hope I'm still around when the successor to the 4X comes out in a year or so!

Don- As there is no light for vh on and off, is there an icon on screen that changes or appears when switched?

No.

What about on the Sd9?

On my SD7, the light means the microphone is on. It doesn't go off and on with the Harmonizer. Unless I'm missing something really important. It looks like the layouts are identical.
Thanks!

I like that the Ketron harmonizer remains on after you stop the style.

I imagine that if it can be assigned to a foot pedal function it can be assigned to an existing physical button interface?? As Don indicated, this needs to be an instant function and does not allow for switching screens or holding down a button tying up a hand.
I too like that the voice from function remains on without a style so it can be used while playing another instrument during performances.

My suggestion is to reassign the function of the mic button on keyboard from mic on and off to voicetron on and off and as suggested replace solid button with a button with an led.

I wonder if the changing that button and its function could be done by AJ as a customization??

Working on it already :-)

Working on it already :-)

Don... you might be able to get the same functionality you have with the PA1000.

A company called Midi Solutions makes a module called the Footswitch Controller. It can be programmed to send a MIDI message on initial press of the footswitch, and a different one upon release.

On another thread I posted about wanting "Bass Inversion" to be a MOMENTARY function, for those songs having one odd slash chord. (I didn't want to press a pedal once to turn it on, and again to turn it off in the middle of a song.) I got their Footswitch controller and was able to make it work just like I wanted. I'll bet you can do the same with your harmonizer volume. Just a thought.

....There are no bad choices these days!

PA4X is hard to beat for sure. There are no bad choices these days!

That is for sure

Remember back in the 80's when we used 2,3 even 4 keyboard set ups.. Trying to blend our DX7 with a D50, sh101 for our bass, and a DW8000 for our lead etc..
We can only look at the possibilities with a single arranger keyboard today.. So many to choose from, and not a dog in the bunch..

a Korg arranger where you can layer more then 3 sounds on the right hand or 2 on the left hand?

.....the more sounds you layer, the closer you get to a farfisa-like organ timbre

I think 3 is plenty, but that's a subjective opinion, from a non Farfisa fan.

[video:youtube]https://youtu.be/5WKgRiWfc-E[/video]

Just stop. We're not buying it.

....
.... You know you want a damn Genos ... just get one, and dig in....

It will happen, just a matter of time ....

I cannot for the life of me understand why someone would consider the SD7 over the SD9. Have no idea about the difference in price though - maybe you consider taking over DonM's unit and that might clarify things.

The SD9 has enough features to keep someone with just a little creativity busy for a very long time. My Audya is eight years old, yet to this day I still tamper almost daily with new styles for it, despite the lack of tools to do so.

Yamaha is awesome and much more exciting (to me at least), but I have to admit that somehow the sounds of the various instruments coming out of any Ketron unit are just much more seperated and clear than anything else - I do not know how they accomplish this. For easy, first take amazing recordings, they are hard to beat.

DNJ, I can see that your mind is made up and I can understand why. Now take some good advice - go for the SD9 instead. It might cost you more right now, but you will be glad you did in the end. Plus it will save you the funds for a new Genos in the long run as you will have more than enough to keep yourself occupied.

[quote=Henni] Maybe they want on board speakers.. maybe they only want 61 keys.. maybe they want the 46 RAM voices( sound better than the other voices), that are apparently not on the SD9..
And the best reason for the SD7....

Nope Genos1... Not for me at all..

Well then, stop shouting about it all the time! You seem obsessed with the darn thing.

(caution - RANT ahead)

And what's all this talk about G2???? Geeze - stop speculating, and start enjoying what's available today. You're always looking at the "next big thing" before it's even on the market. It's good to dream, but not when you LIVE in the dream.
You know I love ya, bud ... you just need to rethink this retirement activity a bit. Get some new hobbies, and enjoy your life OUTSIDE the computer room. You post 4 topics to everyone else's ONE on this forum. It's getting to be like white noise.

(RANT over)

Dave YOUR sounding more & more like and old angry codger chill out