http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVTA2wvX4A8



www.AudioworksCT.com
203.876.1133



[This message has been edited by frankieve (edited 05-03-2009).]

Very nice Frank Thank you.....
appreciate it. Hope to see more in the future.

Very good and clear review.
Thanks Frank. I look forward to hearing some of the styles. The positions of the mod wheel and USB inputs seem very odd. But, overall, a very interesting looking board.
Eddie

Yikes! Not only did Ketron give the Audya USB 1.1 (an archaic spec) they then go ahead and put the connections in "harms way" on the front of the keyboard right by the User's left leg?? Everybody and his uncle moves his body around when playing a keyboard (when sitting OR standing) unless your a classically trained Pianist and even that's iffy. Which makes me wonder who is running the show over there in Ancona Italy?? It's apparent their employees either have NO musical background experience i.e. they are just lame?? engineers who don't know what they're doing, OR they're bringing people in "off the street" who don't know what they're doing either. The USB placement if VERY disheartening in my opinion. >> Oh..? where's my thumb drive??? On the floor?? GREAT!!! >> I can't just quit playing (before a live audience) an pick up my thumb drive - which has fallen on the floor because Ketron's design engineers are apparently clueless!! Ouch! Buyer Beware!! Or if you do buy an Audya "be very, very, still when you play it." [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img]

Also, it would have been very "easy" for Ketron to make the XLR Mic volume controls more intuitive. Okay, so you have the "knobs" that stick out right? What they could have done is make the knobs "pushable" where you push them once and they "retract" i.e. "go in" making them 'flush' with the keyboard casing after you've set them to your desired preference. Push them again and they would "come out" which is where they're at ALL THE TIME because of Ketron's lack of foresight in my opinion. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] And which makes them extremely vulnerable to disruption and unwanted movement as it currently stands.

Another bummer is the buttons don't line up??? [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/confused.gif[/img] That will take some getting use to no doubt. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/mad.gif[/img] And as Frank has already attested too. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/wink.gif[/img]

Okay, so we now know the Audya is apparently a design disaster [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] ... what can you tell us in the way of any good news about the Audya Frank? [img]http://smileydatabase.com/s/128.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] Oh yeah.. you did mention the Styles were brought up to a "new" level right? [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/smile.gif[/img] That is good news if it is indeed true. The proof will be in the pudding of course. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/cool.gif[/img]

Hey, that would be a good "side by side" test if you don't mind Frank. Put them all through a rigorous "Styles" test and let the world judge the results. If the Audya comes out on top then at least we know the "sound" and "style" engineers from Ketron are credible eh? [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img]

I know, I know.. I realize I'm being a little rough on the Ketron crew. [img]http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Happy/happy-082.gif[/img] Unfortunately, they are somewhat deserving of it don't you think? [img]http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Happy/happy-073.gif[/img] My opinion of course...

All the best,
Mike

Thanks Frank,
Just what we needed. If possible please compare the styles per catagory - that will help a lot to see if the keyboard fits our particular gigging needs. Or which one of the four does so.

hammer

Nice 1st episode Frank!

The additional fill buttons was new info to me, should make it more flexible, specially
if the buttons are assignable as well.
Regarding the USB connectors, yeah, not ultimate place to put it, but there might be a
way to make it personal, just connect a USB hub and place it where you want (as long as
the Audya are compatible and do recognize a HUB), or connect a extention cable and place
the USB stick where you want it.
Your remark about the styles sounds good, as we know that Ketron SD1 sure contain real
great styles, Audya has better?
And the manual, yeah, pretty good for a beta test version of Audya, don't you think?

Anyway, looking forward to see/hear your comment when put it up against the KorgPaX2,
because due to the heavy prices where I live, I doubt I will buy a Audya before it comes
at the 2nd hand market as long as I know I can add both Korg and Tyros3 or another couple
of top arrangers for the same amount of money..........

Cheers
GJ

[This message has been edited by Gunnar Jonny (edited 05-03-2009).]

WOW! Who at Ketron decided to put the USB connections there!!!!????? Frank is right in that they should either be in the back or on the top panel. Hell.., anywhere but where Ketron put them. It's odd those soft keys on the screen don't line up. However.., that seems more of a cosmetic issue than one that would seriously hinder operation (just would take some getting used to I guess).

Why in the hell is the master volume so far to the right? I still don't like the location of the style controls being in the middle of the keyboard under the screen. Sure that's a comfortable position if your entire solo is at middle C.., but realistically the controls to either the left or right make much more sense. I'm glad that Ketron added a data dial to the Audya too (as Frank said.., it's about time) Welcome to that last 20 years of quick data selection and entry Ketron.., glad to see you finally got here.

Holy crap could this $5,000 arranger scream HOME KEYBOARD any louder with those HUGE picture icons to the left above the keys. I know that's a personal cosmetic issue.., but IMO it just screams of cheese in the "looks factor" with those huge icons above the keys.

Frank..., what's the panel made of? Is it metal or plastic? Hard to tell from the vid.

Very cool to hear Ketron has taken the styles to "the next level". Can't wait to hear those..., as well as some patch demos too. I know we gotta hear it yet.., but so far I'm not seeing a $5,000 arranger keyboard.

I will say however.., there's no damn excuse for ANY keyboard maker to release a keyboard with a manual like Frank showed in the vid. I think that just reeks of piss poor business operations. Releasing a keyboard that costs this much with nothing more than a "glorified starter guide" is unacceptable. I think that's pretty shotty to leave a lot of the "figuring out" up to the consumer in this way. Sure you can beta test it for Ketron.., but the bloody thing should at least have a complete manual. I like the Kinko's reference Frank



[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 05-03-2009).]

The fact that he keyboard has USB 1.1 indicates that they use last years PC hardware technology as the backbone of the instrument.

This is kinda sad...


But if it sounds good, and is easy to use.... why not... I am wayting for a sounds demo...can't wayt actually...

And i'd love to seen if there is any easy accassible interfacing to controll a laptop running my vst's over USB or Midi...

This would give you the best styles... and best sounds in one instrument.

curious what is on the usb stick that could or would not be copied into a folder on the hard drive ?

My guess:
Styles, lyrics etc. Load and copy from, and of course save into, or siply use as additional storage.
GJ