sd5 riffs just loops?

got recent demo on sd5, dealer says riffs just loops, another
dealer says same..but i'm reading here in past posts about
the riff feature that adapts to the chords you start the tune
with, and another poster mentioned there were 2 kinds of
riffs--loops and intelligent--planned. was the intelligent
riff feature on the prototype abandoned when the sd5 was
distributed? or are the dealers not aware of it?

also, someone asked if the newest update to the sd1+
will have the riff feature, but nobody replied..

------------------
Miami Mo

What OS did the SD5 you tried at your local store have? Riff keys in based on chord you played prior to activating RIFF (major, minor ...etc). Chord sequence is then played based off of what you played plus built-in chord sequencer table.
Thanks,
AJ

PS: OS for SD1+ will NOT contain the RIFF feature as there is no pending OS for the SD1+ at this time.

AJ, thanks, i see the misunderstanding now..

it is interactive in the sense you start it out with the
key and the first chord, but then it is just a loop
with a preset chord progression, right?
is there a table available that displays the progression
for each of the riffs? one progression can fit many standard tunes--if one can figure out which set of tunes would fit
the preprogrammed progression one could solo with
another instrument (in my case sax) over it.

also, how many bars is the progression? is it the same # of bars for each riff? does it include a bridge?

as far as which OS, i have no idea..i tried it at audioworks
in ct..but what difference would the os make for the riff feature? tell me what updates to the riff feauture were
offering vs the first riff os?


------------------
Miami Mo

Is it any OS upgrade for SD5, can't see any at Ketrons website?

Cheers
GJ

I don't believe there is, although it could use one. There are some minor glitches that need to be fixed. AJ?

Glenn

... we're working on it. I just didn't know if it was released yet (or included in some of the newer machines), but it isn't.

AJ

AJ, you may have missed my earlier q..
could you answer this please?

just replying to myself since nobody has answered the
question above.. in the hope someone will read it again
and have the answer....LOL

The riff is fixed, you cannot change it. It will vary in length and complexity based on the pattern from which it is generated. Not all patterns have the riff feature, I'd guess about 10% of the patterns in the SD5. It is based on the key, major or minor, tempo, and pattern. The riff usually has three variations, increasing in complexity from variation one through variation three. Hope this helps.

Glenn

thanks, Glenn, but does it follow a 32-bar pattern, or 8, or
12, or 16, or does it have a bridge?

Usually a 4, 8, or 12 bar pattern, no bridge. Dispite it's limitation of not being programable, I've found it to be a useful tool to implement between verses or between 2 songs in a medley. It always seems to fit and definitely adds variety.

Glenn

seems an improvement on just a variation 4 in any case

i'm trying to make a decision between sd5, sd1+, pa800,
and psr s-900 or even the E60 i returned for defect..i have
a credit w/Geo. Kaye.

waiting to see what the s900 is like. hard to make a choice
i took a quick test on the sd5/sd1+. liked both for feel, styles, but don't like the 37 lbs vs under-30 for the other 3..prefer 76 but sd5 appears to have better nav than sd1+, plus riff feature, spkrs..pa800 had best sound, but
feel and styles didn't grab me as much as ketron..I'm
basically a bass/drum user playing jazz/latin/blues,
all these units are overkill for me in many ways

Glenn, what made you decide on sd5 and what were your
other tryouts?

thanks, Mo