SD4 Question

Since I had no luck with my question on updating problems, let me ask if the two updates are that important to basic functions.

So sorry couldn’t help you Bernie, I have no clue, I haven’t myself updated my Audya 5 since I bought it, hopefully someone will answer your question soon, it’ll be good to know

To avoid any confusion, I am speaking of the SD4, and not my SD40,

Bernie,
A few years back I did a recommended upgrade to my Ketron SD2 and it completely killed the unit. Dan tried to help but to no avail. AJ finally replaced the unit.

Deane

I forgot about that. Thanks Deane

SD2 is very easy to kill with the upgrade. I did it myself too

I never heard for now a SD4 killed by the upgrade, because it is done by USB and not MIDI

I haven't got the number for the first upgrade, but, for now I want to know if the upgrade is important for use in vArranger?

I think the latest SD4 update is 1.32 and corrects some bugs with some midi messages over USB or over MIDI

Hi,

Yes,
the last update is 1.32.
You can see it by pressing 0, holding it and turning it on.
Then it will be shown in the display.

Thank you Dan, AJ just told me to forget it. Like you say, it is a minor bug fix, and does not do anything for use with vArranger. I will tell my friend we are good to go with the SD4 as is. He will buy VA2 when he returns.

Mmm.... As far I remember, the version 1.32 is important to correct USB bugs with the SD4 that was working good on Windows XP but not with Windows 7

It was an update asked by me directly to Ketron italy, to correct some important bugs

I also remember that when you upgrade the SD4, it never says that it is finished, but in fact after few minutes, you can check the version and it is well updated

Ketron's web site shows only v 1.30. I found this this vArrnager thread concerning the SD4 USB issue. https://www.varranger.com/vforum/index.php?topic=209.0

Dan has a MIDI test file to test the SD 4 USB midi connection. V 1.30 does have a USB issue. Dan has done a great job with patch mapping/layering for the SD4.

Now where can I find v 1.32? My SD4 has 1.30. Does that mean I have to update it to 1.31 before 1.32?

If you use the midi port, like I always did with my SD4, it worked well. So, unless I am reading this wrong, the only problem is with the USB port.

Bernie,
When I got both the SD90 and the SD40 I discovered something strange.
The SD90 would NOT power a keyboard using a USB port and It required the 5 Pin
midi cable to work. I tried it with several midi controllers and AJ confirmed the SD90's USB ports did to supply enough power to power a keyboard. The SD40 does power a keyboard using the USB port.

I don't know what this has to do with this thread but thought it might be of interest to some.

Deane

Will a powered USB hub work on your SD90?

You're right; it is the USB midi connection. It will be convenient to be able to use one single USB midi cable for MIDI in and out. If I remember it correctly, the USB on the SD 4 actually offers two separate USB MIDI ports as it is a two SD2s in it after all.

Thanks for the confirmation. I don't remember about the USB ports as I never used them.

Torch,
I now longer have the SD90 and did not try a powered USB hub with it. I replaced it with the SD40 so the USB cable would work and I would not have to carry around an extra power brick and cable.

Deane

What a shame that the flagship model has a bug like that. I haven't connected my SD40 to PC, but it's good to know that it works fine.

My SD90 powered my MIDI controllers thru USB ports without any issue.

That's the whole thing. It seems that with Ketron, sometimes it is a bug that will affect every unit, and other times it is a hardware/quality control issue that won't affect every single unit. I updated my SD4 and SD40 yesterday, and I still have a USB issue with the SD4. I was reading on the vArranger forum that some units have the issue and others don't. The SD1000 has the same issue; some units can be powered by USB only, many others don't. Someone found out that it was some cheap part in it.