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Joined: May 2007
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I've read a lot on the forums about the Ketron SD2 and am curious about a few things...
I currently use my keyboard for MIDI sounds from BIAB as well as playing piano along with BIAB. Can the Ketron take the place of my keyboard sound module for the BIAB Midi as well as my keyboard playing?
Also, I cannot find any solo audio samples of the Ketron piano. Their website has a pop piano that has drums, bass, etc. I would love to hear it solo piano. Can anyone direct me to a site?
Thanks
Rachael
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Rachel, I have the SD2 and I love most of the sounds. You certainly can use it for BIAB's MIDI output and you will probably like the sounds better than your current keyboard. And you surely could use the SD2 piano sound on the thru track.
FWIW, however, I suspect that your keyboard has a better piano sound than the SD2's piano.
Susan
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Rachael,
You will still need to use your keyboard for recording with. The SD2 is just a sound module. Once you have recorded your midi data into Biab, you could then connect the SD2 for the instrument playback sounds.
Send Mac a PM. I believe he also sells the SD2. I'm sure he will have some great samples of the SD2 with Biab.
Trax
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Quote:
I've read a lot on the forums about the Ketron SD2 and am curious about a few things...
I currently use my keyboard for MIDI sounds from BIAB as well as playing piano along with BIAB. Can the Ketron take the place of my keyboard sound module for the BIAB Midi as well as my keyboard playing?
Easy. Just disconnect the computer's MIDI cord from the MIDI INput on the keyboard and connect it instead to the MIDI Input on the SD2. Then connect the Audio outs of the SD2 to your amplified speakers.
Quote:
Also, I cannot find any solo audio samples of the Ketron piano. Their website has a pop piano that has drums, bass, etc. I would love to hear it solo piano. Can anyone direct me to a site?
Thanks
Rachael
Your wish is my command, madame, that is, if you can stand my keypounding attempts:
KetronSD2PianoMac.mp3
KetronPianoBozMac.mp3
And with bass and drum backing, also from the SD2, using a MIDI file to playback thru it:
ATTYA_SD2.mp3
Keyboard controller used is the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 tonight.
You could also use the SD2 for BIAB and still connect your Yamaha to the PA and play that. The SD2 has a very mellow Italian grand in it, Yamaha sampled that one wondrous Yamaha C a long time back and it still has plenty of merit IMO.
Don't shoot me, I'm only the Ketron player!
--Mac
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Thanks to all and very nice Mac! Did you do any doctoring (effects, etc) or is that the sound right out of the SD2?
Do I understand the way it would be used would be:
- Midi Out of computer (BIAB) to Midi In of KB (or would I use Midi Thru)
- Midi Out of KB to Midi In of Ketron
- Audio Out of Ketron to amp
Two more questions please...
1. I would be playing using the Grand Piano sound 99% of the time. What is required to change to, for example, an electric piano? My KB supports GM and I have buttons for those sounds.
2. Would the volume sliders on my piano control the output once passed through the SD2? I have two sliders - one for the overall sound, the other for the internal sound. Currently, I use the Line Out from my KB to the amp.
Thanks,
R
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Quote:
Thanks to all and very nice Mac! Did you do any doctoring (effects, etc) or is that the sound right out of the SD2?
No "doctoring" -- recorded straight out of the two Audio L & R jacks of the SD2 straight into the L & R Line Inputs of an M-Audio AP2496 soundcard. Using Realband or Powertracks (same exact engine in each for that. No effects, nothing but the Ketron itself, using the default Grand Piano 001 patch. (BTW I would never resort to such chicanery in a demo of this sort and if there WAS any "doctoring" I would have stated that right up front. What would be the use of such if the goal was to be able to hear what the device in question itself really sounds like? )
Quote:
Do I understand the way it would be used would be:
- Midi Out of computer (BIAB) to Midi In of KB (or would I use Midi Thru)
- Midi Out of KB to Midi In of Ketron
- Audio Out of Ketron to amp
Too complicated, a recipe for trouble here. For starting out, don't connect any Thru connects, instead connect MIDI Out of Computer to MIDI in of SD2 and MIDI Out of keyboard to MIDI in of computer. Keyboard will then act as a dumb keyboard controller.
Quote:
Two more questions please...
1. I would be playing using the Grand Piano sound 99% of the time. What is required to change to, for example, an electric piano? My KB supports GM and I have buttons for those sounds.
If your keyboard Sends those standard GM patches out of its MIDI Out when you push one of those buttons, the SD2 will receive the Bank Change and respond.
Quote:
. Would the volume sliders on my piano control the output once passed through the SD2? I have two sliders - one for the overall sound, the other for the internal sound. Currently, I use the Line Out from my KB to the amp.
Thanks,
R
One of the sliders on your keyboard is a MIDI Controller 7 -- MIDI volume. SD2 will respond to that when it is hooked up instead of the piano's internal synth.
There is a volume slider on the SD2 also, that corresponds to the "other" volume fader on your keyboard, only is for the SD2's sounds. I leave that one turned up all the way at all times as it is not a MIDI volume command but is a standard analog volume control.
--Mac
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Quote:
Did you do any doctoring (effects, etc) or is that the sound right out of the SD2?
Quote:
Quote:
No "doctoring" -- recorded straight out of the two Audio L & R jacks of the SD2 straight into the L & R Line Inputs of an M-Audio AP2496 soundcard. Using Realband or Powertracks (same exact engine in each for that. No effects, nothing but the Ketron itself, using the default Grand Piano 001 patch. (BTW I would never resort to such chicanery in a demo of this sort and if there WAS any "doctoring" I would have stated that right up front. What would be the use of such if the goal was to be able to hear what the device in question itself really sounds like? )
My apologies if you took offense to my question. I certainly did not mean to offend. I was hoping that was the sound with no added effects but I had to check. I guess it's like asking someone if they really made that spagetti sauce.
Again thanks for those samples and your input.
Rachael
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