Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

Good: for a such tiny box, the sound is great,
16 midi tracks.
General volume easily controlled

bad: no usb, only midi in & thru
a 3 digit program display would be useful when being played as a single track instrument
the (made in china) power supply is already out of order after only a few weeks
fortunately, the (made in Italy) SD 2 unit is still working perfectly

Marc, Tahiti.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

Pros: I'm reducing the size of my setup, so I bought the SD2 because I needed a compact module. The SD2 has supassed all my expectations in this regard. The accoustic pianos are excellent and have very solid low ends. Incredible in a unit this small.

Cons: I would have liked longer sustain/decay times on the pianos. I found the "Rhodes" patch a kind of muddy.

This is a bare-bones unit: no external controls or displays, so to get the most out of it, you will need maximum understanding of your contoller. Its not hard managing the patches, but a "bank change" button would have been a helpful addition.

I give the SD2 five stars. It is an amazing device with deep, rich sounds. I feel as though I've barely scratched the surface of its actual potential.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

I bought this unit for GM playback expecting some quality from [$]module. This hasn't happened. The sound of this unit is comparable with low quality Quick Time Player midi ck on Mac.My friend's 10 years old Roland JV1010 blows SD2 out of the water. I'm not sure how the folks who own this unit can be satisfied with it - big mystery to me.I've returned the module anyway for full refund.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

I use this product with the vArranger software [@]This software will allow you to control everything inside this small module, and will provide you realtime auto accompagniment features.The sounds of this module are amazing.Without the software you will use only 10% of it's power.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

As small size as it is, as great and amazing are the sounds it produces.
Simple to operate just out of the box, plug and play.
The only thing I can complain about is the blue power ON LED - this is much too bright.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

The Ketron SD2 is a no frills sound module. Simple in, out, and volume, But it has a big sound! All of the samples are top quality. Much more realistic than my old Alesis and Roland modules! Buy it !

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

I am an active musician,years ago, just because of the economy won`t aloud many musicians on stage,I started using sound modules to back up my music,I went from Roland sound modules to General music WK2, to Ketron MS40,XD3, and here comes the Orchestra wizard Ketron SD2. Wow !! I connect that module to my XD3 and all of a sudden my XD3 got wings and started flying again!!! All these sounds that I could`t believe my ears were now under my possession by just(sometimes)changing few parameters on my midi files!! Yes my XD3 it was doing a great job by connecting with a simple midi wire from the output to the midi in of SD2 there was that miracle of sounds ! First time I really felt proud of me writing the songs(I write most of my midi files)!. From the other hand I automatically have real sounds in my Computer ,my Sonar 8 all NEW by connecting that module to a USB connection of my PC .My GM was`t anymore so much computerish the sounds got translate onto the SD2 Orch, Wizard,and from the audio out to the auxiliary in of my PC sound X-Fi card and it was again another festival of beautiful sounds to hear this time from my PC . All these from a module that I can hold it in my palm of my hand ,and also feels so solid so durable, Oh yeah!! Thanks to you H&B for giving me such a good price for that little Big hands of art sound module. Andreas an active musician [@]

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

Generally it's a good sound module with pretty good sound quality. However there is an essential disadvantage with its polyphony. Ketron claims that device has 32 voices polyphony and generally it's true with one exception: they not mention that it's 32 mono channels. Due the fact that samples are recorded in stereo it comes to only 16 instruments polyphony. So when it comes to play i.e. piano with pressed pedal it starts to ignore new notes while previous notes being playing. So the only way to handle it is to release pedal.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

This is a really good sounding Midi Module. Out of all the others out there in this price bracket this one wins hands down. it's easy to use, the instruments sound realistic, and it is built to last.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

I'm VERY impressed with the sounds from my Ketron SD2, also with the purchase price.

Bear in mind that the sound of MIDI instruments is extremely subjective, you should endeavor to audition any prospects for yourself if possible.

SD2 and BIAB2008 sound very good indeed here.

Don't let the low price fool you -- the sound engine in the SD2 is the exact same engine as in one of their high end arranger keyboards, the savings is due to the fact that the only thing you buy is the sound engine itself.

I've got a history of MIDI hardware and software synths here dating back to day one of MIDI gear -- the SD2 is hands down the best sounding to date in my collection, and that includes a collection of giga files that when added up, comes to about four times the price of the SD2. And the SD2 is so much simpler to use it isn't funny.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

I had all but given up on MIDI sounds. At best I would tolerate them as I used Band in a Box and other software in song composition until I got the MIDI file into Reason 4/Protools and could use some of Reason's great .wav file Refills.But the Ketron SD-2 changed that. The instrument sounds it generates range from good to phenomenal, w/ most being at least very good. Even several of the plucked string instruments sound good (but it would help to have a "strumming" MIDI device).It's easy to setup and use, at least with Band in a Box. I even use it w/ my Yamaha P-200 keyboard (great unit) to expand on the sounds. You could even take this unit along w/ a 25 or maybe 49 key MIDI board traveling. Add a laptop w/ production software and you're all set.The only change I would like to see would be USB port or a S/PDIF (since even relatively inexpensive new computer sound devices have input jacks) in order to keep sounds digital back into the computer (also would allow faster than real-time rendering, if you use it that way).Highly recommend it. Nothing out there for the price that is even close.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

The SD-2 is a compact, easy to use sound module that provides the best MIDI sounds I have encountered for the replication of acoustic sounds outside of a much more expensive workstation or sample set. I use it for midi mock-ups of jazz, rock and orchestral music and find it the equal of much more expensive units. It is reliable and compact.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

A compact device with big sounds
The Saxes and Horns are unbelieveable
Just what the doctor ordered

The strings are a bit lacking and overly loud
But you can't expect perfection at the price it costs.

Comments about Ketron SD2 - Arranger Sound Module:

This little box produces the finest breathy Tenor Sax soundsyou are likely to hear. The violin, viola, trumpet, andclarinet are also far superior to the various Roland andKorg etc synthesizers that cost 2 or 3 times as much. Manyof the instruments sounds are as good as or even better thana lot of the software synths. You can hear samples from themanufacturers web page .Other than a volume control, there are knobs on the box, soyou will have to change patch selection via your controlleror through a any computer program that supports GeneralMidi. Also you will need Midi-IN and Midi-Out to connect toa computer. The simplest way is to buy USB to MIDI interfacebox.In summary, the acoustic sounds are the best and you get allthis for a relatively low price.

Expertise: Pro

Problems Encountered: There is a small departure from GM specs, so that in aprogram like Band-in-a-Box when you choose instrument familyand you choose saxophones, you might get one or two keyboardinstruments. The manufacturer explained that this was dueto an effort to keep this box compatible with the priorsynth and keyboard designs. This is a minor annoyance whichin no way interferes with the full use of this great littlesynth box.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Roland JV1080, Roland 8850, Garritan Personal Orchestra, Garritan Jazz & Big Band

Items I Recommend: M-Audio Midisport 2x2 USB to Midi interface, Akai EWI-4000S wind controller