Ketron SD2

Ketron is an Italian manufacturer known for its arranger keyboards. The company pulled the sounds found in its SD5 arranger keyboard (which appeared in our arranger roundup in the April ’06 issue) and crammed them into the tiny SD2. These are as good as or better than those you might find in ROMplers that cost more than twice as much as the SD2. I was especially pleased with the stereo grand piano patch, which leans toward the brighter side — exactly what you need to cut through the mix when playing along with a MIDI file or other musicians.

Comparatively, it’s similar to the main piano sound you’d find in program location 1 on today’s workstations, but not as multi-layered as the best sound in a current digital stage piano. The tonewheel organ voices are very good, and employ different samples for each drawbar. You can actually tweak the virtual drawbars using knobs or faders on your MIDI controller.

One of the best features of the SD2 sound engine is the inclusion of 62 of Ketron’s “Live Drum” sets. These are loops created from recordings of real drummers playing real drums for a few bars. Using these as the basis of your rhythm tracks, as opposed to the usual General MIDI drum kits, results in a performance that sounds less like a karaoke sing-along, and more like a show with a live band. Even though they’re audio loops, they sync to MIDI tempo, so there’s some real time-processing going on under the SD2’s hood, with no change in pitch.

It’s obvious that the SD2 has a lot to offer. However, in order to tap into most of its features, you’ll need to connect it to a computer. In fact, the SD2 user manual states that “to express its performance to the best,” the unit should be connected to “computer, sequencer, or external players.” Though it has MIDI jacks, it doesn’t have a USB port, so you’ll need some kind of hardware MIDI interface. Those who have a grasp of the way General MIDI works — in other words, solo entertainers accustomed to working with arranger keyboards and Standard MIDI files — will be in familiar territory here.

A performer who does use MIDI files for live shows can use a laptop on the job, or edit the control changes into MIDI song files, allowing the SD2 to be used with any device capable of playing such files. If you play the SD2 with a keyboard that doesn’t send program bank change commands (say, an entry-level ROMpler or older arranger), you’ll be disappointed, because you’ll only be able to access the SD2’s General MIDI sounds. These pale in comparison to the plethora of excellent horns, reeds, and other orchestral sounds in its other banks. Since the SD2 unit itself doesn’t have any program change buttons, it’s critical that whatever you play it with is fully happening MIDI-wise. Of course, a full-featured MIDI controller will let you get at all its functions, which include effects settings for chorus, reverb, and slow/fast speed for the rotary organ effect.

The SD2 is ideal for the performer looking for a way to spice up stale-sounding MIDI tracks. It’s also a nice solution for the hobbyist or budding composer fed up with bland General MIDI sounds, and looking for an upgrade that’s less expensive than either virtual instrument plug-ins or pricier hardware sound modules. Moreover, although they may not be able to utilize all of the functions of this sleek little device, folks who play things like MIDI guitars, accordions, or wind controllers will benefit from the sounds they can pull out of the SD2 — not to mention the convenience of taking it to gigs in a car glovebox.

SPECS

Sound module with internal programs organized in General MIDI format.

PROS
Incredibly small and portable. Many sounds are as good or better than those than found in some professional keyboards. Has audio drum loops that sync to MIDI tempo.

CONS
No program change buttons on unit. Must be played from controller that sends bank change commands in order to access all sounds.

$499
Ketron, U.S.www.ketron.it www.keytronus.com