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Ketron Launch SD4 Module

News posted on the 18th August 08

The new KETRON SD4 is a pocket size sound module designed for all PC and Midi applications. It is equipped with the new SD sound engine and has some great new sounds. These include a professional Stereo Grand Piano sound sampled over 88 notes, huge orchestral voices such as Saxophones, Brass, Woodwinds, Guitars, Accordions, Digital Organ Drawbars as well as many others. The quality of these Solo instrumental voices is excellent. In addition, the SD4 has a number of very distinctive Audio Drum and Percussion Loops. Slow, Jazz, Latin, Acoustic, Traditional and Dance backgrounds give a wide selection of genres.

Used in conjunction with a Computer, Master keyboard, Midi accordion or Midi guitar, the SD4 is guaranteed to add some brilliant new sounds to your existing rig. Its smaller brother the SD2 could only really be used in conjunction with a computer as there were no external controls. Ketron have obviously listened to its customers and realized the need for a version with patch change controls and so have presented the SD4. It is a huge step forward!

Its Midi capability allows you to control up to 32 Midi channels and includes DSP effects such as Reverb, Chorus, Delay and Distortion. One of its great technical tricks is it can be directly connected to a mobile PC or keyboard using a USB connection without need of power supply. Another is it can be used to interface Master keyboards lacking in USB ports. The two input Midi ports allow the user to play and have an independent Midi file playing at the same time.

Downsides and yes there's always at least one. With the demise of BCK products, the UK's distributor of Ketron, where are you going to get one? We are not currently aware of a UK supplier to replace BCK, however we will let you know if we find one! In between times it looks like the only option is to import yourselves.

The SD4 allows you to stack and edit all available tones to get new customized sounds that can be easily saved and reloaded at any time. Editing these tones is even further simplified by using the special free PC software. Special configurations with the sound Map (Templates) are provided so the instrument can easily 'work' with the most commonly used sequencer programs such as Cubase, Logic, Cakewalk as well as the complete SD4 Drum Loop Library. Templates and Loop Libraries can be downloaded for free from the KETRON Internet site at www.ketron.it.

This is a great piece of gear and one to look out for if it becomes more easily available.