vArranger Forums

Hi Dan.
Haven't been here for such a long time.
Still have V1.17.
Have mady my yearly payments.
Would like get V1.20.
What must I do?

Regards
Elvis

Salut à tous.

Je voudrais que mon SD2 sonne comme mon Korg PA1000.

Est-ce que quelqu'un sait comment copier les styles PA1000,
afin qu'ils puissent être utilisés dans Varranger incl. tous les effets ?

Rien d'illégal car je possède à la fois le SD2 et le PA1000 + Musikant + Oriental stick

Hi y'all.

I would like my SD2 to sound like my Korg PA1000.

Does anyone know how to copy the the PA1000 styles,
so they can be used in Varranger incl. all effects?

Nothing illegal because I own both the SD2 and PA1000 + Musikant + Oriental stick

Hallo zusammen,

ich wünsch mir, dass sich mein Ketron SD2 anhört wie mein Korg PA1000.

Weiß jemand, wie man beim Korg PA1000 die Styles kopiert,
damit man die dann incl. aller Effekte im Varranger nutzen kann?

Nichts illegales, denn mir gehört sowohl das SD2 sowie der PA1000 + Musikant + Oriental-Stick.

Hi Dan,
thanks for the answer.
I still have the SD2, but unfortunately I use it too seldom :-(

I would also like to know the community's oppinion on the arrangements of the styles.
Korg uses subtle echo, reverb and effects on the PA1000 styles.

I need to know:
Can a soundfont or copied style keep up with the original styles in terms of effects?

Prices have risen so much for arranger keyboards!
Korg PA 1000 is in the 2500 Euro region now.
But is it worth it in comparison to Varranger + Ketron SD2?
Korg has made some fine arrangements for their styles with echo, reverb and quite some other goodies.
(I don't know about the Yamaha flagship, but they surely on that level, too.)

Question:
Is the sound and effect quality of Varranger + Ketron SD2 up to that gold standard?

(This poll is only for the SOUND, dear judges! Thank you for your participation.)

Hi everyone,
the Korg PA 1000 is supposed to be able
to rip MIDI files (make available as styles)
with just a press of a button.

Has anyone ever tried it
and can tell me of the potential of that?

Hi everyone,
I have a Moog Theremini and an Eowave Ribbon MK2.
Cool instuments with a USB for midi out.
Both monophonic.
They act somewhat like ribbon controllers
(sound like a slide guitar. Orig. Startrek TV Theme is supposed to have been on a theremin.)
Is it possible to use them with varranger?

Hi everyone,
I would like to build a truely portable varranger with a small tablet,
and maybe two pieces Korg Nano Key (i.e. dual manual).

For sound out I would use a Ketron SD2 and maybe a USB hub.

What might be the smallest tablet to run that setup?
Is 4 GB RAM and 32 GB internal MMC enough?
And what about the USB?
And the CPU?

Does it have to be an expensive MS Surface
or is any other Windows Tablet enough?

Any ideas, any inspiration?

Hallo Dan,
thank you for the excellent work.
On the top of the pace it sais: "News: Version 1.19 is ready for download".
But I cannot seem to find anywhere to download.
What have I missed?
Regards
Elvis

Dan,
it's plastic profiles to keep weight down. Surprisingly stabile.
And easier to saw and drill...

Hayseed,
The best types to convert seem to be Korg Pa300, 600, 900 and the new 700 and 1000 because you can easily extract the front panel with the Electronics fitted to the rear of it.
If there are Buttons intgerated into the case you'll have to cut up the case and fit it to another Base.

I did that with a Korg Microarranger. That was ok.
And nearly started to a Tyros. But that would have ended in tears... ;-)

... and here is the reason for the sale:

Hier noch ein paar Infos:
Hab's mal auf englisch formuliert...

Hi everyone.

1.) I'm selling the unique Ketron SD2 USB (Make your vArranger truely mobile!)
2.) I'm also selling my USB stick with vArranger and lots of extras.

1.) The Ketron SD2 package includes:
The compact Ketron SD2 orchestral wizard with the following connectors:
stereo line out 2x chinch (rear)
stereo headphones 3,5mm with fader (front)
USB connector cable to PC (approx. 45 cm, rear)
USB connetor cable to MIDI controller keyboard (approx. 60 cm, rear)
(In the thread above you can see the assembly process.)
Value approx. 350,- Euros.

This SD2 can be an ideal protection for your valuable vArranger USB stick:
Inside the strong metal case there is a USB socket for a stick with up to 6 cm length.
To enjoy optimal results from the SD2 and controller keyboard please use a USB 3 socket in your PC for enough power.
If you want, you can even recondition it to it's original state...
I posted the building instructions on this forum.

2.) The vArranger USB stick includes:
vArranger full version, updatable, registered with Dan. (349,-)
Verbatim 16 GB USB stick: retractable USB connector to give it extra protection + small stabile connector for keychain etc. against loss.
Best Korg and Yamaha soundfonts to start vArranger on your PC even with no extra MIDI sound equipment. Bought from Dan. (198,-)
Lots of MIDI files and enough free memory space left.
Dan wants 50 Euros if the vArranger changes it's owner. I'll pay that.

Looking forward to your offers.

Hi everyone.

1.) I'm selling the unique Ketron SD2 USB (Make your vArranger truely mobile!)
2.) I'm also selling my USB stick with vArranger and lots of extras.

1.) The Ketron SD2 package includes:
The compact Ketron SD2 orchestral wizard with the following connectors:
stereo line out 2x chinch (rear)
stereo headphones 3,5mm with fader (front)
USB connector cable to PC (approx. 45 cm, rear)
USB connetor cable to MIDI controller keyboard (approx. 60 cm, rear)
(In the thread above you can see the assembly process.)
Value approx. 350,- Euros.

This SD2 can be an ideal protection for your valuable vArranger USB stick:
Inside the strong metal case there is a USB socket for a stick with up to 6 cm length.
To enjoy optimal results from the SD2 and controller keyboard please use a USB 3 socket in your PC for enough power.
If you want, you can even recondition it to it's original state...
I posted the building instructions on this forum.

2.) The vArranger USB stick includes:
vArranger full version, updatable, registered with Dan. (349,-)
Verbatim 16 GB USB stick: retractable USB connector to give it extra protection + small stabile connector for keychain etc. against loss.
Best Korg and Yamaha soundfonts to start vArranger on your PC even with no extra MIDI sound equipment. Bought from Dan. (198,-)
Lots of MIDI files and enough free memory space left.
Dan wants 50 Euros if the vArranger changes it's owner. I'll pay that.

Looking forward to your offers.

Hallo a tous.

Je vends mon Ketron SD2 avec connection USB.
(cherchez le forum anglais pour SD2 USB)...
avec le lociciel vArranger.

Hallo zusammen,
ich verkaufe mein Ketron SD2 mit USB Anschluss
Außerdem einen USB stick mit vArranger Software und Extras.
Einfach mal im Englischen Forum nach SD2 USB schauen...
(Ganz interessant...)

Hi everyone,

I'm selling this SD2 now
(complete with vArranger software...).

Anyone interested?

Has anybody else done something like this? 

Hallo Dan,
the Korg Microarrenger is like a PA50SD (which seems to be the best selling arranger/entertainer keyboard of all time), only smaller.

I enjoy jamming on the Microarranger more because of two facts:

1.) With every style you choose, it gives you 4 right-hand-sounds to chose from that are ideally set up (volume, echo..)
(In VArranger the right hand voice is set to a certain sound and the volume is set to maximum and has to be turned down any time you choose another variation..)

2.) With the press of a button you can set the right-hand-sound to a three-voice-harmony that corresponds to the left-hand-chord.
(With VArranger you have to go to Options>Harmony>Off/On)

Please Dan, give me the shortcuts to more & faster enjoyment of the VArranger :-)
Would it be possible with TouchOSC or Peklik's add-on?

And yes, I've printed a small book of the english manual.
Sorry, if the answer is in there somewhere or in the forum, here.
But please point me to the right direction, maybe with just a link.

The surface keeps in place with just it's "rear leg".

It supplies power to the SD2.
So everything can run on batteries.

The speaker has it's own internal 6600 mAh power bank.
So it will not drain the setup.

Any suggestions?

Just to boast:
This is my setup, now.
I seem to like Korg ;-)
And the microkey has surprising low latency with Varranger via bluetooth.

Actually:
I don't know how to use all of the functions of the nanokontrol and the nanokey studio (xy-pad? knobs? sliders?) with Varranger.
If you know, please let me know...

Of course:
No responsibility if anything goes wrong.
Ketron warranty is void.

Now here is how to
(+) get rid of all MIDI cables
(+) never use the mains connector again
(+) protect the valuable Varranger usb stick
(+) be able to connect a usb controller or keyboard

Here are the steps:
1.) Cut the cables of a midi-to-usb-adapter and solder them to the bottom of the SD2.
2.) Cut power switch and the 7805's 5v pin.
3.) Solder red and blue cables and a connector for power FROM the usb hub TO the SD2
4.) To be on the safe side:
Take out the fuse, shorten the pins of the multi-pin connector on the right of the SD2 board
and put a piece of plastic between your stuff and the SD2 board.

5.) Plug everything together.
On the left:
USB-Out Cable  (for attaching an extra keyboard or controller)
USB-to-MIDI-adapter
Varranger USB stick
On  the right:
USB-In Cable (Connect to PC)
Power for the SD2.

Now get your soldering irons and have fun ;-)

Looking forward to your results.
Any extra ideas are appreciated.

Yes, Dan, that's right.

You discard the 5pin MIDI cables and add a few other lines.
And that's IT.

Got it working now. 
SD2 with just a usb connector and no power adapter is just awsome! 

Hi everyone.

1.) I'm selling the unique Ketron SD2 USB (Make your vArranger truely mobile!)
2.) I'm also selling my USB stick with vArranger and lots of extras.

1.) The Ketron SD2 package includes:
The compact Ketron SD2 orchestral wizard with the following connectors:
stereo line out 2x chinch (rear)
stereo headphones 3,5mm with fader (front)
USB connector cable to PC (approx. 45 cm, rear)
USB connetor cable to MIDI controller keyboard (approx. 60 cm, rear)
(In the thread below you can see the assembly process.)
Value approx. 350,- Euros.

This SD2 can be an ideal protection for your valuable vArranger USB stick:
Inside the strong metal case there is a USB socket for a stick with up to 6 cm length.
To enjoy optimal results from the SD2 and controller keyboard please use a USB 3 socket in your PC for enough power.
If you want, you can even recondition it to it's original state...
I posted the building instructions on this forum.

2.) The vArranger USB stick includes:
vArranger full version, updatable, registered with Dan. (349,-)
Verbatim 16 GB USB stick: retractable USB connector to give it extra protection + small stabile connector for keychain etc. against loss.
Best Korg and Yamaha soundfonts to start vArranger on your PC even with no extra MIDI sound equipment. Bought from Dan. (198,-)
Lots of MIDI files and enough free memory space left.
Dan wants 50 Euros if the vArranger changes it's owner. I'll pay that.

Looking forward to your offers.

--------------------------------------------------------
And this is how it all started here on the forum:
--------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone.

Looks like it's possible to build a mobile solution using the Ketron SD2:
Power via USB or via Smartphone-Loader or via usb power bank.

Got myself a SD2 and opened it.
On the board I found a 7805 that converts the voltage from 12 V to 5 V.
For all those who'ld like to take a look: It's a big three legged thing that has a cooler screwed to the board.
Took 5 V from a smartphone usb power supply and put it to the leg that's closest to the volume slider.
Ground to the srew holding the 7805 cooler.
And it worked.
Made correct music after a press of the vA "panic" button!

Word of caution:
Do NOT tinker around like this with the SD2 as it will void your warranty.
And the built in 500 mA fuse will not protect it anymore.

I measured about 200 mA.
Some usb ports cannot handle this much.
(That might explain why some SD4 don't seem to work with Win7 (?)...

If you have a USB3 port or a usb hub with extra power supply that might be OK.

Who dares to create a usb powered SD2 now?
I would like to put the SD2 board into a Korg Micro Key and have it all connected to the pc via one usb cable...

Hallo.

I'm looking for a mobile solution for good sound output with varranger.
I have a surface pro 4: core i5 with 4gb ram (non extendable) and 128 gb ssd.

As the internal synth seems to need a lot of ram,
and i cannot carry around a 12 V mains supply,
the alternative seems to be a usb powered expander.

Is the ketron sd 4 the only solution when you have limited ram and no 220/110V?

And is it really so much better then the internal synth?

And: Is it possible to run a 2 gb (or even 1 gb) tablet with varranger?

Very much looking forward to your solutions...