vArranger Forums

Before telling my story I need to thank Dan for his supreme effort in attempting to help save my SD2 Unit.
Tonight Dan spent nearly 2 hours with me attempting to fix the SD2 Crash problem and we finally agreed to
do the software update offered by Ketron on their website.   He patiently worked his way through Windows 7
issues and the typical Windows .dll file problems and we finally got to do the upgrade on the SD2 Unit.  The end
result is my SD2 Unit is DEAD!!   THE UPGRADE FRIED THE SD2 UNIT.

Dan warned me in advance that things might not go well but my SD2 Unit was crashing and was not reliable for gigs
so I figured I had nothing to lose.  At least he tried and I am sincerely thankful to him for his effort.

I will contact Ketron here in the US and see what they have to say - but will probably just buy another SD2 Unit and move on.  I know several players who play Ketron products and it seems this experience is normal for Ketron - if you get a good product it is very good - if not - well you have problems. 

I will report back here in this thread how Ketron responds to my complaint.

Deane

I think there is really something bad with this update.
We did the update together, to be sure to do EXACTLY what it is written on the Ketron Website.
But no luck....
To my knowledge, there is only 5% of success on this update...

so

DON'T DO IT

When you buy a Ketron SD2, just try to play the sd_crash.mid midifile on it.
If it hangs the SD2, just send it back to the dealer.



Dan

Hi Guys,

Sorry about the SD2 results.

I and like someothers are not close to Ketron repair sources or the like so I decide on getting the
SD4 which I have not looked back yet.

I use SD2 in conjuction with SD4 when needed.

Sure it maybe dearer but it has 2 independent sound boards and works well with vArranger

Ketron should update the patch so others are not unfortunate to fry their SD2 as well.

I believe this to be poor service to customers to otherwise an exceptional unit

Regards
Lionel

Is this an old Sd2 serial number unit that was prone to this crash?
Did you buy it new?
jon

Jon,
It was a used unit I found and is one of the older units.  So far,
Ketron has not been helpful.

Deane

You may contact Ketron in USA :

http://www.ketron.com/contact_us.asp

They will maybe tell you how and how much to repair it

Dan

Dan,
Does the SD4 unit have this problem?
Any advantages over the SD2?
Deane

The old SD4s have the same problem as the old SD2.

I suggest the SD2 because it's very compact and cheaper than SD4.

Dan

Dan,
Is there any performance differences between Sd2 and SD4 with vArranger?
Deane

No really.

The SD4 sound is a little bit more defined but less 'in face', and less bass.

I will do a recording with the SD2 and SD4 and you will see

Dan

Well, Ketron is living up to it's reputation of NON-SUPPORT!
My emails have not been answered, the US Distributor's voice mail
system is full and I can't leave any messages, and I am getting no
response from Ketron at all. 

I have ordered a new SD2 unit but I do want to hear from Ketron on the broken unit just to see what they might be willing to do.

I'll Keep everyone posted here.

Deane

I think that maybe Ketron US are closed in august, like Ketron Italy

Hi, there

You may NOT update the SD2 with the upgrade105 if the serialnumber is more than
14951. You have to ask for a factory reset.


Regards
Jos Belgium

Jos,

That is correct.  My serisl number is 12142 so the update should have worked.
What it did do was fry the unit.

Deane

what do you really mean by FRY the SD2.
Flames, melt, smoke, warm, sparks, etc. ?

Hi Jan,
No smoke or flames.  The terms "fry or fried" is used to mean break or render useless.  In the case of the SD2 Unit it just stopped working or responding.

Deane