Many of you have meanwhile heard about my new set of Musical Resources for the Korg Micro Arranger. I am pleased to inform that as from today you can download/audition several sets of demos that I have recorded for you on the Micro Arranger with my 2012 Resources installed.

Please bear in mind that having heard these you will only have auditioned a very small portion of the total package of resources on offer, including hundreds of new performances, styles sounds and explanatory manuals into the bargain. Please also bear in mind that I am not a very gifted musician myself and these recordings have purely been made to give you an idea as to what’s on offer.

To do full justice to the sound quality of these recordings it is recommended you audition them through a good set of monitors or, alternatively, download them and listen through your HiFi set. For full details see my webpages :
http://pasounds.intropagina.nl/page-7--korg-micro-arranger.html

The demos can be downloaded and/or auditioned here:

http://www.box.com/s/y8fepgrja9l57d1npmpv
http://www.box.com/s/i9auvvr0c6h10m3ggsor
http://www.box.com/s/0bcvy3gcxy1rp7fgko75
http://www.box.com/s/mlh2ngm4j2dr7eee2tdo
regards,
John Smies

P.S. these Resources will also function properly on PA50 , PA80

no disrespect intended but i dont know what is actually being demoed hear. I cant say whether what i am hearing is not already a set up on the PA instrument and so i cant compare what John has done to what already exists on any of the PA products that are out there.

I dont mean to be disrespectful and i dont think i am being disrespectful. What is supposed to be the selling point of your resources if there is no comparrison to what ever you changed your resources to from ???

I dont get it John. Its a tough sale to make John.

Just my Honest Opinion

Spalding's got a point John, if you were selling cars at least you could take a test drive side by said, I think you have a problem here and hear and ear, you know what I mean. I think all people selling things like this will have a problem, if you are giving it away, people would just download and perhaps use it. Anyway good luck with your new venture.

Tony

Hi Spalding,

You were very quick to answer. Well if you don't like what you hear in these demos changes are small you are going to like the Micro at all.
I do not intend to set myself yet another task of demoing the factory presets. Donny did so a while back, and others who have the Micro are invited to do so if they like. ( Bernie, Tim, Deane, Scott, etc). But all I can say is that what you are hearing here ( apart from my rather poor playing techniques) is pretty different from what you hear out of the box. Small wonder as I programmed on it for hundreds of hours and tweaked virtually everything. Upper sounds, styles, effects, etc.etc.
That's all I can say for now. I hope those who have meanwhile gotten my Resources will comment in this thread during the next few days. These are the replies that I got from Deane and from Bernie:


Hi John,
"....I wanted to send along a little note telling you how much I am enjoying your keyboard setups. I have loaded most of the material and have found dozens of outstanding sounds, styles, and performances that will fit well into my gig requirements. I also downloaded just about everything I could find from the Korg Forum download area and have also loaded your three resource disks from the PA80 section. All in all they are really great. I hope Korg knows who you are and listends to your ideas - they certainly should....." (Deane)

"...Hi John
I have been through some of your programs and like a lot of your work. Eventhough you are working with a Korg impeded person, with your help we will eventually get this whipped into shape. As I told you, I am set up with the first offering, and before I go through anymore and marking they're location, I had better bite the bullet and start reloading with your instructions......"


regards,
John

Sorry Tony I had overlooked your entry.

First let me say this. I am not a Korg salesman and personally I do not care what people buy as long as they are happy. Hence it is not for me to win anyone over to buy a Korg or Yamaha. I do offer my software ( at a token price Tony, which will be confirmed no doubt by some of those who have already got it) to those who have or are interested in the Micro.
If you have a Micro you might want to consider splashing out 25 euros if you know it is money well spent. That for starters is a personal thing. I realize that any demo will fall short of the full contents of my extensive progamming, also see comments from a fellow countryman below.
I have no desire to start comparing my programming on the Micro which spans four years with the factory presets. If you are happy with them or think you can do okay yourself, why bother ? On the other hand if you think that you could get a lot of musical improvement, inspiration and programming techniques by using my software , you are most welcome.

From a Dutch fellow musician who ordered the Micro Resources a week ago I got the following comments as regards the demos, which might be telling..............(the reply was in Dutch but it was okay with him to translate it and post it here as well:


Hi John


When I heard your demos it struck me that I was much less impressed with your arrangements as I was actually using your sets on my Micro. Because your performances and all the changes that you have brought about widely exceed the factory sounds, styles and performances.Without any doubt !
However the demos do not bring out the difference and sound a lot like any average keyboard.

I have no idea as to why cause I wish lots of folks would acquire your programming for that token amount, considering the superb added value your programming has given my Micro. I sincerely recommend your programming to any Micro owner who will find it hard to believe how you have brought out the expressiveness of the Micro.

Music is something one must undergo. And the best way is realtime behind your own Micro Arranger
I for one have a great time behind the Micro, using your sounds and inspiring styles.Keep up the good work, John!

Sincere Greetings,
Auke.

There is nothing to like or not like John. The demos just sound like someone having fun with their Korg arranger. In fact it could have been any arranger . Thats the point really. Anyway good luck but if you have spent hundreds of hours tweaking the resources to get them to sound much better than the factory sounds (in your opinion) then surely its worth a couple more hours demoing you resources so that at least people can hear for them selves the improvement .

Best wishes

Worth

I thought I would jump in here. I own the KMA - the out of the box setups are not all that great but do have tons of potential. Like the PA1X and the PA2XPro I also owned, many of the RH lead sounds(called programs on the Korgs) really suck and do not sound anything like the sound created by a top pro player. I spent roughly $33.00 and John sent me, via download, literally thousands of styles, performances, and programs that date back as far 2002 - things he developed over the years as a Korg PA owner. I am totally satisfied with my purchase and his work does indeed add sound quality to the KMA!!

By the way, the little KMA is one of the neatest toys I have bought in a long time. I am having a complete ball with it and am pleased with my purchase of it too.

Deane

As a former user of a Korg PA50 and PA500 I can say that the resources of John are sounding great. They are indeed sounding much better then many of the factory performances.

I also found John's work interesting...I only tried the first bank, but thought he did a good job on edits...

I still am not a fan of Korg's antique OS..

Sure you can get use to it...but why would you want too..

I did not like the PA800 after owning one for a month or so..The effects blocks were the main short coming, not allowing total use with the Mic routed...Very poor design..as the PA80...

I do understand Korg re designed the PA3x effects blocks...Did they?

BTW: The MicroArranger sounds, and mini keys...finally gave mine a new owner.. I rather carry the 5 times heavier G70..with all in one design..and a much better sound source, with editing features that are still unmatched..and 76 great keys

PS: My final impressions of the BK5...too entry level, and not stage friendly enough..same results as the MicroArranger....Not a winner for me..

DonM...you could have made life a little easier for me...and did the trade

Fran, I've been too busy to think about changing anything else right now. I've worked 20 out of the past 22 nights straight. Not complaining, mind you, but I haven't even brought the keyboard home during this time.
The E50 is still a great little keyboard. I may part with it, but I'm in no hurry, and I feel it's more valuable to me than a mini-Korg would be.
DonM

Don...exactly my same thoughts

Hey Don,
The E50 is mountains above my little KMA. I have to agree with Fran - the OS on the KMA is a real pain in the butt to use. I am enjoying it though because it gives me something different to fool around with between gigs. I have never really dug into any of the OSs of the keyboards I have owned so this is a new adventure for me. Besides - for the price you can't lose. Fran is correct on another point. The factory sounds of the KMA need a lot of tweaking to be stage ready. I found that to be the case with my PA1x and the PA2XPro as well. I was also looking around for a software program that would edit or help organize performances and styles on the Korg but I am told there are none. Go figure. I'll have to get to Shreveport and try out your PA3X.

Deane

You mean something like http://www.wavextractor.com to organize your styles? I don't know if this program is compatible with the Micro Arranger.

Come on over Deane. I would welcome your opinion on the sound.
DonM

Careful Deane,
you may end up catching the "I wanna PA3X", bug. It's spreading. haahaa

I agree with Deane in that the OS is a pain, and I am also trying to learn it. I have learned from Kurzweil that when you have a very deep architecture, it follows that you have many more paramiters to deal with.

If I ever succeed, I will have a very rewarding sound. I think Korg has been underrated by some due to the conplexity, but once learned, it will have been worth it.

Rikki, I think you are right.

Bernie

Deane, careful is RIGHT!!

I went to demo one at Frankieve's store. This week I purchased one and have been playing it for the last 3 days! It's a much improved machine over the Pa2x JMO. I didn't have enough time to tweak it for this afternoon's gig so my other favorite the T4 comes with me.

Looks sweet sitting atop the Tyros4 too

Come on guys, this is what is called hi-jacking a topic !!!!

But while you are at it, as you may recall I purchased a PSR900 a couple of months back and it is sitting on top of my PA800, vying for its place with the Micro. I think the OS of Yamaha if you are a newbie is at least as frustrating as the Korg one. And compare to the later Korg models with touchscreen the Yammies are a living nightmare..........
Could we get back on topic again, please ? Thank you.

regards,
John

John,

Pray tell me what is wrong with the Tyros 4, it plays like hell just out the box, have we become a nation of meddlers and tinkerers messing about with things, fine tuning, supercharging are we never satisfied with anything, if you buy a BMW you can have it chipped, more power, some people might say why don't BMW chip it if you can get more out, but it comes at a price.

Why are we never happy, don't the manufactures get it right, are you trying to convince the World that you can make it sound better, or make it sound how you want it to sound. If you are making it sound better why arn't you and others like you working for Korg or Yamaha, Ketron, Roland.

I am not been funny John, I am just hellishly confused as to what we are doing.

John, I am sure you will have an answer.

Am I on or off topic???

Tony

Hi Tony,
Speaking only for myself I gig almost on a daily basis for the same general audiences playing the same old 100 or so songs - usually by request. New things break up the boredom and for me expands my knowledge base as to what is happening in the arranger world.

As for my little KMA I am very pleased with it for what it is and what it was advertised to be - no more, no less. I did not expect it to compete with the TOTL products from any manufacturer.

For now I am enjoying my way through John Smies' offerings and learning how to be a "Korgie".

Deane

Hi Tony,

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Tyros 4, it is a killer keyboard. As you know I even bought a PSR-S900 recently. If I had money galore I would probably be buying both tyros 4 and PA3X. As it is I am well pleased with what I have got. This story about which one is the better one is something I have left far behind me. They are each great keyboards in their own right and with their own specific strong and weaker points, even the budget Micro.
I can well imagine that the average home musician taking the Tyros 4 out of the box has no desire whatsoever to tweak anything. That having said I am afraid that the same does not apply to most Korg arrangers at least in my view.
You have/had a killer set up with the Audya and Tyros 4, and would continu to have a killer set up swapping e.g. the Audya for a Korg Kronos or Korg PA3X. And we should get things in their perspective.
In 2002 I purchased the PA80 and played and programmed on it for four years with great pleasure. The fruits of which labour are now being shared by some here as well who have purchased the Micro and gotten my resources. I have no desire to meet with e.g. Spalding's request to demo in how far my programming improves on the factory presets. I let others who have gotten it do that for me, besides I have no interest in what anyone is buying. I mean commercially. But it is unfortunate Tony that you do not live close by cause I would love to show you how much can be gained by tweaking an instrument like the Micro compared to its factory presets. In actual fact, and this may sound arrogant so please forgive me, but when I first listened to my own programming again on the Micro after so many years I was even pleasantly surprised myself. So once again I have nothing against Yamaha , least of all the Tyros 4 but I do think that many keyboards can improve vastly by a personal touch.
If ever you have the chance to get a Micro on trial from wherever you buy, do let me know and I will gladly send you my resources for you to work out what I mean. Don't buy it though, why would you with a Tyros 4 and a Kronos or similar giant. Oh yes there is one thing I do not like about the Yammies, they are pretty bulky, even my PSR900 whereas the Korgs are getting more and more compact, the PA3X for example and of course the Micro..................................................

best wishes,
John

John,

There is more chance of a camel passing through the eye of a needle, or me winning the lottery, than me buying a KMA, thanks for the offer but I will stay with the big boys. I am going to Spain for a week this Friday and I will bet you all the money you have no one in the hotels will the playing KMA, Korgs yes, big ones and more likely Ketrons, make me feel at home.

Tony

No, every user has different tastes and needs. Manufacturers can't possibly get it perfect for everyone so they simply provide their products with a setup that works for most.

But everyone is different otherwise restaurants wouldn't need menus to cater to taste ... they could just sell one type of meal that they figure everyone should like ... fortunately people aren't like that or life would be very dull and predictable.

Editing allows those that aren't happy with the standard factory setup the ability to tailor it to taste. Remember that the styles and patches etc are created by sound/style designers who may have different tastes from many end users. It doesn't mean what they setup is bad, it still is based on their personal taste. Some people will totally agree with their choices while some others will not agree. That is human nature. The other thing is that the factory setups are created on a very tight schedule so that marketing deadlines can be met. These designers do the best they can given time constraints as they familiarise themselves with the new technology. Traditionally the best patches available for all synths aren't those that it is first shipped with. That has always been the case. It takes time for sound designers to really learn how to tap the full capability of a keyboard.



Well off topic actually. The subject of whether users would ever want to edit their keyboard setup is a topic that really doesn't belong here. In fact it is really a very strange thing to question to be honest. I think you are the only person I have ever heard question the desirability of being able to tailor a keyboard to individual taste. Though manufacturers would really like to sell to consumers that accept corporate product decisions made on their behalf without question.

You yourself question manufacturer product decisions whenever you compare keyboards when you are going to purchase. From the sound engines, style choices, OS navigation, hardware choices, sound design etc etc If you truly believe manufacturers always make the very best decisions there would be no need to even play or listen to them ... simply walk into the store and just plonk down your money for the latest Korg, Yamaha, Roland product and walk away with it. But you know that is not the case, you evaluate all the decisions the manufacturers have made. And in the case where you don't exactly agree with them if you had the ability to modify you absolutely would. Though we all know there is nothing about your Audya you would ever want to change ... or is there?

You are welcome to continue this discussion but please do it in its own thread.

Huh, no where did John mention you buying a KMA I think you are imagining words that aren't there.

Tony,

I concur with all that Nigel says here. If you re-read my answer to your initial question I literally say " don't buy it though "....
With all due respect I think your contributions here on the forum should be more advantageous to those here who share your Tyros and Audya viccisitudes rather than going on about a keyboard you have stated time and time again you have no interest in whatsoever.
I do wish you good hols in Spain though. Good thing you do not have to take along any keyboard cause it sure as hell would be heavy going with the Audya on your back !

regards,
John Smies

I re-posted my original out of the box KMA demos just in case anyone wants to use them for an A/B comparison to the resources to maybe help you decide... enjoy.

Thank you Donny.
I must say this took me by surprise as we kinda parted on the wrong footing when you first got the Micro and received my software which gave us both a lot of aggro in getting loaded. At the time the Micro was not available in Europe and I had to go by my previous experiences with the PA50 ( six years ago) and the manual......

What strikes me most in your out-of-the-box playing and my demo-ing my resources is your craftsmanship in playing, but then I have always avowed to being a simple home musician. ( anything beyond five chords and I am beat ).
That having been said I personally clearly hear the differences between out of the box and my resources. For starters all styles with the Micro and other Korg arrangers have a "default setting " in which all acc. tracks including drums and bass generally have a 64 value for reverb. And that is only for starters......

Second, a fair comparision should be you playing my resources with your expertise in playing, for those who would want to do an A-B comparison. The offer still stands, as you know from contributions by Hammer, Tim, Bernie etc. all software problems have been sorted and it takes less than half a minute to get anything loaded.

Thirdly, in retrospect I am a bit puzzled about all folks wanting to actually hear an A-B demo if they do not have the Micro for starters.
I mean sure if you have one you would want to know what and if there is any benefit in procuring mine,but if you are not interested in this small keyboard why bother ?

Finally I wish you a speedy recovery from your medical treatment.

regards,
John

I am not feeling 100% at this time but I thought I would offer people a choice of listening to both, as it seems that is the BIG question I'm reading and hearing regarding these resources... Yes I did try the resources early on, but as I posted afterwards I didn't feel there was much of a difference, which was MY honest opinion alone. This is why an A/B comparison is important especially when people are laying out money or donations, etc.. But out of curiosity I gave it a try of which I appreciate. It just still seems to me that any player including myself has to spend the time to get his/her keyboard to sound the way THEY want by putting in the homework and time to make that happen. The way an instrument sounds is a very personal thing that only the player can achieve, there is NO magic program to make it drastically change unless your yourself put in the time to make it that way.....what one person likes & hears and needs is the total opposite of what the next player does. I too would like to hear some of the others who have used it offer A/B comparisons also.Korg arrangers have more then enough features to make any of them sound the way YOU want. I have been working with my KORG Pa500 for at least 40/50 hours and now have it sounding almost to my standards for stage performance of which I am totally impressed & satisfied with my purchase. Thank you for the well wishes.

Hi Donny,
you sure did make that little KMA sound good.

One good reason I'd never post a demo, I'd probably make my PA3x sound like a toy . haa haa

Good to see you back.

For a true A/B i think it really needs the same player doing both.

Thanks for putting those up, Donny. Very enjoyable. Hope you're well on the mend.

Rikki,124,... thanx...I'm hangin in there,... Tomorrow I go in for the next procedure. I appreciate all the well wishes from my friends.

Donny,

Good luck tomorrow, it was great to talk with you again today, paesano! Thanks for the insight ( no pun intended) on how you set your Pa500 for gigs. I always manage to learn something from you folks who are out gigging for a living.

Steve always a pleasure......we'll talk again soon.