Hi Guys

First impressions, I haven't been so inspired for a while, please bear in mind I have owned the

Korg i30, the Pa800 the Pa2x and the MicroArranger which i still have, for now. I also had a brief

affair with a Yamaha PSR S900 but as you can see i'm a Korg fan at heart.

So far so good:

The board is a very neat with a distinct lack of buttons, mainy of the functions are now carried out

via the touch screen, ahh the touch screen, all 7 inchs of it, responds far better than previous

models a pleasure to use (Thank you Korg) it was the screen which first tempted me to look at the

Pa600 and I certainly was not disapointed.

I downloaded from the Korg Forum the Pa3x international and the Pa3x Musicant they all load and

play well, I was hoping they would and they do, a real real bonus.

The onboard styles are a collection from the Pa2x and a few from the Pa3x but as I said the Pa3x

styles are available. I also loaded a few of the styles from the MicroArranger these also loaded

and played well, the only snag is the lack of STS or OTS names but of course they are editable.

The keybed feels very good to my taste, I thought I might struggle after using the KMA for a while

but once again pleasantly suprised.

The auto fill systems is something new to me and I find it a bonus, switch it on and forget it. It

works just the same as the Tyros ie a fill between variations and a repeat if you re-select the

original variation. No dedicated fill buttons as far as I'm concerned a big improvement.

I haven't had time to test the songbook feature but it seems to work the same as previous models
this was one feature I really missed on the KMA.

The speaker system sounds good to my ears and I was able to use the onboard speakers as

monitors for my vocals (The KMA speakers just were not up to the job) without a trace of

feedback at relatively high volume, studio is only 10' square, my PA which at the moment I have

set up at home is two Behringer B212d active speakers 550W each according to the blurb.

The master EQ and Limiter is a nice feature the screen display look very similar to the WaveMaxx

screen from the Pa3x, both the features have their own set of presets and you can edit or create

your own if you wish.

I have a selection of Harmonizers, Korg Digitech and TC helicon. I am using the TC helicon at the

moment the output from the harmonzer straight into the line in jacks on the Pa600 and then out to

the PA. The overall sound I am very happy with bur we will see how good it is on the first gig.

On the old models the line input was routed directly to the stereo outputs and the master volume

did not effect it, on the Pa600 the volume the EQ and the Limiter all effect the line inputs another

big improvement.

I've run out of steam, back to the board, I will record some demo's audio and Video as soon as I

get time, until then Bye for now

Any questions I'll be happy to help if I can.

Kind Regards

Col

Hi Col
The one you saw in AC Hamilton boxed ready to go may have been mine (I am expecting it tomorrow)
Could you let me know or post a link to where I can download the internal PA3X styles and any others available.
Thanks Col
John.

Hi Col, thanks a lot for this "little" review
Is the piano sound the same as in PA2X-PA800 or is it different? better? worse?

What about selection of a sound thru the touch screen? I mean, as it doesn´t have dedicated right hand select buttons (as PA3X) is it possible to call sounds but have them muted and unmute as needed? I mean, for example, call a sound for up2 but don´t activating it inmediatelly.

Is it ease to use the touch screen faders, without using the data wheel?

Thanks in advance for the answers!!
Regards
Jo

Thanks for your review, PA 600 seems a real winner.

I have Two questions about fills.

PA 600 has four fills, as Pa3X. But PA2X had three fills. So, if Pa600 has a lot of styles from PA2X, as you say, are they with 3 fills as in PA2x? is there one fill more?

If you load styles with 3 fills from older Korg arrangers (PA800, 500...) in the new PA600, how it manages them? does PA600 create automatically a new fill?

Thanks

Hi Jo

To my ears the main piano sound good mellow and very playable, I will post a demo ASAP

The sound selection is very easy I normally just use the touch screen anyway and the new screen is very good.

Because the screen is so large muting sounds etc is a doddle.

I've tried the faders and it is better than the older models but I have found, up to now, thet touching the fadet to activate it then making changes using the data wheel is very quick, the dat wheel is so close to the screen. I will expereiment with the touch screen and report back.

Regards

Col

Re the extra fills

The styles from the Pa2x have been modified so they sound better and have 4 fills.

On the styles from the microArranger (2 fills) the second fill is repeated for fill three and four. Therfore you always get a fill of some sort.

If you laod Pa1x styles I suspect they to will act the same way ie fill 4 is the same as fill 3.

Col

Hi John

The link to my boxnet the OS1.zip contains the Pa3x styles.

https://www.box.com/s/xzcsmxnzwy42g4ulaab7

Col

Hi.Good first review.
What about factory styles??Can they be erased like in pa800??

Hi Col
Many thanks ....
I will load them when I get the PA 600 tomorrow hopefully.
Thanks again....
John.

What's a doddle??

Col are these all the styles that are NOT on the pa600?

Hi Donnie

Yes these are the full set of pa3x styles and the Musicant which is the German Pa3x

You need to check on the manuals which ones are missing from the pa600 and load the individual styles .

If you unlock the factory styles you can load the pa3x ones into the correct bank ie Country Blues into the country bank. etc

Regards

Col

Hi Col.....its Donny not Donnie (fem) ..lol...

To save all that searching is there any kind of list of how many Pa3x styles that are not included on the Pa3x....I tried to skype you no answer... anyway email me or PM lets talk I have a few things to ask you.

Hi Donny

No easy way as far as I know, if you download the pa3x manual and the Pa600 manual it's qite easy to compare the factory data list.

By the same token you could load the Pa3x sets onto a memory stick and load the style's your interested in as you need them I find it very easy to load new styles in, couple of minutes.

I'll get my skype up and running again I've had a prob with my computer and had to reformat the hard drive, no back up's of course, fresh start. Speak to you soon.

BTY i've just tried the lyric's on the songbook assigned the two button (Lefthand) to text up and down, I can read the lyric's without my specs, even when the small text is selected, it displays about a verse on a page, away goes my music stand.

Col

Hi Sparky

doddle noun

UK informal



Definition


something that is very easy to do

Frank

Great News Col.....keep the info coming appreciate it.....
would also love to hear some short style demos of ..

Swing Ballad 1,2,3, Classic Cha Cha, Classic Merengue, 6/8 slow, 6/8 Ballad 1,2, Twist, 3/4 Country, Slow rock, 1,2, Rumba 1,2, Real 8Beat, Slow Fox.......


Thanx

Slight correction... the PA3X/600 have FIVE fills, if you count the break/fill as a fill. Or four if you don't.

This is two more than the PA2/800, and constitutes a significant improvement in the smoothness of transitions on the new generation arrangers, IMO.

Col is the PA600 MP3 player card INCLUDED or Optional like on my Pa800?
anyone know ?

It's a smart move from Korg being requested by players for long time.they have kept same old i3 format(1993) ( 2 fills ) for more than a decade. ( Yamahahave been doing this since psr 2000/740). Now yammy styles (non mega voiced) conversion will be easier and hopefully more to come in Korg style pool ( lack of -which is major disadvantage for Korg arrangers).

Keeping legacy sounds like x3/o1w/i3 alto breath/
strings is also great .triton /m3 /Kronos have abandoned some of the great AI2 syn sounds yet the korg arrangers continues to keep those.

Mp3 player built in.

Hi Jamman

It also does voice cancelling and Mp3's can be included in the songbook also lyrics can be displayed from MP3 files.

Incidently i've loaded the full set of Pa3x files in a bank at a time so I got me a budget Pa3x LOL

Col

Is there a way to reset to factory-programmed settings?

great thanx.. thats a plus ....just wanted to be sure.

So do these Pa3x files loaded in the PA600 sound exactly like they would on a Pa3x ?

Can you load them in a pa500?

PA500 has different format,so you can't.Just like PA2x and pa800 styles you can't load in pa1x.

Only with conversion,but you know how that goes.

Saswick,how do keys feel on pa600.I used to own pa800,but I would like to know comparison.Biggest deal breaker for me not taking S series Yamaha is keys..I really don't like them.
I have now bk5,and keys feel nice.Very nice response.

Difficult to compare, I used to own a Pa2x and the Pa600 seems every bit as good. I have just had the KMA for a few months so the return to full size keys makes a comparison difficult because the KMA keys apart from being small have a very light touch. I think you really need to try one for your self.

Col

I have played pa2x.For my the keys are too heavy.I can't play those.Pa800 were not too bad.I actually like bk5 keys better than pa800.

The best keys on a keyboard that I had were yamaha 9000pro and EX5,which are the same keys.

Hey Col,
Don't you just love your little KMA. It is the most fun keyboard I have ever owned - play it almost every day and often gig with it as a stand-a-lone keyboard too!!

Deane

Hey Col

Have you tried to load any samples yet? I´m very curious about what the PCM memory is for , in the manual it says it can load samples, and use RAM multisamples, but I wan´t to know if i can use my own samples? how can I convert them to PA format? or if it´s a feature that you can´t use unless you buy new samples from KORG, the manual is too vague in the use of samples.

Thanks.

Hi Daniel

I don't use any samples so I can't help you on this point, maybe you could get some help on the Korg forum.

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=61

Col

Ok thanks , I guess we´ll have to wait until a lot of people have one to find out all the features, i´ll probably end up buying one anyway, it sounds very good for the price.

In fact i´d say it sounds better than the KROME ,specially the acoustic sounds sound more ralistic.

Hi Deane

Yes I have enjoyed the KMA. The main reason I bought it was the weight however the Pa600 is quite managable it's a nice compromise.

Amost other things I missed the songbook which is a great feature on the Pa series also the new touch screen is brilliant to use.

The Pa is also very easy to use because of the lack of buttons it utilises the touch screen very well.

All iall I'm very happy with the Pa600

Col

What about drum kits.Since you used to have pa2x.Is there a difference in drums??

I wonder why the omitted the sliders on the Pa600?...
I guess the knobs will suffice.....but the new larger screen looks wonderful. Col did you find the Swing ballads 1,2,3, for demo?

I have a feeling those of us who have ordered both the Pa600 and the S950 will get the PA600 before the S950 arrives. I am sure getting anxious. I've been collecting all the downloads for both keyboards so I'll be ready which ever arrives first.

Col,
Can't believe how much I use the KMA and how enjoyable it is. Hard to beat it for the price and size.

Deane

I MAY finally be 'jumping into the water' with a new kb - not retiring the kn6000 yet, though - I don't have a big budget and the pa600 sounds interesting ...
I plan on checking it out when Frank gets them in at Audio Works ...

I've ALWAYS used buttons for navigation through the board.
How is the learning curve on the pa600, and how is the navigation via the touch screen, especially during live performance? Do you have to do a lot of 'pre-planning' in setting 'registrations/performances' ... how seamless is the transition from style play to SMF, etc., how easy is it to 'store' styles for certain songs or SMFs ...
thnx,
t.

Tony.....let me be honest....KORG arrangers will treat you very well BUT you must put in the time and homework and really dig into the OS to get it to sound awesome....everything you need is in the OS you just have to take the time to set it up, sounds, styles, third party style conversions, editing perimeters,Your Own custom SONGBOOK setups, .... the touch screen is simple to use, accessing SMF, Mp3's, is easy also, learning the "LOCK" system to access features, loading sets to user slots, will become second nature after you do it a few times.....but once all the home work is completed you will have an awesome Arranger sounding keyboard. If you get one and need help just email me or call me ok?...good luck...can't wait to get mine here ..

Tony you're gonna hate it stick with your Technics.

We both know Rhode Island is smaller than some cities around the world, and to have 2 arranger players using the same brand is not a good idea. LOL

I know I don't have a lot of time with the way my schedule is but if you make the buy maybe you can put me on retainer for your computer and keyboard problems.

All kidding put aside if you do get one I'd be glad to hook up with you sometime to show you the "how to". Korg is different but I've got a couple of years under my belt to give you live help. Songbook on the Korg "rules". Having a touch screen is great. The only caveat is when I play the T4 I find myself pushing on the screen.

Steve I did the same lol..

Yea, it's easy to do.

Yep, me too, when I was messing around on a friend's T4. He was horrified, thought I was going to break it or something.

Hi Col,

Don't you miss the sliders at all? The reason I shied away from the Pa800 was because, coming from the i30 and Pa1XPro, I couldn't see me living with only a few sliders. The total lack of them puts me off the Pa600 as well.

Hi 124

I've just had 9 mth spell with the KMA so i./ve got used to no sliders. The screen on the pa600 is so easy to use that just touching a track then using the data wheel to make the alterations is not a real problem.

Selecting performances which I hardly ever used on Pa2x is a doddle because the buttons are so close to the right hand.

Style seection I always did through the screen before so that seems normal. I have loaded a blank songbook and am in the middle of loading all my numbers.

One thing I have just discovered that the lyric screen has three diffrent sizes of text on the smallest one it displaays eight lines quite esasy to read and a quick tap on the screen pages up and down one page at a time. Very easy.

I,m not to keen on the balance knob as on the KMA and the Pa800 I assigned one slider to expression and the other to accom volume. You can assign the second knob to accomp vol or balance I'm not sure which to use as yet I suppose I'll learn to live with one or the other. It's a small price to pay for what is proving to be a cracking piece of kit. It would have been nice to have another knob to assign. I suppose could use my EXP-2 pedal assigned to expression, thinking about it I'll give that a try I 've never used an expression pedal since the organ day's.

All the other bits and pieces seem easy to use, as yet.

Time will tell.

Weight which is why I sold the Pa2x seems very manageable even for a 70 year old codger like me.

Regards

Col

Thanks for that, Col. You're right though, it's all in the adaptation and getting used to doing things a different way. I don't like that knob idea, either. Seems to me that a slider is more tactile and easier to judge in the split second you sometimes have to make an adjustment.

The weight thing would be a major factor as I'm only a whisker behind you in age. It's a bugger, innit?

Cheers, 124

Col ... could you demo something using the jazz styles - whatever they may be? ...
thnx

Hi Tony

Do my best

Col

Swing ballad 1,2,3 also Col.