My impressions of the Korg PA900,
after a couple days...testing it out (uncle Dave loaned me his)..

I am checking out the PA900, to see if it has value to me for senior center type gigs.
Namely a small, light keyboard with speakers and a mic input..

I have found some interesting things,,some pro..some con..

The construction is designed to be light...plastic ,
not unlike the BK series and PSR series (maybe the Tyros too to an extent.)

The keys feel okay, better than the BK5 and PSR s950, maybe better than the Tyros,
but close.

No after touch, but okay response from the action..

Most of the following will be comparison to the G70 as a benchmark,
and my experiences with BK5, E50/60 and PSR/Tyros that I had..

The BK5 was ideal for me..for Senior centers,
but I needed an external mic input (mixer).

The screen showing lyrics was small,
but actually about the same as the lyric view on the PA900.

The Korg does not show chords on the screen for SMF ect..
all Rolands do..

The player (MP3 ect) is the same as the PA800..too many button pushes,
better off with the BK5, although better than G70 (none)..

The sounds , are subjective, but still noticebly differenty.
there are not many acoustic pianos to choose (2), the good thing..
they are decent.
The EP 's are a strange mix, I did not like any compared to the BK and G70.
An example, I like a tremolo EP, all Roland's have a good one.
The tremolo reed EP on the Korg has an annoying sound on release of the key.
Maybe the reason Korg uses a phaser instead of tremolo on the more usable EP's.

There are usually one or two good sounds in each category,
but also a lot of useless sounds..
DNC and RX are naturally the better sounds on the Korg.

Across the board the better sounds are BK series, pianos , organ, drums ect.

The following points are mostly negative..

The audio inputs are terrible..
I ran the G70 into the ins on the Korg so I could compare the two,
via Korg speakers.
I could not believe what I heard, the Korg sounded so much better,
IT WAS THE INPUTS QUALITY..

I ran the 2 boards through a common sound system, and the truth was heard.
.the G70 out shines the Korg, easily in sound.

I think the audio quality via inputs may have to do with Dave's settings (I hope)..

Korg still has a stupid way of routing effects and the use of the mic,
losing an input from the external inputs.

The much raved about vocal harmonizer, doesn't compare to the G70.
Before anyone gets bent out of shape..try the G70 side by side.
The Roland VH, has a smart interface,
that analyse the chords for SMF, without the need to selcta track for info.
It also automatically detects the right set up, for chord, vocoder,
or any other VH detection needed.
All the parameters are easily selected with no glitches while playing live.
No risk of shutting down the sound (mute)..
as the Korg does with an easily accidental touch of a wrong button.

I also did not like the clarity of the mic/vh..it easily distorted..on the Korg..

The sequencer on the Korg was okay, not in the same league as the G70...
but way better than the BK5 (none).
The quick song capture was okay on the Korg..
the G70 a little better less buttons to select..Routing to the sequencer,
easily done on the G70, but a little complicated on the Korg...
and having to name a seq before you can sequence a new song
will stop the flow of your idea in a hurry.

The styles are good, I thougt the new styles were better with fills than previous styles.
The bad...I don't like using a style in all variations and when you select an ending,
this trumpet player takes over and he wasn't in the band the whole song.

Song books works okay, but I honestly believe the Roland user programs work better..
Also selecting external styles and playing immediately ,
are best on Rolands..G70 and BK series.

Getting around the keyboard during a performance..the winner is easily the G70..
The Korg is better than the BK5 because of the touch screen..
both the Korg and the BK5 are dependent of performance setting up,
they lack the ease in the G70.

Final thoughts:
Is the Korg PA900 a nice board..yes it is..If you need a light board, speakers, mic/vh
with touch screen, and 61 keys...it could be for you.
Value to dollar...a BK5 is half the price of the PA900,
No mic input,no sequencer,no touch screen..the rest are equal..

If I don't need to consider speakers ( and I don't need them),
maybe I should visit Bill Lewis and check out his BK9.

Right now, my only sensible solution for senior gigs..use the best board for me..The G70..
saving 20-25 pounds isn't worth the trade offs..

The G70 reminds me of my "old" 1973 Chevy truck I bought new,
heavy duty loaded out, 454 engine , automatic...
I had this truck for 29 years...Everytime I went shopping for a replacement truck,
I would leave the showroom, realising,
I had a better truck than what I just looked at..

Dave I won't need the whole week,
I had your board for 20 hours time testing it out..
all my questions are answered..
I can return it when ever you want..
maybe Monday night if you go to the Solo meeting.

Fran

How does the Bk5 sound compared to the G70 or Bk9. Especially the pianos

Joe a lot of the BK5 sounds are better than the G70..like the sounds taking from the SRX boards, and the BK5 has newer drum kits..I haven't played the BK9 yet, but I know others have said it sounds better than the G70.. I like the pianos on all the Roland arrangers..and also the EP's..Other sounds I didn't mention that are far superior to other brands,,choirs and scats are the best on Roland G70, and BK's.

Thanks Fran

Like the sound of G70 & Bk9 but Bk9 more than I want to spend.

I believe it's been "too quiet around here" because most of us presently have an arranger that meets (or even exceeds) our needs.

I'd be hard pressed to find another arranger that fills all my requirements as well as my Tyros4...plus, it's paid for!

The important thing, to me, is that my arranger will let me update sounds and styles as required, so I have the optional sound expansion card installed in my Tyros4, and a wealth of Yamaha and third party styles from which to make fresh new styles, or improve/enhance existing ones.

Fran, I think you'd have to look long and hard before you'll find anything to replace the arranger that has already been meeting your needs very well these many years.

Ian

The Pa900 does have after touch, check the specs! ;-)

Fran you don't need that!! just use the G70 it does all you'll ever need...use your new tablet with it also.

BTW if Dave lent you the PA900 he must be getting tired of it? just sayin'

Yep..it does have aftertouch..I believe the PA600 does not..BTW: only a few sounds have aftertouch set up from the factory..that was why it was easy to not notice..

I would have answered sooner, but I had to wait forever to boot up the 900 (2 minutes)and try aftertouch..

Well said young man, did I just says that???