Who on this forum:

Bought a PA4X and kept it?

Bought a PA 4X unit and sold it or is trying to sell t? Or tried it and returned it?

Care to share?

Tx

I bought a Pa4X 76 note keyboard and am enjoying it. I have no reason to sell it. Lloyd

Plus 1!

I bought a PA4X and am trying to sell mine. So far no takers.

Deane

Hi
Suppose sometimes we buy a keyboard and until one actually spends a bit of time on it, it's hard to tell if it suits or not. Trying it out in a store doesn't really give enough time to evaluate.

Out of the close to 100 or so keyboards, synths , samplers , sound modules etc I've owned over the last 30 years, I can only remember one ( a Yamaha keyboard back in the late 80's I think ) that I ever handed back a couple of days after I bought it. It just did not do what I had expected, and I had bought it sight unseen.
Functions and features sounded better in print , than in reality.
For someone else it might have been the perfect keyboard.

Rikki,
Your post echoes my experience with the PA4X. It really is a very good keyboard and the functions built into it are rather amazing. The only reason I am selling it has to do with the styles Korg has put on this keyboard. I auditioned every single one of them and very few fit the genre of music I am playing for my audiences. I also have owned and gigged with the PA1X, PA2X Pro, PA900, and even the Microarranger. All those had onboard styles that supported the older songs I play.

Anyway, that is why I am selling. Rikki, I checked the cost of shipping the PA4X to Australia and Wow was it a shock - nearly a 1000 US dollars with the insurance.

Deane

How about getting those older styles back as user styles? The styles should be available for download somewhere?

Hi Deane,
as to what Bachus mentioned,
I have a heap of factory styles from the older korgs. All sorted into genres and duplicates removed. Haven't tweaked them, but a lot of them sound quite reasonable. I only tweak those as required if there's a use for it. If there's any missing from the pa3x that you were using, I could save you a copy. Not having a pa4x , I wouldn't know what styles they've dropped.

Also have some user and song styles I converted from my PSR and Band in a Box, they have been tweaked . They're mainly ballads and a bit of swing. I really only play older style music, matches my age. Haha. . Happy to send them to you to ftry while you're waiting to sell your pa4x.

I've sent a copy to a couple of other members, and unless they were just being polite, I think they found some of them useful.


That's why I mentioned pity we don't live closer. Haha , wouldn't only be shipping costs, our dollar has devalued to 73 cents against your dollar and our voltage is different to yours

Anyway, if you'd like a copy, just email me..

I am one of those people, and, thanks to Rikki, have a fine collection of user styles.

As to the original question, I find the PA4X to be the best board I have ever owned.

Bernie

Wow Bernie,
best ever keyboard.
I'm still dropping hints left ,right and centre at home , hopefully soon. Haha

Meanwhile I fine tuned that Brubeck style, noticed the fills weren't as smooth as they could have been. Also just finished another one. I'll send them on.

Ditto! to both comments.

Folks,
I am not closed minded about this. I am completely open to trying any styles anyone
would send to me for the PA4X. My email is in my profile.
Thanks in advance to anyone who sends me anything.

Deane

I love mine.

Deane,
I was quite surprised that you didn't find suitable styles for your kind of music,as we are the same age, and play to the same age group.
I noticed on the Korg forum that you had tried legacy styles direct from pen drive. I had the same problem and transferred some to HD, then used Media to move them to user or favorite. If you tried some big band, I think you might change your mind.
Bernie

Well, I'll chime in as a new user. I love "almost" everything about this 4x, but unless I'm missing something ... Korg took away a MAJOR tool that I'll miss: the ability to mix in an external audio signal AND still use the mic input. As far as I can tell, you have to choose the mic input or the line inputs, but can't use both at once. Seems weird, since they always had that option in the past. I'm not swearing to it yet, but it seems like the case. Anyone have a better answer?

OK, after reading the {gulp} manual, it "SAYS" that the line inputs are always enabled, but I think my unit is not operating that way. More tests ...
stay tuned...
OK - the diagram in the global edit window shows a signal path that the mic and the line ins share, but I only hear the actual line signal when I switch the input selector to "line". If the mic is enabled, I have no line in - this may be a bug. I'll reinstall the OS and start from fresh. Sigh ... I wanna PLAY ... not work! LOL

Great sounds & top of the line key bed. More styles than I'll personally ever use. I can tweak the ones inside if need be.

The sequencer is extremely powerful. Piano is a great stand alone. I can play acoustic guitar along with the drum beats or sequence a whole song and play acoustic along with the sequenced song.

Or I can just use it as an Arranger, playing live piano while the band helps me out.

This keyboard does everything I need onstage & in the studio....

I see absolutely zero reasons to ever move this board...

I'm interested in the PA4X. I wouldn't use it to compete with my S970 but rather use it for other types of gigs I'm pursuing.

Hope the observations keep coming. I find this a helpful discussion.

I see your post on the subjects of the Korg. I notice no one has anything negative to say about the board. I would suggest you go to the Korg Pa4x forum and read the posts there. They have what they call sticky notes and that it all about the problems they are having with this board. http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=75
Read and then make your choice.

I have both the S970 and PA4X 76. I use them both for different venues and am very satisfied with both. The problem I have is going from a solid feeling Korg keybed to a light synth touch of the Yamaha. However,it has many good styles and sounds.

Bernie

I'll have a PA 4X by Friday. Guess I can judge for myself then.

Congrats!! You'll be happy with it!!

Congratulations, enjoy it .

Hi Guys
Just sent out the requested style files.
If anyone didn't get them, please email me directly.
I 'm not used to win 10 on my laptop yet, so they may have gone astray.

The pa800 ( and older) styles , only had 2 fills. so, if you come across one of those styles and it's something you want to use, there's a fairly simple fix on the pa3x , and possibly it would work the same on the pa4x,
But, unfortunately I can't check because I don't own one ( yet) .

Load the style into a user or favourite slot.
Press record/ edit current style.
You'll get a message "fills and guitar mode converted"
Press ok
On the drop down menu,
Write style.
You'll have 4 fills instead of 2. Even though it's only a duplicate of the original 2. Better than having blank fills.

Congrats !! tell us all about it ....good luck!

It will be sometime early next week before I have a chance to get to the board. However, if everything works out, I might try to use it at a gig July 7th.

Purchase wise, my plan was to go through Frank. However, I was offered a 'too good to pass up' deal on an as new demo with full warranty. At the time, Frank did not have any used units.

Rog L

Well, still can't take this to work until the audio ins work, but listening at home has confirmed that Korg really did a major upscale to sound and styles. They smoothed out a lot of rough edges, the backing patterns are so much more logical, but still have that Korg punch. Variations progress in a less frantic pace (much like Yamaha) The drums are Sooooooo good - sound like live kit. I get happier every time I touch it.

I wanted to give a big shout out to Rikki. She sent me her styles and her conversions are really great! I am learning more each day but this will take a boat-load of work to make gig ready.

Does anyone know how to change the octave setting on a single sound in a keyboard set without changing all of them?

Thanks,
Deane

Only with Yamaha boards, Dean. I'm sorry I cannot help with your problem.

Gary

I can tell you after I get back in town. Been traveling for a few days. It's easy, but I don't remember exact steps without looking.

Does anyone know how to change the octave setting on a single sound in a keyboard set without changing all of them?

Thanks,
Deane [/quote]

Deane

Menu/mixer/tuning(bottom right)/oct transpose

Deane,
Go to the menu button and then select tuning/effects tab. You can change individual sounds there.

Yes, what they said!

Thanks guys, that will help a lot. Korg developers don't seem to understand various
instruments registers.

Deane

I'm going to audition a few TV soundbars at Best Buy, and the like - maybe someone makes a unit that will work in place of the dedicated Korg PAAS? Hmmmmm

Ok guys, I've been working my tail off with this thing and it will go out on it's first gig
today. I'll video it and post a link. So far I have about 80 songs setup in the songbook. I deleted all the factory supplied songs and added the ones I'll use for a gig. With all of your help I was able to get some of the octave problems resolved and added different sounds to the sound sets. Certainly not a finished product but a good step forward I would say.

Deane

Does it have to be the bar shape? How about these, my favourite mini studio monitors with an astonishing output (50 W RMS per box) and just 7 lbs:

Genelec 8010
http://www.thomann.de/gb/genelec_8010_apm.htm?ref=search_rslt_genelec+8010_336276_1

The rub is how they fit into the setup - where would I position them? Are they small enough to sit on either end of my keyboard etc? I think a bar with a woofer might be a pretty good compromise

also you need easy setup and travel with less wires, hookups, cases, etc, etc, ..

No, they won't fit onto the corners of the PA-4X. The Bose MusicMonitor would, but they don't get very loud, just enough for enjoying music at the computer. - Although, for pure monitoring they might be enough.
But if a separate lightweight subwoofer is ok for you, I think I have a very good solution, IF this model is available in the US:
Bose Companion 50 (not '5').
I own one. The top speakers have very small stands so they fit on the PA-4X. The subwoofer only weighs 4.5 kg or 10 lbs.
Strangely, according to the US bose website, they still sell the old, heavier model 'Companion 5', whereas here in Europe the 'Companion 50' with the lightweight subwoofer is available.
https://www.bose.de/de_de/products/speak...ker-system.html

Knock 'em dead, Deanne ...
Reading the positive posts from PA 4x owners, I sometimes get jealous, but then I realize that my Pa900 does everything I need it to do ... I played a 2 hour 50's gig with my guitar playing pal in NJ this past Wednesday ... over 200 people for an outdoor concert ... I had edited a good number of styles, adding instrumentation with the Multi-Pads, changing voices, and recording additional accomp parts in the styles, etc. ... the KB responded beautifully ... plus, when not out on a gig, the KB is set up in the house and with the on-board speakers all I have to do is put the KB on a stand and plug it in and it is ready for use ...

Deanne, I am somewhat surprised that you deleted all the factory songs, as I have found that to be a good resource for finding styles for certain songs ...

Pics videos?

Donny ... if that was meant for me, I will post a couple of pics when I have time next week ... Someone took some vids and I am hoping to get those soon also ...

Looking into just such items! Thanks

Congratulations Deane,
Look forward to your video.

Looking forward to your report

Well, the first PA4X gig went ok - not great but ok. I took pictures of my setup - included here - movies of the gig - and an audio recording of the gig. Right now I don't have time to process the movies or audio stuff but I will in a day or two and post a link to it for anyone interested.

A quick word about the venue. The dinning room is very small. This is a wonderful, very elite, nearly one care person to one resident venue. The people eat dinner and leave. I got this gig because a family requested me and I am paid extremely well for the hour - triple my normal rate. I have been playing for them for 3 years now.

By way, pictures of residents are strictly forbidden. In the video you will see the frame is such that no person could be seen.



See the attached pictures for my setup.

Deane

nice pics Dean.....boy thats a room size I would only use the S970 by itself with onboard speakers.....btw how do you compare the SD7 to the Pa4x

Well, I got some of the video processed. For those interested here is the link.
https://youtu.be/QKfQznJyGwM

Donny, in my opinion, the PA4X does not come close to competing with the Ketron SD7.
Sorry if that offends anyone here but that is how I see, hear, it. Keep in mind I don't care about all the fancy features - I am an arranger player - not a composer - I don't use samples, I never use midi files, and the only time I DJ is if my setup fails to work at the gig. I much prefer the rhythm sections of the SD7 styles to the PA4X - seem much more real to me. Anyway, that is just my opinion.

Deane

Deane, i compared the pa4x video to your first sd7 video on youtube, and i think i can understand why you prefer the SD7 above the pa4x.. Both where forst gigs, and you sounded better and more in your element on the sd7...

Seems the SD7 works good for you and the genre of music you play...

I think Ketron has a way to make it sound pleasing easily; their instruments usually have a smaller selection of sounds (far less than 1,000 sounds), and a lot of the sounds are less customizable than e.g. Korg's ones, less individual, but very pleasant and ready to play, often with a sampled vibrato.
In addition, probably ballroom styles are one of the genres Ketron is specialized in; saxophone sections are perfectly matched to a Glenn Miller tune etc.
That would be my explanation why you get along better with Ketron.

Deane, As a Pa4x owner I certainly DO NOT take offense.

Some folks like vanilla ice cream others chocolate, some prefer vodka, others beer or maybe wine..........you like the SD7. Some of us like the Pa4x. Each product we choose is what we like or what does the best job for us. To quote our friend Donny "enjoy what you play." Me? I'm sticking with the Pa4x doesn't mean either one of us are right or wrong we use the tool that does the best job for us.

PS Thanks for posting the video

Hi Deane,
Nice setup.

How could you offend people? If the korg doesn't suit you as well as an sd7, so be it. You gave it your best shot. If there was only 1 type of keyboard available, be a pretty boring old world. People have different needs and they like different types of music.

I haven't been around , do you still have your sd7.

Rikki,
Yes, I still have the SD7 and will probably take a serious look at the SD9 Pro when it arrives. I like the built-in speakers though and the SD9 will not have that.

Deane

Looking forward to what the sd9 will have to offer... It seems to have quite a few innovative features.

Hi Deane,
Pa4x hasn't got the speakers either. I do like having the Paas speaker attachéd to my pa3x, I must admit.
Even though only for home use, I used to have a big set of Tannoy speaker and an amp for my sd1+.
Way overboard.
For gigging, inbuilt speakers must make it easier, though you do have a nice setup.

Thinking maybe you tried to do too much quickly? There again, you alone know what you're comfortable with.

All the best

Hi Bachus

quite like the ketron's. Only thing that didn't suit me with the sd1 were the style editing/ creation functions.

Would have luved an audya, price was well over double of my korg.

We only have one outlet as far as I'm aware , unfortunately not a big seller over here, so we pay a premium .
That sd40.? Module sounds interesting, must admit, heaven knows when or if we'd get them here.

I owned an Audya4 module for almost a year... from which it was over 9 months in the Ketron repair center (3 times).

But its still the only TOTL arranger in the 21st century released in module form. I played it on top of a Yamaha S90ES and a V-synth GT back then. It was quite a nice setup. I still believe strongly in the power of arranger modules as they allow you the freedom of choosing your own Keyboard, combined with your favorite styles..

Hi Deane,

Thanks for posting the video. You know me, I know you, so it won't come as a surprise me saying that the Ketron would beat the Korg anytime with the music that you play and the audiences that you please. AS stated by others they are both great instruments in their own right. Together with the Tyros 4 or 5 they are the cream of the crop and it is just a matter of taste and pecuniary resources

regards,
John

P.S. I am sticking with the old stuff. PA800 and SD1Plus and the old Yamaha P80 piano. Cannot play that often anymore anyhow so keeping the PA4X was not really a great option for me.....

Hi Bachus
Wow, that's not good. That's something that worried me slightly when I had my sd1 ie if something went wrong, wasn't sure where one would get it fixed. My sd2 broke down after an update, just out of warranty, I had to throw it out.

Must have been my bad luck, a monday morning produced unit. I have not found many hardware stories about ketron hardware.... Most stories about unrelaibility are software related... Certainly it seems ketron takes their time woth upgrades.

And when the unit got finally fixed i sold it, however the new owner never had any complaints...

Dean thanx for the reply....I understand what your saying......
why even waste time if your happy with the SD7 and it does all you need just stick with it and make people happy and yourself correct?
Happy 4th of July!

HI Donny,
You are right but so far I have had NO serious offers from any buyer so I decided I might as well give it a try. I doubt I will use it very much. I have to add here though that I don't think it is a bad keyboard. It just doesn't fit what I need for my gig requirements. By the way, I converted a few midi files to styles and that is a really neat feature I wish other keyboards had.

Deane

EBay?

Bring it to Canada. I will take it right away from you.

Me too :-) :-) :-)

I had another forum member inquire from Australia. Wow! shipping alone would have ranged from 800.00 - 1100.00 USA dollars.

Wonder what it would be to Canada?
Deane

Be quick, there's probably a postal strike looming.

Deane, they don's want you to ship it - they want you to drive it over the Canadian boarder. Very cagey, those Canadians.

Gary

Hi Deane,
How did you go with those conversions, did they come out ok?
I watched Sam's video's over on the Korg pa4x forum. The first one he did Careless Whisper sounded quite reasonable.The second one he put thru was a very complex Sting song , he was mainly trying to see if the korg could handle a complex song. Didn't fare anywhere near as well as with the first one.
I gather korg have tried to keep the process as simple as possible, so they wouldn't put people off from trying it.
There's always the option of further editing for those who want to do it anyway.

Rikki,
If the midi file is very "busy" the results are not so good. But, the process works great if you have a straight forward midi to work with. I've only done two or three so far. I have over 10,000 midi files I have never looked at - most are not the music I use. Some day I'll pick out a few and see how well they convert.

Deane

Thanks Deane

I've converted a few, just to try the process. As mentioned, the good quality, simpler, files work best. Very usable results.

Hi Don,
appears to be a great new function on the korg and easy to use.
Suppose just a case of put the file thru, if it comes out ok , it can be tweaked further if one chooses to, or if it's a total dud, forget it and try the next one.

Ooh, I could see me getting totally addicted to that. Not good. Haha

Thanks Don

Rikki, Not sure I ever told you I have a crystal ball at home and when I ask it will Rikki get a P4X? It says the chances are better than average

Hi Stephen,
Good one.
Yeh, things are not starting to look too good for hubby's wallet, I've even ventured over to korg pa4x forum. Haha

Us "Poor Canadians" make half the money that all you "Rich Americans" make......