Someone Talk Me Into a Korg PA3x....

My S910 does a admirable job for me on stage night after night ...BUT, I'm starting to get bored .....was thinking of adding the Pa3x to give me more flexibility "feature wise" that the S910 lacks & have a decent backup also.......
So....Someone Talk Me Into a Korg PA3x....

Donny...you are getting sleepy...your eyes are getting heavy...listen to me, Donny, listen to the master...Donny, buy a PA3X and dump the PSR-S910 to someone who will appreciate it's great features....Donny...you don't have to worry...the Korg has a fine SMF player and will play MP3's...Donny you must get the Korg as soon as possible.

Now, when I snap my fingers, you will remember nothing, but at your first opportunity you will go to Frankie's and buy a PA3X at full retail...hey, Frankie gotta make a living!

Good luck and may God Bless You.

Ian

Donny,

Just go and buy one if you fancy one, life is too short, it looks a good bit of kit, pity there are not more demos on youtube, where's your nearest stockist. I think I am going to get a T4 shorty, I have had a Pa2x and sold it recently.

Wrong....I bought the S910 because its smaller and lighter then my Tyros units were...and sound just as good for my needs....
Yamaha units are the terrible SMF players, let's not forget about the hand claps.... nothing can touch a Roland for SMF in sound and editing capabilities....these arrangers are just backup tools to accompany my singing first and foremost as many of us on stage gigging pros know...SMF at this stage of technology is "Old School"
I just mix it all up in so many ways using live play with styles, Mp3 backup files that I record and multitrack myself, & a laptop for flexibility for my needs also with my KB to make the show successful

Yes Tony good advice ..I don't want to make a big mistake like you did buying the AUDYA & getting stuck with it... I can buy anything I want no prob..... In the past have bought almost everything out there ...but woke up and got smarter now..if it wasn't for my good buddy Fran who keeps me in check I'd probably have a warehouse like Russ full of gear

Hi Donny

Forget adding the PA3x as you already have a good arranger, just buy the similarly priced Korg Kronos and have the best of both worlds.

Bill

That would make a nice rig! I would probably go with the PA3X though because I'm an "arranger" guy:)

I do like the PA3X vocal harmony though. I need to hear more Korg styles though (especially Latin)

I don't agree. The best of both worlds is the PA3x and the Kronos. Forget Yamaha arrangers.

I agree Bill...the S910 is a well sorted out, great sounding arranger, and the Korg Kronos is the hippest thing as far as workstations go.

With those two, you not only have complimentary sound engines (having two Korg would be redundant), you'd save a few bucks in the process.

If I was to add another keyboard or module to my Tyros4 setup, it wouldn't be another Yamaha instrument; I already have that sound...it would probably be a Roland Fantom or Korg Kronos.

As of now, I don't need anything else as the Tyros4 seems to be doing an excellent job for my needs, but if I do require an additional piece, I's want something that would contrast and/or compliment the great sound I have already.

Bill, are you interested in getting a Kronos?


Ian

I totally agree. Sound engines from different companies sound very different which also makes it easier to get good mix separation because they tend to fill different ranges of the sound spectrum. That has always been the case. Plus they each have very different strengths. I would never consider 2 pieces of the same brand.

Umm it does lambada very well

The Kronos has 9 sound engines so it sound totally different then a PA3X or whatever Korg arranger. Best combination there is in my opinion is a Korg arranger with a Kronos or a Roland BK 7m module with a Kronos.

I don't agree. The best of both worlds is the Tyros4/S910 and the Kronos. Forget Roland and Korg arrangers.
Ian

Donny,

We've been down this road before. You will get it and then dump it within the first month. Don't waste your money old friend, you are only happy playing Yamahas. Happy Fourth!

Tom

I don't agree, etc etc etc

variety is the spice of life!

It certainly is Paul, and an S910 (or a Tyros4) and a Kronos would be a terrific combination.

But, so far, I have not been wanting anything else with the Tyros4...I am happy as is.

Ian

Hi Ian

I can load pretty much any VSTi I want into my Abacus (And always do) so the Korg offers nothing new for me, but for a hardware board it really pushes the boat out.

Bill

That's pretty handy Bill. So far the Tyros4 pushes all the right buttons for me, and it's incredible SA/SA2/Mega voices are all I need. Mine is totally stock, but I have already begun to customize it for me, mostly in the style area.

I tend to mainly use acoustic type instrument emulations, and the base Tyros4 is superb in replicating them. The synth-type voices I do use, are also well represented, many of them remarkably close to those in Yamaha's Motif.

I honestly feel it will be my last, personally owned, arranger, although I'm sure I'll get lots of play time on the next generation Yamaha arrangers.

The Tyros4 is the right tool for the job for me, much like the Abacus is for you...how long have you had it?


Ian

PS...I may add the memory upgrade board at a later date, but so far, with being able to edit the on-board voices to my liking, I don't think I'll be needing it

Hi Ian

I have had the Abacus for about 5 or 6 years, (Possibly longer) it was a used instrument running OAS 4, however I upgraded it 2 or 3 years ago to OAS 7. (I have not bothered with the OAA as I am not a massive style user)

Before I had the Abacus I was using a computer system, (Controller, VSTi, Sequencer etc.) however while this was really cracking (Way beyond anything a hardware board could achieve) you couldn’t really have it in the lounge (Fortunately I am a home player so don’t have to keep dismantling all the time) which is a bit isolating. The Abacus allows me to use all my computer VSTi etc. inside the instrument so no wires or external equipment required, (Plus minimal setup) so it’s now perfectly happy in the lounge. (The capability to load VSTi and Akai samples was the main reason I chose the Abacus and everything else on it was just a bonus)

After using VSTi for so long (Well over 10 years or more) to go back to a fixed (Take what the manufacture gives you) hardware board is (For Me) a No No, hence the Abacus is ideal.

Bill

Donny,
OK...here is my HO.
IF you really want to do MORE editing, programming PRO level MIDI stuff, and want all the PRO features (as to functions) you can get today....get a PA3.
BUT, Do not expect the sounds to be like Yamaha.
Some are really super, and for on stage, jazz, dance, and the younger crowds...the PA# will kick butt.

BUT if you like the Yamaha sound and smoothness as to the sounds and how they are right out of the box especially how the STS's are and how the sounds work together) ......don't bother with a Korg. Also, If you want to play more mideastern etc. usic the Korg is the way to go. Go to youtube and the factory sites (KOrgPA.com) and listen to LOTS of (all you can find on the PA3 so far) and Yamaha performances and decide if you like the sound....Also, I find the orchestral stuff lacking in quality/quantity in the Korg...and that's fine as most Korg players don't care I guess.
for me the sound HAS to rule...or the inspiration goes away.

My inspiration goes away with a Tyros 4 or whatever Yamaha arranger. Everybody sounds the same. Quite boring actually.

And the drums sounds of the T4 are still very weak. Don't understand why Yamaha don't bring out an overpriced drums package.

But Yamaha did their marketing very well.

Have you listen to the Korg PA3x in person Leeboy? The orchestral stuff is better then you think.

Lee, the reasons you state are shared by most of us who have purchased a Tyros4.

It sounds great right out of the box.

I play many genres, Jazz/Big Band, Pop, Dance, Latin, Soul, Movie&Show, Ballroom, R&B, Country, World and it works great for them all, not just orchestral music, although it does excel in that area.

The sound has to rule for me too, so the choice was easy...Tyros4.

Third party support is terrific, and the OS is easy to use.

Just look around SZ and see who's buying Tyros4, most of whom are advanced home players and/or professionals...we all can't be wrong.

Ian

FransN,
No I have not yet...but I plan to.
Quite honestly with the music I play I would be quite surprised if the Orchestral sounds were even close to the T4.

The PA2 had so many problems with the sounds I really got frustrated......3 pages of detailed issues sent to Korg, no answer.
If, only IF they used all new smaples will it be different. EQ, and DSP will not fix these problems.....but I will see if any ever show up here.
I have YET to hear a demo or performance that shows any real Orchestral sounds in a way I can evaluate it. DID you even listen to the performance I linked in my post for 'One reason I am going for the T4) ??
If not go listen to it...and then show me anything close on the PA2 or PA3.

Leeboy I have listen to your links and Telmo's demos and a lot of videos but just can't get excited by the Tyros sound and that's the reason I went to Korg. I told before I played Yamaha for years but they still sound the same. Yes better but still that cheesy sound. We all have different taste and that's a good thing. Like I also said before you have to play one to believe what I say because the videos says nothing. The real sound is so much better.

Yes, there is no "One Size Fits All" when it comes to keyboards. It is a personal choice and eveyone makes that choice on which sounds best to them and suits their playing style the best. And when you hear demos that are built around the strengths of a particular keyboard then they all sound pretty darned good. The big difference is when you want to play some sound or style in particular .... then the results are very different from machine to machine. And it's not only the styles and sound design that is unique to each, each has it's own tonal properties ie. I have often found Rolands to be bright and present while Korgs tend to sound warmer and more mellow, Yamaha's sit somewhere in between. All those can sound great in the right setting .... and likewise can sound not so great in the wrong setting.

Nothing is black and white here. Personally I wouldn't buy a keyboard based solely on recommendations. Nothing beats getting out there and trying them side by side and making up your own mind.

For years now I have been using a Yamaha Motif 6 for live band work. It's not that I am all that thrilled with the sounds and I really don't like the UI at all .... but as a practical package overall it works well for me on stage so I balance the negatives against the positives and if the positives win then I can live with that. I don't expect any keyboard to fit me perfectly. But knowing that allows me to carefully weigh the choices I do have against eachother.

FransN,
Yes...I agree one has to try it himself...and I have tried the T4, not the PA3.
So...I do wander why MANY, MANY performances of all the stuff 'I like' are done on Yamaha...and hardly any on Korg???
Seems all I can find is mostly Mid-Eastern or fast dance music on Korgs...why do suppose so many have chosen the Yamaha T2-T4 (and S-900 etc.)instead of the Korgs? Why are people not doing the same kind of musical performances on their Korgs as Yamaha owners??

Really, who knows? This is a bit of a circular thesis. Listen to Nigel, he pretty much nailed it.

Hi Frans,
do you actually have a PA3X??
If so, could you confirm something for me.

Does it have some XG Mapped Drum Kits??

I also had a few minutes to spend on a PA3X in one of the stores.. The idiots at the store had it hooked up to a single PA type speaker. Any chance of hearing what it should sound like was dashed.
I tried to listen to the XG drums but I couldn't really tell because I couldn't hear if the brush sounds ( 2 or 3 notes) below the bass drum ( Note 35 ) were present in kits, other than the brush Kits.
XG kits were on my wish list only insofar as it would make converting some of my old yammie styles across to korg a lot easier if I don't have to remap the drums manually to XG..

Hi Rikki,

Yes I have one and he sounds amazing and yes it has XG mapped drum kits

Well said Nigel, I wouldn't buy any musical instrument solely on recommendations, let alone an expensive arranger keyboard. We all know what we want to hear coming out of our speakers, and it's different for each of us. I can't expect my taste in instrument sounds to be the same as someone else.

At this price level, one would be very wise to spend some quality time on the instruments in question, knowing full well, that although there is no "perfect arranger", there is one that should meet a person's needs better than the rest.




Lee, you owe it to yourself to play the Korg PA3X for at least a reasonable amount of time before you make any decisions. It may have just the sound you are looking for, and since it is cheaper than the Tyros4, you could save a few bucks in the process.

I suspect the reason people are playing the "stuff you like" on Yamaha arrangers, is that they are generally considered more adaptable to orchestral type music than the other brands, and it sounds awesome right out of the box, hence the plethora of Tyros4 performances on YouTube.

You'll be spending a good chunk of change on these instruments, so try them both to your own satisfaction.

Ian

Thank You frans

Hi all,

Just my view on this all. The newer styles coming out lately even makes my old PSR3K sound like a completely different arranger. I have learned to play with my favourite style's effect settings and the results are just amazing. It is hard to believe what a little more chorus & reverb will do if applied to certain parts of the style - even to the bass & drums (yes I know some will laugh).

So yes, what I really miss on my 3K is the ability to change these settings on my favourite instruments and then to map to all my styles in one go.

Henni