Korg Pa600

Morning Guys

Pic of the PA600

Regards

Col

It does look like a toy with a joystick !!
But I`m sure it won`t sound like one
Colour display? Cool
Thanks for sharing Col !!

Hi Guys

Found some demo's voices styles etc, according to the info they were uploaded by Korg.

DNC voice's ?

http://soundcloud.com/korg/sets/pa600_demos_solo-instruments

Regards

Col

Col...great heads up!!....how about the spec list?

Sorry Donny the spec's in Japanese

The audio demo's sound just like the Pa2x


Col

http://www.korg.de/produkte/keyboards-produktbersicht/produktinfo0/pa600-produktinfo-1.html

Copy the last link and paste it in Google Chrome and translate it.
On a very quick look it doesn't seem to be much different than my KMA except
for key size and the songbook.

Deane

kinda looks like my bk5, only with more controls and a color screen. i wonder what is the price. 1600.00 maybe?

Wish my KMA had DNC, a songbook, a 7" color touch screen etc etc

LOL

Col

Voc processor?

Guys,

Details at => Korg PA600


It seems to be a good package in the offering especially for upgrades from the PA-50/50SD

Demos sound good. Does sound like the Pa2x sound engine inside this baby !!!

Chord sequencer is included also...

And there will be the Musikant software from the PA3x Musikant available on a SD card. As I had to sell my PA3x because of money issues this will be my new keyboard

I just ordered both the PA600 and the PA600QT from Korg USA. The prices are exactly the same as the PA500 and the PA500ort. $1099.00 MAP and $1299.00MAP. Shipping for the 600 is to start in Sept. with limited availability and the 600QT (quarter tone tuning buttons and additional arabic, turkish content in November.

Is there a USB port and dual mp3..and...smf player..or SD card

Hi Donny

Song Play

Single Player with Select, Start/Stop, Home, Rewind and Fast Forward controls

Jukebox function - Compatible with SMF (formats 0 and 1) and MP3 with Vocal Remover -

Lyrics (compatible with CDG), Score, Marker


USB 2.0 host and device

No SD card use memory stick

Regards

Col

Col.......lose one feature dual player.....but gain another Mp3.....that's a plus.USB also.

Donny

I like the look of the 7" touch screen briliant for lyrics linked to the song book. Pity about the lack of vocal processor but I suppose you can't have everything.

Col

Honestly I use a Small Mixer w/FX for my vocals much more control between music and singing for my needs...although it's another piece to hook up, but,...
I'm curious to check out the Pa600, who knows?......
Korg is really steppin' up to the plate with so many NEW offerings..

Yep.... Chord Sequencer in a MOTL arranger. This is starting to look interesting.

This is like a PA2x (minus the 76 keys) with the PA500 price.
Nice !!!!

Just like the other companies...the lower and mid line , has less than stellar sounds compared to top models..

I listened to all the demos..other than a few DNC sounds..I am not impressed...Sounds like the acoustic piano, Scat, drums.. are just not cutting it... I didn't like my PA800 so how am I going to care about this board....

I do like a touch screen, but they continue to bunch everything up on the screen..

The single player is an improvement to me..I never cared for the dual player...it was an accident waiting to happen..

Still the "old" 4 effects block...never was of any use to me..

It is what it is..Korg is using up the old parts in a "new" released product....just like the MicroArranger...

If I had interest in a new Korg ...I would save my pennies (dollars)...til I could afford a PA3x....

This offering makes me glad I still have the BK5

Machatero... with FOUR fills and a break, this is WAY beyond the PA2X. Plus the Chord Sequencer.

Some pretty significant upgraded features right there.

JMO but I think the Chord Sequencer is one of those features that is PRICELESS if you use it and WORTHLESS if you don't. My (totally unsubstantiated) guess is that only a minority of G1000 players used it. I'd be curious to know how many of our own PA3x owners use this feature in their live playing (as on gigs). I think it's going to take a lot more education or re-education about it's potential value in live playing before it ever sees widespread use. Obviously, I could be wrong about all this.

chas

In my view the PA600 is the follow up to the PA500 with some of the PA3X technology incorporated. That still does not make it anywhere near a PA800 let alone a PA3X. But it does narrow down the line here. As from today you have the KMA for additional purposes and quickies and then the choice between 600/800 and PA3X.

However in view of what I have read so far about the new Yamaha PSR950, its price tag and differences with the preceding model the PSR910,there is another interesting consideration. Quoting George Kay that the Korg PA600 will retail at about 1000 US dollars and the PSR950 almost twice that amount it raises the question:
If you already have a Yamaha PSR910, would you want to update for that amount of money or rather keep it and add the Korg PA600 to your set up ? A legitimate question it seems to me.................


regards,
John Smies

LOL... what feature isn't?

I think I have always said that it really rewards the better player, and has little impact on the more pedestrian. If you don't have much of a left hand, if you don't play a secondary instrument, if you aren't a bender heavyweight, if soloing freely isn't your strong point, no, it is of limited use. If you DO any or all of those things though, it is almost impossible to function at your best without it.

For jazzers, it has a great use... Play through the head, but keep the chord substitutions to a minimum. Then hit the CS, and then, while the rhythm section stays fairly straight, you can reharmonize, and get pretty outside, all the time the chord recognition is not going to go gonzo on you... Bi-tonality, whole tone stuff, basically everything you daren't play now knowing it will freak out the backing.

A million and one uses... or none at all..!

None at all is for me .....I didn't use it or need it for my music on my G1000, etc,.....All features aren't useful for ALL Players....CS is no big deal, just another manufacturers Gimmick IMO, I have yet to hear someone use it with out a glitchy transition "in & out" of the CS back into live style playing,.....but, others might use it for what ever reason & enjoy it,...

I think Korg has done many of it's supporters a great favor by adding the Chord Sequencer to the PA-600.

No, it's not for everyone, but, if you like soloing over a bridge or verse in the tune and have complete access to mod/pitch wheels or joystick, it will be indispensable.

I remember Roland had it on the E-70, back when I was doing clinics for them, and I found it very handy...I'm not sure how intuitive the Korg Chord Sequencer is, but the one on the E-70 was seamless and very easy to use.

I agree with John Smies in that the S910 (still my favorite arranger next to the Tyros4) and the Korg PA-600 would make a great package.

Ian

Have a listen to the PA800 demo's on korgpa.com then listen to the soundcloud demo's for the PA600 unless my ears deceive me they are the same demo's. The Pa2x had the same ones but they have been removed but the PA800 is still current.

Kind Regards

Col

Col......prob a smf played thru each unit

Totally glitch-less here. The trick is the same for getting glitch-less transitions across any musical boundary. Timing in hitting the chords, and hitting the buttons.

It's often the case that, at turnarounds, chords change quite quickly. On top of that you have to hit fill buttons, and if using the CS, you have to hit that TOO. The trick is learning WHEN. The Roland CS (and I think the Korg too), all it needs is a hit of the Play button at ANY TIME in the bar before you need it to happen. Then you go through your usual timing for playing and getting the fills.

The Korg has a distinct advantage over the Roland's. Along with switches for Variation (with autofill), you can activate the CS functions with footswitches. So you get a hands free transition, that allows you to concentrate on playing timing without lifting off the keyboard at all! The 5 switch footpedal has many uses!

The thing about BAD operation of timing on the CS is, you'd be surprised, if you play an evening back, how often you can hear little timing glitches across fills. I hear them on user demos all the time. But a CS is going to make them more apparent to you, because it is going to do the same glitch, if you initially made it, EVERY TIME IT REPEATS...

That's a lot easier to spot than a different glitch each time (or now and again). But nail the fill timing and chords, you NEVER get a glitch.

Hi Deanne,
no really, it's actually based on the PA3X without all the bells & whistles.

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2012/09/05/-new-korg-arranger-keyboards/

PA500 was based on the PA800/PA2x.

KMA really is sort of unique.

Unlike Yamaha , Korg appear to bring out the Top of Line arranger first, then the mid level arranger a year or so later, wheras Yammie put NEW features into the mid level PSR's first, then bring out the top of the Line arranger.

TBH, I think the S950 is the FIRST MOTL Yamaha that had a significant feature BEFORE the Tyros... Usually, Yamaha introduce new stuff on the Tyros line, and it trickles down in 9 months to a year.

Or am I wrong?

KMA is not sort of unique in my opinion. It is the PA50 with small keys.

Wow! Great sounding arranger.., but DAMN! What happened to the design.?.? Maybe it's just me, but I think they took a huge jump backwards with the design. Even with the color display it looks like something that came out years ago.

I wonder what made Korg decide to make such a drab looking arranger. I wasn't a huge fan of the PA-500's appearance, but IMO that "looks" better than this. Oh well.., what looks drab to some of us will look great to others.

The demos are very good though.

I am glad they went black colour. As for the design, I must say that first second when I saw it I thought is only a poor render of someone, but slowly it grows on me. Actually, I prefer it, as it is more... "serious".

If all goes well, I will get this keyboard at one point. The sound engine is very good to me, but the feature set is great compared with the Pa50 that I still use. I did not believe that Pa500 was enough of an update, but the new Pa600 certainly is. I am very happy they introduced the four auto fillins, the CS, the large color touchscreen and all the others. It does sound very cool to me.

I have to say, I was waiting for the MOTL Korg for years now. Finally, it arrived, so I am planning for it.

Hi Diki,
you're probably right.
I remember I ended up settling for my psr1500, because Tyros's were scarce as hen's teeth when first released. Must have been the T2 I was hoping to buy , not the T1.

Well,Korg should change their name to Yamaha.They just became vampires just like them.On the other hand, why would Yamaha be the only one.

Cs, Mp3, Guitar Mode, color display, 2 assignable switches,usb, black, speakers, etc, etc,....can't wait till it gets here,..

I know a secret!!!!

I'll bet a replacement for the PA800 isn't too far in the future.
DonM

That is if Pa3x 61 keys was not meant to cover that need.

Honestly, what else features wise could be in between Pa3x 76/61 and this new Pa600 to such extend that will justify yet another product?

Ok, I am probably wrong, but that is a possibility I guess. Time will tell. Now I am just curious whether Pa600 will be much more expensive than Pa500 or will it keep the same price range - it should, as it is defined as entry-level.

Hi Donny,
don't forget the 4 fills instead of 2, smoother transition to the next variation. It's actually Guitar Mode 2, which is quite an improvement on Guitar Mode 1 (PA800/PA2X)
Be interesting to see if PA600 has some different styles compared to PA3X. If you're seriously considering updating, be sure to save your PA500 styles. I found that some of the styles on the PA3X had identical names to some of the PA800 styles, whereas in actual fact, it was a new style. Also they dumped quite a few of the PA800 styles altogether, so it was fortunate I still had access to them.
They may well do something similar with PA500/PA600.

Ha-ha...

Tell me

Hi Larry,
whoops, must only be an old aussie saying ??? we certainly have some weird one's. haahaa

Morning Guys

Pa600 arrived at local shop priced exactly the same as the Pa500 ie 800 GBP. Will go and have a look when I get chance.

Col

Flat out like a lizard drinking ...

Kangaroo loose in the top paddock ...


I knew what ya meant by "scarce as hen's teeth" lol

Actually, I remember my parents using that expression ('scarce as hen's teeth') when I was a child, and they definitely were not 'aussie' . I'll bet a lot folks here with Southern roots have heard it as well. I think it dates back quite a bit so be careful, Rikki, else we're going to start wondering how far YOU date back .

chas

Col looking forward to your review soon....have fun!

Wow, that's amazing. A new keyboard was announced and they are already selling it! They are cheating us out of months of hype and speculation!
DonM

Good! Very good!

Hi Nigel

"Flat out like a lizard drinking ..." definately heard that one before, maybe on Crocodile Dundee? Not quite sure what it means, but definately must have something to do with the average Aussie Male's favourite pastime, Drinking Beer??

"Kangaroo loose in the top paddock ..." that one I've never heard, guessing maybe similar to having a "Screw Loose" ?? Can definately relate to that after I've done something stupid. haahaa

Hi Chas,
Oh, I date back to the last Century, I'm truly ancient. A few more decades & I'll be an Antique. haahaa.

Hi
mind boggling.

PA3X , I think we were discuusing for close to a year before I received mine, & it was a number of months after that , till they became more widely available.

I found this pa600 demo on you tube Pa600 Demo...

I didn't understand a single word

short comparison of PA600 vs PA500

DNC sounds
7” 800 x 480 Color screen vs 320 × 240 bw
360 factory styles vs 320
1,200 available Style locations vs 448
4 breaks vs 3
guitar mode 2
mp3 player
expansion card
final limiter on output
950 sounds vs 880
64 drumkits vs 56
128 voices vs 80
Real AC plug input vs wall wart adapter

Duane

Duane its all good....thanx for the information...can't wait.

For those who might consider the new Korg PA600. The German Korg division have recorded a very comprehensive 7-part video on Youtube that runs over more than an hour. Okay, it is in German but it is comprehensive that you may get a very good impression of what it can do and cannot do. Here is the link to part one, remember there are seven parts in all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEFGKgb325Y&feature=relmfu

regards,
John Smies

Thank you John Smies and THANK YOU KORG......
many feature improvements, in many areas.....
it's all good, funny how I could understand German enough to know what they are saying in the demos KORG Tv always does a fine job, I'm sure they will make and English Demo version also ...
can't wait till it gets here.

enjoy what you play..

For anyone who gets to see one in person could you give us a description of the actual keyboard? Full size hopefully?

Thanks

looks like the same as my Pa500 which I like better then my S910, a bit more resistance in the action .. we'll see soon enough.

Look like that this keyboard is a winner to me.
All these features and at the same price as the PA500?
I will be purchasing a new keyboard in the next weeks, but still I don't know which one.

PA600?
PA3x?
PSR S950?
Audya?

Am I reading something wrong? 4 breaks? Or do you mean 4 fills?

Is the PA600 the same architecture as the PA3X? That's 4 fills, and a Break/fill per style, isn't it?

That's a significant leap ahead of two fills and a break/fill...

4 fills and a break indeed.

Diki, did you see how nicely the CS works? It is one of the videos that John linked in here.

I think is pretty nice what happens with this Pa600 keyboard... I will get it at one point.

TBH, I am not a fan of the button layout and system for the CS on the PA600. Why you are asked to press TWO buttons for one function is beyond me... Plus the buttons are buried in the middle of a bunch of other buttons.

At least on the PA3, you can task the CS Rec and Play to single switches on the footpedal unit, but front panel asks you to hit TWO buttons simultaneously to do a critical task.

VERY poor implementation, IMO. Korg need to rethink this...

And give it the option to save a CS to a Songbook entry....

Yes... CS saved with the Songbook, and the ability to edit it easily in the Sequencer (to quantize it or do a little editing if you made one flub) would be handy.

The 'Third Hand'... Maybe someone needs a snappy name for the feature? Chord Sequencer really doesn't describe what it does. There's no 'sequencing' in the sense that anyone currently uses the term. It's a LIVE third hand..!

Quote from spec:

Compatibility for Sound Data

"i-Series": Styles only

"Pa series": Style, Performance, Sound, PCM, Song, SongBook and Pad

Pa3x styles etc ?

Looking better all the time

Col

Looking forward to it very soon..gonna put it thru it's paces going into my very busy Holiday Gig season soon..just picked up a SanDisk 32G Cruzer "FIT" shortie USB for it also..

Any dealers get a Pa600 in to try yet?

I picked up the 16gb version of the exact same drive a couple of months ago & am very happy with it, although because it's so small, sometimes I'm afraid I might misplace or loose it.
Wally

Just now I came across a couple of dealer in-stock listings for the Pa600 in the U.K.

First one was on eBay UK showing 2 available and 2 sold and in stock for next day delivery. When I checked this company's own webpage it shows 3 in-stock. Check http://www.instruments2go.co.uk/Korg-PA600-Arranger-Keyboard-p-5104.html

I'm hoping this is real and heralds the delivery of the Pa600 to other dealers too!!

A local dealer told me November - we will see.
Deane

I hope they are shipping exp-2 pedals with the 600's- nobody's got any. some websites say it is discontinued. Is there a new volume/expression pedal other than the current stereo $149 one? I did see one on ebay, and another for $99 that seems to be a Yamaha FC7 with the Korg name on it...

Since I posted their stock for the Pa600 has gone from 3 to 1.

EDIT: A second different UK retailer is also indicating 3 in stock.

Just ordered the PA600QT...
I have to wait January 2013 to get it....
After having added Ketron, Yamaha and Roland styles to vArranger.
I have to try a Korg arranger