Korg Forums

[Dogendo]

Hello

I'am new on this forum and have a first question about Korg PA.

Having sold my EK50, I want to buy a new arranger keyboard and I hesitate between the PA700 and the PA1000. I live far from a music store so it is not possible for me to try them.
Apart from the technical characteristics is there a difference at the level of the keybed itself between PA700 and PA1000 ; does they have the same feeling ?

Thank you in advance for your answers
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Mike

[Musicwithharry]

The keybeds are different. The PA1000 has aftertouch and a nicer feel.

I have a PA700 and the action is fine for me. I use mine many hours a day and while it is not as good as the higher models, it is fine. I have adapted to it and it feels fine for me.

Grace,
Harry
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Alesis Vortex Keytar, Alesis QS6.2, Alesis QSR, Alesis SR-16, Behringer Deepmind-12, Ensoniq Avista 7600, Ensoniq VFX, Ensoniq VFX-SD, Ensoniq SQ1+, (2) Ensoniq SQ-R+/32, Korg i3 (2020 Version), (2) Korg Kross 1-61, (2) Korg Kross 1-88, Korg Minilogue XD, Korg Minilogue XD Module, Korg M50-61, Korg PA700, Korg X5DR, Korg Z3, Kurzweil SP1, Lowrey EZP3 (bascially a Kawai), Roland D-05, Roland E-09, Waldorf Streichfett, Yamaha Reface CP, Yamaha Reface CS, Yamaha Reface DX, Yamaha Reface YC

[gwc uk]

There is a thin metal plate bonded under each white key on Pa1000, helps towards a different feel.
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PA1000 + NP30 Twinset

[Randelph]

I have a Pa1000, haven't played the 700 enough to compare.

While the feel of the 1000 is decent, it's middle of the road, have had much nicer feeling keybeds, including the Korg M3.

The aftertouch is pretty good, it's not just a switch, you can get some expressiveness out of it, but again, I've used better.

As you play deeper on the keys, it gets harder to press. This is my number one complaint about the 1000, which I mostly love to bits otherwise. It slows me way down. I can imagine that others with stronger fingers or different ways of positioning their hands on the keybed would have different results than myself. Feel a bit cheated to have a $2,000 keyboard that has a hard-to-play keybed.

I haven't heard anyone else complain about this, so YMMV.
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Keyboards: Kawai ES920 / Casio CT-X5000
Instruments: Keys / Alto Recorder and Melodica

[ime95mos]

How do the PA1000 keybed compare to PA4X?
Are they different?

[export-B]

There is a difference, of course. The keys on the PA4X are a little heavier, but one gets used to those lighter keys. Responsiveness is acceptable. A true professional will also make a quality appearance on the PA1000.
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Polysix, Poly 800, DW6000, DW8000, DS8, M1, PA1X Pro, PA2X Pro, Kronos X 61, PA3X Pro, PA3X LE, PA700, PA4X 76, PA1000, Kronos SE and now Nautilus 73 and Casio PXS3000, Cubase 12, NI Ultimate 12, Komplete Kontrol S49,ReFX 3.0,Roland FR1X.

[Randelph]

[Musicwithharry]

After reading the posts (including my own), I would submit the following:

I sometimes think that there is too much emphasis placed upon the keybeds of different keyboards without actually TRYING one. The simple matter is to play it and see if it works for you.

I have played on bad keybeds and GREAT ones. I must have the ability to adapt, because while some of the keybed actions on lower end keyboards may be pretty bad, I tend to find my way around them all.

Most of these types of keybeds are not weighted and some of them are semi-weighted. Weighted boards can vary, but unless you are willing to spend money on something high-end with wooden keys and such, we are going to have to adapt.

When I began my classical training as a child, I learned on my old Wurlitzer Spinet piano. It's action was all I knew until I went to recitals and I got to play a baby grand or a grand.

I have played keybeds on $100 keyboards and have also played on six-figure concert grand pianos. NOTHING I have is going to feel like one of those expensive units (unless I buy one and that is NOT in the cards right now). I have keyboards that are 30 years old (Ensoniq VFX and VFX-SD) and while they are clacky and well worn, I can still play on them with a high amount of expressiveness (some of that is thanks to the aftertouch it has). I also have a NICE weighted unit (basically a Kawai and they're known for their action) and I can play piano well on it.

I make the action on the Pa700 work. If I need more velocity, I play harder. I imagine that I would do the same on a Pa1000 or PA4X (although I would put the aftertouch to use for some things).

Asking one's opinion on the action of a keyboard is subjective, at best. The only way to tell if it works is to try it and see how it feels for you.

I certainly am not trying to sound elitist in any way...I read comments from classical pianist forums and how much they talk down about those who play velocity only or semi-weighted units. While there is a certain amount of truth to playing a synth action keybed for piano (and how it really should be done on a good weighted keybed), the elitist remarks I read are terrible. They also say those kinds of things about organists too (playing organ is an entirely different experience than piano).

I also know that many people cannot have access to a keyboard before they buy it. Many stores will only get one in their store if someone orders it. I understand the questions about how an action might feel, but if you are seriously looking at a unit, order the thing and try it out.

There are so many different types of keybed actions out there; upright piano, baby grand, grand, concert grand, Wurlitzer EP's, Rhodes EP's, cheap Casios and Yamahas, synths, slab pianos, organs, etc...

When a unit like the PA series comes to market, they are trying to be everything to everyone. If they made a weighted arranger, people would complain about how they're not able to do fast synth runs on a weighted keybed or they're not able to play organ well on that weighted action.

So - they make a semi-weighted or synth-action unit. People complain that they cannot play piano or organ sounds right on it. It seems like they cannot win.

I know I went on a bit of a tangent here and I apologize.

Try the unit out and see how it feels for you and the application you intend for the unit...

Grace,
Harry
_________________
Alesis Vortex Keytar, Alesis QS6.2, Alesis QSR, Alesis SR-16, Behringer Deepmind-12, Ensoniq Avista 7600, Ensoniq VFX, Ensoniq VFX-SD, Ensoniq SQ1+, (2) Ensoniq SQ-R+/32, Korg i3 (2020 Version), (2) Korg Kross 1-61, (2) Korg Kross 1-88, Korg Minilogue XD, Korg Minilogue XD Module, Korg M50-61, Korg PA700, Korg X5DR, Korg Z3, Kurzweil SP1, Lowrey EZP3 (bascially a Kawai), Roland D-05, Roland E-09, Waldorf Streichfett, Yamaha Reface CP, Yamaha Reface CS, Yamaha Reface DX, Yamaha Reface YC

[Musicwithharry]

[BR]

[Dogendo]

Thank you all for your detailed answers; the PA 700 seems sufficient for the amateur musician that I am; I still hesitate with Yamaha PSR-SX700... the choice is difficult!
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Mike

[Scott]