Korg Forums

[karmathanever]

Hi guys

Hopefully this is not considered a complete waste of forum space!!!
I actually played the PA5x-76 yesterday but only managed to get an "unplanned" 45 minutes this is why my topic title says "UNFAIR".
I really want to play it again with my "checking-it-out" plan.

However, I thought I'd at least let you know my reactions bearing in mind that this was a "press-a-button-and-stand-back" exercise.
REMEMBER (please) this is my first brief impression and shouldn't be regarded as a list of reasons to buy or not buy. I'm way off getting to that stage in my personal opinions.

The GOOD:-
I absolutely love the audio quality - it is beyond ANY keyboard I've ever owned or played.
The touchscreen is fantastic - clear and perfectly responsive.
The new display strip is also terrific - resolves (answers) a lot of my initial concerns about "missing" options and buttons.

The NOT SURE YET:-
It is always a matter of "getting used to" something new and I have no issue with these things but here's my view
Would need to get used to:-
Slightly different keybed feel
All the coloured buttons (I'm sure I'll love these but at first a bit "busy" for my ageing brain)
The shorter slider distance (very minimal though)
Not blown away with the acoustic drums - they are fine but still seem to have that general "arranger" quality (I am a drummer and am VERY fussy about drum sounds!!) - still need to try these out more - only a very limited session.

The new styles I played:-
AMAZING
Lots of PA4x styles there also sounding really improved - maybe just due to the overall audio quality which makes everything sound better.

The few SOUNDS I played:-
Again, audio quality - so so amazing
In particular, I fell in love with "Trumpet Delay" (might have been a keyboard set - but outstanding)

I did experience one fault playing the dual styles but not going into that - would need to better understand the feature first and try that again.

Despite my very limited time on this PA5x, I am pretty sure I'll eventually end up buying one

Cheers

Pete
_________________
PA4X-76, Karma, WaveDrum GE, Fantom 8 EX
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## Please stay safe ##
...and play lots of music
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[usaraiya]

Thanks so much for that review!
Glad that you at least have a KB to play; in the US, still not available!
It sounds (pardon the pun) like the audio quality is superlative, and that in itself is a positive factor.
I look forward to getting more of your input when you become more intimate with the new KB!


Uday

[Nemydom]

[AntonySharmman]

Hi Pete

- Drum kits with RR in the end of their names are the new round robin Drumkits , so next time try those to see the difference
all the rest are the same as in Pa4X but sound better because of the overall better quality of new sound engine primarily based
on new programming code.
- The reproduction of samples in real stereo format provides a true stereo image of whole resources that is better than Kronos 2
and any Korg keyboard up to now !

- Except new trumpet whistles of Pa5X demonstrators , there are many new DNC2 sounds that make the difference and justify
the new flagship arranger.
- New pianos converted from Kronos are poor and noisy with no comparison with original Kronos quality pianos but this will be
resolved for pianists by WavesArt with the release of seamless Pa5X Japanese premium 9-feet Grand Piano of 2GB.
- Factory styles are working fine and even official Pa4X bonus styles will be converted and will work fine since they retain the
fixed/non transpose protocol of INTRO1/END1.

- So by definition this unfinished buggy OS will work fine with factory & bonus resources for non advanced end-users despite
all issues we have found in deep editing where this OS is not ready to convert & edit deeper until Advanced Edit manual &
newer OS will be released.
- Around Christmas that IMO Pa5X should had been released , Pa5X will be ready to work with all custom resources , advanced
editors and all announced features and will be the one way upgrade for all arranger users that need a flagship arranger to gig with.

- KORG Pa5X is not a continuation of the Pa4X as already noticed by owners , probably was named PaX for commercial reasons ,
it's an entirely new arranger with new file formats that retain the majority of PaSeries features but not necessarily all of them and
will provide in the future many other first seen features in Pa arrangers AFAIK from new software & hardware abilities.


Hope this helps
_________________
Music Conductor - Sound Engineer & Developer - Automotive SMPS/RF R&D - Electronics Engineer
PaSeries Demos - WavesArt.eu - KorgPa.gr <> Facebook

Keyboards : Steinway-D, Kronos X, Pa5X 76, Pa4X 76, Montage M7 , Roland-XV88, Emu3,Emax II,Synclavier II,Yamaha DX Series, ΟΒ-8V

[D575]

@Pete

I am not surprised to hear this considering my first impressions of PA5X demo, where i could also hear the Improved Dynamics with individual sounds, and to include the overall Hi-Fidelity of the keyboard and this was again confirmed in my Studio...

This was one of my initial hooks you could say before I committed, but despite being hesitant considering Korg's history and even also being aware of a few bugs at my first sitting with this unit, what then swayed me considering i was being told after the first Bach of PA5X running into next year it was then highly likely there would be continued delays with avaliblity (including price hikes from its original release...think Moog> https://www.gearnews.com/moog-synthesizer-prices-are-through-the-roof-only-the-beginning/ ) and this is something i understand clearly in my working life where supply issues of electronic components has/is going to be a continued problem for some time to come...

So I did make the dubious choice to commit, but only then after spending time at home with PA5X do much of the now discussed problems start to become apparent, which for many (i also would agree) has indicated a some what premature release for this keyboard...

If I try to draw a positive form the present situation we find are self in with PA5X, them i am hopeful at some point in the future (before 2023) that things will improve as i do believe there is Great Potential within this keyboard even though many are struggling with it at this moment in time, all of which i feel could of been avoided...

I am hopeful depending on korg's Continued Development Program with any applications of this, that we will see better times on this forum, which incidentally has historically always be a very valuable place to learn or tackle issues that may not always be apparent in manuals...

So as i continue to hold my breath running into 2023 where we hope Korg should be Very Very Busy Rectifying/Improving this New Flag Ship Professional Arranger...

I will now continue to commit to PA5X where i will hang on to this keyboard for the time being, But if many of the issues continue and do not improve by the first quarter of 2023 you may find the reporting of my actions wholly different thing on this forum.

But...... let's hope none of that happens and we eventually find ourselves enthusiastic and thoroughly enjoying are self's using PA5X and all into the not too distant future
_________________
Korg PA5X-76 : Yamaha Montage M8x : Roland Jupiter 80 : Waldorf STVC : Roland Integra 7 : Waldorf Streichfett : Focal Trio6 ST6 : Studio Outboards/RME Audio Interface/A&H SQ Mixer :

[iOpus]

And for me, every day is new. Since yesterday, I can't turn it off by holding for 3 seconds. I can only turn it off by long holding power (force shutdown option), Or from cable directly. Auto shut down also doesn't work.
I also did a factory reset but it didn't help.
By the way, what Pete writes in this post, I have previously written and praised here somewhere. Although I also wrote about the frustratingly bad things. But... As I have set out, I will not go out of service on this device - known as the flagship.
_________________
Korg X3
Korg Pa80
Korg PA800
Korg M3
Korg PA3X 61
Korg PA4x 61
Korg PA5x 61 Musician, computer scientist and electronic engineer

[AntonySharmman]

[iOpus]

[AntonySharmman]

[karmathanever]

Thanks for the feedback, but please remember, this is purely my knee-jerk reaction to an unplanned 45 mins on this new keyboard.
It is definitely not a "fair" review under the circumstances.
I know for sure that if I bought one today that I'd have to be prepared to face problems.
I plan to get a bit deeper next time (if my retailer can hold onto this one for a week or two).
At first I wondered if the superb audio was due to new DACs but now understand that they haven't changed. So I wonder if Korg have been very smart with FX and EQ. I did think that the DSP was different (like Tyros/Genos). Anyhow, whatever Korg have done, it sounds brilliant!! I would love to perform a direct PA4x/PA5x comparison of dry factory samples (purely out of curiosity).
I now have to analyse the known new and changed features (irrespective of bugs) and figure out if I need or would use them and if they are worth the money (at very very best I will be out of pocket AUD$4,000 after selling my PA4x) - I am looking for AUD$4,000's worth of reasons to go to the PA5x.
So, in summary, I seriously need to spend more time playing this keyboard before making any rash decisions.
Keep all that info coming (& thank you).

Pete

@Antony
Thanks for your valuable replies regarding the PA5x - yes, your feedback definitely helps. I will investigate the acoustic drum sounds further - the drums I've listened to already would not stop me from buying it. I have always preferred Yamaha's drum sounds - I own a TOTL digital Yamaha drum kit which I believe has more authentic acoustic sounds that its competitors (even Roland) - but I know this is always subjective and personal.

@D575
Completely understand where you are coming from and your current feelings.
_________________
PA4X-76, Karma, WaveDrum GE, Fantom 8 EX
------------------------------------------------------------------
## Please stay safe ##
...and play lots of music
------------------------------------------------------------------

[Sam CA]

So far most advance users report noticeable quality improvement over older models. That's a great start.

Did you guys notice hissing noise on acoustic piano sounds?
_________________
Sam

[karmathanever]

[D575]

[AntonySharmman]

[iOpus]