Korg Forums

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:44 am Post subject: Newbie Advice on PA900 (help ?)

Hi guys,

Just a quickie here for anyone.

i have spent an hour going thru random posts here on the Korg Forum, and videos on You Tube etc and there is a lot of info here. But i have some specifics please. i do apologise in advance if these have been answered elsewhere but i did try and find solutions, and also i am a total newbie here.

So, did the PA900 only come out this year ??

How does it compare to the PA800 (which i almost purchased a few months back not knowing anything about the PA900's existence) ?? i mean in terms of the Sounds/Samples/Styles ??

Does it have an extra USB STICK Port ??

i think the PA800 has a VOCODER within its TC HARMONIZER engine. Does the PA900 have the VOCODER ??

And is it like the PA800 ELITE (in that it has a Dual MP3 Player) ??

i would be very grateful for any advice.

Best,

Paul Seaman
_________________
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Mackie SRM 350 (pair), Fender DeVille, Yamaha HS7 (pair), BeyerDynamic DT880 Headphones (250 Ohm).

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Thoraldus

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:59 pm Post subject:

Thoraldus,

Thanks a lot but i forgot to say i had already visited the official Korg site ta. i still need the following clarified because some of my questions are PA800/900 COMPARISON type questions. So ideally, might be answered by someone who has upgraded from one model to the other.

So, did the PA900 only come out this year ??
i ask because so many of the videos on You Tube are from the Far East location and so i wondered if it was released there last year and then in the West sometime later.

How does it compare to the PA800 (which i almost purchased a few months back not knowing anything about the PA900's existence) ?? i mean in terms of the Sounds/Samples/Styles ??
Obviously the latter will be somewhat more developed, but is it better and more prefered ??

Does it have an extra USB STICK Port ??
ie. more USB Ports than the PA800 ?? And if so, is this a massive advantage ??

i think the PA800 has a VOCODER within its TC HARMONIZER engine. Does the PA900 have the VOCODER ??
Like i Herbie Hancock / Stevie Wonder type VOCODER sound ?? Or is it purely a HARMONIZER ??

Thanks very much indeed,

Paul

BillyHank · Senior Member Joined: 29 Jun 2013 Posts: 412

monsterjazzlicks,

I have one of the first Pa900 to arrive in the USA and I got it early August this year. Korg arranger division is located in Italy, so the keyboard was likely released in Europe first, but I don't think much before it arrived here.

VOCODER is not mentioned in the manual and I don't believe the Pa900 has one - also, the harmonizer is 3 voice only - the Pa3X has a much better harmonizer, but sure it cost more too. I don't know about the Pa800.

The Pa900 has a single USB stick port and it is located on the face of the keyboard within easy reach. The second USB port on the back is for computer connection only.

I was Yamaha only keyboarder until the Pa900, so can not offer you any comparisons.

Bill H

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks Billy,

i saw and read lots of your many posts yesterday before posting my own questions today.

So the PA900 was released earlier THIS year.

Ok, maybe i got it wrong about the onboard VOCODER on the PA800. i must have mis-read it somewhere.

BillyHank · Senior Member Joined: 29 Jun 2013 Posts: 412

The three realistic voices is referring to the number of added voices you get from the harmonizer feature. The Pa3X adds more voices - at least 4, but it may do more - I just don't know - and, I'm pretty sure the Pa3X has the VOCODER too. The Pa3X is the top of the line tho.

You use the USB stick to save your work ( songs, styles, sounds, etc.) or load in new stuff. The Pa900 also has a slot for a microSD card and you can use it like a USB stick too.

Please keep in mind I am not a singer and just don't use the vocal harmony feature.

Bill G

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:23 pm Post subject:

Ta Billy,

Regarding the quality/realism of the sounds/presets, are they more or less the same as on the PA800, or are they improved ??

For instance, maybe the BRASS sounds are much better, etc ??

Paul

BillyHank · Senior Member Joined: 29 Jun 2013 Posts: 412

I'm probably the wrong guy to ask about Brass sounds as I don't like any of the brass sounds on any brand of keyboard - they are thin, tinny, lack any body at all and nearly all of them have been recorded with vibrato, so you can't just play a full bodied trumpet with no vibrator.

Disclaimer: I am an old Trumpet player first, guitar player next and keyboard player last. Laughing

Bill G

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:58 pm Post subject:

Billy,

i was only using 'Brass' as a random example.

What i mean is, in general are the sounds on the PA900 worse than, the same as, or better than those on the PA800 please ??

And same question for Styles, ta ??

Cheers,

Paul

PraiseTheLord · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:23 am Post subject:

I owned a Pa2X (Pa800 equivalent) and the sounds on the Pa900 are better, even out of the onboard speakers!
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Graham (Pa1000)

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:31 am Post subject:

PraiseTheLord · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:42 am Post subject:

Why do you say it's the same. I have no idea on that. I know it is a dual player, though.
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Graham (Pa1000)

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:50 am Post subject:

Thoraldus · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:23 am Post subject:

monsterjazzlicks · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:31 am Post subject: