In this wishlist post one of my desires was a semi weighted key bed for the PA800. Well I am not one to give up easily and had considered putting some weights on the PA800 keys, similar to what is discussed in this example. However this seemed a bit messy and irreversible once the weights were glued in.
However quite by chance I dicovered a much easier way. What I found was that the Studiologic SL161 controller uses exactly the same keys as the Korg PA800 (I suspect there is strong relationship between Korg and Fatar). So I bought a SL161 on ebay for £38 and put the semi weighted keys on my PA800.
For me I have a really nice semi-weighted keybed now on my PA800. Of course this is not for the faint-hearted and I am sure it will invalidate the warranty but for me it is/was worth the risk. It is a very simple procedure to replace the keys and obviously something you have to do if you break them.
Anyway thought this might be of interest to some.
Best Regards
Paul.
Semi Weighted Keys for PA800
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
Some of us actually prefer the soft springy action then weighted actions. Playing european music with lots of trills with a weighted keybaord semi of full for any length of time is torture on my wrists. Plus all weighted keyboards weigh a ton. The Korg PA800 is light yet has heaps of features.
I had the option of getting a PA1xPRO for less then the PA800 and opted for the PA800 due to the keyboard. Mind you my Roland is bordering 18kgs and the touch is even softer.
Denis.
I had the option of getting a PA1xPRO for less then the PA800 and opted for the PA800 due to the keyboard. Mind you my Roland is bordering 18kgs and the touch is even softer.
Denis.
www.dentunes.com.au
Korg PA800, Yamaha PSR3000, Roland VA7, Heaps of Soft synths and a Mac Book Pro.
Korg PA800, Yamaha PSR3000, Roland VA7, Heaps of Soft synths and a Mac Book Pro.
Hi Dennis,
Well it was fairly straightforward. You need to open the unit, there are about twenty or so screws on the underside (you dont need to remove the screws on black MDF - these are just holding the wooden bases for the speaker in place).
Open the unit carefully, there are a few connections between the two halves. You can get the keyboard out without removing these connections but it is easier if you do.
Then it just a simple matter of removing about 5 additional screws which hold the keybed in place and one connector. You also need to remove the harddisk cable and an earth wire which are screwed to base of the keybed.
Once you have the keybed out of the unit remove the springs from the rear of each key. You can then remove each key from the keybed with an upward and forward pull. Then fit the keys from the sl161 into the keybed replace the springs and put it all back together.
It is not for the faint hearted but it is not very difficult.
I am very pleased with the result and it turns the unweighted keybed into a semi-weighted one. Similar to a good quality semi weighted controller such as the novation remote. It is not as nice as the pa1x pro keybed, but not far from the pa1x action.
In my quest for perfrection (I consider the PA800 the best lightweight chassis with speakers to work from) I am now considering a second more drastic upgrade. The problem with the keybed is that the total length of the keys is quite short (if you include the bit that is hidden under the top of the keyboard and goes back to the pivot). In particular this leaves the action on the black keys rather vague. If you look at all the really high quality keybeds you will find the keys extend 2 to 3" inside the keyboard. This tends to give a nice smooth action since the finger pressure is applied a long way from the pivot.
What I discovered when I opened up the sl161 was that not only did the keys fit perfectly but also the connectors to the electronics is identical. I suspect they are all Fatar keybeds and they use a common interface. So I am thinking about buying a VMK-161 Plus Organ master keyboard and attempting to fit the keybed into my PA800. It will add another 2lbs to the weight (so about 4.5lbs in total). I know it is not going to be so straightfoward but I am fairly certain it is possible, but the keybed is going to stick out further (to accomodate the longer keys).
Best Regards
Paul.
Well it was fairly straightforward. You need to open the unit, there are about twenty or so screws on the underside (you dont need to remove the screws on black MDF - these are just holding the wooden bases for the speaker in place).
Open the unit carefully, there are a few connections between the two halves. You can get the keyboard out without removing these connections but it is easier if you do.
Then it just a simple matter of removing about 5 additional screws which hold the keybed in place and one connector. You also need to remove the harddisk cable and an earth wire which are screwed to base of the keybed.
Once you have the keybed out of the unit remove the springs from the rear of each key. You can then remove each key from the keybed with an upward and forward pull. Then fit the keys from the sl161 into the keybed replace the springs and put it all back together.
It is not for the faint hearted but it is not very difficult.
I am very pleased with the result and it turns the unweighted keybed into a semi-weighted one. Similar to a good quality semi weighted controller such as the novation remote. It is not as nice as the pa1x pro keybed, but not far from the pa1x action.
In my quest for perfrection (I consider the PA800 the best lightweight chassis with speakers to work from) I am now considering a second more drastic upgrade. The problem with the keybed is that the total length of the keys is quite short (if you include the bit that is hidden under the top of the keyboard and goes back to the pivot). In particular this leaves the action on the black keys rather vague. If you look at all the really high quality keybeds you will find the keys extend 2 to 3" inside the keyboard. This tends to give a nice smooth action since the finger pressure is applied a long way from the pivot.
What I discovered when I opened up the sl161 was that not only did the keys fit perfectly but also the connectors to the electronics is identical. I suspect they are all Fatar keybeds and they use a common interface. So I am thinking about buying a VMK-161 Plus Organ master keyboard and attempting to fit the keybed into my PA800. It will add another 2lbs to the weight (so about 4.5lbs in total). I know it is not going to be so straightfoward but I am fairly certain it is possible, but the keybed is going to stick out further (to accomodate the longer keys).
Best Regards
Paul.
thanks
paul, i would be very interested in the new keybed you are using as i too would prefer the longer keys..it will be handy to know how far the edge of the white keys extends past the body, if any at all...i will wait to hear how you go with the vmk 161 before i take the plunge on which one i use...btw is the length of the keys on the sl161 longer than the original pa800 ones?
cheers
dennis
paul, i would be very interested in the new keybed you are using as i too would prefer the longer keys..it will be handy to know how far the edge of the white keys extends past the body, if any at all...i will wait to hear how you go with the vmk 161 before i take the plunge on which one i use...btw is the length of the keys on the sl161 longer than the original pa800 ones?
cheers
dennis
Dennis, the keys from the sl161 are the same length as the original PA800 keys.
Having now looked at and tried the VMK161 organ I think it is going to require serious modification to the PA800 so I think I'll just stick with the sl161 keys. The difference in the key length is about 1.75" and I just cannot see how to get the keybed in without using the tray from the vmk161 and this would just be too much work/modification. I also don't feel the improvement in feel in the vmk161 keybed is enough to justify it.
If I wanted fully weighted keys and didn't mind sacrificing the weight (which would be substantial) it would be possible to cutdown the tray from the standard weighted vmk161 plus and fit this along with the keybed into the PA800. The keyfeel on the weighted VMK's is a really nice action - and would probably justify the effort but the weight of the keyboard would then be similar to the pa1x. In all cases the electrical interface is the same so one doesn't have to worry about that side of things.
All this is one reason why I really think Korg (or any manufacturer for that matter) would have a distinct advantage if they made the keybed modular so that it could be plugged in and out easily. Users could then choose non-weighted, semi-weighted or fully weighted as their feel preference and weight budget dictated. To me a really nice action on the keybed can make so much difference - but everyone's idea of nice action is different - yet this is such an important part of the musical instrument.
Best Regards
Paul.
Having now looked at and tried the VMK161 organ I think it is going to require serious modification to the PA800 so I think I'll just stick with the sl161 keys. The difference in the key length is about 1.75" and I just cannot see how to get the keybed in without using the tray from the vmk161 and this would just be too much work/modification. I also don't feel the improvement in feel in the vmk161 keybed is enough to justify it.
If I wanted fully weighted keys and didn't mind sacrificing the weight (which would be substantial) it would be possible to cutdown the tray from the standard weighted vmk161 plus and fit this along with the keybed into the PA800. The keyfeel on the weighted VMK's is a really nice action - and would probably justify the effort but the weight of the keyboard would then be similar to the pa1x. In all cases the electrical interface is the same so one doesn't have to worry about that side of things.
All this is one reason why I really think Korg (or any manufacturer for that matter) would have a distinct advantage if they made the keybed modular so that it could be plugged in and out easily. Users could then choose non-weighted, semi-weighted or fully weighted as their feel preference and weight budget dictated. To me a really nice action on the keybed can make so much difference - but everyone's idea of nice action is different - yet this is such an important part of the musical instrument.
Best Regards
Paul.
Hi Dennis,
Which springs do you use the sl161 or the pa800?
Once you have the keybed out of the unit remove the springs from the rear of each key. You can then remove each key from the keybed with an upward and forward pull. Then fit the keys from the sl161 into the keybed replace the springs and put it all back together.
Which springs do you use the sl161 or the pa800?
Good Luck
Dov
Dov
keys wrote:hi paul,
very clever, do you have any further info on how you did this? i used to own a pa1xpro, and i am about to buy a pa800 and from the sound of it, the keys you changed to are probably very similar to the pa1xpro's?
thanks
dennis
Hey Dennis, r u the same Dennis am buying the PA800 from?
Its a small world after all..
Re: Semi Weighted Keys for PA800
However quite by chance I dicovered a much easier way. What I found was that the Studiologic SL161 controller uses exactly the same keys as the Korg PA800 (I suspect there is strong relationship between Korg and Fatar). So I bought a SL161 on ebay for £38 and put the semi weighted keys on my PA800.
Anyway thought this might be of interest to some.
Best Regards
Paul.[/quote]
Hey Paul, so is your Pa800 like the PA1x now or lets say triton?
if yes then am definetly going for it too lol
out of curiousity any other controllers with the same exact keys that fit PA800?
thanx mate
Anyway thought this might be of interest to some.
Best Regards
Paul.[/quote]
Hey Paul, so is your Pa800 like the PA1x now or lets say triton?
if yes then am definetly going for it too lol
out of curiousity any other controllers with the same exact keys that fit PA800?
thanx mate
Its a small world after all..