I hear you all screaming "OH NO!!! NOT ANOTHER Korg vs. YAMAHA TOPIC".
Sorry - but it is a bit, however I just wanted to feedback some real results from my recent direct and extensive comparison of my PA2Xpro with the Yamaha Tyros 3. This is not a topic to start a Yamaha-Korg battle - I just thought some of you may be interested.
My son (guitar), daughter (vocals, flute) & I (keys) regularly rehearse and record a variety of music.
Recently, we took 12 of our numbers and re-recorded them using a Tyros 3 having spent a lot of time reviewing the most appropriate T3 settings/styles etc.
Naturally, these are my personal views.
STYLES:-
T3 lacks variety within many styles - often the variations are too subtle and very repetitive.
T3 has some very nice INTROs and ENDINGs but the variations are too basic for me.
We compared one number where we need to build up the backing significantly through the song also adding PADs and then drop back to a very light subtle backing. The T3 recording sounded like there was hardly any change from one VAR to another.
I do not like the limitations of FILL-IN control on the T3 - auto FILL feature is annoying.
I looked at some additional styles for the T3 but apart from them not being anywhere near as authentic as Korgs, they would have cost me about $90 for 8 styles.
VOCAL HARMONIZER:-
PA2X vocal harmonizer is the best - it is so so much better than the T3's VH
One of our comparisons was with a professional MIDI file and the results from the PA2X's VH far exceeded the T3
DRUMS:-
Now this is an interesting one for me (I have played drums for many years and still very actively play now)...
(I guess this is a bit like pianists searching for good keyboard piano sounds)
I found the drum sounds on the T3 to be better than the PA2X. In particular some of the tom-tom sounds are superb.
EASE OF USE:-
The T3 is very frustrating to use. A display hold/release feature is sadly missing. Example:- just switching on/off bass inversion is many actions. T3 seems to rely on the use of REGISTRATIONS to get around some of these requirements.
PA2X is 100% better for live performance. Changing styles/sounds etc on the T3 during a tune is a nightmare - there is no tempo lock.
ORGANS:-
I love the T3's "Organ Flutes" - they have done a very nice job of the "Drawbars" and Leslie emulation. I think this has the edge on PA2X.
DNC vs. SUPER ARTICULATION2 (SA2):-
Apples and apples - they are both excellent. Some of the SA2 sounds are very nice to play and have automatic articulation - however you cannot control the automatic component which is sometimes a problem.
DNC requires a playing learning curve BUT you are in complete control of it's features.
But 10 out of 10 from me for both keyboards.
CHORD RECOGNITION:-
Being a "cheat", I have always loved Korg's intelligent chord recognition - playing 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5 fingered chords on the PA2X always works perfectly e.g. playing just "C" or "C,E,G" for a Cmaj chord. The T3 does not do this except for in its "SINGLE FINGERED CHORDs" setting (same as Korg). If you play just the "C" on the T3 (AI fingering) a lot of the style backing drops out - this is the case on all their arrangers).
TOUCH SCREEN vs. BUTTONS
This is a bit hard to judge as the performance usability of the T3 is not good - the actual T3 screen is larger and crystal clear - that I like!!! but the PA2X has a much better structure for performing. Whether you like touch screens or not I guess is personal - I don't mind either but it's the ease of use which is the most important to me.
OVERALL VIEW:-
T3 is very very nice - it is great for home or casual use - a bit more portable (but I suppose you could argue that carrying the PA2X keeps you fit
)PA2XPro clearly sits in the professional category for me and I am horrified that the T3 is currently more expensive.
Well there are rumours about the PA3XPro and rumours about the Tyros 4 - the future will be interesting (Audya still struggling)
For me, Korg still leads the way by far.
Cheers
Pete
