Which? Microarranger or PA50SD

jac · Post by **jac** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:59 am

Hi all

Looking at buying a korg, these two are in my price range, but which one?

I need layers...lots, splits, styles, on board speakers, rotary and I really don't care about the key size as it's for ladies and children to play

Thanks

Jac

Aras-mon · Post by **Aras-mon** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:23 am

hi

both has the same operating system and same feature
but!
micro arranger is a small keyboard and its harder to use

why dont u buy a pa500? it has a new sound engin & better voice...toch screen lcd any meny other cool stuff

jac · Post by **jac** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:09 am

But I think the pa 500. Is over a thousand aussie dollars though

johnsmies · Post by **johnsmies** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:56 am

Hello Jac,

I won't try confusing the issue and leave the PA500 out of it.
In direct answer to your question: if the price difference is small go for the PA50sd.
Sound and style wise they are identical and the small keys are not that much of an issue in particular as to what you are saying.
HOWEVER...........The PA50sd being much larger also implies that its internal amplificiation and speakers are much (MUCH) better than those of the Micro which in actual fact should be played via some external amplification ( hifi, monitors,etc.) to do it justice.
If you go to my youtube page (see below) there are some recordings done in my livingroom with the PA50sd.
Also recommended my Resources of which, I am sure , you have read a lot here on the forum.

regards from Holland,
John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ5wXZTKzR8

http://pasounds.intropagina.nl/page-7-- ... anger.html

jac · Post by **jac** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:49 am

Thanks John,

I do have one last question, do they do arps, and if so can they be used alone without accompaniment and only with a melody?

I have looked at your site! and it's very informative, thanks for the links I'll give them a look, and I think my decision will be made...yippee I've always wanted a korg!

Thanks
Jac

johnsmies · Post by **johnsmies** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:31 am

Hello Jac,

No I am afraid the PA50/ Micro do not do arpeggios the way they do on the PA500 and PA800. They do have Pad buttons to which you can assign some sound/drum effects, to be chosen from a limited list of about 128 effects which can be programmed under these four pad buttons.
But then again the PA50sd and Micro are altogether in a different price league as the PA500 let alone the PA800.
However for the money the PA50sd is hard to beat in my view.

regards,
John

jac · Post by **jac** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:11 am

Yes, for the price you can't go past it, I've heard a few tunes on you tube and feel it will fill my needs. Big good sounds all through the ranges, I am sure I could do arps and overlay later if needed

Thank you so much, my local music store said he could get one in under my thousand limit, they are usually $1200.

Thanks jac

jac · Post by **jac** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:14 am

It's either that or the casio wk 7500, or microarranger....I am not really impressed with casio tho

johnsmies · Post by **johnsmies** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:49 am

jac wrote:It's either that or the casio wk 7500, or microarranger....I am not really impressed with casio tho

Given the options, once again, I would go for the PA50sd...............

good luck,
John

Deane · Post by **Deane** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:11 pm

Jac,
I own the Korg Micro Arranger and have not one single time had buyer's remorse about it. I use it weekly on gigs as a stand-a-lone keyboard and my audiences love it. The small keys have not been a problem and I rather enjoy playing on them. One complaint is the amount of time it takes to get it setup properly. It does not have a songbook feature so you must reconfigure the factory settings to get the styles and programs you want for your gig setups. I purchased John's resources and they were a lot of help - along with the downloads from the download section on this site. In short, I would purchase it again and for under $500.00 US dollars it has been a bargain.

By the way, I currently own a tyros 4 and have also owned the Korg PA1X and the Korg PA2X Pro. I have no experience with the PA50sd.

Deane

jac · Post by **jac** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:39 pm

Thanks Deane, its great to talk to people who know their stuff, my local store owner told me to Google them as he didn't have a clue.

Looks like the pa50sd will be the one, and it's the same as the microarranger.

jac · Post by **jac** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:23 pm

Am I blind????

I've looked everywhere and still can't find the download thread

Deane · Post by **Deane** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:47 pm

Here is the link:
http://www.korgforums.com/?show=1

Deane

jac · Post by **jac** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 1:51 am

Thanks Deane

I have ordered my new korg PA 50SD...can't wait , it should arrive later this week...yippee.

Thank you everybody for helping me make the decision, I think this will be happy union for many years to come

Jac

Deane · Post by **Deane** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:38 am

Jac,
I highly recommend John Smies Resources. Along with those you can download from the Korg Download site there is enough styles, programs, and sounds to keep you busy for a year.

I found the PA50, PA60, and PA80 downloads to be very useful. The PA1X material needed a lot of work.

Keep us informed about your progress as time goes by. I work with my little microarranger almost every day and seem to enjoy it more each time.

Deane