800/900

[KORG80]

I rented a PA 800 a while back and wrote quite a few songs in the month that I had it. I really liked the keyboard but it was too expensive. I still have my Korg PA 80 which functions quite well but I loved having quality onboard harmony on the 800 as I am a singer. I understand the PA 900 has similar TC Helicon harmony but not quite as good. After determining that the 800 was beyond budget I looked at Yamaha and ended up with a PSR S 750 combined with my existing floor pedal Digitech harmonizer. Yamaha PSR S 950 harmonies were so bad that I went with the 750 which I am quite happy with.
Problem is I have had Korg ingrained in me since my O/1W synth and I really liked the sound of the PA 800. Here is one of the songs I recorded using the 800 input directly into my digital recorder. I am very pleased with the result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHgUfF9wDL4

Can the PA 900 produce that quality or am I better suited to try and find a used PA 800? (That may not be an easy task!)

So I'm asking, based on the information I've provided, 800 or 900?

God Bless,
Don

[jimsweb]

Nice singing - i liked it very much!

I have pa900 - but i'm not a good singer, so not commenting on the helicon part. But i can confirm that you can create matching music in pa900 for sure.

[karmathanever]

Hey Don

I owned the PA2Xpro (similar to PA800) and used the VH a lot - was very nice - I don't own the PA900 but I cannot imagine for a second that it is not as good as the PA800 VH. PA900 is overall a much improved keyboard in many areas, however it is not the flagship so there are some "flagship" features not included.

All the manuals and specs are readily available - the VH specs and reference details in the PA900 manual look pretty good to me. PA900 owners are very complimentary about this machine.

Anyhow, as I said, I don't own one but these would be my views.

I too owned the PSR s910 and Tyros and the VH on those was unusable in a live or recording situation...

Personally, I would go for the PA900 - PA800 is an old keyboard now - you can use all the latest styles as well as all the PA800 styles.

Cheers

Pete

[Fransman]

Can the PA 900 produce that quality or am I better suited to try and find a used PA 800? (That may not be an easy task!)

So I'm asking, based on the information I've provided, 800 or 900?

Hi Don,

Both machines have pros and cons. If I had to choose from scratch, I would probably buy a PA900.
Having said that: I own a PA800 right now, but I'm not trading it for a PA900. I'm perfectly happy with what I have, and I think PA800 is better built (better keys and materials) and has way better amplification system.
But: PA900 is the newer machine, so better suited for the newest styles. Also a lot more DNC-sounds.

Anyway, you can't go wrong with both machines.

Good luck,

[KORG80]

Karmathanever,

As a singer I was appalled at the quality of Yamaha's VH2. I am glad to see you use the term unusable because it is almost a joke. I have a Yamaha PSR S 750 because the vocal processing on the 950 which I really wanted for the convenience of onboard harmony while performing, was just unacceptable.

I have heard people with decent voices posting songs which are destroyed by Yamaha's VH2. Most of these people are Tyros4/5 keyboardists. How can a significant keyboard manufacturer continue to use that substandard VH2 in keyboards that cost so much I can't afford to use them. Here's what I want in my harmonizer........

https://app.box.com/s/mvd83apg9wwm3rpkkm76

This is my rendition of Micheal Murphy's "Wildfire". I used my outboard Digitech Vocalist 4 set to key for the great harmonies you here in this song. Keyboard is my PSR S750. Mic into Vocalist 4 which is output through stereo mini headphone out to stereo mini AUX In on the keyboard.

I'm going to put out feelers on a used PA 800 but will likely end up with a PA 900 as the price point will likely be the same.[/url]