So how are you all feeling?

[karmathanever]

@ pawlikp100

Karmathanever, please note that new system for Kronos, appeared because of lunching new Kronos LS product.

Yep - was aware of the LS88 - just love that Korg have continually looked after all Kronos owners

I suppose we will see new OS system foro Korg pa4x with additional features, when Korg presents successor of Korg pa900

Hmmmm - odd quote - remember the PA4X is a new OS and definitely a successor to PA3X/PA900 etc..etc.. how could it not be?
As I said above, I did not want this to be another stack of complaints - I was asking about how owners were feeling regarding the communication.
I am quite content that my PA4X does everything according to its manual and specs other than the odd bug already known by Korg.

Out of interest, have you bought one yet?

Cheers

Pete

[chelsea4023]

Hi,

karmathanever, I misread the post. I thought you wanted to know what we think of the PA4X in general. I'm going to tell you anyway.


My previous Korg arrangers were PA2X Pro, PA800 and PA900 all these arrangers were good, but I failed to actually 'connect' with any of them (probably me rather than the keyboard's), whereas the PA4X is the best arranger I have ever owned. The decision to sell my tyros 5 (76) to buy the Korg is one I don't regret.

I would stress that to get the best from the sounds and styles, you need to have good quality amplification and speakers. I often listen to some of the voices and are simply amazed at the level of detail and accuracy in them.

Regarding the organ drawbars in particular, I was able to create some very realistic Hammond sounds and was impressed to be able to hear (with the Leslie sim) the two rotors speeding up and slowing down individually (very clever). It would be nice to have drawbars on both keyboards at the same time though (as on the Tyros keyboards).

As I said in previous posts, I do expect further software updates. Probably a major one around the time Yamaha launch their successor to the Tyros 5, which unless it is reduced substantially in price can only be a bonus for Korg.

Chris

p.s. The name 'Genos' has been put forward on various keyboard Forums as the Tyros replacement .

[chelsea4023]

Hi,
Picture of PA4X organ style setup.
Chris
p.s. Looks untidy but works well for me.

http://imgur.com/g3YsZ9d

[D575]

Hi,
Picture of PA4X organ style setup.
Chris
p.s. Looks untidy but works well for me.

http://imgur.com/g3YsZ9d

Looking good there Chris always interesting to see other's set up ....

[guitpic]

I've had my 4X since June of last year. I gig with it from 5 - 10 times a month. I gigged with a Tyros 4 and occasionally S970 before that.

I really like the 4X for gigging. There are some niggles. I like Yamaha guitars better. I don't completely understand the keyboard set thing or ensemble and they don't always respond like I think they should.

That said, for the gigging musician, the 4X is sure a good board.

[mintjamman]

Hi Mintjamman,

Great post, with some very good points.

As I said in my post, it was my opinion that a 76 note keyboard (of which the majority are unweighted) would not give enough of a piano playing experience compared to an 88 note keyboard that was weighted. I based this on the fact that I purchased the Tyros 5 (76 note) and it just never felt right playing solo piano (even with my poor ability).
I had originally purchased the Casio PX5-S as I'd heard great reviews about it, and it fulfilled my requirements on three points. It was 88 notes, it was weighted and it was compact enough to slide below the arranger keyboard of my choice (now a PA4X 61 note) so I could play organ style. It's quite cheap also, being under £700 (especially when you consider it has a very good synth built in).
Currently I'm just using it as a lower manual keyboard, therefore I am just using the sounds from the Korg and not the internal sounds of the Casio.
Spending a whole lot more on a digital piano was beyond my financial limitations, and if I'm being honest I have been very happy with the Casio. It's a very solid and lightweight instrument. They have a very good Casio PX5-S forum with hundreds of free sounds to download. There are many Youtube tutorials to help you get to grips with the keyboard and a large following of pro-active owners. The main man is a guy called Mike Martin (look him up on Youtube), he's a credit to the Company with the work he put's in.

I think you are being a little unkind to say the Casio PX5-S will not give you a piano playing experience (It is actually marketed as a Stage piano). I am sure it will not give you a genuine acoustic piano experience, but it's not bad for what it does do.

I have included a couple of reviews for anyone that's interested.
Both the reviewers seem quite happy with touch of the Casio.

http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/casio-privia-px5s

https://digitalpianojudge.com/casio-px-5s-review-2015/

I apologise Mintjamman if I offended you with my post, but as I said a couple of times in it that it was just my personal opinion, and that's exactly why we have Forums like these.

Chris

Hi Chris,

I have been busy over the holiday period but just got round to seeing your reply.

Firstly I was not trying to offend you with my observations of the Casio but rather convey my own opinion of that product. Certainly your response has not offended me but as I did temper my remarks by saying that your ears and requirements were in all probability different to mine and reading our posts that's very evident I think you would agree doesn't make either one of us right


Looking at the Casio in it's price range and looking at its competitors at that price bracket and a few hundred more, yes it's a bang for the buck and holds up well and I understand why you bought it. It's all down to personal choice and budgets and I hear what your saying. As I said I spent some time with the Px5 recently as I was looking at a stage piano but the product just didn't engage me from a sound point of view or the feel but then again I have owned a number of mid to high end stage pianos and currently own the Yamaha S90ES which is a semi weighted 88 note with a 53mb triple strike piano sample with damper reasonance, the acoustic pianos and EPs are high quality and although the product is getting long in the tooth it still holds up very well even against the Nords and Roland Super Natural Pianos but I was thinking of getting something lighter to transport. Back at the Pa4x front a lot of players will get a convincing piano performance out of the 76 note version and by performance I mean the overall sound to the listeners as opposed to a performance compared to playing a real acoustic piano which not even the best digital pianos will give imho.

Have fun with the Px5 !

[Kauser]

Now I am a tiny bit worried. I just placed an order for a PA4X 61. I was not aware of thee bugs in the OS. Is it serious or just nuisance?

I have had great fun with Pa1x and Pa2x and I love these KBs. However a couple weeks ago my touch screen lift mechanism on Pa2x broke (mechanical failure).

DonM,
You mentioned a similar issue with your Pa4x? Was it difficult to get repaired? Is it something we can do ourselves?

Sincerely,

[DonM]

I did have the problem with the tilt screen not locking into the down position. It was not a major repair, but Korg repaired in under warranty. The tech told me that it was something like a cog slipped out of place. He opened it up and fixed in the same afternoon. No parts were necessary.
Since then, I've used it on the job 3 to 5 nights every week and it has worked fine.
Only a few have reported that problem.
Hope this helps.

[Kauser]

Thank you DonM. This is encouraging news.

Do you know if the tech had to open the full keyboard or just the area below the screen? If it is just below the screen i may take a chance to fix it myself.

[DonM]

I don't know how far he had to go. He did say it was simple to fix once he saw it.

[chelsea4023]

Hi Mintjamman,

Had a listen to some of your tunes on another thread and saw a video of you playing in a pub and have to say wow, what a great player you are. I'm a rank amateur in comparison, but get a great deal of satisfaction from my 'hobby'.
My two sons bought me the Ravenscroft 275 software piano for Christmas as it was reduced to around £112 in a sale. I had listened to demos on Youtube and loved the sound so it was a no-brainer for me. I have not got it up and running yet, but will let you know how I get on with it. Maybe I will get around to posting a demo.

Only one week to go till NAMM2017. It'll be interesting to see what's new for this year.
Checked out the Yamaha S90ES on youtube and have to say it's got a seriously nice piano sound. 53mb is not a particularly large sample compared to a lot of pianos. I expect the triple strike, damper resonance and the 88 weighted keys all add to why it sounds so good.

As I have said in previous posts, I do think we will see more firmware updates for the PA4X. Although I have not had any problems, reading other forum members posts it seems like a 'work in progress' at the moment.

Would I be correct in assuming that the onboard hardware has the potential to do more than it currently does ?

Chris

[mintjamman]

Hi Chelsea,

Thanks for the nice words, at the end of the day I am just like you someone who enjoys playing music and it would be great if more of us posted up examples of what we are doing as I love listening to other players.

Regarding the Ravenscroft 275 I did look at that a while back but never got round to doing anymore. The Yamaha S90ES 53mb Tripple Strike Piano just kind of works in a live and recording setting and a lot of Pro Players seem to have the instrument in their line up.