Digital Out - SPDIF

[humair]

I am planning to upgrade to Pa4X from Pa3X. However, I was surprised to read that Pa4x does not have a SPDIF out ?

Is this true ? Is there an alternate to record at 48 KHz ? If not why has this been omitted from a high end keyboard?

Will appreciate any inuputs.

Thanks

[D575]

Hi humair although I am not in a position to answer your question here a few thing's to note for you which you may or may not be aware of, so if you are not aware could I let you know some of my observations that were also confirmed with korg after some enquiries and investigation at that time of purchase of the PA3X (some years ago now) the manual sights that the MAXX AUDIO is available through the digital output but after some confusions I pointed out to korg and the technical support team that i did not think this was true so they studied the circuit diagrams of the PA3X and it was then confirmed that the manual was incorrect and the MAXX AUDIO is not available through the digital output, so just in case you use the MAXX AUDIO and may believe you have the benefits of it through the digital output unless this was changed in production later then the MAXX AUDIO is not available in this format, what I can say is the PA4X will be a upgrade not only in sound quality but also in audio quality over the PA3X so if you like using the MAXX AUDIO and include the benefits of the upgrade from the PA3X to the PA4X in audio quality and use the analogue outputs with the PA4X with the MAXX AUDIO and a good audio interface over the PA3X digital output with the unavailable MAAX AUDIO then having the PA4X over the PA3X in this configuration you will then not miss your digital output on the PA3X as I can confirm, of course this only applies in the above comparison and configuration, thought it was worth a mention just in case you may not know this and of course this only applies if this continue to be the case (no MAXX AUDIO via digital out pa3x) until the end of production of the PA3X. P.s remember using high quality low impedance balanced analogue cable's is good practice and the bonus of some passive mains conditioners all add to the mix if you are recording.

[humair]

Thanks D575

Interesting piece of info. I never noticed this detail.

Actually when I record, I normally just take un-mixed, unprocessed tracks from Pa3x and then process in DAW (SONAR). But what I have always felt a noticeable difference in quality when I record using SPDIF vs balanced output (1/4"). So makes me wonder why Korg has taken this out ? Also if there is a better way to record.

Regards