Upgrading From PA50SD to PA600 or PA900

Tenortim · Post by **Tenortim** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 4:56 pm

Trying to decide on which to upgrade to, PA600 or PA900. I currently use the PA50 as a music generator for live performances in our church. So the style functions are the heart of what I use it for. Any improvements here would play a major role in my decision. I have many custom styles i'll need to transfer to the new machine. I also like the large screen and the song book function, which should make transitions from one song to the next more seamless and organized. Please provide any thoughts on which model may better suit my needs.

angelitto · Post by **angelitto** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 5:02 pm

Both suits your need but if you have money, buy a pa900, or even a pa3xle. You will love it and not be sorry.
Both have 192MB of RAM for samples. Pa600 have only 96 mb.
Pa3xle is "Made in Italy", and have a profesional look. Pa600 and pa900 are assembled in China.

Pa3xle have 76 semi-weighted keys, So if you play piano too, you will really love this Keyboard. Pa900 and pa600 have light keys.

Tenortim · Post by **Tenortim** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 6:43 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I thought the PA900 also had semi-weighted keys? This isn't a major feature for me as I don't play piano much. Also is there something different about the fill-ins on the PA600 & 900? My PA50 has 2 fill-ins, but I think the 600 has 4? and the 900 has something called "Auto fill in". What are these and how will they differ from my PA50? Will my original styles work on the PA600 & PA900?
Thanks,

Nemik · Post by **Nemik** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 7:24 pm

Tenortim wrote:Thanks for the quick reply. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I thought the PA900 also had semi-weighted keys? This isn't a major feature for me as I don't play piano much. Also is there something different about the fill-ins on the PA600 & 900? My PA50 has 2 fill-ins, but I think the 600 has 4? and the 900 has something called "Auto fill in". What are these and how will they differ from my PA50? Will my original styles work on the PA600 & PA900?
Thanks,

Pa600, Pa300, Pa900, Pa3x, Pa3xLe and new Pa4x has already 4 fills.
Pa3x Has all (Flagship) 61 or 76 keys
Pa3xLe only 76 keys, almost same as Pa3x
Pa900 don't have separate Fills buttons, but is possible to use separate using Auto Fill + Var (2 buttons)
Pa600 same as Pa900, but no VOCAL Processor, No Sampler, less Ram for samples and Keys have no Aftertouch.
Pa300..... Toy

All have semi-weighted keys
Screen:
Pa3x 320 x 240 pixels 5"
Pa3xLe 800 x 480 pixels 7"
Pa900 800 x 480 pixels 7"
Pa600 800 x 480 pixels 7"
Pa300 480 x 272 pixels 5"

angelitto · Post by **angelitto** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:15 pm

I agree with all Nemik said except "semi-weighted keys"

Pa3x/pa3xle/pa4x have semi-weighted keys
Pa300/600/900 have Unweighted keys (light).

I have a friend who sold his pa900 because of that Unweighted keys and bought a pa3x Musikant. Now he is very happy with his choice
I, personally, had a pa300, 6 months (i sold it and bought the pa3xle) and the keys were lighter than my pa3xle but a lil better than pa600 (I have pa600 now at our Church).

As a conclusion, i think pa3xle have better keys, even than pa3x classic. Thats why, among other reasons i preferred pa3xle instead of pa3x classic.
But pa900 is a nice choice also. And have built in speakers, wich pa3xle don't have.

About fills. All have 4 fills, but only pa3xle/pa3x/pa4x have separate buttons for fills as you can see in the images below

Nemik · Post by **Nemik** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:43 pm

angelitto wrote:I agree with all Nemik said except "semi-weighted keys"

Pa3x/pa3xle/pa4x have semi-weighted keys
Pa300/600/900 have Unweighted keys (light).

You right and you wrong

Pa900 has Semi-weight keys (at least advertised)
http://www.korg.com/us/products/synthes ... page_3.php
Pa600 & Pa300 yes, they not, my bad

If Pa600 has better keys, I will no need any better Arranger

angelitto · Post by **angelitto** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 9:15 pm

Believe me, pa900 doesnt have semi-weighted keys. They are a lil bit more heavier than pa300/600 because under each key there are some counterweights attached. They are like synth action keys. But are so light compared to pa3xle. its only a bit better than pa600. When you have a chance (if u didnt done it already) touch some pa3xle or pa3x and u'll see the difference.

BTW, you can make your keys to be like the pa900 ones by attaching under your keys some small coins (one or two) with Double adhesive tape (i believe that is called). A friend of mine did this to his pa600 and was pleased with the result. Too bad i lost the pictures wich he sent to me. I wanted to show you.

And, yes, pa600 is a great Keyboard especially with new OS

Nemik · Post by **Nemik** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 9:17 pm

angelitto wrote:Believe me, pa900 doesnt have semi-weighted keys. They are a lil bit more heavier than pa300/600 because under each key there are some counterweights attached. They are like synth action keys. But are so light compared to pa3xle. its only a bit better than pa600. When you have a chance (if u didnt done it already) touch some pa3xle or pa3x and u'll see the difference.

BTW, you can make your keys to be like the pa900 ones by attaching under your keys some small coins (one or two) with Double adhesive tape (i believe that is called). A friend of mine did this to his pa600 and was pleased with the result. Too bad i lost the pictures wich he sent to me. I wanted to show you.

Not working for me, I need AfterTouch

angelitto · Post by **angelitto** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 9:19 pm

Hehe ... yes Aftertouch is prety awsome.

Man ... you miss on pa600 AfterTouch and i miss on pa3xle ribbon controller

Nemik · Post by **Nemik** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 9:34 pm

angelitto wrote:Hehe ... yes Aftertouch is prety awsome.

Man ... you miss on pa600 AfterTouch and i miss on pa3xle ribbon controller

I have Akai Professional MPK49 hook up via midi as Upper1 and have there excellent semi-weight keys with Aftertouch,.... and program Pads to fire DNC

Also I use FCB1010 to latch DNC controls

BTW, Why Korg advertise Pa900 with semi-weight key, you think they cheat?

angelitto · Post by **angelitto** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:33 am

You have nice tools.
I think is a mistake. If is not, then its a cheat.

Tenortim · Post by **Tenortim** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:40 pm

Thanks for all the replies so far. The focus of this thread was really to identify the advantages of the PA900 over the PA600 in relation to my needs as a live music generator (ie style accompaniment). The pa3xLE is impressive, however, I don't need the additional keys or weighted keys (not using it for traditional piano playing) and I don't like the fact that it doesn't have on-board speakers. If there are any other advantages to the PA3xLE over the 900, please let me know, If not, I assume the 900 would be the next best option for me. Since there appears to be a $700-$900 price difference between the 600 & 900, I'm wondering what the 900 brings to the table for me as a live music generator over the 600. As always, thanks in advance for your advice.

angelitto · Post by **angelitto** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 2:05 pm

Well, from what you say, i think pa900 is the best option for you.

Another thing, you can connect a microphone in pa900. Pa600 dont have that option.
Another thing is Aftertouch, the option that Nemik wants is so much

alina · Post by **alina** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 2:50 pm

If you use Song Play, you have 2 players on the Pa900, like on Pa50SD, I think.

And if you use the built in speakers, Pa900 has better amplification system (20 Watt vs 15 Watt on the pa600. Don't know how much of a difference that would be (haven't tried Pa600 speakers to see if the Pa900 ones are indeed better).

And, one more thing, you can record what you play and sing, in MP3 format.

alina · Post by **alina** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 3:32 pm

angelitto wrote:Believe me, pa900 doesnt have semi-weighted keys. They are a lil bit more heavier than pa300/600 because under each key there are some counterweights attached. They are like synth action keys. But are so light compared to pa3xle. its only a bit better than pa600. When you have a chance (if u didnt done it already) touch some pa3xle or pa3x and u'll see the difference.

BTW, you can make your keys to be like the pa900 ones by attaching under your keys some small coins (one or two) with Double adhesive tape (i believe that is called). A friend of mine did this to his pa600 and was pleased with the result. Too bad i lost the pictures wich he sent to me. I wanted to show you.

I also was thinking to attach something under the keys of my Pa900. But what kind of coin do you think will fit in there? However, I am going to buy a digital piano instead.

And yes,before triing, not Pa3X or 3XLe, but pa4X, (what a difference!) I thought the keys on the Pa900 were semi-weighted. Well, it may be, according to Korg, but I would call that "half semi-weighted", if that makes sense.