want to buy pa5x but hesitant

[centauramp]

After seeing some post saying there are problems the the OS update. Ive watch some pretty good demos and i'm definitely hesitant. 5K is alot of $.
I bought a PA1X Pro Loaded in 2011 was not to impressed with sound quality and never having a keyboard when using the backing styles seemed a little confining. I was used to a Rhodes 73 with the suitcase electronics and i split the keyboard to play a bass line on the left hand. (took out the sustain bar on those notes) Plus had a clavinet and a farfisa with a custom built Lesli organ spkr.
This PA5X sound is unbelievable and the dual style selection looks very inviting. I also saw a post here that said get one with the black side panels not the natural wood one. Is this part true? With regards to the future of this forum is in in question, i would be willing to pay a fee to help keep it going.
This forum covers so many different korg models, i would think it would be very positive for korg to get involved in some way.
I'll wait and see what response i get about the PA5X. Also I've watched some demos on the Genos. Yes the sound is good but its so busy that it seems like it would do a lot of the playing, i would rather be more involved while playing and not having so much back ground going that it would be obvious the musician playing the keyboard would be visibly not doing as much of the playing. Thanks I'll await your responses. Bob S

[rikW]

Hi Bob

I bought my first Korg, Pa1X, about 2005. Changing from Yamaha, previously Technics. The styles and sounds were so much more alive to my ears.

I saw no need to update the Pa1X (although I used a Yam 9000Pro and a Korg Pa1X Pro for gigging), until the Pa4X came out. I found the updated sounds and features amazing.

After release of the Pa4X, I waited a month or two and again their were development glitches, but the keyboard sounded better than anything else, and competitive in the market on price in the UK.

I waited after the 5X was released, and decided on 88 key's, and then none were available. I finally got one at my local dealers and it seems to have a new level of sound. I use the PaaS Speaker bar from my 4X, but the dealers had active speakers powered up and they would be my next choice.

I don't rely on programming my performances and mainly play live. I have had quite of lot of learning to get myself comfortable with the different OS,

I hope you can make the right choice for yourself - and that my few words may help. Bests - rik

[worth]

Hi Bob. The first question you should ask yourself is what are you looking for in an arranger keyboard and how will it benefit your musical goals?

There is no need to buy the top of the range arranger keyboard if you don’t need half the functions or you are unlikely to use them for your musical needs /interests .

The pa5x is a very expensive keyboard for what it is and is clearly still in development and kinks have yet to be ironed out .

There are very many cheaper alternatives that could meet your needs including the tried and tested pa4x if you still want a top of the range arranger that is essentially complete , ready to go and in many ways functionally better than the pa5x .

So really only you can answer these questions but I would suggest that until the pa5x at least has the features equivalent to the pa4x , you might want to hold fire on what could be a very expensive mistake .

[Yamko]

Hello,
I have the Pa5x 76 together with my almost 5 year old Genos.
The korg has some very good things that genos doesn't have at the moment, but genos has been on the market for almost 5 years.
But if I have to choose it will still be Genos for me!
Yamaha still wins on almost all points, the only major flaw is the exterior finish (materials).
The big downsides of the Pa5 are the sometimes sloppy finished styles for example: like brutal cut endings, many sounds that are not as good as Genos!! The software also leaves much to be desired.
Genos is much more reliable than the Pa5x.
My genos still works perfectly without any problems and still does what it is supposed to do.
Now that the successor to Genos is very likely to appear soon, I would wait a little longer.
Yamaha will simply blow the competition away, they have the necessary people and capacity for that!!

[NETWORK1]

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[karmathanever]

Genos is much more reliable than the Pa5x.

Maybe, but not more so than the PA4x

My genos still works perfectly without any problems and still does what it is supposed to do.

It should do after all this time (like PA4x)

Yamaha will simply blow the competition away

I look forward to that - they haven't achieved that to date so it will be a first.
But, in fairness, it all depends what you need from an arranger - Korg PA4x (I don't own a 5x) is a professional device - with an OS design conducive to performing, recording and composing. Sadly Tyros-through-to-Genos doesn't match that anywhere near as well in its design - great sounds but still a little bent towards the "home keyboard" player. (I've owned them too). Prior to Korg i2, I was big a Yamaha fan. I so hope Yamaha have adjusted their OS for once - or better still - redesigned it - with a capacitive touchscreen!!!! So, I am seriously looking forward to the new "Genos" but am suspecting it will have the same old tired Tyros-like OS.

But, the above relates purely to MY requirements and experiences and hence, is just my opinion.

[NETWORK1]

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[karmathanever]

Its good to base OPINIONS on Facts.

....and I guess that is your opinion...

(why do I feel that this is going to become one of those threads...)

Apologies Bob - hope at least you have gained something from the replies above. Let us know if you require any further help.

[D575]

The New dual players' synchronization is very good, with some careful editing (i.e. you dont want both base lines running at the same time), but still requires some further development, for example...

I believe there is a Strong Need to improve access to Player1 and Player2 once locked and synchronised together independently of the X-FADER Slider when both Players have started each style, so you can have real-time access and complete control of all the functions from the Main Screen or the Control Panel for Player1 (Yellow) and Player2 (Blue) with out disturbing the X-FADER Slider...

At the present time you have limited options/access to both Players (1 and 2) unless you choose to disturb the X-FADER which is not practical in many instances once set, and this can be very limiting when needing to access each player independently after synchronisation...

It is very possible that any outstanding issues with PA5X that many users still have may not bother you. Perhaps it might be useful to see if you can come to some arrangement with your dealer... i.e. Pay for PA5X and take the shop Demo home for 2/3 days, set some time aside to heavily test PA5X, if you are happy, return Demo for a New boxed version of PA5X or if you are still unsure then money refunded with the return of shop Demo...

[NETWORK1]

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[D575]

(why do I feel that this is going to become one of those threads...)

Unfortunately, I think you are right... I see patterns forming.

[BR]

(why do I feel that this is going to become one of those threads...)

Unfortunately, I think you are right... I see patterns forming.

+1

[duby2]

centauramp

Genos.but its so busy it would be obvious the musician playing the keyboard would be visibly not doing as much of the playing. Thanks I'll await your responses. Bob S


NETWORK1

Hello Bob
i presume from part of your post, that your a Live-Entertainer ?
And a Full-/Busy backing sound , would give the audience the impression
that you were cheating , in some way ?

A live audience would already be very familiar with the standard Radio/TV /Sound.
And to To step down from that main-stream-Comercial sound
might be detrimental to your Audience's view of your credibility.


In my opinion which doesn't count for much but..


One way of looking at it, if you go and sing karaoke the musics behind you and you just have to read the words an sing into the mic,, that's fine,

if you play a arranger keyboard you have a style that's kinda close , you might be playing some of the right chords ,, but you're still playing program tracks ,,, so you might be one step above karaoke music

korg arranger keyboard is not much more then band in box with a keyboard attached..

If you're trying to write new songs the arranger keyboards are a big help otherwise it's a karaoke machine.


o my opinion just wait a while and how the PA 5 progressives.. most people that play the PA 4x , know that the PA 5x should have been light years ahead,
but it's like the PA 5 just trying to catch up to the PA 4x...
The PA 5X is for the studio to write songs or for your living room for home entertainment.
The PA 5 would make a great garage band jamming machine,

Look at korg EK-50, how does cord advertising it on there Web ..EK-50 Entertainer keyboard,
the little brother of the PA 5X Entertainer keyboard..

So just wait a while there's no hurry and maybe the price will go lower


.

[karmathanever]

So, back to you Bob

I would recommend also to wait and see how the PA5x development goes BUT, if you are desperate for a new Korg PA then look around for the PA4x.
I am waiting still for this 5x beast to get "finished" - I simply cannot justify the cost for an unfinished product that is a backward step to my current PA4x - this all relates directly to my requirements of course.

When all said, if you truly believe that the PA5x will perform for your needs, then go for it - I am reasonably sure it will become super good (fixed) eventually.
Cannot see Korg dropping it!!!

Take care

Pete

[NETWORK1]

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