Upgrade to Pa5X

[keithwjones]

I have a Pa4x 76 with PAAS speaker.

Looking to upgrade to Pa5X. I am a hobby player.

Anyone got any views?

Keith

[AntonySharmman]

As they already have answered you in keyboardforums it's a big upgrade of PaSeries entirely new
with not all the same features but more advanced in all aspects and working flawlessly for all end users.
This Led's issue is just a intermediate tape that sometimes is moved inside , no led is actually burned.
Also your PAAS loudspeakers is fully compatible with Pa5X.

I have both with almost the same fully custom resources but after spending sometime playing on Pa5X
I have not touched again Pa4X , entirely rich GUI and the best ever sounding Korg keyboard.


Hope this helps

[chelsea4023]

Hi,
I wanted to give you my take on the PA5X.

Finally, after nine months in correspondence with the Company, I have had all my LED's replaced by Korg U.K. and all LED's seem to be working as new. Unfortunately, the other gentleman who had his LED's replaced (Simon) has emailed me to say that the new LED's (every single one of them) have deteriorated since November. Therefore he will need to get them replaced a second time. I suggest if you go for a used PA5X, take great care to make sure that the LED's do not have the black blotches on them, I guess that new models will not have this problem. I would also stress that this issue in no way affects the operation of the keyboard.

An issue I am having is the current O/S 1.3.1. I carefully loaded the O/S taking care to follow all instructions supplied by Korg. The update completed successfully, so when I now select 'files' and system info I get a box indicating that I have O/S 1.3.1 Oct 17 2024. I then loaded the same KST file with my keyboard sets, etc that I have used on all previous O/S versions. Unfortunately, the whole of the left hand side of my PA5X now does not work. All the style section, the lights, the buttons and everything on the left has frozen.That said, the right hand side of the PA5X works fine. I can select keyboard sets,play sounds use the large screen, but I just cannot use anything on the left side of the PA5X. I'm not angry or frustrated anymore, I can play the keyboard quite happily, so I'll leave it as it is until Korg bring out a new O/S to replace 1.3.1.
I'm soon to be 70, and do struggle a little with the technology side of the new keyboards and I dread losing the keyboard sets that I have made so I will not meddle with the keyboard anymore.

Apologies to Antony as he said quote 'the PA5X works flawlessly for all end users'. I assume I am an end user, and I would just say the PA5X works to a degree for me. The sounds are superb and I would always choose Korg over Yamaha. I just wish the PA5X was as stable as the PA4X because I cannot recall ever having issues with that keyboard.
Chris
p.s. If anybody wants me to make a video of the above issues, I am more than happy to do so but it might take a little time.

[AntonySharmman]

then loaded the same KST file with my keyboard sets, etc that I have used on all previous O/S versions. Unfortunately, the whole of the left hand side of my PA5X now does not work. All the style section, the lights, the buttons and everything on the left has frozen.

This is the detail of your mess , you've loaded back incompatible KST folder , read this post and primarily do of what is described there
https://www.keyboardforums.com/threads/ ... ate.35865/ (open link in a new tab)

To be sure that your Pa5X have no hardware issue that must be repaired , go to FILE/MENU/Factory restore and test that everything is
working fine , else your Pa5X needs reloading OS v1.3.1 or be repaired by authorized service !

Let us know for results to provide you some tips in order to restore your resources if compatible to Pa5X.

- Older conversions of Styles & KBD Set are also not compatible to newer OS 1.3/1.3.1 , those resources must be reconverted by new OS.
- Resources like Style/KBD Set/PAD that are not exclusively made in Pa4X/Pa1000 are incompatible to Pa5X no matter if converted or
initially play in Pa5X , they have false code and will crash your Pa5X system ... do not load anything from Pa3X and older PaSeries !
- Incompatible older resources that do not work properly in current OS , they also will not work in any newer OS release !
- Do not convert any undefined PaSeries resources and load then in Pa5X !
- Do not trust any external software to modify or create Pa5X resources unless is certified by KorgPa like TX16Wx Pro

If you believe that your Pa5X do not work properly after any OS update , then just make a factory restore , if then all factory
resources are working fine then it's crystal clear that your custom resources are faulty or incompatible !


Hope this helps

[nitecrawler]

Yes upgrade. Overall the 5X is much better. Note all 4X options may not be available but the sound quality of the 5X and its efx are much more advanced.

[Gunnar J]

Hi Keith.
As I wrote at another forum:

Pa5X is a great keyboard, and believe me, your PAAS is fully compatible and will sound just as good at Pa5X!
As a hobby player at home, the only thing you probably would notice, is if there is faulty LEDs. It's a known fault, and Korg will fix it under the warranty if needed.
The one I bough had no such issues at all, all the button lamps is OK.
Regarding the new OS, personally I like the new version and interface far better than the old.

The missing feature from Pa4 that would affect a homeplayer is maybe the midi to style converter. I never used it the short time I had Pa4, so for me that was not any issue at all.

A friend of mine "hijacked" my Pa5X-76, and use it at gigs regulary as well as at home. He also have Genos.
Not any faults or issues, he is very happy with it.

And I'm going to buy a new one as soon as we're settled down in our new appartement. Maybe the Musikant version, but that's not important. My Genos 2 miss it's compagnion and the rack looks empty without it.

We only live once.....

[Armendsh93]

then loaded the same KST file with my keyboard sets, etc that I have used on all previous O/S versions. Unfortunately, the whole of the left hand side of my PA5X now does not work. All the style section, the lights, the buttons and everything on the left has frozen.

This is the detail of your mess , you've loaded back incompatible KST folder , read this post and primarily do of what is described there
https://www.keyboardforums.com/threads/ ... ate.35865/ (open link in a new tab)

To be sure that your Pa5X have no hardware issue that must be repaired , go to FILE/MENU/Factory restore and test that everything is
working fine , else your Pa5X needs reloading OS v1.3.1 or be repaired by authorized service !

Let us know for results to provide you some tips in order to restore your resources if compatible to Pa5X.

- Older conversions of Styles & KBD Set are also not compatible to newer OS 1.3/1.3.1 , those resources must be reconverted by new OS.
- Resources like Style/KBD Set/PAD that are not exclusively made in Pa4X/Pa1000 are incompatible to Pa5X no matter if converted or
initially play in Pa5X , they have false code and will crash your Pa5X system ... do not load anything from Pa3X and older PaSeries !
- Incompatible older resources that do not work properly in current OS , they also will not work in any newer OS release !
- Do not convert any undefined PaSeries resources and load then in Pa5X !
- Do not trust any external software to modify or create Pa5X resources unless is certified by KorgPa like TX16Wx Pro

If you believe that your Pa5X do not work properly after any OS update , then just make a factory restore , if then all factory
resources are working fine then it's crystal clear that your custom resources are faulty or incompatible !


Hope this helps

So, as I understand, first of all, I have version 1.2.1, and you're saying that if I want to update to 1.3.1, the set I've used in 1.2.1 cannot be used on the PA5X?
Does that mean I need to take the PA4X set and convert it to PA5X with 1.3.1?
What about the set I've been working on for a year? Do I have to start over from scratch with the PA4X set?

Or is there an option where it's possible to convert the same set from 1.2.1 to 1.3.1 for the PA5X?
Please explain, because I don’t understand.

[AntonySharmman]

I have discovered that if you have issues with STY & PRF files converted from pa4X , you might have
to reconvert those resources using OS v1.3.1 , nothing officially stated about this !

Users that use the converted by older OS Pa4X resources non edited , it's advised to reconvert them in latest
OS since as I see many conversion issues like extra measures and asynchronous transitions between elements
in styles translation have been improved.

The rest is up to you ! If you have no issues in your loaded custom resources you need to do nothing.
I remind anyone , that Pa4X resources that were exclusively made in Pa4X (not loaded from older models)
have no issues since OS v.1.2

[chelsea4023]

Hi,
Just to update keithwjones regarding the PA5X, I am currently working with Korg U.K. to get my keyboard working correctly again. I have twice done a full System Restore yet my PA5X continues to lock up and cease working. I have made videos that have been sent to Korg along with detailed descriptions of all the issues. It sounds like I am going to have to send my PA5X back to Korg U.K. Headquarters for a second time in three months to get it repaired.

As a user, one of the features that I used a lot on previous Korg arrangers was the 'quick record' feature. It is a feature that was included from new on their budget EK50 model (cost approximately £300 new). I have the £3,000 plus PA5X and some two years and six months since it's launch, this feature has still not been implemented (despite a promise from Korg that it would be added in an O/S update).

The PA5X is built like a tank (as is my brillant Korg Nautilus 88), the sounds and features are exceptional. Hopefully the problems I am having with my PA5X are exclusive to me (although I think many users are experiencing the LED issues).
Good luck with whatever decision you make about purchasing a PA5X.
Chris

[Biggles]

Are you still alive?

You have not been here or to the same post on keyboardforums at all this year.

If you are in the land of the living and capable of viewing online content then it is also good manners to at least say thank you to those who have taken the time and effort to offer advice!

[keithwjones]

Apologies, for some reason I did not get notifications about the posts. I have now changed settings so that I should get an email.

Thank you for all of the information.

At this stage I am sticking with the Pa4X.

Keith