Korg Forums

Hi, good to be here

As an old ex-pro drummer who retired a number of years back I am now pulled towards keyboard. I have a number of questions which I hope one of you brainy chaps can answer :

Why should I opt for the PA800 instead of the Roland E-80 or Ketron SD5? How do the sounds, workings etc compare to these other two keyboards?

Also, been registered blind (although I do have sight) can anyone recommend a good 'learn by ear' playing course as I cannot sight-read?

Many thanks for your input and time.

Runedog

brother !

there so many features about pa800 that cannot be found in roland E80 or any other keyboards...it'll be more than 10 pages b4 i can finish explaining the differences, all i can say pa800 is a revolution in arranger's world once again..

its like comparing a mouse with an elephant ....

Rundog, it deppends on what you need, if you re an ORIENTAL player the
PA800 would do good for you, probably the best.
If you are Westerner and not crazy for Accordeons and Saxes and also
crazy for really Solid Beats, Drums, Basses, Organs, Guitars go for E-80.
Right now Operating wise it should be one of the most advanced machine.
When it comes to OS operation and Beat programming it kills all Korgs or
Yamahas or else. The reality is that the E-80 is way ahead of the other
keyboards but not many ORIENTAL users have it. This is only a Factory
comparison, what the synth gives you like that, not SAMPLING which PA800
gives it to you and E-80 not but deppends what you need.
Synth as Synth, Side by Side PA800 cannot come even close to E-80, those
are arrangers that are not even in the same Category. On the other hand
its ROLAND...it was always the king of Programming and Drum machines and
an Arranger is nothing else but a DRUM MACHINE.

Thanks very much Nedim. I am a westerner, living in the UK. It's amazing your remarks as the only demos I can find of the PA800 are all middle eastern or oriental demos.

The music I enjoy covers everything from 70's Rock to Funk and even Honky Tonk! I do also like the sound of 80's synths so maybe the E-80 is the way to go?

Your comments please.

Runedog

As you explained yourslef now no, i wont recomend PA800 to you.
The E-80 is way more advanced mashine, especially for that type of music.

Hi,

from the specification side I've not made anyd direct comparison but you will find anyway the Pa800 not far from competitors, instead you will find it in advance in most cases.

Regarding sound is much more subjective, but I will never change a Pa800 with a E-80: I've played them several times and IMHO the E-80 it's still coming from a Sound Canvas engine + a decent piano sound, nothing more. Even styles are a class apart.

But you have to try and decide what is your best choice.

Hope this help.

Regards.

Thanks Booby: And what kind of music do you play please? The reason I ask is one of the keyboards seems more suited to middle-eastern music.

Thanks again

Considering the cost of the E80, I am sure there are features that surpass the PA800. However, for my purposes as an entertainer for the past 40 years, I find the PA800 to be the best for me. The styles, features, and OS in general are very well thought out.

Recognizing this is very subjective, this is only opinion. I am 66 and play to older people. Perhaps a younster might not agree.
Bernie

Thanks for your input Bernie, very much appreciated. This goes for all you guys who have helped too. Amazing to find honest answers on a forum for Korg instruments where people are not slagging-off the opposition. I find that a credit to this forum.

Can anyone point me towards a Korg video demo of the PA800? The Korg sites demo does not seem to load properly and the only demos I can find on Youtube are Middle-eastern and, with great respect, this is not the music I need the keyboard for.

Thanks again chaps

Hi,

I play mainly pop, ballad, funk, jazz and latin, sometimes rearranging popular international hits using the unplugged styles just to change flavour.

Hope this help.

Best regards.

I have played both the E80 and the PA1X version 3 which has most of the PA800 styles. Both keyboards have excellent styles an ample for western 80's music. However the pa800 has several advantages over the roland E80

1. Its much lighter
2. The internal speakers are better in terms of clarity and depth
3. The pa series is far more adaptable as ity has a fully fledgwed sequencer and the internal sounds can all be edited fully to you hearts content

Click on this link and see a proper korg demo

http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?A_PRO ... egory_id=1


PS I play funk and Gospel and jazz and the pa series just bristles with these styles particularly the pa800

Thanks for that Worth:

I have been to this link many times but after I receive the message that the video is ready to play, nothing happens Has anyone uploaded this video so I can download it onto my PC?

Thanks again