Korg Forums

sjmarano · Joined: 22 Sep 2012 Posts: 33

Seriously considering acquiring a PA5X and have both viewed a number of YouTube videos as well as perused the forum here. I'm aware that the keyboard is going through some growing pains and am willing to give Korg the benefit of the doubt that any glaring deficiency will eventually be rectified in a (hopefully) not-too-distant software update. However, there are three particularly important things that I'd like to confirm. And please excuse me if these seem overly basic...

First, I'd like to be able to connect the PA5X to my M1-based MacBook Pro so that I can use the former as a MIDI controller. I'd want to do this primarily to access - if and when desired - the myriad VSTs that I have accumulated to either complement or possibly substitute for the PA5X's internal sounds during a particular performance. I assume that this is readily doable utilizing the PA5X's midi-over-USB connection? And that I don't have to purchase a third party MIDI-USB interface like the MOTU Express?

Second, I'd also like to be able to utilize that midi-over-USB connection to record a FULL song to my DAW (Logic Pro), namely both the auto-accompaniment generated by a PA5X style as well as my own freestyle performance. Is that doable? It's my understanding that the PA5X currently lacks the onboard sequencing capability to record all such song data, and that it's supposedly going to be made available in a future update. But does that inability to record the PA5X's auto-accompaniment also extend to what it sends to one's DAW? And if it that capability IS currently possible, can I capture the MIDI output as separate tracks, or does it all go out on one track?

Third, I understand that the PA5X lacks a digital audio out, which thus requires one to utilize a third party audio interface to accept the (presumably stereo) analog output of the Korg?

For the record, while I can live with the third constraint above (though disappointing), the first two requirements (basic MIDI connectivity to drive VSTs and to record the entire MIDI stream generated by the PA5X into a DAW) are essential requirements for me.

Again, I apologize for asking such basic questions but just want to be certain of what I'd be getting into.

QuiRobinez

sjmarano · Joined: 22 Sep 2012 Posts: 33

Thanks so much for this extremely comprehensive and informative reply, Qui. I greatly appreciate it! Frankly, it cleared up some false impressions I had about the limitations of the PA5X based on some comments I had read here. While lack of a digital audio out is disappointing, having the ability to route to four separate audio tracks along with the PA5X making all midi data available to an external device is very welcome news.

For the record, I am planning to retire my venerable Yamaha Motif XF8 and have been debating between a Montage M8X and the PA5X. I realize they are in very different keyboard classes, but because I currently only have room for one main keyboard, I am facing this choice. While I love almost everything Yamaha has done to improve the Montage, I feel it's better to base my decision primarily on how I have been - and plan to - use a keyboard going forward. My current thinking is that the PA5X might be better suited to what I want to do - namely to use the keyboard as an inspirational compositional tool to explore ideas and create the initial framework of a song before refining and completing it via a DAW. And additionally, that the PA5X's auto-accompaniment styles would represent a significantly more helpful and enjoyable tool when I am playing and improvising strictly live, compared to the Montage's arpeggiation and pattern sequencing capabilities.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that this desired way of employing the PA5X aligns with many of your YouTube tutorial videos, which is why I so value your viewpoints here. So if you don't mind, do you think my line of thinking above about which keyboard to acquire makes sense?

QuiRobinez · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:35 pm Post subject:

sjmarano · Joined: 22 Sep 2012 Posts: 33

Thanks, Qui. I've considered Band in a Box but as I'm sure you know, it along with similar programs (e.g. Jjazzlab, Chordpulse) doesn't allow you to modulate chords in real time but only input pre-defined backing tracks. I've never understood why the mfrs of those products haven't added real time auto-accompaniment functionality. I've also tried software-based arrangers like Varranger, Giglad and ReChord that claimed to offer it, but I gave up because they are extremely kludgy and tedious to work with, and very 'picky'/restrictive in what operating systems they will work with (I use a late model M1 MacBook Pro). That's why I'm leaning towards the PA5X. My interests are pretty much as you described - namely to use the keyboard to initially play around and come up with a song idea and then use a DAW and VSTs to refine and complete it. And I'd say that 80-90% of my time is spent doing that initial playing around, which is why I think an arranger would be more suitable. Looking back on how I've used the Motif, I probably have used a tiny fraction of its sequencing/arpeggiation capabilities as I find them more cumbersome to use than in a DAW. I'm thinking/hoping that the PA5X's user interface will be significantly easier to use to support the kind of things I do at the keyboard so that I'll actually use its features!