gary....
I have had touch screens many times before with out a problem over time ....the PA800 is no different...if your concerned about the key-feel..I suggest you find one and try it out to address the issues which will make you a happy player. These are my observations only which I have to deal with on a daily basis on stage......what works for others is something THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT. Yes the new 76 key Korg will certainly be interesting.
http://www.musicpascher.com/boutique/korg%20pa2x-p-42.html


good luck

Gary, if key feel is a priority, Roland's are probably your best bet (although many, including myself, can get by pretty well with the T2's keys too, in a pinch), but you want the ne plus ultra of arranger key-beds...?

G70, hands down.

Unless you ONLY want 88 piano-touch, which I find restrictive for organ and other sounds (except piano, actually!), there isn't a better key-bed out there. Unless, of course, you PREFER lightweight, spongy, no feel keys. In which case a PSR is ideal...

Good post Dicki....I agree the G70 key-bed is Super & hard to beat if that is what your looking for! The trick is to try to balance your needs vs your wants....whats more important, sensible, & what your comfort zone will endure......there is NO perfect Arranger...but find the one that is the most applicable to your playing and go for it.....its sometimes hard to do with the ever changing technology as Im always on the lookout.....right now the Pa800 is in MY Comfort zone & is addressing many of my needs.......in the future who knows?

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[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 09-16-2007).]

Hi Guy`s ,
Donny , thanks for the info about the screen , big help !!
Also:
B&W keys , not for me , great if your a piano player , but for mostly organ a good synth action is for me.
That brings me to the best key-bed ( aside from a real Hammond ) that I have tried is the Yamaha Motif XS.
To me that is the way ALL keyboards should feel,
Firm , but not weighted , tight , strong and smooth.
Like I said I have also had a chance to play Korg`s version of the old B3 , X3 and there new M3 synth , and although there is a slight advantage to the Motif , the key feel was very close.
So , if the Pa800 shares the same key-bed as the X3 , then I would be happy with it.
61 keys is fine with me , don`t need 76 ( although nice ) .
I use the first 2 oct`s for the lower and the other 3 for lead , so it works out perfect,
Have had many 61 KB`s over the years and never had the need for more keys.
But key feel is the main issue for me.
The PSR`s just don`t feel right, The new S900 sounds great , but the rubber buttons and "marshmallow" key feel , left me wondering why,
I still haven`t had a chance to play a Tyros , but I do know that the new Motif`s and the T2 have the same key-bed.
Anyway , thanks a ton for all your help , it`s great to know about the screen , being plastic I was afraid it was going to be a weak part , go to knwo that won`t be the case.
I`m still going to take awhile , I won`t to buy the best I can and I still have my Hammond to hold me over.
I have always enjoyed playing arranger KB`s , this is wierd . but so far out of the many that I have owned the PSR-510 had the best styles !!
Thank again guy`s
Take care,
later,
Gary

I guess it just boils down to your priorities, Ian.

I am prepared to lug around some extra weight, to get the best action there is. You are prepared to play a no touch, spongy keyboard to avoid carrying so much weight. Both good choices...

But I really think we ought to change your byline to match your priorities... instead of 'Enjoy what you play', it should be 'Enjoy what they weigh'

I only spend 1/2 hr setting up. I spend four hours playing. Guess which of the two things (weight or playability) should get priority...?

.

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 09-16-2007).]

I love my PA800. Here's why:

My voice sounds better in this speaker system than any self contained unit to date.

The lead sounds, esp Cornet, Tenor sax and Rhodes piano are blowing me away. I have yet to get a clarinet on a yamaha that I like. The Ketron was the closest to this Korg in woodwinds.
** speaking of woodwinds - Korg seems to "beef up" the sounds that might be quieter in a real acoustical envirnment, like flutes, so that when you switch to a flute from a sax, it's not a big drop in volume. Nice one, Korg.

The multipads work WITH the sequencers....just like the drum remix on the Yamaha and Ketron. This really adds sizzle to midi tracks. LOVE this feature.

Key feel is wonderful.

Key feel is wonderful.

STS sounds are much more suited to styles than I was used to before.

Toiuch screen is world ahead of 2 years ago. Back then, I would never have bought this thing......this screen is a breeze to operate, and there are many hard buttons too. One thing I'd LIKE to see is a dedicated button for the RH sounds that didn't use the touch screen ... just in case the screen goes south. (small paranoia)

The songbook is AWESOME.

Layout/weight/looks/speakers ... this one is a keeper for me. I sold the PSR3k. I never want to touch those keys again. They don't go down far enough for me and they feel so dog-gone spongy.....yuk, yuk, yuk.
Thank you, Korg for improving on the past PA line to come up with this instrument!

NOW - for my " wish list:

PLEASE add/fix:
**I want that second audio input to work at the same time as the vocalist, and WITH effects.
**I want the sequences to play from the style mode.
I want a few more dedicated buttons/sliders up top.
Don;t do any of these things if it will add more than 2 lbs to it though ! So far, it's NO problem to tote, IN the case, with some gear too.

I'm the envy of all the people that see this setup, between the Bose and the PA800...they all want them !

and the PA1xPro...which is, i reckon, equal to the g70..(i owned the PA1xpro and played a g70 last time i was at the dealers)...not disagreeing with you diki just clarifying it a bit

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[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 09-16-2007).]