I spent 1.5 hours at the George Kay's store today test driving the new arranger and I am still excited and eager to go back for more...

The first impression was very positive and for the following reasons:

1. Wide, long, not shiny, good feeling keys with aftertouch. After playing with this action you will be hard pressed to find anything better.

2. Much more musical sounding fills and breaks. This was my biggest complaint with the PA80 but it looks like Korg worked hard to fix it. I was trying to use the fills on every beat within the measure and was happy 99 % of the time. Of course, I tested only a few styles, but the improvement over PA80 was obvious.

3. Easy and intuitive operation due to a clean layout, sliders and the touch screen. I was expecting the touch screen to be awkward but it turned out to be easy and fast to use.

4. Style variations sound more realistic because the differences between them are more subtle. Some people actually looked at this as a negative, but for my ear and taste this keyboard sounds more like a real band and makes the performance sound more musical while moving between the variations.

5. Improved sounds. I don't know whether the size of ROM was increased or it's just the programming but there is more variety within the groups of instruments and a lot of the patches deploy several layers of samples which makes the sounds much more playable.

6. Nice additions over the PA80 like built in hard drive, XLR mic input, music finder database, better vocal processor.


As much as I wish that the price was more affordable, I think that the vast improvements over the PA80 plus 76 keys are definitely worth the difference in price (about $1200). Bottom line , Korg has come out with a much improved version over their last arranger and now we have another new toy to consider...

Thanx for your review of this unit.....
I'm sure we'll be hearing much more from people as it comes to market. Did you ry the vocalizer ?

I did not try the vocal processor myself yet, but I've heard PA80 and TC Helicon Voice Works perform, so I know the difference.

Oleg7 ... Are you a PA80 user! What did you think of the Grand Piano? Thanks.

I do not own the PA80, just a Yamaha upright piano. The piano on the PA1X did sound different from the PA80 but I did not really compare them side by side. For me, the sound of the acoustic piano within the context of an arranger keyboard is not very important as I tend to use electric pianos, guitars, woodwinds, brass or synths for the solo parts. Besides, piano is the hardest instrument to emulate and we all know just how little of the sample memory is devoted to each instrument. So, any so called "review" of the acoustic piano sound is really a moot point to anyone who is used to playing a real thing, unless we are talking about a huge sample library. But, you have made me curious and I will listen carefully to the piano next time...

Hi Oleg 7,

I agree with you ...I said the same things a month before on this forum..with others words , naturally

I own a Yamaha 9000 pro and a SD1. Both are very good keyboards, but the Pax1 pro has something else , I thing he is more versatile, and more realistic in general...My two cents (of euros..)of course

For DNJ, the harmonizer sounds like a TC Helicon (I own a Voice Prism) and for my part is very easy to use.
Best regards

JJ

PS : I want to repeat , I'm NOT a fan or a follower from Korg !! I just love to make good music however the name of the KB..

Merry Xmas from Belgium to all
JJ

Immediately new software for Pa1Xpro available!!! The software producer Styles & Music offers immediately the first two Pa1Xpro Styles & Music boxes (Entertainer 1 and Entertainer 2). Each box contains 8 Midifiles and 8 Styles. You receive more information with your specialist dealer or on the Styles & Music homepage.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 12-25-2003).]

I am sure Korg won't give you the best grand piano sound on Pa1X since they offer an optional grand piano board. If they give you a good piano sound who's going to buy the optional board??

EXACTLY!!!!! Soon as I seen the Piano BD. Option you knew!!
As has been said here a MILLION times before the "Sound" of ANY program is subjective.

Hey Donny,

refresh my memory have you tried Styles and music in the past?
If yes what do you think?
I own quite a few for my 9000Pro and I must say some of them are outstanding.

Eric