Well said Uncle Dave... There's hundreds of people dying to get a PAX (I'm one of them.) We all knew months ago that there would be version 1.5 and 2.0 in the future and to complain about this is very wrong.

One thing I think you should all keep in mind is that this is NOT a Korg US product. The PA series - all versions - are designed, produced and built by Korg Italy !! Italy is - based on my dealings with them and the PA80 - not in the slightest bit interested in customer service or suppport. They seldom are involved in user groups or forums and posts of an 'official' nature NEVER happen !! What little info one gets is from 'people associated with the product' - as individuals and in an unnofficial capacity. They'll do it when they get around to it !! Sure they've released a few OS upgrades for the PA80, but that was over a 2 year period. I happen to like the PA80, but then I've also done a lot of work for and with the PA80 users over the last couple of years converting programs, styles etc. BTW - I don't use it much any more either !!

I would tend to believe that Korg Italy ain't the best at releasing this stuff. In a way it's a shame that Jerry and Korg US gets the bad rap for something they really have little control over - as I found jerry to be pretty darn reasonable !!

I would think that the PA1X will be a pretty decent machine - EVENTAALLY !! So, my advice, FWIW would be like applex says, "ssve your money" for the time being. Wait for the price to drop and the support to be there !!

Let Jerry K, tell you when you should try to buy in the US. Happy Holidays to all !!

Regards,
Steve

[This message has been edited by S0C9 (edited 12-20-2003).]

I agree with Steve. The only difference for me is that I still use my PA80 a lot. I was ready to return it within two weeks after I had purchased it, because the OS was so incomplete. Fortunately, the timing was right for me and OS 2.0 was released right before I was going to bring it back. It worked out for the best, because it's still my favorite arranger, for now.

Still, that's a strange way to market stuff. I don't agree with those who advocate patience or think that making a complaint is wrong.. especially if I've already plunked down a substantial amount my hard earned cash ( as a few of those overseas apparently have ). Nope. Not me. I want the product to do what it says " on the tin", meaning what was advertised..WHEN it becomes available for me to buy, not six months or a year later.

Minor fixes and upgrades are to be expected and I would welcome them. Major functions missing ? That is not acceptable to me. My PA 80 could not create internal song or style based sequences, user voices, or user styles in it's original OS version when I purchased it. Those are major features in an arranger. Many of the important functions didn't come out in OS upgrades until many months after the board was released.

I like the Korg arrangers a lot vs any of their counterparts, but I won't ever buy such an incomplete product again, or " hold my breathe " waiting for it to do what it's supposed to. It won't happen again, not to me. At least to my preferences and tastes, Yamaha has improved upon it's styles and sounds on it's latest releases, so I no longer see a big gap between the two. I'd like to wait for the PA1x speaker version to come out as a full featured board, not a beta board. If history repeats itself though, the PSR3000 will be likely be out and fully functional long before the PA1x speaker version has an updated OS that includes the abilility use of all major functions. If the PSR 3k has somewaht decent feeling keys and is fully functioanl before the PA1x is, I'll gladly buy it instead.

AJ

I'm curious Steve. After all that great work converting Triton programs to the Pa80 and now not using it very much, what DO you use?

Thanks,
Tom

------------------
Bigger is not always better

Hi Steve
Glad that someone else agrees. If I wanted a half finished arranger that what they should advertise, No 1.5 os so you can't record no Mp3 board No vocal up grade , But "BUY" it anyway and wait till they are ready.
Check out www.keyboardwizard.com
The site isn't completed I think he may still be working on it he's got a pa1 x pro also

Applex

No Keyboard Manufacturer should release a half baked product. Okay, so it's not on U.S. soil yet but it is on European soil and it has been in retail stores there for a few weeks. People own them. They are for sale. The ones they're selling in Europe should not be in any kind of Beta or pre-production stage.

They have put the cart before the HORSE not the other way around. Shame on Korg for releasing a product that the customer can not take full advantage of straight out of the box. At least Yamaha releases Keyboards that you don't have to sit around for 6 months to a year {theoretically speaking} waiting for "parts" to connect the dots with, whether it be Hardware OR software. Bad rap indeed! I can see why.

It would be interesting to hear from JJ and know what he thinks about all this. Does JJ work for Korg? Is that why he distances himself from negative talk about the PA1X PRO?!?!? He had one of the first PA1X PRO's on the planet so possibly he has inside connections with Korg or he works for Korg in some capacity. Or perhaps he doesn't work for Korg, etc., but maybe he got disgusted like Applex has and he sold it or returned it already therefore he has nothing to talk about?

Best regards,
Mike

Hello Mike,

I like your sense of humour ...

As far as you know , I hate discussion and specially barren discussions. But, now you are a sympathic man and I go to answer you

1°) First of all , I have nothing to do with Korg or with Yamaha or with Roland.... I'm only a musician thats loves to play .......with good synths or KB..

2°) I'm also a positive man and the reason because I do not want give my advice is that I think that some people here are too much negative for me ...In French we say : Cela dépend si la bouteille est à moitié pleine ou à moitié vide... I prefer to think that the bottle is "half full"...That's more positive.

3°)Yes, I still have the Korg in home and I am very glad of this KB.It sound terrific .More demos are coming soon

4°)When I bought the PaX1, I KNEW that this KB was'nt complete. So I assumed my purchase ! And I have no regrets....
I don't understand why Mr Applex bought an uncomplete KB for his eyes....For information, he complaints on the german forum and he received the same answer .

5°)All the things that are missing on the present model are extra charges : MP3,....

6°)It is certainly not my last KB, but I can say for the moment that it is for me one of the best. For example the control of the tracks in direct play is terrific... Like a guy said to Mr Applex at the German Forum , I want to say the next : If somedy have a PAX1 Pro, I will change it with pleasure and give him my ex-Yamaha 9000 Pro...

Voilà, Mike , are you satisfied with my candid answer ? I hope so, because it took me a lot of time

Best regards,
JJ

Tom,
I don't use the PA80 much any more for a number of reasons - none of which have to do with my like/dislike of the board.

#1 - with 4 kids (7 -> 16) I'm first an foremost a transportation service... that is VERY time consuming. So far, I've only been able to be in TWO places at once !! I'm working on three !! LOL.
#2 - I've also been very busy with the band. This have benn going well, and I play guitar (my primary instrument), not key with the band.
#3 - I've had a Triton Studio for almost a year, and I've been scratching at the surface of that, which obviously takes time away from the PA80.
#4 - spent summer months recording demos of the band using my D1600 recorder. This again has take time away from other things.

I still love to play the PA80 when I can, but time is limited. I do use it when I jam [albeit infrequently] with "the guys", mainly to provide backing rythyms, not as a featured instrument. It's great tho', to be able to pick a style and just go. Can't beat that !! And I, unlike some others of note, have no issues with the sounds on the PA80 at all.

Regards,
Steve

Hi Mike And JJ
First it's great to know that JJ would pay
full price for a bottle of wine that's only half full, because PT Barny said" A sucker is born every minute" and now I beleive it
You JJ may want a half finished Keyboard but I don't. Your responds to this forum only increases my belife that you do have closer ties with Korg then your letting on. Let me put it to you once again It was Korg that announced all these features on this Keyboard not the consumer, They released this prouct whether in Europe or in South Africa or Boston , the unit is available out there "UNFINISHED" and when after a hard working person pays for asks where is everything you advertised they reply" We don't know " is there answer No 1.5 os system, No 2.0 op system, No Mp3 Board ,No vocal upgrade,So sequencer ability without the 1.5.I have this Keyboard and you don't. Go buy one "there are available" and sit in a corner and play a half finished Keyboard them you can get on this forum and express how much you like it without all it's features. and talk is cheap, cause you talk a good story about this keyboard and you don't own one. One again save your money on this Keyboard until Korg gets there act together and provides all the upgrades so the keyboard can be used properly I am not
and repeat "not" knocking this keyboard it is of good quality ,Only Korgs way of doing business to an unsupecting consumer is my beef
Applex

I do realize that JJ has one of these keyboards, So he must like a half bottle of wine for his money.The opions express in my first reply is to the people that don't own this Keyboard, but say I should be satisfied.