Hi Tim:

Like Stephen said, I do play out with the Tyros3 and the Korg....I play both PA800/500, I like the DNC and some other on board sounds that the 800 has over the 500, for what I use, I mostly take the T3 and the PA500... witch by the way is in the engine of the PA588 with the exception of the Gran Piano sound that is (I been told) that is really Great.
I like the combination of both, the Korg I like the fact that you can make your very own styles using only a PC sequencer software, it does NOT require the special software that is needed to make styles for ALL the other brands, Korg allows the user to make Factory quality styles, of course, you must have the creativity, patience, and an eye for the detail, and like most things in life, everything becames easier when you pass the learning curve.
I really like my setup, right now I am working (besides the gigs), in 2 CDs that I will release soon, and I am using both keyboards in almost all the songs, I already have 21 numbers, needless to say, I make a living playing in Ballroom dances, and that is the market that I have oriented the songs I am putting into it.
Hope this help you.
P.S. The Korg style making is available in ALL their models, PA500-588-800 and 2X.

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mdorantes

Hi Tim,
If you have this "expensive Hobby", like me, and you can afford having those two TOTL amazing arrangers just buy the Korg Pa800/Pa2x!!. The Korg sound will add a different touch to your music. I have a Pa500 and I am still amazed by its sounds and styles at least for the "home" use I give it. Or you could also buy a Pa500/588 and a good computer for playing Vsti (something I've been doing with the Mediastation) and I can assure you'll never get bored of the sounds you hear. In this way you would get the Korg styles + an unlimited instrumental soundsource for the melody part(imagine adding Garritan Orchestra sounds for example). If you don't make complex arrangements using the computer and you play at home you can use it live mostly without problems.
Just a different idea. Good luck.

Victor

So Victor, what you're saying is get the 588 piano/arranger and use it to play VST sounds. I am a total newbie in playing from a computer. I have a nice laptop, but never considered using software-based voices. What do I need to do that? What software and how much does it cost? This is all new territory for me.

Tim

Hi Tim
Pretty much everything you need to know about VST and music software
http://www.kvraudio.com/
http://www.synthzone.com/

For those of you that are considering running two arrangers at the same time, get on the phone with your manufacturer, your dealer, your dealer rep, anyone you can...

And ask them for standardized MIDI codes for Variation, Fills, Intros and Endings. It is disgraceful, here in the 21st century, after nearly thirty years of MIDI being around, that you STILL can't trigger two different arranger engines at the same time.

What you guys are discussing here is using the RH sounds from one arranger with the style section of another. But imagine how much BETTER it would be if you could combine different style parts from different arrangers... An almost infinite variety of styles would be possible, just from the permutations between two sets of ROM styles. Pick and chose the best of each. Shore up the weak areas of one arranger with the strong points of another...

That you CAN'T do this right now simply because the manufacturers WILL NOT get together and decide a simple standard is pathetic. Every arranger out there (or at least, most of them) has the codes to do this. BUT THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT, AND ALL HARDWIRED.

It's time to change this, my friends.... But only YOU can bring this about. It is patently obvious the manufacturers don't care one iota. Make some noise...

Tim first of all I am a home user not a pro musician and I've been working with computer based software for a moth. What I meant is, as a different option, you could buy a much lesser expensive keyboard like a Pa 500 or 588 if you need the whole 88 weigthed keyboard to get the style engine of Korg arrangers and spend the rest of the money to buy a computer and some software to play VSTi (virtual instruments). If you play a Vsti for the melody part alone (not as part of the style itself)it is not very complex to use and the computer is usually very stable. Computers are a whole different world to get involved with, and you may get lost at first, but you will find the best sounds ever produced and you won't need to change keyboards so often. Most active members in this forum are players who need something practical light, safe and fast so it's not convenient for them yet. Others tried software programs to make styles and compose music and tell us that it is a nightmare to use so they went back to regular arrangers. I'm recomending this to you just to play the computer sounds from your own arranger, since it is your hobby you may enjoy discovering new sounds every day.

Victor

Diki I wish they heard us. In a way I already do that, I play both arrangers at the same time syncing their tempo. The Psr styles also plays the Korg drums an basses and I add real guitar pads or styles from the Korg but all has to be done manually. At least Korg has a midi control channel specifically to trigger intro, variations, fills and breaks. Not always it would be useful to change variations in both keyboards at the same but at least we'd have that option available.

Victor

OK

So - given several options - I think I will not go the software route. I will seriously consider Korg as my next kbd ( i've had a serious relationship exclusively with Yamaha for years and with Roland before that.)
I never pAid much attn to Korg previously, but now have come to appreciate the Korg sound and think it would work well combined with the T3 voices on a recording project.

My decision will be btwn 88 keys with Ok sounds (Pa588 and $400 rebate) or 61 keys again with great sounds (Pa800 with expansion + $500 more in cost)
Pa2x is just too much $$

Decisions! Ugh!
Tim

They ALL do... the problem is, they are ALL different, and they are ALL unchangeable. Yamaha uses PC#'s, Roland uses PC#'s, not sure what Korg uses... But Yamaha's PC#'s are different to Roland's, and you can't change them yourself so they match.

That is all we need... (and a simple parameter would enable/disable reception).

It's not rocket science, simply apathy from users who would LIKE to maybe run two arrangers, but can't be bothered to let their manufacturers know that this NEEDS to be fixed before it is possible. The thing that blows my mind is, how come the arranger manufacturers don't realize that this one thing would do more to increase sales than just about anything else they can think of. If I COULD run two arrangers together, I guarantee I WOULD. So would many here. But until this happens, we usually stick to just the one.

All it would take would be a phone call from Yamaha to Roland and Korg, and it become the de facto standard (everybody else would jump on board). But they won't do it until you tell them that you WANT IT...

Really? Could you tell me what Prog Change numbers are used in the PSR line to start/stop styles, change variations, fills etc. remotely and how I implement it. The 2 switch pedals are a different thing and I already use them for other tasks. Korg has a special "Control Channel" for that. I could use my Korg Nano Kontrol for controlling my distant PSR through Midi. I did not find this feature in any PSR Manual.

Victor

[This message has been edited by vagro (edited 08-18-2009).]