Hi Dennis,

You are probably right that Korg should have though more about the decision to show the product. My guess is there were a number of Korg folks who would have chosen to not have the PA3X out in the open and maybe only allow key dealers to view it in a hidden corner. You've got to feel for Malcom though. He surely had little time to look over the new instrument before the show started. As for the PA3X being ruined for life... come on. I say we grab a couple pints and wait for the PA3X to hit the stores.

124,

There was a time when NAMM featured a consumer day. That was cool because the dealers knew to get there work done prior to that day and the manufacturers knew not to expect much business and leaned the product demos toward the consumer. I thought that worked out well because it did allow the public to get a preview of things to come and to ask questions pertaining to their own interests. It's a shame they don't go back to that idea.

As far as 'who' they let in, in recent years, it's now far more stringent than in years past when people were able to simply borrow a badge from a friend, but now they not only check that you've got a badge, but have you show your personal ID (ie: drivers license) to verify that your Namm badge info matches the name and personal information on your personal ID. I honestly don't know how much more vigilance they can enforce more than that.

With the advent of wireless technology and live video streaming available to virtually everyone who owns a personal electronic device like a cellphone, it will be virtually impossible (if not impractical) to prevent people from bringing them in, short of airport body scanners and/or strip searches at every door. The truth is, the world's changed, and there's no turning back, so the industry had better adjust or lose out.

That said, I too think that Namm should bring back their open to the public 'consumer day'. Musik Messe has this , so why not Namm?

Dave I didn't say "ruined for for life" at all. I did'nt even use those words. Please if you are going to paraphrase, do so accurately or not at all hey?

And you know perfectly well my comments had nothing like that intent, and further, you even hinted at it being an over-reaction by suggesting I have a beer (or pints?? - we don't have them in Oz,)??

Please, if you want to maliciously misquote someone, make it someone else!

That said, yes I agree, I do feel for the demo guy, although it's not like Korg popped this out of the oven two days before NAMM is it?? The guy should have perhaps made a better effort at at least, coming to grips with it's basics.

I also agree that a public, or consumer as you put it, day on the last would be a great idea. It might even generate some tourism for California...I know I would save my $'s to make the trip!!

Dennis

All I can add is that I met Malcom at Frankieve's store in September 2008 when Frank hosted an arranger fiesta. He was a first class act and was very helpful. At the time it was prelease of the Korg DNC voices, but Malcom had them loaded on the Pa2xpro he demoed. Tony Mads and Mikey Maestro, Nedim and Lucky2be here were all there a few other members too, including John whose handle on SZ is.....prelapse ( I think? ) A J was there too. Frank was behind the scenes making sure everything went off smoothly and that everyone had plenty to eat from the catered buffet.

My apologies to you Dennis. I meant nothing malicious in any way. And sorry for re-wording what you said. As for sitting down for a couple of beers (sorry, I didn't realize the word pint was not used in your area) I was trying to point out, not so successfully apparently, that we (everyone) needs to sit back and give the manufactures some time to do what they need to do in the way of demos, etc. I was simply suggesting how nice a cold beer would be about now, as long as it's not that Fosters stuff.

Friends?

Dave

Hey Dave, of course m8, it was never any different! Thanks for the apology, appreciated and accepted

Yes I agree, that manufacturers should be given the time, as you said. But Korg have had about three years to get this right, and to lump it onto the poor Korg rep, with what seemed like a really crappy audio setup, in a very noisy part of the room, was NOT the right way to go about it, in my view...They probably didn't even give the guy a basic run through before the show!!

Like at 4.30pm on the day before NAMM......"hey Malcolm, watchu doin for the next coupla days?" "err, nothin"... "well you are now demoing this PA3 at NAMM, good luck" ...."oh by the way can you take your own monitor?"

Personally I can read through all the hoopla and see this is a really good top-notch upgrade for PA1X users, not so much for PA2X users, but possibly still worthwhile.

At MusikMesse I think will see the TRUE PA3

As for the beer m8, well we have a very healthy one here, vitamin b , or as its better known VB (or perhaps Fourex or Cascade at a pinch).

We export the Fosters stuff..we don't actually drink it!!!

Dennis

I could be very wrong, but I'm guessing the old "consumer day", a good idea indeed, was pre-cellphones. And frisking everyone for cellphones at the door is totally impractical and unworkable, so manufacturers should be careful about what they put on display. Unfortunate, but there it is. I also felt a bit sorry for Malcom Doak, it looks like he got thrown in at the deep end. Maybe it'll all turn out to be a learning experience.

Yes just open up NAMM to the public and let the pieces fall where they may..:)

What few mention, BTW, is that this NAMM is NOT the debut of the T4 by any means. Yamaha demonstrators have had considerable time to play with the final product, and craft demos that leverage its best sounds and features.

One wonders what they could have done given the same time constraints and unfamiliarity, if given a beta T4 just before a major show...

And yes, I completely agree about how SOME keyboards are given a 'pass' for lousy user videos, where others AREN'T. If ALL we knew about the T4 was floor cellphone recordings, I'm sure the general consensus (except among Yamaha devotees) would be underwhelming. In fact, I seem to remember when it DID come out, the first few user demos left many wondering what all the fuss was about.

Rumor-mongering drives the business. We have had 'little birds' whispering all KINDS of rubbish (and the very occasional truth) here at SZ since time immemorial. Trouble is, some actually take these Kreskin moments as truth!

Strangely, Yamaha get a pass for tons of pre-T4 launch hype, but this from Korg at NAMM, essentially the same thing, gets held to a higher standard. I must admit, I agree with Scott... While the Kronos and many other keyboards gets a pass for lousy user videos, the Korg PA3 seems to be almost the ONLY one that doesn't. Perhaps our prejudices are showing more than we would like to admit?

I believe that Yamaha have a MUCH more professional marketing and demoing staff, and Korg could do much to emulate them. But, OTOH, are we REALLY so sheep-like as to count on these as any way to make our OWN minds up? Marketing and demo-ing should only influence those that CAN'T play. The rest of us simply need to wait until we have our hands on the real thing to make our minds up. If you are in the market for a TOTL arranger NOW, are you honestly going to base your decision on whether to get the PA or not on just this pre-release showing? If you are, you deserve whatever you get stuck with! Buy in haste, repent at leisure...

But, as I've said before, those that have already made the manufacturer decision (Korg over Yamaha, Yamaha over Korg, whatever) neither the T4 nor the PA3 is going to change anything. And neither is a great demo or lousy one, either. As radically different in sound, styles and features as most of the TOTL arrangers are, 99% of us stick with what we already know we like.

Diki ... I have to admit most of the time you really hit the mark!! I think your comments are a very fair assesment! Play it and buy it or play it and don't buy it!!! But play it!!