Korg micro-Arranger: .75" Wide x 3.1875" Long

Yamaha Tyros 4: .875" Wide x 5.5" Long

Steinway B Grand: .875" Wide x 5.875 Long

The actual key height of each of the above keyboards is difficult to accurately measure
because Tyros 4 doesn't include a straight down vertical front like the Steinway and Korg microArranger have.
Also,, the lowest portion of the Steinway and micro Arranger's key fronts (vertical measurement)
are partially obsured behind the fall board.

Reviewing the measurements,
the main key size difference between Tyros 4 and the micro-Arranger
is their respective key 'length'. Tyros 4: 5.5" ; microArranger: 3.1875".
On the other hand, the microArranger's key 'width' is only .125" narrower than Tyros 4.

Scott

To my mind, the key width , although important (and in this case minimal!) is not as important as the length from the leading edge of the white key to the black key.....I have measured the distance of this on my PSR9000 as being 1.8" which is comfortable to me rather than any shorter... any shorter IMHO would really make it a toy!
but of course that would possibly belie the powerful range of the Micro.
any comments anyone?

Jordan Rudess tears it up on the Korg microPIANO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZqSQOIjuY0

What strikes me as kind of odd is WHY did Korg shorten the keys at all? Those plastic keys weigh next to nothing, therefore weight would not be an issue if they were full width and length. To me it makes absolutely no sense at all. Lets be realistic, another 1.5 inches in key length may add a quarter-pound to the total weight of the keyboard, which would be insignificant at best.

Cheers,

Gary

I received my MicroArranger yesterday and was able to spend about half hour on it. As an accordion player (smaller keys on an accordion), I thought that the key size would be less of an issue for me. However, Gary’s point is accurate, it’s the feel of the keys and the keyboard response/ pressure/weight that is different and will take some getting used to. I won’t be able to get back to it until mid-next week.
…Loved the Jordan Rudess vid.
Ciao,
Jerry

Good Point Gary,

Maybe Yamaha will take note, when they come out with their Micro this year (pure speculation, but a real wish)

Jordan Rudess can make anything sound magical

Korg gives you two choices......MicroArranger or Pa50sd......
you can have your keys and eat it too... !
For the way it sounds At $499,99 it's untouchable.

you referring to the keys or the price?

Scott as you know the whole microARRANGER package is amazing at that price ...especially compared to many units 4x, 5x it's price.

The shortness of the keys, from my experience with the microWorkstation, make it quite difficult to control velocity, especially for subtle shadings in volume...but I did say "difficult" and not impossible...I am sure with lots of practice, it can be done.

Again, the shortness of the keys bothered me more than the loss of width, which didn't seem like much, although you do come up with some "interesting" chords until you get accustomed to the smaller width.

All this talk about having something portable with speakers, is making me consider getting a leftover S910 when the model run ends...I'll still keep my T4, but it would be nice to just take an S910, which is not much bigger (or heavier) than a guitar in it's case, to those impromptu jam sessions at friend's homes...plus, I can plug in a mic, and not have to adjust to tiny keys.

Yamaha made micro arrangers (the PSS series) many years ago (early 80's) and I was never a fan, and they eventually stopped making them due to lack of interest,(more people wanting standard sized keys) around the late 90's.

Perhaps people's renewed fascination with things small(cell phones, i-pods/pads/readers/cameras) will give the mini-key instrument a new lease on life...time will tell.

Ian