Hi Jamman,
found a number of the styles too complex for what I wanted on my PA800. So I converted, or edited them down ie replaced a style track with a simpler one. Muting doesn't simplify a busy track. One thing that did help me for a couple of the styles, was actually cutting the pattern short ie by the time the pattern got to just say bar 7 & 8 it had changed, and no longer suited the song I was trying to use it for, so I simply cut it back to the 4 bars that did work okay. It was something that was easily done in the PA800, by just changeing the Rec Length & CV Length from 8 to 4 in style record mode & saving it as a user style. It just cut off the last 4 bars of the pattern.
Maybe also doable in the KMA??

Deane, thanks for your email the other day. I just picked up a micro, but I got it mainly for the trip over and back....something I can work with to plan/ write film tracks.

I can see putting the Korg over the Yamaha piano for variety, but don't think I would use it as a "stand alone" for gigs.

Good luck!


Russ

I wanted to respond to a few questions here. Like Donny said - I don't sing and don't need the vocal processor. I will wait awhile before I take the KMA on it's next gig. Here are the points that stick out for me about using the KMA as a stand-a-lone keyboard after using it on two gigs now.

1. Make sure you are in good lighting or take a light with you because it is nearly impossible to see the buttons otherwise.
2. Be sure to get the setup you like before playing gigs. If you don't you might get some unpleasant surprises when you change STS voices or variations.
3. Yes, the little KMA can function as a stand-a-lone gig keyboard.
4. Don't expect it to sound like your PA-Whatever or your T3 or T4 -- it doesn't.
5. I liked the three sliders that allowed me to control the master vol, accomp vol, or lead voice vol. That is nice feature.
6. The intros and endings are not bad and once you get to know the keyboard you know which ones to use.

One last observation: A lot of arranger players are not techie types and don't really have an interest in fooling around with any keyboard they buy - they just want to sit down - pick a style- and play. That is really the group I belong to. Many of the available ways to tweak the KMA require a knowledge of what the parameters mean and how they effect the overall sound. Where does one learn about these things? It would be nice if there were tutorials from the various manufacturers that helped users to get the most from the keyboard. One other thing - Korg should provide a computer program to not only convert styles but to help organize them once you get your setups in mind. I understand Korg users have been asking for this for years now and Korg has yet to provide much of anything.

All said and done I am very pleased with my KMA and for the amount of money it cost it is a very good deal and I will continue to enjoy it.

Deane

One last observation: A lot of arranger players are not techie types and don't really have an interest in fooling around with any keyboard they buy - they just want to sit down - pick a style- and play. That is really the group I belong to

I entirely concur with what Deane says here. As such Korg is not the first and best choice that comes to mind. Tecnhics was one of the first to introduce the Songbook feature and Korg was the last to implement it.
And even their factory entries are very "superficial " in that they have simply combined a factory preset style with one or two righthand factory preset sounds, without any substantial tweaking.

I agree with Deane that the Micro is very good value for money but one does need to get into some tweaking at the very least. And yes there should be demos or a DVD from Korg to give support in this area as well as an editing program. I would not hold my breath though..........

regards,
John

Deane, I have a Pa800 and it’s a Korg. I gave it three weeks on off I went to it’s first job. I did that three times and came home upset; I did not have the same problem with any of the Yamahas I owned. I wanted to sell the Pa800 but intuitively I knew the keyboard was offering something special; something I had not yet experience.

I do not want to do a lot of thinking when I am on a job – I want to play, as the saying goes, “on-the-fly”, second nature. I am also very particular about which styles I use for a song and what instruments are being with the style. The worst thing that can happen is to be playing a song and have the next selected instrument something that does not fit.

I have said all of the above to say I took the Kork after three months and left my job with one big happy smile. I was playing like I never played before; the keyboard and I were one – That is what Korg offers its owners but only after they put some dedicated time in. Give the KMA time Deane.
I am not a take-it-out-of-the box player; I am also not someone who looks for the best instrument sounds. I am a player who looks for the most realistic band sound and allows me to use the keyboard as I want.

John C.

Hi Deane,
I really enjoyed seeing your KMA gig setup.
The Kma is my first Korg as well, and I'm still having a lot of fun with mine.
I'm finding it relatively easy to tweak performances and styles to sound just right to me thru my PA system to match my own personal music genre, repertoire, and taste. Though I certainly appreciated checking out John Smie's resources (thanks John ), of which included a few specific song setups I might use myself, even those, thru my Pa System would require further tweaking on my part to suit my individual taste. I continue to take the Tyros 4 out as my main gigging axe and reserve the KMA for casual grab and go get togethers and parties. I love having both the Yamaha and Korg sound, both different yet terrific in their own way. - Scott

".....I love having both the Yamaha and Korg sound, both different yet terrific in their own way...." - Scott

The essence of what I have been saying for a long time Scott. There is no longer any need to bash whichever make as they are all terrific in their own peculiar way. As I mentioned many times before a Korg -Yamaha is a winner in whichever price range you decide to get it. And of course the Micro on top of a (rather bulky) Tyros 4 is ideal. I am glad you have been able to use parts of my extensive programming for your own purposes even if you had to add some personal tweaking here and there. I have never maintained that it was perfect. After all it is a very personal approach but it does show much more of the potential of the keyboard than just the factory settings imho. A lot of folks have simply started using my set as their basic set , mixing it with elements from the factory registrations, which goes to show it serves its purpose.

For first time Korg players the learning curve is pretty steep, I know and many have asked why Korg has not (yet) released an instruction video for the PA50/Micro. Probably because it being based on 10 year old technology they assume that most folks will be familiar with it to some point and besides they' d rather sell the more expensive and recent models I guess. However Donny's suggestion to check the PA800 video tutorials on youtube is a very good one I think. Admittedly the PA500 and PA800 are a different kettle of fish compared to the Micro, but the structure of styles, sounds and their editing is a very similar one. I also wonder why so many people would complain about the extensive manual that comes with the Micro and I am not referring to the flimsy starters manual in the box. On the CDrom and on the web as well there is a hefty indepth manual. People should read it cover to cover before they start asking questions how this and how that. Accompanying my 2012 package I have written some manuals that deal in detail with the loading,saving of data as well as the structure of the Micro storage, as those who have got my software will be able to confirm.
In conclusion I can only say to you Scott and all those who have added the Micro to their existing (Yamaha/Roland) set up : a very wise move !!

regards,
John