Hammer... why the change to Korg, when the styles issue is a well known, long time design decision? Korg have always been probably the least well supported for overall sheer number of available good styles (out of the Big 3) other than Middle Eastern, and have always been rather more modern in focus and sound. Smooth modern jazz? Probably the best there is... Big band? Not so much..!

I am just surprised, that YOU are surprised! Were you expecting anything radically new?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw4iuHkJpSQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLCo-QUwYrw

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKg8fxjsVQY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ndtpqaFpE

Now Deane, don't be getting your neck sore by spending too many hours at once on that thing. Interesting about the right hand balance- no slider for that like the pa500. Is the touch screen very responsive? i am having trouble with mine on the 500 after multiple calibration changes.

Sparky,
I find if I use my finger on the touch screen it is not as responsive as I want. But, if I use a fingernail it works just great.

Diki,
I spend hours at my keyboards and it is nice to have something different to break up the shear boredom of hearing the same intros, sounds, styles etc..
I have a Korg MicroArranger with John Smies Resources loaded and it sounds terrific. My PA600 will need a lot of work to sound as good as the little KMA does with John's resources loaded. I have yet to reload the KMA factory resources and do a comparison. But that is next and hopefully with some recordings to detail the difference. But I do understand your point and it is well taken - not much out there to choose from if the factory stuff is not useful to a player.

Right now both my wife and I are rather ill so it might be later this week.

Deane

Deanne ... hope you and your wife feel better real quick ...

Did Deane just indicate that the Micro may sound better than the PA600? Probably not, I'm just firing things up, but I did not realize Korg needed that much 'out of the box' tweaking.

Tony,
If, and when, you ever get the PA600, you may have your work cut out for you...well maybe not work, it's suppose to be fun.
Have you heard ANYTHING about a delivery date?

I think I'll wait on the 600 until I hear more reports.

Deane...you and your wife, take care, and get well.

Hi Larry,
Yes, you heard me right. I am doing side-by-side style comparisons now and the difference is rather amazing. Both keyboards have been set back to out of the box settings and the factory resources reloaded to both. Not all the styles on one are on the other - but those I am finding I plan to record sometime tomorrow and post a link here. Everyone can judge for themselves. I'll record both on a Zoom H2 and will use Audacity to get the volume on them equal.

Deane

I have often said that, when push comes to shove, the available style choice should be your primary reason to get any particular arranger. Features are good, sounds are good, but if you primarily play in arranger mode, nothing is more important than the selection of top quality styles in the genres you use MOST...

And, from everything I've heard, each arranger is better in some areas than others.

There more then enough Korg styles to fit any genre....

Larry ... sounds like I will ... hopefully it will be fun ...
I think we are looking towards the end of the year for delivery ...