What a beauty. Glad I'm with Korg over the years. For now, the 3X76 became the studio board and the 900 will go live, to lighten the load.

The 4X acoustic piano sounds like a dream. That is one area that needed improvement (IMO).

Korg still MAPS their products graciously vs the other brands. A lot more for the money.....

Many people seem to disagree (on the Korg forums) that the indtrument is a step forward..

True, it has 5GB of PCm sounds...but a lot of features have been lost stpped back

- no motorized tilt screen
- user sample memmory dropped from 500MB (compressed) to 400 MB saved sets are not compatible
- the number of insert effects dropped
- no more digital out..
- no more vocal harmony with mp3 files
- many options for voice removal have been removed..
And some more
- still many items on the touchscreen espescially in edditing menus are to small

True, the sound (most important feature has improved, and is now on par again with the Tyros 5 and espescially the drums and piano sounds outshine T5.

But

- Tyros 5 has the SA2 advanced voices ( DNC is SA1 technollogy)
- Tyros 5 has ensemble voices
- Tyros 5 has more and better effects section
- Tyros 5 screen looks much better then Korgs
- Tyros 5 has up to 2 GB expansion memmory
- Tyros 5 has 5 different organs in the organ world versus only a B3 drwabar in the Korg..
- Tyros 5 has a community that offers many many remote programs and edditors for free
- Tyros 5 has more options in the multipads
- Tyros 5 can play styles and songs at the same time
- Tyros 5 start up is like 5 secs vs 1 minute for PA4x
And some more

In our local shops in europe Pa4x will cost nearly as much as a Tyros 5, i think however that Korg missed out on an opportunity with the PA4x, espescially the step back in the effects section and the very limmited user sample area still make it feel last century..
They should have taken more technollogy from the Kronos. Like sample streaming from SSD giving near unlimmited expansion possibillities..

While you have a single great accoustic piano in the pa4x it also takes up most of the new 5GB rom memmory.. And the user memmory is to small to load another high quallity piano.. And except for the huge rom memmory, not much has improved over the pa3x... Its using exactly the same processing hardware as the pa3x and even the pa2x...

Many of the things you mentioned don't concern my needs on stage as a performer. Everyone has their own. The KORG definitely has the edge feature wise for a Pro KB Player vs T5.
It Sounds Great, Built solid, Sliders, Tilt Display, Awesome VH unit,
Plus it's black too,..

There is a reason you allways keep returning to Yamaha Donny...

I actually love playing both KORG & Yamaha......but for me as a very unorthodoxed finger physical, non pedalist style player on stage it's all about the features and navigation. The S950 display was more readable vs the flat Pa3x,Pa900/Sd7 last time out.....
The new Pa4x Tilt display answered that problem amongst it's many other kool features.

Tyros units although sound terrific have way too much unneeded real estate for me

"It Sounds Great, Built solid, Tilt Display, Awesome VH unit,Plus it's black too,.. "

Hmmmmmm! Sounds just like Donny described a T5.

All the best,

Gary

Except for the 'Tilt Display' and 'VH Unit', sounds like he just described ME .

chas

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClHxCgSvpQOzniOBqhrljXw


here are some nice demos Pa4x

Dead link, Donny. These were unofficial vids. Someone rightly got jumped on.

its working fine for me ?

Donny, where's the guy playing the demos? Can't really determine if the demos were heavily edited or live from the keyboard.

Gary

Let's face it, all the current arrangers sound great. Korg should get even better with the new piano and guitar voices.
What is most important to me are the little things that make performing easier.
Thanks I like about Korg PA3X:
Many programmable sliders and buttons.
Excellent touch screen.
Easy access to one-touch buttons even when the screen is displaying lyrics or something else.
Excellent mic processing and vocal harmony. But everyone knows this.
Ability to use light-weight, inexpensive 5-button foot controller.
Touch strip!
Joy stick!
Very manageable size and weight, especially compared to Tyros and Ketron.
Easy access to third party sounds, drum kits, etc.
Wonderful Songbook which stores everything you want or need, in any order or by most any criteria--genre, user lists, etc. You can apply custom numbers to each entry if you wish, for instant recall.
You can plug cables in while seated because the ports are labeled on TOP of the keyboard. Don't have to lift it up and look at the back! Yes, it's a small thing, but saves time and effort.
Internal power supply with standard cord.
You can edit and save things while you are playing. You don't have to stop the style or song to quickly change something, maybe change a voice, volume, mute, etc., and save it.
There are dedicated buttons and knobs for vocal and harmony controls, and lights to show you when VH is engaged and mic is on.
There is an easy-to-use LOCK system that lets you save those items that you don't ever want anything to change, perhaps fingering mode, split point, VH settings, pedal assignments and much more.
You can elect to have the style and/or sound and performance screen automatically close, or if you prefer, stay open until you close them.
You can totally edit, remove, replace, rename, move any FACTORY styles you want. If you don't do modern DANCE, take them out if you wish. Put all Willie Nelson styles there instead. You can always restore them if you want.
Despite common misconception, there are tons of additional styles available free, and Korg periodically does free updates with new styles and/or sounds!
If you are into using midi files and/or MP3s, there is a dual sequence player that allows you to have two songs loaded and fade between them if you wish. Of course all this can be saved to a Songbook entry.
There are a few of the things that you don't see in a demo. You have to play the arranger for a good amount of time to determine what is important to you and your style of playing.
Regarding the PA4X specifically, some of the new features are the ability to save Chord Sequencer to Songbook entries. This is BIG. Also it now FINALLY allows direct play from USB device. Loading to audition is no longer necessary! Touch screen is bigger than 3x.
I'm sure there are quite a few other improvements but these alone are enough for me to give it strong consideration.

For sure there are things to love about all the arrangers. I love the Ketron live sound. I love the size and weight of PSRS series. Love the guitar sounds too, although the others seem to be catching up. Love Casio piano and organ sounds. Love BK9 organs, weight, styles and...well that's about it for that one.
Sorry for rambling.

Thanks, Donny. Hadn't seen those before. The ones I had seen, and were quickly removed, were Steve McNally tutorial videos that someone from an eastern european country had posted on YT.

Obviously a set of Pa4x tutorials are 'in the works' and not officially released by Korg themselves just yet.

No rambling at all, DonM. What you mention are the exact reasons I like about Pa series. Just perfect for live gigging.

DonM
Excellent review from a Musician's perspective.... Written in a way where a Musician can relate to. You can read all the specs you want from Korg, Yamaha, etc.... but they do not tell you stuff like in between the lines....
That was a nice read

Ron

Great post Don,....it all makes sense for sure.
At this stage of the game mostly all arrangers are more then adequate sound and style wise etc,.... it's the features & how they are operated when navigating that are very important now for the serious player ...I hope manufactures will start to put more effort into what features the owners need and listen to what they want adding them to new design models in the future asap.

Don, Thanks for reminding me why I still have the Pa3x since 2012.........still love my T5 too!

Very well written, Don ... and many of those features are on the Pa900 which I love ...

Don,you know I value you as a singer and entertainer. I also think your keyboard comments are very worthwhile and to the point.I think the best comments are those that add something meaningful or new information about the keyboard under review.
That said however we also have to realize that there's is too much talk based on speculation for want of the real thing being available as is the case with the PA4X. ( on order by me as well)
Thanks for you detailed observations !

And Donny thanks for the many links to the PA4X videos !!!

regards
John

Here you go, the official manuall is here to end all speculation

http://www.korg.com/filedl/ee03026d98e5b5c333e9689572f8f05d/840/download.php

But not the knocks, no doubt.

John your very welcome good luck with your New KORG PA4x....... looking forward to hearing some great things down the road from you.

Thank you John. I'd think I would enjoy the PA4X. Right now I have too many arrangers already, both SD7 and PA3X. I need to make a deal!

What a great sounding board ... if only I had a few thousand dollars I didn't know what to do with ...
Similar to what Gary said, it would be nice to actually see someone playing, so that I could see what was being played 'live' as opposed to what is in the style ...
I would expect some demo vids featuring Marco Parisi, no ? ...

Yes indeed, Tony. Trouble is, listening to Marco Parisi either inspires you or makes you want to pack it in altogether.

Another nice improvement is that the Pa4x 61 key model also has the TILT Display unlike the pa3x models

Good demo of some of the actual voices. However, I would have liked to have heard them utilized within songs. The grand piano sounded absolutely awesome. Think I stick with my trusty old S950, though.

Cheers,

Gary

Have to admit these two sound really really good....

But there is only one reason i can think off that would make me buy a PA4x, and thats when they will start selling an 88key version of it, with even more added piano sounds...

Aside from the Pa588 and the Havian 30, both of which are a way away from the Pa4x, the only other 88 Korg arrangers I can think of would have been the i1 and the i2 which are way back in the mists of time.

I wouldn't hold your breath for an 88 Pa4x, Bachus. But, who knows?

why not just midi your favorite 88 key controller?

http://www.wirerealm.com/guides/best-88-key-midi-keyboard-controller

http://www.doepfer.de/home_e.htm

http://kurzweil.com/product/pc3x/

Thats what i have been doing for ages... But when it comes to arranger playing, i want the buttons as close as possible to my main keyboard... And in the end, i have allways been looking for the perfect all in one solution...

I think there is an unexplored market for 88 key blends of stage piano and totl arrangers.. If they can keep the weight acceptable...

Hammer action and light weight do not go together, as due to the weight of the keybed and the extra strength required of the housing. (A piano really gets a bashing)

The nearest is the Bohm Silverbird which is available with a 76 note hammer action keybed. (But as mentioned above, not light)

Enjoy

Bill

Nonsense Bill, with current technollogy the Casio line of instruments at under 10 kg has a very nice action and the px-5s even works on batteries.. Just read some reviews and then change your comments accordingly...

If you are coming from a synth background the keyboards you mention are a good start to get a feel of piano playing, however they fall far short of what is required for proper piano playing, hence my comments still stand.

Hope this clears up the confusion

Bill

I just read on Korg forum that Korg has changed shipping date to December. Hope it isn't true, but if it is, maybe they are trying to have it actually ready for use before selling it!

plus Don...it will give you more time to sell what you have to get the Pa4x.

Maybe. Not sure yet. STILL waiting on SD7 update.

A Demo from Sud Claviers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3k8WS19ruQ&feature=em-uploademail

Jerryghr

Nice find Jerry......looks like TYROS 6 has to catch up this time around eh?

Not really ...

Tyros 5 has different strengths... I would say both are on par, equall, just with different strengths... Unless offcourse the delay by Korg means they are adding some stuff like more user sample room and more effects before the finall release...

If Korg adds the rumored sample streaming we know from Kronos however... I agree with you and Korg has a definate lead on the T5

W
Nice one, Jerry. It sounds so 'live'. Thanks.