My first impression of the Korg Pa4x.
Attributes:
All editing and panel selections available in real time Play.
Easy edit for style or song, every edit possible via touchscreen.
All edits and parameter routings saved to individual user program,
not just global..
Easy detail edit for drums and tones, and easily saved in a user program.
Song mode, chords automatically shown for any SMF, and read a measure ahead
for easy realtime playing with file.
Smart harmonizer, auto detect of chords, and easily select different
harmony method. Song, style, vocoder, etc.
Easy control of mic, effects, harmony....
Playlist feature, easy with full functions, like next song,etc.
Can store unlimited playlist and number of songs per list.
SMF markers easy to use, even in real time.
No surprises, glitches, and OOPS!!!
SMF playback, selection,cue, and sound....BEST in the business..
Access to SMF and Style from external media,,,
Audio input has volume knob control and you can assign effects ..
Mic input is separate from audio inputs, with it's own controls.
D-beam works well and in sync with clock..
OOPS....wait a minute......All of the above are advantages the
G70 has over the PA4x...
To evaluate a product, you need to compare to another...
Okay...
Let me talk about the PA4x.
The PA4x is the best Korg offering...ever.
I do not see a big overall improvement, compared to the PA3x,
but there are improvements. Sounds are better, styles are better,
The touch screen is better,
The OS...not too much, still similar to the PA800 I owned.
When I compared the Korg to my Roland above, the G70 is superior,
but not to say the PA4x was bad..in fact it is a great keyboard.
Head to head against Yamaha, hands down better..Touch screen the
biggest difference,
Sounds overall on Korg are better, a couple exceptions.
Drums are definately better then Yamaha.
Head to head against Ketron SD7,,much closer, SD7 has edge
in sound department..Bass and drums are better in the SD7.
Styles are a mixed bag..Korg has great jazz, blues, and funk styles.
SD7 has great latin and ballroom styles.
I prefer the touchscreen on the SD7, but not by much..
I found quirks on the PA4x, mostly in SMF play.
It suffers the same problems I had with the PA800.
They both locked up when they aren't happy.REBOOT time..
I am guessing..the processor is not very powerful.
I believe the G70 handles multitasking much better..
For dependability, G70 for me..
I wonder if Roland has patents on all their great features.
They must...No body else is copying and they know Roland is better..
By the way...I was checking out the Roland E-A7 on you tube.
This $1,200 board sounds great and has great features.
Critics have giving the E-A7 good marks.
They have compared the sounds to Tyros5 and PA4x,very favorable.
Search youtube..Dynamic Audio has a couple videos, demonstrating
the sampler (they sell bass and drum samples).
They are high on the E-A7.
I will be returning the Korg on Wed.
I have tested and compared in detail,but if I find something
interesting..I will post it.
I wish the Roland BK9 had a touch screen.......