YES...I had an i3 way back...followed with the i30
Both were way ahead of any other arranger at the time.
Yes I agree. In fact, I was initially a bit disappointed when upgrading to the PA80 from the i30, especially with the display was a huge backward step and the drums sounded weaker I thought.
Registered: 04/28/06
Posts: 834
Loc: North Texas, USA
I wouldn't buy either one of these for a young person interested in music. They are a step backward. Shame on Korg for besmirching the i3 name and reputation. A used Pa500 would be better!
The original i30 (along with the Roland G1000) was one of the all-time greats. Maybe a high-water mark among arrangers. Subsequent evolution has been mostly about the quality of sound samples, articulations, etc. The core arranger functionality didn't develop much beyond these turn-of-the-century models. The software testing (for bugs, etc.) was probably more rigorous then too.
I often think I would be happy if I had only an i30 and G1000 in my home studio.
Roland and Yamaha do the same. That’s how they survive and surprise us with new keyboards so now and then. So be happy people instead of complaining. These new Korgs are to compete with the lower priced Casio’s and Yamaha‘s and that is good news for us. Who cares how they call them?