That makes a world of difference. You have already paid your dues and can see why you are enthusiastic.

Not being sarcastic Diki, but why would you WANT to mix two different styles? First of all, I'm not sure what you mean by 'two styles'. Do you mean like two (related?) styles in the same genre'?...or two totally different styles? And in the first case, wouldn't that just be a variation? I'm probably just not understanding what you're describing but since Korg opted to include it as a feature, it must have some validity. Could you elaborate a little on how this would work and in what instance you would use it. Do the two styles play simultaneously? Do the two tempo's automatically sync (assuming the two styles have different tempos). These probably sound like silly questions to those that understand the concept/process. If you've got a sonic example, please share it. That'll be the quickest way for me to 'get it'. Can't blame me though, the two instruments I still drool over (Rhodes & B3) haven't evolved much in the last (respectively) 60 to 80 years.

BTW, I've included both Nord and Kawai in my digital piano search but the models I like are both too damn expensive ($4500/3500). I just don't play that well .

chas

Chas… let’s say you like the bassline from one style, but the guitar pattern from another. Yes, they both play in sync, simultaneously, and you can define which Parts are muted and which sound.

Yes, this obviously works best with pretty related styles, but there’s also an opportunity to mix and match say Latin styles with jazz, or electronica with smooth jazz, or polka with hard rock (!), whatever floats your boat..!

As I’ve pointed out, so far most of the demos of this feature simply cue up two styles at the same time and let them run almost fully against each other. This will tend to work if the two styles are very different (like a classical orchestra layered against an electronic beat) but I think even Korg haven’t yet realized the feature’s full implications (most of the demonstrators haven’t, that’s for sure!).

But by muting and unmuting different Parts as the style plays you get a far wider range of Variations without having to switch styles (and yes, you CAN do that on the fly to either of the sounding styles). You can also turn on or off either of the two styles.

Personally, I see its most musical use with very related similar styles, but the experimentation angle is also open for curiosity.

Don’t forget, it’s not just the two styles, it’s their multipads too…

I was about to ask the same thing as Chas. If anyone has any videos of this being demonstrated, I think many of us would have a better understanding. I just haven't had the interest in watching the rather long videos that have been put of so far on new Korg....

Diki, you and Paul both sort of touched on something....the demonstrators. For a major product rollout, these are the most (I'll be nice) unexciting (boring) demos I've seen in awhile. Maybe that's why some of us found the instrument 'underwhelming'.

I'm betting a great player doing a string of short 'feature' demos, accompanied by clear explanations of the features he was demonstrating, would go a long way towards improving this instruments first impression. I'm with Paul. I hate looooong demos, usually playing a style that makes me want to stick my head out the door and scream. Somebody start a GoFundMe and get Marco Parisi on the phone . I'd like to see what this baby can REALLY do.

chas

I agree… get Marco on the phone!

Thing is, as the market dwindles, as sales fall, as margins get ever slimmer, it appears that the budget to launch new products with wow factor videos and demos grows ever smaller.

Then you get these underwhelming intro videos which discourage rampant upgrading envy, sales underwhelm, less money comes in, you get a nasty feedback loop that spirals downwards…

Mind you, we are also part of this feedback loop. You can’t believe the inventiveness over at Korgforums as anticipation and leaks got ahead of Korg’s release schedule, and as demo videos have naturally got to be the absolute last thing that gets done, there was little patience from the base. Maybe another month for great demonstrators to investigate the new features and get the most out of them would have made a bigger splash at launch, but leaks pretty much put the kibosh on that!

We simultaneously want immediate full information AND deep demonstration of features and sounds that must be new to the demonstrator team. I’m afraid the two seem mutually exclusive…