I couldn't hold myself and bought a Pa4X ....

[beykock]

Hi Wouter :

Plse do not expect many players here would be happy with a Korg arranger or an additional Korg kb. 

There are plenty of reasons.

Most of these forum members are Yamaha customers for many, many years.

Their Yamaha software collection is super huge.

They are used to work with very useful PC programs especially made by other members of this group.
All these special Yamaha arranger keyboard progs are free of charge and are updated regulary.

Yamaha arranger keyboards are plug-and-play instruments, loved by ALL home players.

Most of these members are not familiar with Korg's OS and Korg's software.

Most members of this forum have no intention to learn Korg's OS. Why should they if they do not own a Korg.

Most of the members of this forum do not want a non-plug-and play arranger keyboard like a PA4X.
A PA4X is a nice keyboard if the player needs a lot of extra applications but most players here want a nice, easy to use pro arranger with the best sound and no technical problems, easy to sell at an attractive price.

Why should one kill a winning horse ?💰

Babette

[metcam]

Yamaha arranger keyboards are plug-and-play instruments, loved by ALL home players.



Babette

This is correct for allmost all musicians from Western Europe ,USA ,Canada ETC. For rest of the world like
Balkan,Eastern Europe,turkey,Middle East etc... is a lot of work after baying yamaha before ready to play.
In my case I use only 5% stuff from Genos and everything else is External like Samples,styles,multipads, etc.

Best Regards

[Pianoman]

I'd like to thank all the Korg PA4X owners and others who have posted comments on
this topic.

I have learned more over the last two weeks about the differences between the Genos
and the Korg than has been written here over the last two years.

One reason for not hearing much about the Korg here is that apart from this being a Yamaha
forum, any mention of Korg here was poorly received, sometimes ( seldom though ) with
thinly disguised hostility by the faithful.

I wish that I had read this kind of discussion a year ago when I was contemplating buying a
new keyboard. It would have been most useful in helping me decide on my next
keyboard.

There's a distinction between a want and a need. Just because one wants something doesn't
mean one needs it.
Though this observation is quite obvious, it still is something many people struggle with.

There are those who can afford to "want" a new keyboard or two, and just go out and get it.
There are many here, mostly home players, and I must say that I envy them.
I have an acquaintance, a mediocre player at best, who falls into this category too.

Then there are those who need a new keyboard because their current keyboard has given
up the ghost, or they need one for professional reasons, or a variety of other reasons.
I fall into this category.

I suddenly found myself without a usable keyboard back in February, a couple of days before a
contractual gig. Needing one, I went out and bought the only available professional keyboard
in town, the Genos.

This thread has been educative and has persuaded me to take a look at the Korg too.
They're quite difficult to find in the secondhand market though.

It seems that Korg Pa4X owners appear to be not so eager to sell their instrument.

Having just bought a brand new Genos, I have to be careful with expenditure, and
would only buy a good used example.
There are so many other gig related things that are indispensable when playing
professionally.

Best Regards.
Abby.

[beykock]

Hi Abby :

I wonder if the PA4X is really the one for you after so many years Yamaha experience and daily professional use.

Apparently you were happy with your Tyros3, right ?
It sounds like the Genos was not exactly what you were looking for.

The Korg PA4X is a complete other beast.
A very professional kb but it is not a plug-and-play arranger.

Nobody can tell you here if the Genos is better than the PA4X or the PA4X better than the Genos. They are different. That is a fact.
Some members have them both and explained the differences well, I guess.

All depends on your personal needs and expectations.
The best way to find out is to have a PA4X ( for approx. 2 weeks ) in your home.

Hopefully your dealer can help you out ?

Bye for now, Babette

[Pianoman]

Hi Abby :

I wonder if the PA4X is really the one for you

The Korg PA4X is a complete other beast.
A very professional kb but it is not a plug-and-play arranger.

Bye for now, Babette

Hello Babette.

I'm not sure that I'm really a plug and play kind of person.

I am very meticulous about knowing my keyboard and sometimes spend days tweaking
the keyboard, styles, effects, EQ,voices,registrations etc, before I am truly happy with it.

One would have to look at what I do with the keyboard, not the keyboard model.

In a previous thread about microphones, I believe that someone said that " a great
microphone in the hands of a mediocre singer will still produce a mediocre singer " or
something to that effect..

The same principle applies keyboards.
It's not about what keyboard you have,  it's what you do with it that counts.

I have heard music produced on the cheapest PSRs sound better than what is
being produced by players with TOTL keyboards.

Best Regards.

Abby.

[beykock]

I fully agree, Abby.
I really wonder what your arranger kb future will be.
Hope you will keep us posted.

Tomorrow it is the big day ... June 29, 2019.
Hopefully all Genos owners will be pleased the day after.

Babette

[DonM]

I have a feeling Genos  owners are going to be disappointed with the update.  Hope I'm wrong.
As for the difference in operating systems between Korg PA4X and Yamaha... yes they are totally different, but being completely comfortable with both, I much prefer the Korg OS. 
There are tons of styles available for the Korg, including many, many song styles.  Not as many as Yamaha, but I find so many duplicates in the Yamaha style collections that it is very hard to find what you need or want. 
In short I've been able to find every style I need on both brands.

[beykock]

Hi DonM :

Since you are working with both OS programs, I am very interested to know why you prefer Korg's OS ?

New to me. Never heard that here before. 🌴

Thanks, Babette

[valimaties]

(1)

Creating your own styles:
The korg pa4x can analyse your midi files to create a new style from it. The results are sometimes really good and sometimes really bad (depending on the midi file). There is a feature on the korg pa4x where you can import a style created in your daw, those results are always really good if you set the labels correctly in your midi file.

The yamaha Genos can create styles onboard by recording every element or by merging elements of styles to create a new version (assembly). This is a very easy proces (much easier then on a korg pa4x), so it's a breeze to create great new styles from elements of the thousends of styles available on a yamaha genos.

I think that for the majority of users the Yamaha genos way is the best way to do it, since it's so easy to do.

(2)
Combining both board will give you everything. I'm glad that i have both keyboards, it's not nessecary of course, but it's a lot of fun

1. Definitely, you have to study both Style Creator (Yamaha) and Style Recorder (Korg). Korg's Style Recorder has ALL the features Yamaha's Style Creator has, and has more 90% functionality build-in which Yamaha's SC does not have - transpose, export parts, different measure type for each style part, more than one measure for fills and break, (extra: you can tell which main loads after a fill is played), you can tell if fill starts immediately, or next measure, assembly function, and so on... A lot of functionality there. You can do a lot of job directly on your keyboard!
More than that, one BIG functionality, is that you can save all modified parameters in realtime, when you play a song

2. YES, well said. Those two arrangers are the best together, but really, I want to have my Genos's sound with most of Korg functionality, and I say about Style Creator, Voice Editor and Realtime saving functionality!Those are essential to an arranger!

Regards,
Vali

[DonM]

Hi DonM :

Since you are working with both OS programs, I am very interested to know why you prefer Korg's OS ?

New to me. Never heard that here before. 🌴

Thanks, Babette

Well you probably wouldn't expect to hear it here. 
The Songbook function is fantastic.  The Vocal Harmonizer and processor is the best in any arranger.  It rivals stand-along external units.
You can make edits, changes at any time, even while playing.
You can replace or reorder factory and user styles.  You can edit any style and save it, and then have your choice of the edited style or the original.
The Keyboard Sets (OTS) are much more versatile.
There are WAY more programmable sliders, buttons, etc. 
It takes a fairly inexpensive 5-switch foot controller, to which you can assign almost any functions.
It is quick and easy to pull up text, or other files, again, even while playing if needed.
There are a few things I prefer on the Yamaha, such as the easier access to USB styles, but not many.
It has a touch-strip in addition to the joystick.
It has a chord sequencer that works great and you can associate any sequences to a Songbook entry if you wish.
I could go on and on, but would still leave out many features.
Probably said too much already.  There is no right or wrong choice, just great options on both brands.