Korg starts shipping Pa5X once again... USA now getting a few too apparently.

[BogdanH]

Hi, I downloaded a AX10 manual , might appear to be similar to a Yamaha, not so sure   it is, Doesn't appear to have guitar mode. Didn't mention xg sounds only gm 2. Style structure looks similar, but, Doesn't mention anywhere it can load psr styles. Styles look like they are fully editable, but there's only about 280 , I think.  Does the mix n match of style tracks. 
Might not really be a replacement for a Yamaha, if it can't load Yamaha styles.  I'd want more than what it offers.

I don't now if Medeli has guitar mode (which is "nice to have") but one can make guitar accompaniment easy enough without it. That is, for me, it's not some decision factor. Similar for good old XG/GM2 voices: it's a feature on paper, which is very rarely used.
From what I know (one of the videos here), Medeli has a software which can translate Yamaha styles to Medeli.
If it would happen that my SX700 dies for whatever reason, then I would buy Medeli without even thinking twice. I think, it's currently the best featured midrange arranger: for only 800€ -imagine the price if it would have Yamaha logo on it.

...
In my case though, I'd happily been playing my sx900 for the last 3 years , but I wanted to upgrade. Had I known there was a new Yamaha on the horizon, I possibly would have waited instead of buying PA5x when I did....

-that sounds to me as you regret buying Pa5X... that you'd rather have (or wait for) non-existent keyboard that you know nothing about. Now I wish to understand: is it because you actually miss something (or don't like) on Pa5X, or is it because you think "next Genos" will be better than Pa5X?
I ask, because from what you said so far, I had impression that you're happy with Pa5X performance -keep in mind, that there will always be next new (usually better) keyboard on horizon.

Bogdan

[AndrewKeyz]

Finally arranged to get my exchange for the Pa5X btw in progress with Bonners. I was pretty happy with what they offered and that is mostly what matters in cases like that.

The exchange pretty much pays for (almost) two top of the range digital piano slabs I had been considering for a while. One I can use with the Genos and the other will mostly live in my studio desk drawer. If I get anywhere near the longevity I had from the Yamaha S80 (20 years) from either DP that will be excellent value.

I don't think I will spend over £2K on a single instrument again unless I am really sure I want it (a Yamaha Genos 2 would probably be the one). The Korg gamble was too big for me personally and taught me a big lesson.

And this whole notion of an all in one solution I'm not so sure worked well in the end. At least not for me.
Arranger + weighted action. I think it is perhaps somewhat flawed in its concept. Playing chords for the backing on the weighted action with the split point so high up seemed strange to me (sure you can adjust all such things but if things don't feel right out of the box that IS a problem somewhat I think).

If Yamaha takes no note of the Pa5X88 and instead just goes down the single 76 key FSX organ style keybed Genos 2, I think that is the best route actually for the majority of customers I reckon.

The Korg weighted Pa5X will absolutely be fine for some, I'm glad about that also. And also Korg doesn't have the CVP line either, so it perhaps makes more sense for them to produce it.

Moreover, always thought I wanted a CVP as well but it's not a right instrument for me either, after finally playing it in a store and thinking about how I would use it in reality.

I'd sooner have a cheaper keyboard and pre-program (with chord looper) or even pre-record the backing and THEN play piano, rather than trying to control things all with a single massive expensive machine.
And even with the weighted action route there are more affordable alternatives such as the DGX670.


I think the only way you could get me super interested in a top spec arranger with weighted that costs into the thousands of pounds would be if it were combined with a top of the range Kawai wooden action (so not this plastic emulation approach) and has 5-10 years onsite warranty.


It's interesting because we are sort of conditioned to always want more, but when you sometimes get everything (you think) you want, new unknown problems arise and you wished you stuck with something simpler which has better functionality that suits better.
I guess it is very similar to buying a top of the range car and having lots of irritating problems like the doors won't open easily or the electric windows won't go down. Etc.

[rikkisbears]

I don't now if Medeli has guitar mode (which is "nice to have") but one can make guitar accompaniment easy enough without it. That is, for me, it's not some decision factor. Similar for good old XG/GM2 voices: it's a feature on paper, which is very rarely used.
From what I know (one of the videos here), Medeli has a software which can translate Yamaha styles to Medeli.


-that sounds to me as you regret buying Pa5X... that you'd rather have (or wait for) non-existent keyboard that you know nothing about. Now I wish to understand: is it because you actually miss something (or don't like) on Pa5X, or is it because you think "next Genos" will be better than Pa5X?
I ask, because from what you said so far, I had impression that you're happy with Pa5X performance -keep in mind, that there will always be next new (usually better) keyboard on horizon.

Bogdan

Hi Bogdan,  unless I've got it wrong, ( which is quite possible) if Medeli doesn't have guitar mode, doesn't it take it back to Yamaha's sff1 era rather than sff2? Without  xg drum mapping even if there is a way of converting Yamaha styles to Medeli would they actually play back correctly , if drums aren't correctly mapped.   Haven't actually seen that particular video, so don't know what the translator does. The onboard style editing from what I read is really good. The only reason I mentioned the xg is, I used to convert my old psr styles across to my Korg pa800. I used to have to create xg mapped drum kits so that the styles would play back correctly. Fortunately pa3x onwards actually had xg mapped kits , so made things a lot easier.

No , I don't regret buying PA5X, my main keyboard has always been a Korg.
I used to just have a psr as a spare ,  hardly ever played them. I bought the sx900 when  when they came out and sold my Pa4x , Thought I'd have a few months break from Korg , ended up being years, (bad miscalculation on my behalf as to when new Korg would be released) 🙁.
I've really enjoyed playing sx900 ( still do). Hadn't really considered buying a top of the line Yamaha before.
I'd just been left a small inheritance and I wanted to buy something I could remember mum by. A new keyboard, when I play I think of her.
Basically had there been a new Genos announced I would have waited a few extra weeks/months , just to see if it might have suited. But as is, I bought my PA5x, definitely no regrets. 😀 Best of both worlds.

[AndrewKeyz]

I'd just been left a small inheritance and I wanted to buy something I could remember mum by. A new keyboard, when I play I think of her.

This is pretty special. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[BogdanH]

hi Rikki,
Thank you for complete explanation.. it helps me ti understand your thoughts about all this.
The way I see SFF1/SFF2... It's just Yamaha's solution to be able to implement new style features. I mean, Korg doesn't have SFF2, still one can do almost everything on it (one way or another). Guitar mode can sometimes make guitar strumming easier and so it's nice to have.. but as said, it can also be done without it. Actually, depending on result we wish, it can happen it's better to do it manually. And there's another problem with guitar mode: you can't listen the result while you're inside style creator.

I think, the main "problem" when going from midrange to TOTL keyboard is not "does it have this or that": we wish and expect it to have everything and it should also have features we don't even need. And it happens many times, that we realize.. it's just a keyboard .. it's not 3-times better than the one we had before.. and we become disappointed.

AndrewKeyz sumarized pretty well:

...I don't think I will spend over £2K on a single instrument again unless I am really sure I want it...

-I would maybe correct that with "..unless I am really sure I need it".

Best wishes .. and try to enjoy keyboard you have 
Bogdan

[rikkisbears]

This is pretty special. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Thank you Andrew😊

[rikkisbears]

hi Rikki,
Thank you for complete explanation.. it helps me ti understand your thoughts about all this.
The way I see SFF1/SFF2... It's just Yamaha's solution to be able to implement new style features. I mean, Korg doesn't have SFF2, still one can do almost everything on it (one way or another). Guitar mode can sometimes make guitar strumming easier and so it's nice to have.. but as said, it can also be done without it. Actually, depending on result we wish, it can happen it's better to do it manually. And there's another problem with guitar mode: you can't listen the result while you're inside style creator.

Best wishes .. and try to enjoy keyboard you have 
Bogdan

Hi Bogdan, I checked out some of the videos on that link. I think the one you may be referring to was no3. Sampling and Grand Suite.  Definitely does mention converting Yamaha styles, so maybe something along the lines of what EMC used to do , but better, according to him.  Possibly still requires an amount of tweaking to get them sounding good? Certainly is an impressive keyboard for the money.  Sounds like he is going to make his sound and style library available for Medeli in the future.  Surprised to see he already had a sample library for PA5x, plus all the stuff he has for sale for Yamaha keyboards.  I'd never come across him before. That Medeli vs Event video was the first I'd ever heard of him.

Actually styles that used guitar mode were a pain to convert across to Korg. Instead of just being able to change the .sty ( or whatever extension was used) to .mid, I actually had to record the style as a midi file in my psr or VArranger software. Took me a while to realise why it just wasn't sounding right. 😀

Think maybe guitar mode in Korg and Yamaha are different, I'm familiar with Korg's version, but  not so with Yamaha's. 

[rikkisbears]

Finally arranged to get my exchange for the Pa5X btw in progress with Bonners. I was pretty happy with what they offered and that is mostly what matters in cases like that.

The exchange pretty much pays for (almost) two top of the range digital piano slabs I had been considering for a while. One I can use with the Genos and the other will mostly live in my studio desk drawer. If I get anywhere near the longevity I had from the Yamaha S80 (20 years) from either DP that will be excellent value.

I don't think I will spend over £2K on a single instrument again unless I am really sure I want it (a Yamaha Genos 2 would probably be the one). The Korg gamble was too big for me personally and taught me a big lesson.

And this whole notion of an all in one solution I'm not so sure worked well in the end. At least not for me.
Arranger + weighted action. I think it is perhaps somewhat flawed in its concept. Playing chords for the backing on the weighted action with the split point so high up seemed strange to me (sure you can adjust all such things but if things don't feel right out of the box that IS a problem somewhat I think).

If Yamaha takes no note of the Pa5X88 and instead just goes down the single 76 key FSX organ style keybed Genos 2, I think that is the best route actually for the majority of customers I reckon.

The Korg weighted Pa5X will absolutely be fine for some, I'm glad about that also. And also Korg doesn't have the CVP line either, so it perhaps makes more sense for them to produce it.

Moreover, always thought I wanted a CVP as well but it's not a right instrument for me either, after finally playing it in a store and thinking about how I would use it in reality.

I'd sooner have a cheaper keyboard and pre-program (with chord looper) or even pre-record the backing and THEN play piano, rather than trying to control things all with a single massive expensive machine.
And even with the weighted action route there are more affordable alternatives such as the DGX670.

Hi Andrew, great that you finally got things sorted, you can put it behind you, and enjoy what you have now. Let's face it, we've probably all bought something we later regret. Which piano are you planning on using with your Genos ie are you going to use it as a controller for the Genos?
My original setup with Kawai es 920  and the sx900 worked really well. The es920 was fairly narrow , I was able to get the 2 keybeds so close together, it looked like a double manual  organ.  I could quite comfortably press the buttons on the sx from a sitting position.
Unfortunately can't do the same with PA5x unless I sacrifice paas speaker system, which I don't want to do.  Fortunately sx900 registration sequencer came to the rescue. No need to press the registration buttons constantly, just cycle through them with the foot pedal. My L shape setup now works.
I had also considered a cvp, and if my main aim had been to buy a piano that had arranger functions, I possibly would have bought the cvp it's a beautiful piece of furniture that would have looked nice in the living area, but, the arranger functions were more important to me, the 88 keys on the PA5x were a bonus. Meant I no longer needed the Kawai es920.
I tend to think you have the right set up for yourself now. A nice piano , and you just add whatever arranger suits, be it a Genos 2  in the future or even  what the next sx  may happen to be.
Enjoy 😀

[BogdanH]

...Definitely does mention converting Yamaha styles, ...  Possibly still requires an amount of tweaking to get them sounding good?
...
Actually styles that used guitar mode were a pain to convert across to Korg. ...
...
Think maybe guitar mode in Korg and Yamaha are different, I'm familiar with Korg's version, but  not so with Yamaha's.

-absolutely agree on all that: converting styles for another keyboard is never a straightforward process -if at all, then usually a lot of modifications are needed to be done (for style to actually sound good). That's to be expected, though... if it would be simple "copy/paste", then that would mean keyboards are equal -no progress in that case.

And now I am just thinking aloud here... If it happens I buy newer/better keyboard, why would I even bother to use old styles as they are? Why paying for new keyboard, if result will be the same as on old one? I mean, one of the reasons why I decide for better keyboard is to also have better sounding styles.
Of course, here's a difference between a hobby player and a professional. A professional player would probably wish more seamless crossover, so he can continue with his job. But sooner or later, he needs to make a big step anyway and ditch old styles. In sense, what's the point of buying Genos, if the music sounds like on 350€ Casio -I'm sure you get the point 

Bogdan

[Jeff Hollande]

Hey Bogdan :

Giggers are obliged to keep their " old song styles ".
They have no choice / alternative if they want to keep and please their audience.

JH

[BogdanH]

hi Jeff

Giggers are obliged to keep their " old song styles ".
They have no choice / alternative if they want to keep and please their audience.

Maybe I was misunderstood... of course you would wish to continue playing the "good old songs" that you usually play (that's what audience expect). But that doesn't mean one should keep using 20 years old styles for that. Why not? Because nowadays we can create styles which sound much more realistic than that was the case many years ago -every audience will notice and appreciate that.

Bogdan

[AndrewKeyz]

Hi Andrew, great that you finally got things sorted, you can put it behind you, and enjoy what you have now. Let's face it, we've probably all bought something we later regret. Which piano are you planning on using with your Genos ie are you going to use it as a controller for the Genos?
My original setup with Kawai es 920  and the sx900 worked really well. The es920 was fairly narrow , I was able to get the 2 keybeds so close together, it looked like a double manual  organ.  I could quite comfortably press the buttons on the sx from a sitting position.
Unfortunately can't do the same with PA5x unless I sacrifice paas speaker system, which I don't want to do.  Fortunately sx900 registration sequencer came to the rescue. No need to press the registration buttons constantly, just cycle through them with the foot pedal. My L shape setup now works.
I had also considered a cvp, and if my main aim had been to buy a piano that had arranger functions, I possibly would have bought the cvp it's a beautiful piece of furniture that would have looked nice in the living area, but, the arranger functions were more important to me, the 88 keys on the PA5x were a bonus. Meant I no longer needed the Kawai es920.
I tend to think you have the right set up for yourself now. A nice piano , and you just add whatever arranger suits, be it a Genos 2  in the future or even  what the next sx  may happen to be.
Enjoy 😀

Thanks Rikki,

I opted for the Yamaha CP88 in the end. There were quite a few other models I considered, including the Es920 and MP7SE. I tried probably about 20 pianos in the Milton Keynes Bonners store and the Yamaha actions (at least in the CVPs and CLPs they had were all usually fine so think the CP88 would be somewhat similar at least, I hope so anyway.

The plastic Kawai actions were pretty good and the wooden ones amazing as I found before. The only thing I found somewhat weird about the Kawais (ES920 and CA99) was I had to look for the volume control. Not necessarily obvious places to me. Not a big deal but I have never had that before sitting behind a DP and searching for that. Just thought that was funny.

The plastic Kawai action in the Nord Grand made that Nord instrument much better than compared to say a Nord Piano 5 that was also on display (straight above it actually - making comparison easy) but Nord seems to have added a fake notchy feel at the bottom of the keybed (ES920 didn't have that). It seemed weird to me and not something I am familiar with on real pianos. My U1 doesn't have this as far as I can tell. Maybe more like you are playing an old piano or so. Just thought that was strange.
Also due to the height of the Nord Grand and MP7SE (won't fit in the desk drawer) they weren't contenders. ES920 might have been ok but just thought the Yamaha CP88 possibly has the edge for me over the simple control and metal build quality. Can't say anything about the keybed as they didn't have that Yamaha or even a P515 on display but have heard relatively good things.

The advantage with the CP88 is it will fit in my studio desk drawer if it is only used as a VST controller / occasional piano once I get the second Digital Piano to use with the Genos. I have read the CP keybed action is maybe a bit hard but at least not as sluggish when compared to the Roland RD2000 (I did find this indeed somewhat sluggish myself on my unit. I could have continued with that action to be fair but really didn't like how the Roland worked).
From observation in videos the CP88 seems really simple and I usually love the Yamaha sounds so I think it should be ok.

I also have the Kawai MP11SE on backorder (stock expected in August) but if something better comes out at NAMM I can probably still change it.

I am thinking of getting the K&M 18950 stand for the CP88 / MP11SE with 18952 Stacker for the Genos / Genos 2.
I will try to get it quite lowish like you mentioned.
I think it will be a decent setup.

Looking forward to it anyway.

[Jeff Hollande]

Hey Bogdan :

Lee B has a lot of gigger's experience, he is the right man to tell us his opinion.

IMHO the audience wants to hear very good live covers of the original songs and ... a perfect sound.
The audience wants to dance, sing, drink, eat and have fun together that evening.
These people do not care about new and old styles, arrangers, technique etc.
They only want to hear good music, a great singer and meet a perfect entertainer.


Best wishes, JH

[BogdanH]

hi Jeff,
I see no post from Lee B here in this thread.. but yes, everyone is entitled to his opinion.

Greetings,
Bogdan

[rikkisbears]

Thanks Rikki,

I opted for the Yamaha CP88 in the end. There were quite a few other models I considered, including the Es920 and MP7SE.

Hi Andrew, nice. Had a look on the Yammie website.  More professional looking than my es920 was.  I had mine set up in living room originally, so I had the optional piano stand so it looked like a piece of furniture. Eventually moved it to my music room and stacked sx900 over the top.
Must admit my preference is Yamaha piano's . I read one too many reviews on the p515 that said it had a heavy action, so it put me off, and I bought es920. When you can't try them in real life you're dependent on reviews.   Then one of the guys on Korg forum said PA5x had a heavier action than the p515, (and personally I don't mind the PA5x action). Can't win, P515 probably would have been perfect. Oh well, mute point now.😀
Let us know how you go with your cp 88😀

[rikkisbears]

And now I am just thinking aloud here... If it happens I buy newer/better keyboard, why would I even bother to use old styles as they are? Why paying for new keyboard, if result will be the same as on old one? I mean, one of the reasons why I decide for better keyboard is to also have better sounding styles.
Of course, here's a difference between a hobby player and a professional. A professional player would probably wish more seamless crossover, so he can continue with his job. But sooner or later, he needs to make a big step anyway and ditch old styles. In sense, what's the point of buying Genos, if the music sounds like on 350€ Casio -I'm sure you get the point 

Bogdan

Hi Bogdan, tend to agree with you on that one. I have about 300 to 400 old Yamaha factory styles ( spent the first 3 weeks sorting thru about 5,000 of them, deleting duplicates 🤪, then I sorted thru about 3,000 Korg styles ended up with just over 1,000.  Am I ever going to use them, maybe a couple of dozen or so.
I basically have a process, first choice is an onboard factory style. If not totally suitable  I use style assembly  to alter it. If that's not an option , I go thru the old styles in my data base to see if I can find one that works and tweak it or do a mix n match of old and new.
For Korg I basically do the same thing  , Korg does lack a few styles (type of style)that I use a lot in the sx900, those I'll end up converting or do a mix n match of Korg with some Yamaha tracks.
I don't really use the factory intro's much anymore, except for count in , to me it sounds a bit strange using the same intro for 10 different songs, yet,  for many years when I was able to actually audition a keyboard, instead of having to buy off the internet,  that was the first thing I used to do, play thru all the intro's. Gave one the false idea that the keyboard had a heap of new styles, whereas in actual fact , a lot of the time it was basically the same style , just a new intro😞.

No comment on what pro's may or may not do, got myself into trouble on another forum with that. Haha😁
My lips are sealed.🤫

[BogdanH]

Hi Rikki,
Yes, I think that many of us went trough all this, by trying to sort out the styles & voices that we find as most usable (or maybe usable in future). It's very time consuming process and at least for the styles, I often ask myself if it's really worth. I mean, when I decide to start with some new song, among those hundreds of styles, none sounds the way I wish -which is to be expected, of course.
So yes, onboard styles are my first choice too when playing just for fun and they are also usable in "emergency" situations. But if I decide to "adopt" some particular song, then the only solution is custom made style -because I wish it to sound the way "my band" plays it (my band is not the best, but it is unique and that's important for me).

Professional musicians.. well, I am a hobby/amateur player and so I have certain freedom which pro's don't always have. For example, they need relative big repertoire of songs available at any time and so they can't just switch to new keyboard and start gigging -because new styles can't be made (or converted) over the night.
Other than that.. my lips are sealed too

Greetings,
Bogdan

[rikkisbears]

👍

[robinez]

i've also ordered a pa5x 76 keys in holland in july 2022. Mine was delivered last friday (april 7 2023).

I also have the Yamaha Genos and lot's of experience with the korg pa4x, so it was rather easy to find the features on the pa5x that i would wanted to use.

I've spent now around 8 hours on the pa5x and had zero problems. Things i have tested:

- Adding songs to my songbook
- Adding sounds to the user area
- Programming new sounds in the synthesizer engine (on oscillator level)
- Created new songs based on Midi files
- Revoiced those midi files on the pa5x in the edit mode
- Changed existing styles and stored them as user styles
- Created new styles by copying an existing styles and then use the copy feature of specific elements from other styles (like for instance the drum and bass programming from one style to another)
- Reprogrammed the effects in a song in parameter mode, for instance creating a Cirrus type reverb in overb by setting large spaces and LFO on the Sustain of the reverb
- Created a Custom controller section
- Used MP3 files for backing tracks and stored them in the songbook
- removed the voice with the included voice killer from an audio song
- Imported my own programmed sounds from the PA4x and my own keyboard sets from the pa4x
- setup new user areas for the styles and keyboard sets

And a lot more.

Now i've read lot's of horror stories online, but maybe i'm lucky but until now i had zero Problems in OS 1.10.

Tomorrow i will import some of my own sample libraries and see how that goes.

but for now, i'm really impressed with the pa5x.

[rikkisbears]

Hi ,
congratulations.
Must admit I haven't found too much I haven't been able to do , either.
I don't have any old sample libraries, so not something I've tried.
Only thing I am extremely careful with is using the import/export as .mid  file function.  It can cause a crash. Happened twice. I think I know exactly what caused mine to crash. So not repeating it😀.

Enjoy, be interested to know how you go with your samples.

[Tommy 73]

PA5X
Avoid importing and working with stereo samples.

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=127774

[musicman01]

Hello Robinez,
i share your opinion!!
No problems here either, just a bit of searching.
Most likely a lot of hearsay reactions, but there is also a lot of disinformation in between!!
Korg will fix the missing features in the next release(s) as well as bugs if they are bugs.
PS: the dual style player is a great feature that a real musician can do amazing things with!

[rikkisbears]

PA5X
Avoid importing and working with stereo samples.

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=127774

Hi Tommy, noticed the date on that post, it precedes the update towards end of last year.
I don't know if the problem was fixed as I haven't used the sample function.
Antony does have his sampled piano for sale, plus some other instruments.
Some samples obviously work quite well, but, whether or not the problem he reported
back then has been fixed,I really don't know.

[JohnS (Ugawoga)]

Hi
I just cannot understand why so many are taken in by the Korg PAX5

Everything looks over crowded to me.
There is too many unanswered questions for me also and people talking about Mp3's is a definte no for me as wave files are easily the best.
From what i am reading is that the Genos is still far superior.
I say wait for a new Genos or will a new arranger from Yamaha which incorporates the Montage and Genos appear. Synth and workstation 
The Montagene create samples,intelligent stylemaker,seamless switching, fills on demand,monster hard drive with a must have coffee dispenser That would perc us all up

[robinez]

Hi
I just cannot understand why so many are taken in by the Korg PAX5

Everything looks over crowded to me.
There is too many unanswered questions for me also and people talking about Mp3's is a definte no for me as wave files are easily the best.
From what i am reading is that the Genos is still far superior.
I say wait for a new Genos or will a new arranger from Yamaha which incorporates the Montage and Genos appear. Synth and workstation 
The Montagene create samples,intelligent stylemaker,seamless switching, fills on demand,monster hard drive with a must have coffee dispenser That would perc us all up

well, i have the genos and the pa5x next to eachother and the Genos is a fantastic instrument when you just want to play your songs.

I have also a Korg keyboard because i wanted to do a lot more on the keyboard itself and the Korg Pax series is the only keyboard that can deliver to me from what i expect from a keyboard. And the Pa5x is a huge step forwards from the pa4x. I've also seen the videos on youtube and most of them don't show what it really can do in my opinion.

For instance:
- the new touch screen is very responsive
- there are new styles and sounds
- they have taken sounds from the Korg Kronos, Nautilus and SV2 (the Austrian Grand is absolutely fantastic and the Electric pianos are the best i ever heared in a keyboard)
- there is a fantastic synthesizer on board where you can program your own sounds, it support subtractive synthesis, wave sequencing and custom samples up till 8 gigabyte)
- there is unlimited space for songs and styles
- you have 64 pads for your own samples or patterns like for instance acappella's, audio loops, addon sounds, drum kits, etc (4 banks of 16).

- you can also use 16 pads for muting every channel whenever you like during play, there are short cuts for soloing channels in your style or midi file, you can mute multiple channels or unsolo them with one button press. This is a very powerful feature when performing live because you have a lot of influence on your style that way
- you can assign lot's of realtime edit controls (including sound editting features) to every channel on the faders and knobs on the left side, you can switch between several modes which gives you up till 5*18 realtime controls -> 90 controls during your performance
- you can use two players in sync at the same time, this allows you to seamlessly mashups between your songs or create 16 channel styles by mix and matching 2 styles together
- the effect section is enhanced, you have a lot of effect slots available now for your two styles at the same time

- a lot of the High end Korg kronos effects are also in the keyboard, you can modify them now with a Graphical interface or go really in depth in the parameter section to program them completely at your will
- you can switch to manual bass if you like with one button press
- you can kill the vocal in a backing track
- the chord sequencer can be programmed in realtime during the play session
- and i can go on for hours, it's absolutely amazing once you dive into the possibilities

Most of these things can't be found in the online videos. I have no idea why people don't use them in their videos, this is where korg really shines.

And it's really easy now to create your own songs on it, for instance this morning i wanted to program the song: above and beyond - Don't leave
That didn't took long, what i did:
- first i programmed a new piano in the new sound edit mode in the synthesizer (so programming the oscillators, ADSR, filters, etc). It has that dark flavor of the original piano in the song now
- then i programmed a large reverb model in the Overb
- next was creating the choir in the synthesizer and add that to the piano in a new keyboard set.
- then i copied one of the Free Styles and replaced and modified some of the elements in the assembly mode of the style editor

That was all i had to do and it could all be done on the pa5x itself.

So that's mainly the reason why i really like the korg pax series. I do like the Genos also, but i wouldn't call it superior over the korg pax series. My opinion is the opposite to be true.

[BogdanH]

hi Robinez,
Thank you for pointing out some of the Pa5X features that I'm also interested on. And then there's personal opinion which, although subjective, IS important for me.

Bogdan

[Tommy 73]

Hi Tommy, noticed the date on that post, it precedes the update towards end of last year.
I don't know if the problem was fixed as I haven't used the sample function.
Antony does have his sampled piano for sale, plus some other instruments.
Some samples obviously work quite well, but, whether or not the problem he reported
back then has been fixed,I really don't know.

You might be right as I see the author of that post is now selling his sample libraries for PA5X which could suggest it has?... to speed the answer up to this question I have posted directly on the authors thread and will report back pending an update with correct answer...

[Tommy 73]

You might be right as I see the author of that post is now selling his sample libraries for PA5X which could suggest it has?... to speed the answer up to this question I have posted directly on the authors thread and will report back pending an update with correct answer...

The answer is > "nope , I tried the same 20sec sample after latest OS and still the same issue !"

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=127879&start=15&sid=fc308e49f985dd91e05ae8220f750b12
_________________

[rikkisbears]

The answer is > "nope , I tried the same 20sec sample after latest OS and still the same issue !"

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=127879&start=15&sid=fc308e49f985dd91e05ae8220f750b12
_________________

Hi Tommy,

find it all a bit confusing, Antony has managed to create these amazing sample libraries for PA5x

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=127879

Yet there's a problem with the sampling?

Some of his stuff  is so tempting ☺️

There is definitely the odd bug left in the system that the last update didn't fix, and will no doubt be fixed in the future.  But unless it's a bug that affects a feature that you use, you wouldn't even know about it.
I've come across a few,   I've worked my way around them. They haven't stopped me enjoying my keyboard. I'm putting together a songbook, recording chord loops, editing styles. Playing my sx900 styles via PA5x keys.
I've been enjoying my PA5x for the last 6 months or so.  It just got a bit too ridiculous over on the Korg forum , when people who didn't own one , or never had any intention of buying one , were  complaining about the keyboard and bagging it. One dared not say anything good about it .

Haven't found that sort of reaction amongst the Yamaha devotees, who are very loyal to the brand even when there might be the odd problem here or there. Much more pleasant place to be😄.

[robinez]

Hi Tommy,

find it all a bit confusing, Antony has managed to create these amazing sample libraries for PA5x

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=127879

Yet there's a problem with the sampling?

Some of his stuff  is so tempting ☺️

There is definitely the odd bug left in the system that the last update didn't fix, and will no doubt be fixed in the future.  But unless it's a bug that affects a feature that you use, you wouldn't even know about it.
I've come across a few,   I've worked my way around them. They haven't stopped me enjoying my keyboard. I'm putting together a songbook, recording chord loops, editing styles. Playing my sx900 styles via PA5x keys.
I've been enjoying my PA5x for the last 6 months or so.  It just got a bit too ridiculous over on the Korg forum , when people who didn't own one , or never had any intention of buying one , were  complaining about the keyboard and bagging it. One dared not say anything good about it .

Haven't found that sort of reaction amongst the Yamaha devotees, who are very loyal to the brand even when there might be the odd problem here or there. Much more pleasant place to be😄.

Well said, i totally agree.

That's why I always want to experience things myself, to see if it's really that bad. And to be honest, that whole issue list on korg forums, i can't reproduce almost none of them.

That doesn't mean that the pa5x is flawless. Somethings are still missing like:
- create new bank in the user sound area
- import of soundfonts (it's mentioned as supported in the manual)

But these are just two things. I've started testing the sample features. For now it works really good. I have all my sample library projects in samplerobot 6 pro, so it's just a matter of loading the project and export it in korg kronos kmp format. The KSF files can be imported in a multisample on the pa5x and saved to the internal memory. Then add a new sound with 2 oscillators and assign your Left and Right Multisample to those oscs and do some programming for the sound itself. It's very easy to do and until know it works really good.

I didn't find yet a possibility to create a sound package on the pa5x itself, like selecting your new programmed sound and export it with the multisamples included in your internal memory. I saw that it's possible to export multisamples from the internal memory manually by selecting a multisample and select the export button, but if i recall correctly there was an option on the pa4x to save the sounds including the user samples.

Do you know how to do this on the pa5x?