PA600 tutorial

[ronieaz]

Hello. New to this and all forums. I do a lot of photography and can find scads of tutorials/workshops on YouTube/Amazon to teach me about any camera/equipment or photography itself. Only thing I'm seeing on YouTube regarding my PA600 is, wow it makes a lot of sounds played by people with fast fingers, something I was not blessed with. I write my own songs and would like to record them for posterity.
Currently, I pick out my melody on the Maudio midi hooked to the macbookpro, then record into Sibelius to get the sheet music. I repeat the process until it sounds close to right. Then I use the written music, goto the Korg to figure out my chords using one finger. Find a style, tempo, alter instruments. Usually I go to QuickRecord for the accompaniment first then play it while recording the right hand. Dump it into Reason finally and may add a vocal.
I am looking for good tutorials on how to actually USE the functions and features of an arranger keyboard. The Korg video manual is basic and got me started.

[Sam CA]

Some of these might help you:

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... p?t=105253

There's even few references to notation software somewhere in there as well.

[tacman7]

The traditional use for an arranger keyboard was the live performer because it can provide all the backing needed.

Adding an arranger to a modern DAW setup opens up a myriad of possibilities.

Not really the mainstream use so not a lot of vids about it.

I send midi clock to the PA and sync it up so it can play along with the computer sequencer. Most important thing there is get to know the midi inputs and outputs in the global section. I've been able to do most everything I wanted to do by reading the manual and trying to understand how the machine functions and how it functions in relation to the computer sequencer.
Lot of things I deemed too much hassle after I figured out how to do them though.

Only thing I do now is write a song in Studio One then go to the PA and get it to compose me a bass part. (I send it whole note chords to guide the style) then I record the audio output into S1.
It also a good keyboard (input device) for playing VSTi's etc.

[ronieaz]

Thanks Tacman7 and SamCA for the comebacks.
In the case of SamCA - I guess I should be careful what I ask for. You sent me a lot of reading/watching.
Tacman, you said arrangers are mostly for performers - I didn't know that. I'm always seeing Rudess use a Kronos workstation that gets hooked to external sound systems. Maybe I should be looking for a workstation instead.

[nitecrawler]

Thanks Tacman7 and SamCA for the comebacks.
In the case of SamCA - I guess I should be careful what I ask for. You sent me a lot of reading/watching.
Tacman, you said arrangers are mostly for performers - I didn't know that. I'm always seeing Rudess use a Kronos workstation that gets hooked to external sound systems. Maybe I should be looking for a workstation instead.

If you go the workstation route, you will need to become a more accomplished player than using just one finger to figure out chords. unless, your music is more dance or DJ oriented. IMO

Traditional chord and melody based music can be more easily created using an arranger than a workstation if you are just learning. Music playing like photography takes practice and time with your equipment or instrument to become proficient. Since you already have the PA600, I would go with that for the time being and see how that pans out. Both arrangers and workstations can and are used by performers. Arrangers are used by "solo" performers more than in a band format with other musicians. It would be more difficult to use a workstation as a solo performer, but not impossible. Hope this helps.

[Sam CA]

...
If you go the workstation route, you will need to become a more accomplished player..

That's the keyword right there!

[tacman7]

I used to use the mo6 and then the mox6 because they have midi loops (phrases) built in but I get a lot more out of an arranger.

I'm a guitar player and a beginning keyboardist. I can play Snoopy song from Charlie Brown, just not very well and that ends my repertoire.