PA800, PA2x, PA500 Soundchip.

chelsea9075 · Post by **chelsea9075** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:46 pm

Hi,
I've just bought a second hand PA800 in perfect condition for £1,000 from a U.K. dealer and I'm absolutely over the moon with it. The sounds are amazing. I also have a Tyros2.
Can any of the forum members explain this to me. The PA800 came out about October 2006. The PA2X came out 12 months later, cost £800 more yet still only has the same sound chip as the PA800. Can this be right ? We are constantly being told how fast technology evolves. I would have assumed that as the PA2X was one year on, it would have had sounds that set it apart from the PA800. I can understand the PA500 having the same sound chip as the PA800. The technology always finds it's way into the lower models in the range. The S900 has many things from the Tyros2, for less money.
I am and always will be a great fan of Korg keyboards. But have to admit that I wasn't quite as blown away with the PA2X as I thought I would be. I would like to hear what other members feel about this.
Sorry if my first post is controversial, I don't mean to offend anyone.
Chris

Pa2x · Post by **Pa2x** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:54 am

I agree, Here in Au pa800 you can buy for $3200 brand new, and pa2x pro for just under $6000 new, big difference in price, but not a big difference when you compare them

Ah well, i was gonna get pa800 but that colour and plastic case, and keys i just said no.

But Again i am sure that bit of metal and better keys dont cost $3000 but i still paid for it !

No good Korg, no good.

unleashed_project · Post by **unleashed_project** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:55 am

To me its worth payin the extra even thoo its how many months later, because its such a professional keyboard. U have 76 keys that feel beter then the pa 800 , U have the moving screen. and all those Sliders that the pa800 does not have. I dont have any of these keyboards but i just think its worth the price which i am going to get one after i save a few bucks. ive been researching alot lately and i find the pa 2x is amazing.

galettouille · Post by **galettouille** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:38 am

Don't forget the price of the Mp3 board, included in the PA2x, and the 128Mo sample RAM.

reneNL · Post by **reneNL** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:16 pm

.... and the harddisk that`s standard with the PA2.

But still I agree with Chris that there has not been any change or improvement on the Soundchip. Still, I don´t have the technical knowledge whether this is necessary.

But, if you compare the sound of PA1X (2004) with PA2 (end 2007), just with your ears, there´s very less difference (in fact some multisamples even fail).

Considering sound, Tyros 2 also wasn´t a great step compared to Tyros 1.

I was expecting Roland would have a follow-up for their G70.....

unleashed_project · Post by **unleashed_project** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:31 pm

ive never played anythin else besides korg i love there style of keyboards, Its so easy to use and user friendly. Everything from touch screens to the engines they got. Ive seen other arangers and never really liked them. Im in love with korg stuff das bout it lol

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:56 pm

chelsea9075 wrote:Can any of the forum members explain this to me. The PA800 came out about October 2006. The PA2X came out 12 months later, cost £800 more yet still only has the same sound chip as the PA800. Can this be right ? We are constantly being told how fast technology evolves.

One misconception many people have is assuming the rate of change in personal computer technology applies to ALL technology. This simply is not true. The personal computer industry sells products in the tens of millions each year, where the electronic music industry sells products in the tens of thousands.

Most likely the sound chip in the PA800/PA2X is a chip custom designed by Korg, which means the operating system and software has been designed around this chip, and which also means would be very expensive to replace so quickly.

umanid · Post by **umanid** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:56 am

Well said MartinHines. I'll completely agree to it. We just cant compare computers with keyboards. But then again, if we go back some 14-15 years, korg started with i3 being a top arranger in those times. Now, starting from i3 to pa2x pro, they have totally revolutionised what they offered 15 years ago. Having said that, while comparing Pa800 & Pa2xpro, the chip might be the same, but they offer you an mp3 board, a hard disk, a powered touch screen and onboard sliders. I personally believe that Korg have done a hats off stuff in the past & is contonuing to do at present, rest assure that OS problems n stuff. They will eventually be catered by Korg many times soon.

Vangelismusic · Post by **Vangelismusic** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:23 am

Well, there are many good keyboards out there from General Music, Lionstracs,Ketron,Yamaha,Wersi etc; although I have most of these brands that I mentioned I recently bought the PA800 not just because it has the sounds but it is portable and here in Greece it has very big support, going with a keyboard that is lighter, I have to sacrifice better case,more sliders, more sample RAM(although I wish KORG would upgrade the RAM),hard drive etc; also I see that companies are finally waking up and making more oriental models available as they see that there is a big demand.

-Vangelis V
GREECE

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:06 am

Yes, there is VERY BIG difference between PA800 and PA2X only ignorants
would say no but that doesnt mean you have to buy it, it all deppends on
your needs and budget, if you can afford it then buy it. There has to be a
difference, otherwise people are not stupid for KORG too fool them with the
same machine for 1000EU more.

unleashed_project · Post by **unleashed_project** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:52 am

nicely said nedim, i totally agree. If u can afford it you should go for it. In my opnion wouldnt get a pa800 and would just save enuff to get the pa2x das my personall opinion

erikfox · Post by **erikfox** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:32 am

[hi buddy...

i also have a tyros2,i wanna change it for pa2xpro...what do u think?is it a good idea?

regards

erik

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:35 am

Depends on what kind of music you are playing, if you are an Orientalist
forget T2 but if you are into Western music then stay with Tyros 2.

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:05 pm

erikfox wrote:i also have a tyros2,i wanna change it for pa2xpro...what do u think?is it a good idea?

Hi Erik,

My personal view:

I prefer the sounds and styles on the Pa1x compared with those on the Tyros 2. I also find the user interface on the Pa1x easier to manage than the Tyros 2 when playing live. The Pa2x preserves the same user interface, and will be the next "step up" for me once the present OS reliability problems are fixed. The extra sample RAM and SSD space, and the dual MP3 capability, USB pen drive interfaces and the extra controls for vocal harmony will be useful. Also there is sufficent space for new versions of the OS to be developed over time, whereas the Pa1x has hit the limit (SSD memory space) of OS expansion and so there very low possibility of "guitar mode" being added for example. However, I need the new OS for the Pa2x to be released (it's imminent) to fix the present SSD memory corruption fault when sampling. So, if you buy a Pa2x now, you should avoid loading, or creating user samples.

If my present keyboard was a Tyros 2 and I needed sampling capability, (e.g. when you load new user sounds you are loading new samples!) then I would not exchange it for a Pa2x until the new OS is released and installed. I would wait to make sure the new OS is stable and reliable.

greenkidd · Post by **greenkidd** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:05 pm

Rob Sherratt wrote:
erikfox wrote:i also have a tyros2,i wanna change it for pa2xpro...what do u think?is it a good idea?
Hi Erik,

My personal view:

I prefer the sounds and styles on the Pa1x compared with those on the Tyros 2. I also find the user interface on the Pa1x easier to manage than the Tyros 2 when playing live. The Pa2x preserves the same user interface, and will be the next "step up" for me once the present OS reliability problems are fixed. The extra sample RAM and SSD space, and the dual MP3 capability, USB pen drive interfaces and the extra controls for vocal harmony will be useful. Also there is sufficent space for new versions of the OS to be developed over time, whereas the Pa1x has hit the limit (SSD memory space) of OS expansion and so there very low possibility of "guitar mode" being added for example. However, I need the new OS for the Pa2x to be released (it's imminent) to fix the present SSD memory corruption fault when sampling. So, if you buy a Pa2x now, you should avoid loading, or creating user samples.

If my present keyboard was a Tyros 2 and I needed sampling capability, (e.g. when you load new user sounds you are loading new samples!) then I would not exchange it for a Pa2x until the new OS is released and installed. I would wait to make sure the new OS is stable and reliable.

Hey Rob

I found your comments interesting regarding SSD. I was wondering about the possibility that the PA800 might not have available space in memory for the development of future features. Can you elaborate on the SSD aspect? What is the current ratio of SSD that has been used up in v1.51?

thanks
Brian

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