Hi evereyone, I´m new here.
I would like to read opinions (reviews)
on how the M3 88 XPanded keybed feels.
because it looks like a very interesting option to me.
I´m not able to play this workstation in my country (Argentina)
because the shops doesn´t have units to show to the public (all packed)
and are reluctant to open them because of the few selling!
So I have no idea of how feels its action and this topic is very important to me.
Does it really feels like a grand?
I only have been able to play SP250 (RH3 action, seems to be on the heavy side)
and Triton Extreme(but honestly I did not like its action, RH2 right?
feels too plastic to me)
How is it compared with fantom8 action?
Korg SP 250 and M3 88 XPanded action feels the same?
¿Can anybody help with this?
Thanks in advance.
Ed
Korg M3 Xpanded - keybed - action feel
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
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soniccream
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 10:17 pm
Korg M3 Xpanded - keybed - action feel
Last edited by soniccream on Tue May 12, 2009 8:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hey, saludos desde Argentina tambien!
I have been waiting for my M3 for a month and a half now, and it seems I am in for another two weeks of waiting. I have done the same thing, tried the SP250 (which I loved!) to decide on my purchase. The action on the SP250 was one of the best from the keyboards I tried (and I tried mostly everything that could be tried in here!), and I found the SP250 very musical on the key-to-sound department...
This is highly subjective, of course! But I can tell you that I do mostly solo piano stuff, and tend to consider myself a pianist more than a keyboard player, and the SP250 was absolute joy for me. The other action that I really liked was by Yamaha... But then again, I also bought a Kuzweil SPX2 that I was not convinced on (the action is too hard and too springy IMO) and adapted in a few days to playing there. I think it actually improved my technique a bit, to try be precise and balanced on that keyboard...
Unfortunately, I am in the same situation as yourself regarding M3!! So there is not much that I can do. What I can tell you is that everyone is *out of stock*, to my knowledge, on 88 note M3s. That is why no one is showing you one, or effering to open a box , even if you are serious about buying!! You can check with the importer to see when their stock is updated at:
http://www.importmusic.com.ar/asp/publi ... ampo1=KORG
Right now it lists the M3 88 as shipping in 15 days, but has been like that for 15 days already and will be like that still for a while (so they tell me, some delays with the importation apparently)
If you call them when they get the M3s, they will tell you which stores purchased the 88 version (they told me when I asked over a month ago, but no store had one to buy) so you can go there and flash some money at them telling you are interested. Just bear in mind that if they tell you that Daiam bought one, that one is mine and will be gone when you try to test it!!
So, just get in touch with Import Music when the stock renews, I had no luck getting my hands on one but new units should be entrering the country in 10 days.
Good luck with your purchase!!
Juan Miguel
I have been waiting for my M3 for a month and a half now, and it seems I am in for another two weeks of waiting. I have done the same thing, tried the SP250 (which I loved!) to decide on my purchase. The action on the SP250 was one of the best from the keyboards I tried (and I tried mostly everything that could be tried in here!), and I found the SP250 very musical on the key-to-sound department...
This is highly subjective, of course! But I can tell you that I do mostly solo piano stuff, and tend to consider myself a pianist more than a keyboard player, and the SP250 was absolute joy for me. The other action that I really liked was by Yamaha... But then again, I also bought a Kuzweil SPX2 that I was not convinced on (the action is too hard and too springy IMO) and adapted in a few days to playing there. I think it actually improved my technique a bit, to try be precise and balanced on that keyboard...
Unfortunately, I am in the same situation as yourself regarding M3!! So there is not much that I can do. What I can tell you is that everyone is *out of stock*, to my knowledge, on 88 note M3s. That is why no one is showing you one, or effering to open a box , even if you are serious about buying!! You can check with the importer to see when their stock is updated at:
http://www.importmusic.com.ar/asp/publi ... ampo1=KORG
Right now it lists the M3 88 as shipping in 15 days, but has been like that for 15 days already and will be like that still for a while (so they tell me, some delays with the importation apparently)
If you call them when they get the M3s, they will tell you which stores purchased the 88 version (they told me when I asked over a month ago, but no store had one to buy) so you can go there and flash some money at them telling you are interested. Just bear in mind that if they tell you that Daiam bought one, that one is mine and will be gone when you try to test it!!
So, just get in touch with Import Music when the stock renews, I had no luck getting my hands on one but new units should be entrering the country in 10 days.
Good luck with your purchase!!
Juan Miguel
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soniccream
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 10:17 pm
Hey Juan Miguel!
Gracias por tu respuesta.
Yes, I´m serious about getting one, but...
I´ve been looking around last friday,
I called the import store but also they were reluctant to open one, even if they had had stock.
they suggested some shop names but as said no one had the M3 Xpanded.
Please stay in touch, I really would appreciate your opinion on this!
Gracias por tu respuesta.
Yes, I´m serious about getting one, but...
I´ve been looking around last friday,
I called the import store but also they were reluctant to open one, even if they had had stock.
they suggested some shop names but as said no one had the M3 Xpanded.
Please stay in touch, I really would appreciate your opinion on this!
Hey!
Import Music doesn't really handle customers, they just have an office, so they will never show you a product. You can buy from them, in the sense that if you have money they give you a box with the product inside, but nothing more.
Daiam actually had a 61 key version, but not anymore. I know for a fact that when they get my 88 (I bought it from them), they will also get a 61 again. The guy that is in charge of keyboards is pretty cool, and when I asked for an 88 he offered me to play with the 61 they had in the deposit (which I did!). Because the 88 is taking SO LONG to arrive, the guy gave me the 61 version (I have it next to me now) for now, and I will make the change when the 88 arrives. So, no 61 on their deposit for a few days either... No one else offered to let me try a 61 version (let alone bring it home), so I bought from the only sensible person that showed me the thing that I wanted to purchase. I can let you know when I get my 88 so you can test the 61 over at Daiam if you wish...
The machine is great, but I am not actually playing with it much, because I will not keep it and want to keep it as pristine as possible, so I play it via MIDI. I don't even want to touch buttons much, so I have it plugged into the computer and use the M3 software to change presets.
When I get the 88 I will let you know how it feels, but since it's the same action, it should not be any different to the SP250. You can always pick the route of a controller + M3 module also... I really wanted an M-Audio keyboard, becaused they seemed like great value, but disliked the keys... The idea od having a less expensive keyboard to carry if I just want a piano was attractive, so I got a Kurzweil instead, but I had an SP250 for less than a week before deciding on the Kurz.
Regarding Fantom, I never played one, but I have an XV88 from Roland that I am replacing with the M3 now, and I prefer the RH3 action more. I thought my XV88 would be impossible to match, but came to realize I prefer both Korg's action (on the SP250) and Yamaha's... Again, just my preference, of course, and I *loved* the action on the XV88 when I got it. Maybe I just needed a change? Now I just want to sell it, even if it's really cheap...
Anyway, I'll ley you know when I get my M3.
In the mean time, no one with an M3 88 cares to comment on the action?
¡Un abrazo!
Import Music doesn't really handle customers, they just have an office, so they will never show you a product. You can buy from them, in the sense that if you have money they give you a box with the product inside, but nothing more.
Daiam actually had a 61 key version, but not anymore. I know for a fact that when they get my 88 (I bought it from them), they will also get a 61 again. The guy that is in charge of keyboards is pretty cool, and when I asked for an 88 he offered me to play with the 61 they had in the deposit (which I did!). Because the 88 is taking SO LONG to arrive, the guy gave me the 61 version (I have it next to me now) for now, and I will make the change when the 88 arrives. So, no 61 on their deposit for a few days either... No one else offered to let me try a 61 version (let alone bring it home), so I bought from the only sensible person that showed me the thing that I wanted to purchase. I can let you know when I get my 88 so you can test the 61 over at Daiam if you wish...
The machine is great, but I am not actually playing with it much, because I will not keep it and want to keep it as pristine as possible, so I play it via MIDI. I don't even want to touch buttons much, so I have it plugged into the computer and use the M3 software to change presets.
When I get the 88 I will let you know how it feels, but since it's the same action, it should not be any different to the SP250. You can always pick the route of a controller + M3 module also... I really wanted an M-Audio keyboard, becaused they seemed like great value, but disliked the keys... The idea od having a less expensive keyboard to carry if I just want a piano was attractive, so I got a Kurzweil instead, but I had an SP250 for less than a week before deciding on the Kurz.
Regarding Fantom, I never played one, but I have an XV88 from Roland that I am replacing with the M3 now, and I prefer the RH3 action more. I thought my XV88 would be impossible to match, but came to realize I prefer both Korg's action (on the SP250) and Yamaha's... Again, just my preference, of course, and I *loved* the action on the XV88 when I got it. Maybe I just needed a change? Now I just want to sell it, even if it's really cheap...
Anyway, I'll ley you know when I get my M3.
In the mean time, no one with an M3 88 cares to comment on the action?
¡Un abrazo!
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Rob Sherratt
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4590
- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:49 pm
I have the M3/73. For me, the key action is too light and very springy, but this is a subjective thing. I also have the Pa2x Pro which has a 76 note Fatar keybed. I prefer the heavier and less springy action on the Pa2x Pro - so I MIDI the two keyboards up and play the Pa2x keybed most of the time.
I do know that the M3/88 comes with a very nice weighted keybed and so long as you don't need to transport it very often, that may be the best option for you. I would like to purchase a separate M3-88 keybed without the module, but this is not an option Korg wish to provide, according to JerrytheK who is Korg's marketing manager in the USA.
Over at www.karma-labs.com there is a register of all M3 owners (maintained by Stephen Kay) and you can download Stephen's spreadsheet to see everyone who owns an M3-88. You could also post a question on that forum under the M3 -> General section, and I'm sure you will get lots of replies.
Best regards,
Rob
I do know that the M3/88 comes with a very nice weighted keybed and so long as you don't need to transport it very often, that may be the best option for you. I would like to purchase a separate M3-88 keybed without the module, but this is not an option Korg wish to provide, according to JerrytheK who is Korg's marketing manager in the USA.
Over at www.karma-labs.com there is a register of all M3 owners (maintained by Stephen Kay) and you can download Stephen's spreadsheet to see everyone who owns an M3-88. You could also post a question on that forum under the M3 -> General section, and I'm sure you will get lots of replies.
Best regards,
Rob
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soniccream
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 10:17 pm
Juan Miguel:
thanks for your detailed info.
I´ll be looking forward to read your rewiew then...!
Rob:thanks for your comment, maybe I´ll be posting
the same question there if there´s not enough feedback here.
(Yes, as you said, I won´t be gigging with it).
The "synth feel" keys are not an option to me.
That´s why I´m interested in reading reviews from M388XP owners,
(not the M3-88 but the 88 XPanded version).
As far as I know the M388XP has the newer RH3 action.
Anyone else?
thanks for your detailed info.
I´ll be looking forward to read your rewiew then...!
Rob:thanks for your comment, maybe I´ll be posting
the same question there if there´s not enough feedback here.
(Yes, as you said, I won´t be gigging with it).
The "synth feel" keys are not an option to me.
That´s why I´m interested in reading reviews from M388XP owners,
(not the M3-88 but the 88 XPanded version).
As far as I know the M388XP has the newer RH3 action.
Anyone else?
Last edited by soniccream on Mon May 11, 2009 5:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Rob Sherratt
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4590
- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:49 pm
Hi Ed,soniccream wrote:... That´s why I´m interested in reading reviews from M388XP owners, (not the M3-88 but the 88 XPanded version). As far as I know the M388XP has the newer RH3 action.
I'm curious - why do you think the 88 key RH3 action keybed is a new option? I just checked a product brochure I downloaded last year (ie pre-XPanded) and it says
Best regards,Korg M3 - What a Revolution Sounds Like - Product Brochure, downloaded 2008, wrote:The 88-key model features the RH3 (Real Weighted Hammer Action 3) keyboard that reproduces the playing sensation of a grand piano, in which the low range has a heavier feel, with the touch becoming lighter as you play upward on the keyboard, allowing superb response to fine movements of your fingers .... 88-key weighted action (RH3: RealWeighted Hammer Action 3 keyboard with 4-zone graded action response)
Rob
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soniccream
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 10:17 pm
Sorry,my mistake Rob, I apologize, I´ve been reading so many brochures & reviews!
Maybe I was thinking on Triton Extreme when wrote that line.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--KORTRITEX88
Still interested in opinions on ALL
M388´s action feel-keybed.
Maybe I was thinking on Triton Extreme when wrote that line.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--KORTRITEX88
Still interested in opinions on ALL
M388´s action feel-keybed.
Re: Korg M3 Xpanded - keybed - action feel
How is it compared with fantom8 action?
Korg SP 250 and M3 88 XPanded action feels the same?
¿Can anybody help with this?
Thanks in advance.
Ed[/quote]
I had a similar predicament. I wanted (and eventually got via mail order) an M3-73. Here in NYC several stores had only 61 and 88's. The 88's felt a little sluggish too me, (but I was raised on Hammond organs). I definately wanted more than 61 notes. I ordered the 73 from a nearby state. but I could also return it.. It was however perfect for me. I did try several different kbds and found quite a difference in their feel between manufactor and model. Korg's M3-61-73-88 kbds all feel quite different from each other.
If you could find out if the Fantom used the same 88 as Korg, that would be helpful, but none of the kbd salesmen in NYC knew the answer to that.(and I kind of doubt the manufactor would be willing to divulge that
I'm sure for a lot of people the M88 is fine, that is just my personal opinion. I would try to play one though before you order it. Or at least, let them know you might return it if you didn't like the feel. There is a difference between playing a kbd you can tolerate and one you love. When you're shelling out a couple of grand, you want to know what you're getting... good luck
Korg SP 250 and M3 88 XPanded action feels the same?
¿Can anybody help with this?
Thanks in advance.
Ed[/quote]
I had a similar predicament. I wanted (and eventually got via mail order) an M3-73. Here in NYC several stores had only 61 and 88's. The 88's felt a little sluggish too me, (but I was raised on Hammond organs). I definately wanted more than 61 notes. I ordered the 73 from a nearby state. but I could also return it.. It was however perfect for me. I did try several different kbds and found quite a difference in their feel between manufactor and model. Korg's M3-61-73-88 kbds all feel quite different from each other.
If you could find out if the Fantom used the same 88 as Korg, that would be helpful, but none of the kbd salesmen in NYC knew the answer to that.(and I kind of doubt the manufactor would be willing to divulge that
I'm sure for a lot of people the M88 is fine, that is just my personal opinion. I would try to play one though before you order it. Or at least, let them know you might return it if you didn't like the feel. There is a difference between playing a kbd you can tolerate and one you love. When you're shelling out a couple of grand, you want to know what you're getting... good luck
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soniccream
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 10:17 pm
Hello angelonyc,
I´ve posted the same question on Karma-labs forums.
http://www.karma-lab.com/forum/showthre ... 8&posted=1
Jerrythek has answered it,
Korg SP-250 & M3 88 XPanded share the same keybed.
Thanks again Jerry.
Cheers.
I´ve posted the same question on Karma-labs forums.
http://www.karma-lab.com/forum/showthre ... 8&posted=1
Jerrythek has answered it,
Korg SP-250 & M3 88 XPanded share the same keybed.
Thanks again Jerry.
Cheers.
I have the M3-88 in my vocal studio. The keybed has a fantastic feel and a lovely responsive action. Overall there is very little difference between playing on the M3 and playing on an acoustic piano. (Aside from the massive variety of sounds in the M3......). The M3-88 keybed does not have escapement (the slight detent on a Grand Piano's keys near the keys bottom travel), but very few digital keyboards do.
If you are looking for a piano like feel you won't be disappointed with the M3-88.
Hope this helps
Carmen
If you are looking for a piano like feel you won't be disappointed with the M3-88.
Hope this helps
Carmen
Well, I never got to try the Motif, because they are not available here, only by special order I think (too expensive for the local market), but I do love every yamaha action I felt, starting on the cheapest 88 key digital piano I could get my hands on, so I'm not surprised by your comment. It seems to me Yamaha really knows how to pull the action off.
I don't know if the action on Korg is "natural", it seems a bit different than an acoustic instrument, but it is one of the most compelling and musical compromises I have felt. A pleasure to play! But then again, this is always highly subjective...
Cheers!
I don't know if the action on Korg is "natural", it seems a bit different than an acoustic instrument, but it is one of the most compelling and musical compromises I have felt. A pleasure to play! But then again, this is always highly subjective...
Cheers!