I HATE THIS OWNER'S MANUAL

[megts]

Is it me, or is the PA1x Pro Owner's Manual the worst written manual ever?
Nothing on this keyboard is intuitive to me.

I have used ProTools, Acid Pro 7 and Sony Vegas Pro and tons of other software. I am not a keyboard newbie. I could be considered an expert on Ensoniq keyboards.

The only thing I have been able to do is create a Performance.

I would like to edit existing Styles and can't even seem to get how to replace the drum track.

Is there an easier way to figure this flippin' keyboard out? I have owned it for 4 years and every time I sit down to work on it, I end up getting frustrated and quit.

Love the sound
Hate the limited 64 voice polyphony.

So, is there help out there anywhere??

Sorry for the rant, but I just want to learn this thing or move on.

Thanks

[/b]

[Charley Brown]

Hello megts:

You are not alone. Many people find the Pa1x to be less than intuitive.

I found the Forum members to be incredible helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You will save your self a lot of time and frustration. The members are very generous in helping each other. They are good people.

I suspect that the members that have the best grasp of the Pa1x also have a solid back ground in computer programming. I also suspect that a back ground in computers gives them a tremendous advantage in understanding the structure of the Pa1x.

The greatest hurdle that I had to overcome was expecting it to be intuitive. I found the terminology and titles to be misleading. I gave up trying to use logic and humbled my self to asking questions. I had better luck when I accepted that it was not consistent with my idea of logic and simply approached it by memorization. It made it a lot easier.

Someday the Pa1x will be as obsolete as the Commodore 64. There is no question in my mind that that it could be made more intuitive and user friendly.

That being said, I can confidently say that the time you spent learning the idiosyncrasies of Pa1x will be greatly rewarded. It is truly an incredible instrument with almost limitless capabilities. Just make up your mind to pay your dues and learn the functions by memory instead of depending on common sense.

I also found the “Korg Arranger Secrets” Instructional DVD to be very helpful.

Don’t give up, just ask questions ~ Charley Brown

[Giner]

Hello megts:

I suspect that the members that have the best grasp of the Pa1x also have a solid back ground in computer programming. I also suspect that a back ground in computers gives them a tremendous advantage in understanding the structure of the Pa1x.

It's a shame, isn't it. We shouldn't need to be geeks just because we want to create the beautiful music that the Pa1X is capable of. You would think that as top musicians are hired to create the wonderful styles in this keyboard, the computer guys would endeavour to make the accessibility of those styles and their components more intuitive. But it's the nature of the beast, I suppose, and I suspect that most computer guys have forgotten how to think in layman's terms and expect everyone to have no difficulties. They have to do better.

I don't suppose the Pa2X is any simpler in this regard, either. Shame on Korg if it isn't. Could we hope for better with Pa3X? I'm not holding my breath.

[jerry6681]

I like the manual a lot and found it to be very helpful over the many years I have had my Pa1x Pro. Everything didn't immediately fall into place but like anything complex it took studying, going back and forth, thinking and reading the same thing many times.

[karmathanever]

If you are new to the PA1XPro, then switch it on and work through the first 70 pages and you will have a pretty good understanding of its functions.
I have seen many manuals far worse - I don't think the Korg manuals are too bad - even for a "PA1X newbie"

Cheers

Pete

(The DVDs are also excellent)

[Giner]

Hi Pete,

You're quite right about the first 70 pages of the Pa1X manual, I had little problem with that. It's the remainder of the tome where things start getting a bit deep for me. So, in that regard, I doubt I'll ever get right into the finer points of the Pa1XPRO which is a shame knowing what this lovely board is capable of.

I do realise that the people who write the manuals are 'up against it' to provide an accessible-to-all insight into such a complex machine. That said, I do thoroughly enjoy this keyboard to my own level, so I guess that's what really counts. It's just a bit of a niggling thought that there's so much more there.

I don't know how many more people there are like the OP and myself but I imagine we're more than a handful, although there aren't too many to be found on this forum. So thank God there IS this forum.

All the best, Pete, and have a great 2010!

[jim parkin]

If you are new to the PA1XPro, then switch it on and work through the first 70 pages and you will have a pretty good understanding of its functions.
I have seen many manuals far worse - I don't think the Korg manuals are too bad - even for a "PA1X newbie"

Cheers

Pete

(The DVDs are also excellent)

Hi pete did you ever figure out how to put in S,T.Settings in styles that did not come with S.T.S or how to change the ones that did>? as per my earlyer post jim/p

[BasariStudios]

I dont know, i personally dont find them too complicated or Complex, in general
i get bored with synths very fast, once i exploit all of the functions on it i get
very bored and go to a different level of a machine...the only thing so far that
i am not bored yet after Year and a Half is the M3, thats it, the PA series are
gone for me long ago, since the days of PA80.
P80, PA1X, PA800 or PA2X to me personally have no difference in programming
at ALL. Everything is almost the same, know one know it all and they are not
really that complex either. Now, when creating a style or a sound, its not only
required computer wisdom, it requires musical knowledge and also recording
experience too, with only one of them you cant do nothing, you can be the
greatest musician but when creating a style can be useless if you dont know
recording or basic Quantizing and Editing...its not an easy task...
...and no, i never did and i dont believe in Manuals, as Rob and Pete maybe
know that is the first think i throw in the garbage when i buy any equipement...

Back to Jim's question since the first post is old and also the question is one
of those that needs rewriting the manual here:
You asking how to attach an STS to a Style? Or maybe you mean something
different, its one of the simplest Tasks on the PA series, first you edit the
sound in Style Mode untill you are satisfied and after you decided how to
finally sound all you do is just Save it, if you click the Arrow on top and sellect
SAVE you'll see in there SAVE ONE TOUCH or something similar...its right there.

[jim parkin]

I dont know, i personally dont find them too complicated or Complex, in general
i get bored with synths very fast, once i exploit all of the functions on it i get
very bored and go to a different level of a machine...the only thing so far that
i am not bored yet after Year and a Half is the M3, thats it, the PA series are
gone for me long ago, since the days of PA80.
P80, PA1X, PA800 or PA2X to me personally have no difference in programming
at ALL. Everything is almost the same, know one know it all and they are not
really that complex either. Now, when creating a style or a sound, its not only
required computer wisdom, it requires musical knowledge and also recording
experience too, with only one of them you cant do nothing, you can be the
greatest musician but when creating a style can be useless if you dont know
recording or basic Quantizing and Editing...its not an easy task...
...and no, i never did and i dont believe in Manuals, as Rob and Pete maybe
know that is the first think i throw in the garbage when i buy any equipement...

Back to Jim's question since the first post is old and also the question is one
of those that needs rewriting the manual here:
You asking how to attach an STS to a Style? Or maybe you mean something
different, its one of the simplest Tasks on the PA series, first you edit the
sound in Style Mode untill you are satisfied and after you decided how to
finally sound all you do is just Save it, if you click the Arrow on top and sellect
SAVE you'll see in there SAVE ONE TOUCH or something similar...its right there.

That is not going to do it ,all you can do is change the sts in the performance bank, that will not change the 4 sts that come with the style,,
and some styles come with out any sounds[sts] in the 4 sts buttons, only the name of the style, is in the first sts button,,so you need to fill up the other 3 sts buttons,and they will become perment in each space,so when you bring up
that style again ,,the 4 sts will be as you set them.now pushing the #1#2#3#4 buttons you will get the sounds you want for the right hand.
after much trial and lots of error I can now set the sts to my styles.J/P

[steve deffinger]

I am glad I checked in on the forum. I am at my wits end trying to program my Tyros 2. I am on the verge of buying a used Pax1pro just to see if it reduces my stress level. Reading your posts I see I would just be aggravating my problem.
Thanks for your input.

[steve deffinger]

Is anyone familiar with the Ketron Audya? How is the manual that is supplied with it? How difficult is it to program?

[karmathanever]

Hey Steve

The PA1Xpro has a great Quick Guide in the first 70 pages and then you could get Rob Sherratt's DVD PA1X tutorial set.

It's pretty easy to get going - just take your time and learn one mode at a time.
It is an awesome piece of gear and is far more stable than the Audya.

If you don't have much time, then get a Casio

Cheers

Pete

[keysman]

Hey Steve

The PA1Xpro has a great Quick Guide in the first 70 pages and then you could get Rob Sherratt's DVD PA1X tutorial set.

It's pretty easy to get going - just take your time and learn one mode at a time.
It is an awesome piece of gear and is far more stable than the Audya.

If you don't have much time, then get a Casio

Cheers

Pete