Korg M3 vs. Kurzweil PC3x... Choices, choices, choices.

[EvilDragon]

I havent had a chance to test either of these boards, due to living in the middle of nowhere...

I would suggest making a trip to test both out, even if it costs some money to do so.

Kurzweil, Korg, Yamaha, and Roland all make products that have some good sounds in them. I used to own a PC2Rack and I still own an M3-M.

Sound quality is VERY personal, and only you can really decide which product's overall sound palette is best for the music you make.

Can you describe the sound of kurz vs korg?

Kurzweil sounds like a million dollars in almost any sound department. Much more realistic than Korg, especially acoustic sounds, and especially orchestrals! Even though some of Kurzweil's samples are over 20 years old, they are still held in very high regard. Kurzweil's piano sound STILL sounds better than Korg's, except maybe OASYS is up to par. Electric pianos - Korg is good, but Kurzweil is several stages above Korg here.

Korg has those high frequencies which make it sound more metallic and cut through the mix. But Kurzweil can also do that if needed, since it has top-notch FX section (which is much better and much more flexible than Korg's)

Kurzweil has a better Hammond simulation and more flexible VA engine under the hood. It's simply a better board!

[asdasd]

The votes are still pretty good on the M3...

[EvilDragon]

That's because these are KORG forums

[cminor]

After using the Triton Extreme, and K2600 , I decide to work with Fantom-X.
I had to change it (financial trouble).
After a short time, I find a M3 on a price that was very good for me (1000 euro) and took it.

what can I say?
As sounds? A General Midi with "class".
The 3 sounds that makes M3 different from Triton?
Mongolian Voice, Popcorn Hit, and the "stereo" piano.

If M3 didn't have sampler, and most of all, the choard mode for pads (the most usefull thing for live playing) it would be sold soon.
Actually, those two options are the only thing that made me keep it.
Because I have many sounds from other "ex" keys, that I own.

But it is just like a Triton with more pads (not sounds), arpeggiators, RAM, and user banks.
Didn't have the moss, don't have the EXB-Radias.
I will try to find someone to test the EXB-Radias, because, I don't want to spend money on "specifications".

[asdasd]

After using the Triton Extreme, and K2600 , I decide to work with Fantom-X.
I had to change it (financial trouble).
After a short time, I find a M3 on a price that was very good for me (1000 euro) and took it.

what can I say?
As sounds? A General Midi with "class".
The 3 sounds that makes M3 different from Triton?
Mongolian Voice, Popcorn Hit, and the "stereo" piano.

If M3 didn't have sampler, and most of all, the choard mode for pads (the most usefull thing for live playing) it would be sold soon.
Actually, those two options are the only thing that made me keep it.
Because I have many sounds from other "ex" keys, that I own.

But it is just like a Triton with more pads (not sounds), arpeggiators, RAM, and user banks.
Didn't have the moss, don't have the EXB-Radias.
I will try to find someone to test the EXB-Radias, because, I don't want to spend money on "specifications".

Thanks, I guess I am going with the wail then =).

[Shakil]

The primary thing for me is the sound... I dont really need anything else than the perfect sound =).

There no such thing as perfect sound. Seems like you don't want a synthesizer workstation, if you want perfect sound. Even the real piano is not 'perfect sound'.

[asdasd]

The primary thing for me is the sound... I dont really need anything else than the perfect sound =).

There no such thing as perfect sound. Seems like you don't want a synthesizer workstation, if you want perfect sound. Even the real piano is not 'perfect sound'.

What I meant was I want the better sounding unit, not the one with more features etc. (like sequencers, big screens etc.)

[Shakil]

The problem with 'better sound' is that there is no universal 'better' sound. All flagship workstations sound 'good' overall. What is better for me is not necessarily better for you, and the other way around.

If you are not interested in a workstation, don't get M3. If you main concern is sound, then get rack versions of the to all flagship workstations, and you will be set for ages.

[asdasd]

The problem with 'better sound' is that there is no universal 'better' sound. All flagship workstations sound 'good' overall. What is better for me is not necessarily better for you, and the other way around.

If you are not interested in a workstation, don't get M3. If you main concern is sound, then get rack versions of the to all flagship workstations, and you will be set for ages.

Well still, it is pretty easy to "approximate" which sounds better. And I am asking opinions on which sound better anyway.

[EvilDragon]

Well still, it is pretty easy to "approximate" which sounds better. And I am asking opinions on which sound better anyway.

To me, PC3 sounds much better, no question about it.

[asdasd]

Well still, it is pretty easy to "approximate" which sounds better. And I am asking opinions on which sound better anyway.

To me, PC3 sounds much better, no question about it.

Yeah, I am going to go with it... I would probably take the korg though if I didnt have the X50, they are quiet similar, except the M3 doesnt sound as "boxy/plastic". Maybe its just the reverb though...

I liked the PC3x functions better, but the pad sounds on it arent as good as korg IMO. As well as hapsichords (yeah, kurz should really fix the hapsi in the expansion rom).

[EvilDragon]

I find PC3's pads MUCH FATTER than Korg's, especially when ROM samples are layered with VA1 pads.

And hey, you can even have Korg's Universe patch from M1 on PC3, I know my friend has it

[Synthoid]

I find PC3's pads MUCH FATTER than Korg's, especially when ROM samples are layered with VA1 pads.

Most likely only if the ROM samples are layered with VA1 pads.

I have yet to hear any Kurzweil pads that have the same depth that my M3 or Triton can produce.

[EvilDragon]

Nope, not only, definitely.

VA1 >> Radias, the flexibility and fatness of Kurzweil's virtual analog synth is simply amazing. Not to mention that the filters are much more versatile on the Kurzweil, and also they sound like a million dollars. Whole different level from Korg.


Now, don't misunderstand me, I love Korg as much as everyone else on this board does. But Kurzweil is simply superior in all regards.

[Synthoid]

Now, don't misunderstand me, I love Korg as much as everyone else on this board does. But Kurzweil is simply superior in all regards.

I respect your opinion, but I've not been "dazzled" with Kurzweil yet. Maybe someday.