Just Upgraded from 1x to 3x - First Impressions

Reuben · Post by **Reuben** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:05 am

Having walked into our local Billy Hyde store just a couple of days before they closed down for good, I was amazed to see they had just one keyboard left - a Pa3x. With a deal too good to pass up I am now the proud owner of a 61 key model.
Here's my first impressions of the 3x:
The extra features and sounds compared to the 1x are outstanding.
At first I found the pianos a little strange and took a little while to get used to.
They are definitely more realistic sounding but my ear had become accustomed to the more plastic/sharper sound of the old pianos. I'm now finding they sound far better. (I see that the Bright Piano on page 3 actually uses the "old" samples located at 14 and 15 in sound mode so it is possible to go back if necessary.)
The Styles and Midis are at a new level - far superior to before. I've had a little fiddle with Maxx Audio and a small bass boost has made a big difference.
So far I'm loving the extra features such as mp3 recording, ribbon controller, CDG file player. lyrics, score buttons.
TC-Helicon has done some amazing things to my mike/voice - now very clear and warm. I'm finding some of the close harmonies a but cluttered but the more separated ones sound great.
I'm a bit confused by the 4gb disk/stick inside. Why didn't they make it 8 or 16gb? Has anyone successfully changed this to a larger "disk"?
In some ways maybe its not that important given you can plug a much larger disk to the front or rear ports but still the choice of 4gb (which only leaves you about 1.5gb unused) is a little strange.
I was thinking the 61 keys might be a little limiting but surprising it hasn't been a problem and its easy to hit the upper octave button when needed.
All in all I think Korg have done a great job on this machine notwithstanding the problems I read about before OS 1.5 and the battery issue (I opened mine up and found the battery has the green tick so it has been replaced).
Looking forward to making some music.
John

karmathanever · Post by **karmathanever** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:36 pm

Welcome to PA3X world John

Yep - it's awesome

Go make some great music

Pete

worth · Post by **worth** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 5:35 pm

your a traitor reuben and i will never speak to you again

enjoy your new pa3X. Just dont lose your expertise on the 1X as i will still need your guidance probably even 10 years from now if it holds up under my constant use.

Reuben · Post by **Reuben** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:16 pm

"your a traitor reuben and i will never speak to you again "

Sorry Worth - the deal was just too good. I've still got my 1x as a backup but my son has his eye on it.
I'll still be visiting the 1x pages

karmathanever · Post by **karmathanever** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 1:53 am

Worth!!!!!!!

We're coming around to your house with our fully loaded PA3X's

Giner · Post by **Giner** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:29 am

Pete and Reuben, you can come round here any time you like as well. You can teach these Canadian dealers a thing or ten.

karmathanever · Post by **karmathanever** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:15 am

Hey Giner

Just thinking - wouldn't it be great if we could all get to a "Korg PArty" somewhere convenient for everyone (like, Australia

)!!!

Elektroman · Post by **Elektroman** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:39 am

Well done Reuben for scoring a deal from BH. You must be a lucky one... Even in their dying weeks, here in Melbourne they still held ground on one thing that led to their demise... Their very stupid prices compared to other local competitors.

While we're on the PA3X platform of the forum... Here is a great example.
Mate of mine is on a tight budget, but seeked a deal on the pa3x for a while now... So, we kept our hopes up, that even their Korg range will come under their price hack due to closure. But it wasn't so. Believe it or not, they didn't even want to price-match few other stores around the country.

Anyways, congrats on the 3X, enjoy it.

Reuben · Post by **Reuben** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:57 am

I went in to BH a couple of weeks after the announcement of their pending closure and they only had a lousy 10 or 20% off their inflated prices. Then went overseas for 5 weeks and returned 2 days before they shut the doors.
Sitting on the shelf was the same pa3x they must have had for 6 months, now with 50% off. I asked what sort of deal can they do and they took another 40 % off!!!. Very sweet!!
Just going back to my earlier question - has anyone tried to replace the 4gb internal USB with a larger memory stick? Just curious

smstome · Post by **smstome** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:03 pm

Yes few of us here had replaced with 16GB sticks.
you have to do the reset procedure after installing the new usb stick.

Giner · Post by **Giner** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:55 pm

karmathanever wrote:Hey Giner

Just thinking - wouldn't it be great if we could all get to a "Korg PArty" somewhere convenient for everyone (like, Australia )!!!

Sure! Send me the ticket, I could do with a bit of warmth. Keep the beer cold, though.

Hey, and your buddy Reuben. "Very sweet" he said of his Pa3X deal. Is he the master of understatement or what?

Be well, Giner

roy9824 · Post by **roy9824** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:32 am

i had done same. Sold my old pa 1 xpro and upgrated to pa 3x 61 keys yesterday

Due to Your question :
I'm a bit confused by the 4gb disk/stick inside. Why didn't they make it 8 or 16gb? Has anyone successfully changed this to a larger "disk"?

Yes i just update 4 g oryginal to 8 g Just that big i found in home, and also upgrated oes for last one. I have now 5,5 g memory free inside. Slould be enought at moment.

roy9824 · Post by **roy9824** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:37 am

http://bprysak.republika.pl/KORG_Pa3X_- ... ci_USB.pdf

Reuben · Post by **Reuben** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:53 am

If its this easy to replace the internal USB then I can't see any reason to bother with the hard drive kit. Thanks for the information and the link.
Can't understand a word but I'm assuming if you load the OS again and follow the prompts there should be no problems.

Elektroman · Post by **Elektroman** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:01 am

Yes, i just asked a mate of mine Reuben. Open up cover, replace USB, and re-install OS. Simple as that. He also mentioned to me that it did not like certain USB sticks, it was trial and error until he settled at a Sandisk Cruzer 16GB i think.
So my suggestion is, plug the new usb in and install the OS, test everything works before closing the cover to avoid opening everything up in case it does not like the USB.
Half considering doing this, on my 3X.
And yes, since this is possible i don't think how much value a hard disk kit would be. I cannot see any advantages to it. In fact i'm yet to see somebody actually installing a HD kit.