KORG Pa5X // Three Outstanding Features

[@Chellinoolmo]

Woody does it again - he focuses on the essential features. And he does something no one else has done so clearly - the first thing you notice when the video starts is the huge screen, which shows everything that's happening in a way that no one has shown before. He also points out what the actual purpose of use for the X-Fader is; namely editing. X-Fader must be the invention of the century for anyone who does a lot of editing. His alternative way of muting tracks is also far more user-friendly than using Matrix, because the mute function can thus be accessed from buttons near the keys, plus other functions are directly accessible at the same time from the same area. Chello Admin for Chellos Keyboard Players Club

[@billfriesTPA]

Seamless sound transition was the final tie-breaker in my decision to buy the Korg Pa5x over Yamaha’s Genos 2. Six months in and I love my Pa5x. Thanks Woody for all your videos.

[@Ansell417]

Have you experienced any problems with the Operating system?

[@MrFn65]

I enjoy keyboard videos that truly explain what makes that instrument unique, creative and worthwhile to check out! Well done Woody!

[@keprmusic3705]

Very nice! The demo of the dual sound engine was superb. Nice playing!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

Oh, glad you liked it, i didn't think it came out as well as i intended!

[@colbywalsh4610]

I doubt anyone is probably really asking for this, but what would be cool is if they took all of the features of a Nautilus and all of the features of a PA5X and just completely put it all into one instrument so if you wanted to make something up like on a typical workstation, it would have everything there, and it would have all of the different sound engines of the Nautilus, but if you were wanting to Use the arranger functions as a song creation tool or in a recording you were doing you could use the arranger functions or if you were playing at live and you wanted to use the arranger functions it’s like a background or two sequences you have made in your workstation sequencer into an arrangement Setting. And also have all of the customizability and sound programming of the Nautilus as in making the sounds up as in programs and combinations, and then for the arrangement feature taking those programs and combinations and converting them to the keyboard sets and being able to manipulate them in a Arranger style setting once they were customized and created as you would programs and combinations on a workstation. If this were completely a thing, I would definitely be interested in the PA Nautilus 5X or whatever they would call it. I’m sure they could come up with a better name than that, but it would definitely be an intriguing instrument. And yes, my Nautilus 88 also has amazing build quality and it has I want to say Japanese burled, birch or burled walnut in cheeks

[@SpOoNmAn365]

It's why I have both 😉

[@jordanking7711]

And the Kronos. There are people at the end of the day that want hands on control.

[@hienvu1714]

​@@jordanking7711That's not what an arranger keyboard is made for.

[@jordanking7711]

@@hienvu1714 Maybe not, but at the end of the day, not only are the lines of an arranger keyboard and a workstation getting more blurred by the day, but let's face it. You still want to be able to manipulate sounds and effects in real time like you can with a workstation. An arranger shouldn't just be meant for playing styles and using just the stock sounds. That's why Korg calls their arrangers, 'arranger workstations'. Because the are both. Not just one or the other.

[@markusgalla]

Does the PA5X not have these features? I have an old Korg PA500 Musikant and it has the Triton synthesis engine. You can even download the Triton presets. It has two sequencers. I thought the PA5X has all of the new synthesis engines too.

[@jordanking7711]

And also THANK YOU KORG for bringing your SST technology into the Pa5x

[@structurepurist6777]

You are raising my motivation to turn on and play my PA5X 88 again I bought this year

[@FRANCCO32]

I am gob smacked to see these features particularly as this keyboard he’s been around nearly two years now. Well done!

[@SteveinJersey1234]

As a new owner of the PA5X myself, I've been following your series on the PA5X closely and have really enjoyed them and found them to be very helpful. I was particularly intrigued and - in a way - somewhat relieved by the comment you made about how much you like the keybed action on your semi-weighted version of the PA5X. I say that because my 76-key version is also semi-weighted and I have been having some mixed feelings about it. There is no question that its build quality is top notch. Really solid. But - as several other PA5X owners have commented about - I do find the action to be signifcantly stiffer than pretty much any other semi-weighted keybed I've used in the past. This contrast for me is made more pronounced by the fact that my PA5X is paired with another much-loved Korg workstation, the Korg M3. The M3's keybed - also really well made - feels signficantly lighter in action. In fairness, I've only had the PA5X for a very short time, and I"m assuming/hoping that this is just a case of getting used to it. So your comments about how much you like its action are giving me encouragement that it's just a matter of getting a little more acquainted with it. I'd be really interested in learning if you had any similar initial reaction to the stiffness of the PA5X compared to other semi-weighted keyboards you've used, and if it took any length of time for you to accommodate yourself to it?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

hi and thanks, still very positive about the action on the pa, i never considered it as stiff. any lighter and you will be accidentally triggering wrong notes unless you are super precise. genos is a touch lighter, but both are excellent. i wouldn't fret about it, just give yourself time to adapt to it, safe in the knowledge that it's a great action

[@billsolomon1]

The PA series is a very useful and powerful keyboard!

[@rikwhittaker7809]

Hi Woody - thanks for your video. If you want to sych start both style engines see page 161 of the latest manual. Not sure if it goes as far as synchronising all aspects you may need. ▪ Start and stop both Players at the same time You can start both Players at the same time, to mix them with the X-FADER while playing. > Keep the SHIFT button pressed, and press any of the two PLAY/STOP ( ) buttons to start both Players at the same time. > Keep the SHIFT button pressed, and press any of the two the PLAY/STOP ( ) buttons to stop both Players at the same time.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thanks for all the info, cool of you! what did not seem to be workin in my demo was sync of the variation, fills, endings etc... but perhaps that is by design and a feature.

[@mrrogerstown2435]

I love my M3. The Karma program kind of makes it an arranger.

[@bz1994]

Fantastic work nice pick of standout features ❤️

[@obyte1world522]

I also did that with my Yamaha EL90 and Technics DP50 Drum Machine. Combining 2 styles did make some very interesting results :) I think the Yamaha Electones EL Series or higher also is capable of holding the current sound until you let go of it while already playing the next sound after pressing another registration (sound set) bank.

[@JohnRanjitDavid]

Wonderful video. Enjoyed it

[@alienzardsketter.9076]

Woody it is nice to watch you play , you explain clearly very complicated things ,, I have been using two styles and up to eight differnt synths ,, for thrity years ,, I talked to Korg year ago about making a double engine arranger synth ,, I have some new Ideas with arrangers and synths ,,, I am not a educator on you tube ,,, I am a artist creator ,,,I have asked any of the major keyboard makers for a tempo locker that would go to really any MIDI or synth that could be tempo locked with another cross brands ,,,Korg Yamaha Roland and co on many more ,, I have the Korg Pa5x it I will agree with you feels amazing I am very pleased with it ,, and it sounds wonderful , on my channel you will find videos ten years old where I used eight differnt synths I call the arranger my base board ,, and add many more I do Like to use hardwear synths ,,, I do not want to be a DJ I want to play my music ,,, I am really thankful to Korg for have making this amazing keyboard musical interment ,,you learn fast and prezent well ,, I just make music ,,,the possibilities are really open and I will not use the word endless that is but a artist should be able to take a Korg PA5x and Me I always need another or few more synths for the music I want to make ,,, I admire you Woody ,,,you do well ..this Korg PA5x has the best keybed I have ever felt on any keyboard Insterment ,,, the Korg M 1 had a amazing keybed ,,,I really Love this arranger it not easy to use it goes deep ,,very I say this a artist is always learning I learn something new each time I play ,,,I was Influanced By Patrick Cowley and Gary Wright ,,and Giorgio Moroder ,,wich at the time all i knew was Donna Summer songs Like Sunset People and Lucky ,,Patrick Cowley and Sylvester james ,,, could name so many being a child of the 1970's and 80;s Living in 2004...You do well Woody ,,,I enjoy your channel.

[@erichkohl9317]

That Roxanne Pop style really stood out to me. 👍🎶

[@hienvu1714]

What songs can you play with it other than Roxanne???

[@igorcarvalhopadilhaandrade5886]

🥰I'm Very Happy With Your Incredible Talent🥰

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i'm very happy with your kindness!

[@FranklinLumoindong]

Good Job Korg...❤

[@hienvu1714]

Hi Woody. Have you done the 1.3.0 software update on your PA5x?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

no, it was released after i returned my loaner

[@kevanbarrett7411]

Great video Woody. Do you know if you can load midi and audio files into this.?😊

[@WoodyPianoShack]

oh yeah, for sure, thanks!

[@jordanking7711]

One other stand out feature Woody (at least for me) is the set list mode (borrowed from the Kronos and Nautilus).

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yeah, i agree that is very useful, genos has something similar you can create and load song lists but i forget what they call them at yamaha!

[@jordanking7711]

@@WoodyPianoShack I believe it's called Playlists Woody, but don't quote me on that one. I have been wrong before.

[@Fran6230]

As for seemless sound transition..Roland has this feature for twenty years... It is called patch remain.. I just tried the onetouch switching on my E-60 and my G70 (both 17 -18 years old). Also food for thought The G70 has 6 fills and can layer 7 realtime keyboard parts.. Try that on any other arranger keyboard.

[@RonWesterbeek]

Thanks Woody, you mean very much to us🙏💫🎵😁🌷

[@mrdali67]

The dual style engine is a "gimmick" like you said, but actually a nice gimmick that I'd like to have in the Genos 2. It would allow you to use double the ammount of style parts, like just simply combining 4 different drumsets at once. When you think of how the G2 technically works having some parts use internal sounds, and others "Expansion" sounds increases the maximum poliphony you have available. And some users will love the 16 Pads instead of just 4 on the Genos The Pa5X is a great keyboard, and the Build quality and having like 4 variations of instruments to choose from is actually amazing when you think of how small Korg is compared to Yamaha. Sure it adds quite a bit to the combined weight, especially if you want a 76 or 88 Piano key version. But nothing beats the feel of having a really premium build quality instrument, and lets face it, both the later Tyros and Genos instruments really lacks in this department being a 100% Plastic casing. Not sure when Yamaha dropped the aluminium base, but the old P9000 was far superior in this department even the top was plastic but also weighed 27kg instead of 17 for the Genos. That was why I always liked both the Korg Kronos and even the old M and T series. It's 95% Metal or wood casing. My old T3 has some scrathes primarily on the back from sitting on various stands and a partly deform plastic casing around the pitch/Mod Joystick from having a spotlight that have been too close once. But eg the front panel and how its coated black is as pristine as new .. not a single dent or scratch and no printing has been worn off from use and oily fingers. You rarely find that kind of quality today where its all about keeping the weight and price down on most boards.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thanks for sharing your insights!

[@mrthomasheder]

Hi Woody. Damn is sound so good, great video -moooore please :-) Can it also send all arranger midi data to a DAW so that you can record it in the DAW and also use alternative DAW instruments instead?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i am not sure, the genos did that which was surprising. i never tested on the pa though and no longer have it so can't test.

[@LeonardoGaiteiro]

Great!! Thumbs Up!!!

[@bliksimstraal]

Can you store both song styles into the songbook as a single entry

[@bliksimstraal]

Or is this more of a gimmick

[@pianomikeoct]

What's your favorite , Genos 2 or Kong ?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

will eventually make vid about it, too much for a comment

[@HonorV2ultimate1tb]

what does upper1, upper2, etc refer to?.... i have no idea....thks

[@WoodyPianoShack]

you could watch my tutorial video

[@jazz734]

Thanks Woody! Too bad there is no Kronos successor in this quality, that would be so great!

[@Recommendable]

I assume Genos2 doesnt have the seamless sound transition based on your direct interaction?

[@LeonardoGaiteiro]

Genos 2 does not have this feature

[@WoodyPianoShack]

right, it does not and can lead to some quite nasty glitches when changing sounds, styles or variations during a performance

[@IanCritchley-r9v]

Hate to have to mention this, regarding the keyboard quality. I have an 88 key Pa5X, the weighted keys that aren’t quite weighted like an actual piano but aren’t far off and it’s very nice to play. After a year one key started making a lot of noise as though something inside the case was coming loose. It went back under warranty and was away over 4 weeks, which was bad enough. No idea what they did to it but they managed to ruin the keyboard action. Keys sticking, the weighting wasn’t correct, all in all worse than the original fault. It’s away again now and I’ve been told it could be two months. The quality at new was great but I’m wondering what I’ve bought now. These things are not cheap and Korg don’t cover themselves in glory with after sales care.

[@GaryMCurran]

Two comments, Woody. I still am out of work, and not able to afford a new PA5X, but one day. Okay, first comment. With the Crossfade for the dual style players and the intros and endings, since each style may have different length intros and endings, it really isn't possible to sync them one to another. What I mean for that, if the style you've chosen for the number one player has an intro of four bars and and ending of four bars, but the number two player style has an intro of 13 bars and an ending of 8 bars, how would you sync the two? You wouldn't want to just cut an 8 bar ending to four bars, or double the ending from 4 to 8. My feeling on this, and I don't work for Korg, so I can't say definitively, is that for intros or endings you going to use one or the other players and not both at the same time. Of course, on the first example with the first style ending first, because of the nature of the style, you could get away with it, but for something more 'complicated', you would want to use either one, but not both of them. Second comment. Leslie emulation. Did you notice how the Leslie ramps up and slows down. I don't know if you still have the Genos 2, but the Genos Leslie is either 'On' or 'Off', there is no speed up or slow down. Furthermore, you should actually be able to modify the emulation to change the speed and the ramp up and ramp down speed. I don't know how detailed it gets, but you might even be able to alter the speeds for the different speakers in the Leslie. But, as I said, I don't have one yet, so I'm not sure the detail in editing.

[@jordanking7711]

The customization of the Leslie isn't possible unless you modded it, OR had a Kronos (or Nautilus I believe). Because with the Kronos, you can customize the Leslie emulation. But you are right. The Pa5x is just a sample of the Leslie emulation, and not modelled like the Kronos or Nautilus.

[@GaryMCurran]

@@jordanking7711 I didn't mean to imply that you could model the Leslie, just that you could control a few parameters of the effect. I have a very old Korg PA800, and the effect parameters for the Leslie as both Horn and Rotor acceleration, Horn/Rotor balance, Mic distance, both Horn and Rotor ratios and a Mic spread. I would assume that the PA5X has at least that kind of control over the effect, it not more. But, no, I don't think it's modeled. In looking in the manual, there are three Rotoray speaker effects with the descriptions starting on page 1317 of the User Manual.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

good observation on the style sync, although i would expect variation sync to work...? the pa5x has the cx3 emulation built in with good possibilities to tweak the organ and leslie parameters. some organ sounds on genos do indeed switch abruptly from slow/fast leslie which is horrifying but there is a more realistic leslie effect available if you make your own patches.

[@GaryMCurran]

@@WoodyPianoShack I am surprised that the Variations 1-4 don't follow if you have two styles playing. They should, since you aren't controlling the different styles with different sets of variations. I see at 7:05 in the video where you're switching styles, and indeed, it does go from Variation 1 to Variation 3. In reading in the Performance Guide, it would appear that this is intentional, and I could see it being useful. For example, if you wanted to use two similar styles for a song, did two verses using the Player 1 and all four variations, and then wanted to really change up the sound, you might use Player 2, but you'd want to start it out on Variation 1 again. So, you wouldn't want to crossfade from Variation 4 on Player 1 to Variation 4 on Player 2. But, yeah, I could also see if you wanted to switch between styles and have the variations being the same, it would be helpful there. You can access the different Style Elements from the display by pressing the Style Element/Marker button. Would be nice if Korg put a button on that page that allowed you to sync the variations for each Style Player if you choose to do that.

[@basspig]

The build quality is fine except for the buttons. They all have that problem where the clear lens develops a crack after a few months. It's a warranty issue. But it's a pain in the neck because you have to send your keyboard out to warranty repair.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yeah, i heard about some issues with that on the forums. that is a bummer, we can only hope they fixed it in later revisions.

[@basspig]

@@WoodyPianoShack I have a few months left to get it fixed, but the shop local to me has some complaints about keeping keyboards for many months. I would do a while you wait repair if they would do so.

[@GizzyDillespee]

Please, before you return this keyboard, at least talk about the capabilities to make your own style, and show the screen or whatever is necessary in order to make a style... even if you don't manage to make a professional sounding style right away. (I'm assuming it would take some practice to get the hang of it at that level, so my expectations wouldn't be very high for a first or second attempt.) Is that a capability of the PA5x? I'd love to have a keyboard with arranger functionality, but I don't care about accurate interpolations of existing songs... and setting that up was a big aspect of this keyboard's R&D cost. However, I DO want seamless sound transitions (I use them on Kronos, Wavestate and Yamaha CK88) and the 2 style mashups would be a core feature for me.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i did make some styles with the creator, basic stuff, and it was such a tedious, boring and frustrating experience that i did not want to learn it well enough to make a tutorial. same thing on genos. however i have an opinion video coming about this.

[@shihengyifans]

A VIDEO IDEA FOR YOU ! I AM A PRODUCER, THIS WOULD BE USEFUL TO MAKE SONG IDEAS VERY FAST - ANYONE KNOWS IF THIS IS WORTH THE $$$ IF YOU ARE ALREADY A PRODUCER AND HAVE OTHER SYNTHS AND VST AND WORK IN A DAW ?SHOULD I BUY IT OR NOT ? OR I CAN SELL IT ANYWAY ? I DON'T KNOW IF ITS WORTH THE ENERGY AND EFFORT AND MONEY , EVEN IF SELLING IT LATER IS ALWAYS AN OPTION AND THANKS !

[@WoodyPianoShack]

this kind of instrument is not commonly used for studio work or producers, you will get better results (with more work) by using daw and plugins or other hardware. these are used mainly for performers and entertainers and home musicians, i would say.

[@komalthecoolk]

The sounds are great but all these arranger keyboards are kind of stuck with many cheesy sounds from the 70s and 80s. More modern styles are needed on the arrangers .

[@drannesley]

So many bugs. Cosmetically nice. But button lights get a darker shade with time. Style creator , song book , mixer has so many bugs. Unusable in live situation.

[@moogy77]

The reason why the synth action's one of the best one Korg has ever made, is because Korg didn't make it, the Italians made it. Korg's still using that old way too heavy RH3 action.

[@mrdali67]

The double style is not really new (technically) .. If you take an old analog Organ from the 70's, you could press ALL of the Rhythm buttons at once . and it would play all styles at once 😉Not neccesarily usefull but It was possible 🤣

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that is pretty cool i agree!

[@fiinstrumental]

The worst Pa that Korg ever made, with so much buggs. And it is now 3 yers ago that this came out and yet so many buggs. Unbeliveble