Super nice video to watch, thank you! I had a Yamaha Genos 2 and now a few months the Korg Pa5X 76. For me the reason for switching was the following. The Genos 2 is for me the standard arranger keyboard in a big body. You have nice sounds and styles, but the sounds are too edited and tuned for home use. The styles are mainly from the 60s/70s/80s/90s and only a little of what is audible now. Designing styles in the Pa5X goes much deeper than on the Genos 2, which also makes it much more complex. Especially intro and ending 2 that follows what you play as chords is very good. The new KAOSS effects are a nice addition. I use the Matrix very often and I would miss it very much on the Genos 2. The disadvantage of the Pa5X is that there are so many possibilities to create styles and sounds that it overwhelms the standard home user. The biggest strength of the Pa5X is that you can design your own sounds and not just modify existing sounds a bit, like the ADSR and a bit of LFO. Even if you don't use all those possibilities I think the Pa5X is a better choice, you have much more options regarding the keys, 61,76 and 88 and the price is lower. I don't see at all why you would choose a Genos 2 compared to the new PSR-SX920. Yes better sounds (next generation), more styles and more memory but that's it. And then I think the Genos 2 is very overpriced, extremely overpriced even. The only thing Korg has to do is provide the Pa5X with all the functions that are already in the Pa4X, and solve the LED problem that is often complained about. For example, the option to make styles from Midi files is still not included. Yamaha has a tool for this but they should integrate it into the Genos 2. Yamaha could also offer more styles during updates, and not keep offering the few expansion packs that have been there for years. I must say that I am happy with the new operating system of the Pa5X because its predecessors looked like they came from the 80s.
Thank you very much for your insights. That seems to make the Genos 2 perfect for me. I don't have the time nor inclination to do sound design and the Genos 2 sounds seem to be mix ready. Also, I do love the 70s to 80s jazz rock and latin stuff and don't need (modern) styles at all. The only thing that remains unclear to me is, whether the Pa5x has a class compliant USB audio interface with the option to turn loopback off. Do you happen to know if it does? Cheers PS: The SX920 does not have a USB audio interface at all and generally is more on the level of Tyros 4.
@@idemditto My problem with the Nautilus was that the audio/click track sent from the DAW to the Nautilus gets forwarded to the Nautilus' USB out. That means if you send a drum track or metronome from the DAW to the Nautilus and want to record in your DAW a piano track that you play on your Nautilus, the drum track/metronome gets re-recorded. Even a lowly Yamaha PSR-E363 has the option to turn loopback off. The Nautilus does not. Maybe the Pa5x has it.
It’s nice that you are open to forming a second opinion about the PA5X as you dive deeper into it. For me personally I want to upgrade from my PSR-SX900 to an arranger with 76 or 88 keys that has a better quality piano. Your 7 rating for the PA5X piano is a concern, but I am nowhere near your piano playing skills, so perhaps you are more critical in your expectations. Your demos help as most music stores in the U.S. do not have any high-end arrangers on the floor to try. I also can’t help thinking the Genos2 is essentially a PSR on steroids and wondering if PA5X would be a different/better experience than the usual bright Yamaha pianos and to me dated and overbearing styles. I happen to think the PA5X’s styles sound more understated, modern and better for playing along with than Yamaha's. I would like to see more demos of the PA5X styles in the modern ballad, EDM and orchestral categories. As far as instrument sounds, my priority is acoustic piano followed by rich ethereal new age pad voices to layer with piano. I am less concerned with realism of guitars and other instruments like sax. Maybe PA5X is the way to go for me.
Thanks for sharing your views, compliments and concerns @RichardLinden-f1v. I think trying out the keyboard first is a good way to go. Some of the styles on the Pa5X aren't too shabby. I'll endeavor to do some more in other genres in the future.
@@phillc Phill, also, since you had been featuring the DGX-670 in previous videos, I would love to hear your opinion on how the DGX's VRM piano compares to the PA5X & Genos 2 pianos. DGX is a much cheaper alternative to the Genos for a lot of people and they both really do similar things.
@@RichardLinden-f1v Have you considered options like the following, if the piano experience is your main focus? Kawai VPC1 + iOS (you will need an audio interface) Pianoteq&Ravenscroft and Korg Module for EP&synths? That delivers probably the best and most convenient piano experience. You could then use apps like iReal Pro or iBassist&Jazz Drummer for backings. Alternatively, the Yamaha P515/P525 come with good keybed, speakers, internal sounds and also features an integrated audio interface, so ypu can play the internal and external sounds over the integrated speakers. I considered the Korg RH3 to be serviceable/ok, but nothing to brag about. Even the RH3 of my Kawai MP7SE is considerably better and the VPC1 is a huge step up from that. At the current price point, the Kawai MP7SE is tremendous value btw.
Thank you very much for this well-spoken analysis! I can see that the Pa5x is the more professional choice. Until recently, I owned both a Korg Nautilus 88 and a Yamaha Montage 8. I'd like to share a couple of observations/comparisons: Nautilus 88 + better solo strings + better pianos - USB audio interface does not have loopback off option ! - no piano roll in sequencer Montage 8 + better keybed! + multi-channel USB audio interface + better solo trumpet & sax - no string resonance for pianos - no piano roll in sequencer I kept the Montage 8, because I prefered the keys and the audio interface for convenient integration with an iOS DAW and iOS sounds like Pianoteq. And I am still intrigued by the arranger like possibilities of the Montage: ruclips.net/video/OC-2CPgNOPY/видео.htmlfeature=shared
Soundmondo has a few performances that gear more towards arranger styles. One is Peter Van Bruggen I think. There may be a few others too. I no longer have my MODX but as you probably know it's a lot of arp and rhythm programming and the use of Scenes to get something close to an arranger-like style. Montage/MODX have great sounds, but programming it was too tough for me.
@@RichardLinden-f1v Thank you, I will check these performances out. So far, I have also avoided programming a detailed "arranger style", like those in the video I linked, myself.
@@followyourpassion8378 I sometimes miss the MODX+. I currently have the SX900. I probably should have kept both. The accompaniment possibilities on MODX/Montage aren't bad, they just don't sound as full and varied as the SX900 which may not be a bad thing depending on what you need. MODX seemed better for more modern electronic music/synth arp type backings. And you are correct about Nautilus piano, I had that keyboard for 2 weeks and the acoustic piano was very good, though the operating system was very dated looking and the screen was too small for it.
@@RichardLinden-f1v For me, Yamaha arranger styles are often over the top. But I think Genos has an easy way to thin them out. The boot time of two and a half minutes also emphasised the PC like operating system of the Nautilus. I wrote another comment, which wasn't published, where I wanted to ask you, if you had considered for the best piano experience Kawai VPC1 (alternatively Yamaha P515/525 or Kawai MP7SE) + iPad with Pianoteq/Ravenscroft/Korg Module for sounds and iReal Pro/iBassist+ Jazz drummer for backing tracks? All of the above mentioned keybeds are better than (the solid) Korg RH3.
Looking forward to this!
Super nice video to watch, thank you!
I had a Yamaha Genos 2 and now a few months the Korg Pa5X 76.
For me the reason for switching was the following. The Genos 2 is for me the standard arranger keyboard in a big body. You have nice sounds and styles, but the sounds are too edited and tuned for home use. The styles are mainly from the 60s/70s/80s/90s and only a little of what is audible now. Designing styles in the Pa5X goes much deeper than on the Genos 2, which also makes it much more complex. Especially intro and ending 2 that follows what you play as chords is very good. The new KAOSS effects are a nice addition. I use the Matrix very often and I would miss it very much on the Genos 2. The disadvantage of the Pa5X is that there are so many possibilities to create styles and sounds that it overwhelms the standard home user.
The biggest strength of the Pa5X is that you can design your own sounds and not just modify existing sounds a bit, like the ADSR and a bit of LFO. Even if you don't use all those possibilities I think the Pa5X is a better choice, you have much more options regarding the keys, 61,76 and 88 and the price is lower. I don't see at all why you would choose a Genos 2 compared to the new PSR-SX920. Yes better sounds (next generation), more styles and more memory but that's it. And then I think the Genos 2 is very overpriced, extremely overpriced even.
The only thing Korg has to do is provide the Pa5X with all the functions that are already in the Pa4X, and solve the LED problem that is often complained about. For example, the option to make styles from Midi files is still not included. Yamaha has a tool for this but they should integrate it into the Genos 2. Yamaha could also offer more styles during updates, and not keep offering the few expansion packs that have been there for years. I must say that I am happy with the new operating system of the Pa5X because its predecessors looked like they came from the 80s.
@@idemditto EPIC stuff!! ❤️👍👍👍👍 Thanks 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you very much for your insights. That seems to make the Genos 2 perfect for me. I don't have the time nor inclination to do sound design and the Genos 2 sounds seem to be mix ready. Also, I do love the 70s to 80s jazz rock and latin stuff and don't need (modern) styles at all. The only thing that remains unclear to me is, whether the Pa5x has a class compliant USB audio interface with the option to turn loopback off. Do you happen to know if it does? Cheers
PS: The SX920 does not have a USB audio interface at all and generally is more on the level of Tyros 4.
@@followyourpassion8378 Good question about audio and the loopback off option. I don't know.
@@idemditto My problem with the Nautilus was that the audio/click track sent from the DAW to the Nautilus gets forwarded to the Nautilus' USB out. That means if you send a drum track or metronome from the DAW to the Nautilus and want to record in your DAW a piano track that you play on your Nautilus, the drum track/metronome gets re-recorded.
Even a lowly Yamaha PSR-E363 has the option to turn loopback off. The Nautilus does not. Maybe the Pa5x has it.
@@followyourpassion8378I will ask someone.
Nice video
Did you experienced some bugs/issues with the korg?
Thanks in advance
Thank you! No bugs experienced.
It’s nice that you are open to forming a second opinion about the PA5X as you dive deeper into it. For me personally I want to upgrade from my PSR-SX900 to an arranger with 76 or 88 keys that has a better quality piano. Your 7 rating for the PA5X piano is a concern, but I am nowhere near your piano playing skills, so perhaps you are more critical in your expectations. Your demos help as most music stores in the U.S. do not have any high-end arrangers on the floor to try. I also can’t help thinking the Genos2 is essentially a PSR on steroids and wondering if PA5X would be a different/better experience than the usual bright Yamaha pianos and to me dated and overbearing styles. I happen to think the PA5X’s styles sound more understated, modern and better for playing along with than Yamaha's. I would like to see more demos of the PA5X styles in the modern ballad, EDM and orchestral categories. As far as instrument sounds, my priority is acoustic piano followed by rich ethereal new age pad voices to layer with piano. I am less concerned with realism of guitars and other instruments like sax. Maybe PA5X is the way to go for me.
Thanks for sharing your views, compliments and concerns @RichardLinden-f1v. I think trying out the keyboard first is a good way to go. Some of the styles on the Pa5X aren't too shabby. I'll endeavor to do some more in other genres in the future.
@@phillc Phill, also, since you had been featuring the DGX-670 in previous videos, I would love to hear your opinion on how the DGX's VRM piano compares to the PA5X & Genos 2 pianos. DGX is a much cheaper alternative to the Genos for a lot of people and they both really do similar things.
@@RichardLinden-f1v Have you considered options like the following, if the piano experience is your main focus?
Kawai VPC1 + iOS (you will need an audio interface) Pianoteq&Ravenscroft and Korg Module for EP&synths? That delivers probably the best and most convenient piano experience. You could then use apps like iReal Pro or iBassist&Jazz Drummer for backings.
Alternatively, the Yamaha P515/P525 come with good keybed, speakers, internal sounds and also features an integrated audio interface, so ypu can play the internal and external sounds over the integrated speakers.
I considered the Korg RH3 to be serviceable/ok, but nothing to brag about. Even the RH3 of my Kawai MP7SE is considerably better and the VPC1 is a huge step up from that.
At the current price point, the Kawai MP7SE is tremendous value btw.
Thank you very much for this well-spoken analysis! I can see that the Pa5x is the more professional choice.
Until recently, I owned both a Korg Nautilus 88 and a Yamaha Montage 8. I'd like to share a couple of observations/comparisons:
Nautilus 88
+ better solo strings
+ better pianos
- USB audio interface does not have loopback off option !
- no piano roll in sequencer
Montage 8
+ better keybed!
+ multi-channel USB audio interface
+ better solo trumpet & sax
- no string resonance for pianos
- no piano roll in sequencer
I kept the Montage 8, because I prefered the keys and the audio interface for convenient integration with an iOS DAW and iOS sounds like Pianoteq.
And I am still intrigued by the arranger like possibilities of the Montage:
ruclips.net/video/OC-2CPgNOPY/видео.htmlfeature=shared
Soundmondo has a few performances that gear more towards arranger styles. One is Peter Van Bruggen I think. There may be a few others too. I no longer have my MODX but as you probably know it's a lot of arp and rhythm programming and the use of Scenes to get something close to an arranger-like style. Montage/MODX have great sounds, but programming it was too tough for me.
Thanks for sharing these deep insights!
@@RichardLinden-f1v Thank you, I will check these performances out. So far, I have also avoided programming a detailed "arranger style", like those in the video I linked, myself.
@@followyourpassion8378 I sometimes miss the MODX+. I currently have the SX900. I probably should have kept both. The accompaniment possibilities on MODX/Montage aren't bad, they just don't sound as full and varied as the SX900 which may not be a bad thing depending on what you need. MODX seemed better for more modern electronic music/synth arp type backings. And you are correct about Nautilus piano, I had that keyboard for 2 weeks and the acoustic piano was very good, though the operating system was very dated looking and the screen was too small for it.
@@RichardLinden-f1v For me, Yamaha arranger styles are often over the top. But I think Genos has an easy way to thin them out.
The boot time of two and a half minutes also emphasised the PC like operating system of the Nautilus.
I wrote another comment, which wasn't published, where I wanted to ask you, if you had considered for the best piano experience Kawai VPC1 (alternatively Yamaha P515/525 or Kawai MP7SE) + iPad with Pianoteq/Ravenscroft/Korg Module for sounds and iReal Pro/iBassist+ Jazz drummer for backing tracks?
All of the above mentioned keybeds are better than (the solid) Korg RH3.
Nice video 😊thanks for sharing.
Thanks for visiting!