Korg today introduced the Pa4X Professional Arranger keyboards – 61- and 76-note keyboards with features tailored to solo performers and backing players.
Here’s the official intro video:
Here’s what Korg has to say about the new Pa4X Professional Arranger keyboard:
The Pa4X relies on KORG’s advanced EDS-X (Enhanced Definition Synthesis-eXpanded) sound engine, drawing on a massive PCM resource over 10 times larger than those found in previous models, and comes complete with over 1,500 ready-to-play highly detailed sounds. This realistic collection offers a substantial gathering of classic and contemporary keyboards, band and orchestral instruments, plus electronic and acoustic instruments—from techno to folk.
KORG’s exclusive DNC (Defined Nuance Control) provides highly-articulate solo instruments, and partnerships with Waves Audio and TC Helicon provide state-of-the-art audio processing and studio quality vocal effects. There are a great deal of new instruments and authentic drum kits, along with a considerable infusion of Styles to cover a world of musical genres, and highly-versatile Styles have been created by KORG’s international sound team to provide inspiration.
“Ideal for composing, recording, and combo use, the Pa4X really comes to life in the hands of the solo keyboard performer and allows the entertainer to work more efficiently,” stated James Sajeva, Brand Manager for Korg Products. “With streamlined construction, intuitive design and fantastic feel the Pa4X is more than a keyboard; it’s your backup band; your accompanist; and your musical director. It’s your soundman; your effects engineer; and your always in-tune background singers. The Pa4X is the ultimate all-in-one performance solution designed to deliver on stage all night.”
Both the Pa4X 76 and Pa4X 61 feature a naturally-responsive and semi-weighted keybed that provides velocity and aftertouch sensitivity and included is a new multi-layer stereo grand piano (with damper and body resonance), plus electric pianos from the acclaimed KORG SV-1 Stage Piano. In addition, the Pa4X has been equipped with new wind instruments, strings, basses—even acoustic and electric guitars. Sounds have been painstakingly captured using state-of-the-art methods that allow the finest of details to be accurately reproduced.
The main panel has been optimized to ensure that all controls are ergonomically positioned and intuitively located to make every performance feel smooth and natural. Big, bright, and bold, the new TouchView display hosts a redesigned graphical interface that is easier than ever to read and the entire screen can be tilted forward and back to provide the perfect angle for optimum viewing.
New Styles have been added, and many cherished Styles have been brought up to date with new sounds, enhanced effects, and re-balanced mixing. In addition to drums, percussion, and bass, each Style can provide up to five additional instrument parts that follow your chord changes and voicings, as well as the tempo. Guitar Mode 2 makes the Style’s guitar tracks more authentic than ever before possible.
The convenient Chord Sequencer function can quickly record and loop chord progressions on the fly in Style Play mode and Chord Sequences can now be also saved as Style and SongBook entries for easy recall. Thanks to an all new built in SMF (Standard MIDI File to Style converter), users can quickly and easily have on board styles of the latest songs. Particularly helpful for live use, the SongBook is a fully programmable and easily searchable Music Database.
In addition to the Main Left and Right outputs, the Pa4X includes two additional assignable outputs ideal for isolating a part for additional signal processing or feeding an external mixer. A headphone output is conveniently located on the front panel and the microphone input uses an XLR connector, and phantom power is available.
The Korg Pa4X will be available November 2015 at $3,799.99 for the Pa4X 61 and $3,999.99 for the Pa4X 76. See the Korg site for details.
Can’t wait to hear some new Tallava
I was kinda hoping that Korg would release a new real analog synth.
I heard that an ARP 2600 mini micro pico is in the works.
LOL. I’m waiting for the nano Axxe.
A wrist-top, all analog Arp 2600 would be excellent.
About 4 inches long with little sliders and 1/128″ jacks.
An addon keyboard that you can play with a pen tip.
They’ve always been great sounding keyboards but they seem obsolete in this day and age of tech. Too much money. Too complicated.
Are there that many people playing Persian music on cruise ships to warrant this?
Arrangers are not really popular in the US because the music genre (such Rock, Blues, Gospel or Country) are more focus on band (mainly drums, bass and guitars… sometimes some stage keyboards), and in the other hand urban music (Hip-Hop, Rap, EDM, Trap, etc…) are generally done with Drum Machines and such, but not Arranger keyboards.
However, in Europe (Germany, France and Italy) as well as in some East Europe countries and in Asia, there’s a very very large market for Arranger keyboards. In Europe, it’s probably because of the music genres history (based on some classics such Waltz, Tango, etc…) and the notion of “one man band” to do event animation, even in this day and age of “mp3-auto-synced DJ”. In Asia, it’s apparently also linked to the notion of music education and the love of Karaoke.
I know, all of this is very cliché… and probably not the only reasons. But there’s no doubt they should have some influence. For instance, in some store in Europe, they do sell more Arranger Keyboards than Workstation or Synth Keyboards. Probably that the ageing population that look for an easy “One Man Band” solution might also have enough money to be a good customer target by manufacturer… more than some young dirt cheap student that mainly love Workstation or Synth.
I have some friends that use Arranger Keyboards. It’s not my thing, but I have to admit they are very well done today and sometimes don’t have much to be shame in comparison to some high-end workstation keyboards. Modern Arranger keyboards are pretty much “Workstation keyboard” with the addition of the “smart multi-arpegiator” for the auto-accompaniment.
My 2¢
Not a fan of arranger keyboards but I have to give it up to Korg, they do make some sexy looking products.
does any body know how many of these things sell? roland yamaha all have one, so their most money in them, but i can’t say av seen anybody with one. having said that i haven’t been on a cruise or attended any religious gatherings so i might be limiting my possibilities.
I’m UK-based and too old to play in a band but play (and compose) purely for my own pleasure, and have 4 arranger Keyboards (Korg PA1x + M1, Yamaha Motif XS, Roland bk-9) in daily use. All have their good points. My favorite at the moment – never mentioned but a really neat and fun product is the Roland BK-9. I will certainly be interested in the Korg PA4 when I can get at it.
Such a realistic saxophone solo! And it has auto-tune! Why not!? The possibilities are endless…
Mr. Peabody invented auto-tune.
From the social observation standpoint, it’s worth pointing out that Korg announces an arranger keyboard and people either say nothing, or give mild support. In converse, Roland announces an arranger keyboard and people come out of the woodworks to bash on them. Things like this really paint a clear picture of the attitudes toward different companies on the whole right now.
$4k!
$4 f**kin’ k!
Totally ridiculous price for what is mostly a keyboard with a built in sample library.
No price is ridiculous compared to cost of Yamaha’s keyboard – Tyros 5
True. I jumped off the Tyros bandwagon after I sold my Tyros2. I think I’m gonna buy the Pa4x though.
Tyros 5 is the best
I have bought the pa3x an half year ago.
I wish they would give me a download of the sounds.
Today my 4x arrived ?I am quite exited to play on it ????
Want to buy
what is price
The midi file to style converter is something I have been looking for now for a long time.That alone makes this keyboard very interesting.Does any other keyboard have this feature?
Roland GW8.