🎹 Unveiling the Truth: Korg PA 5X vs. Yamaha Genos 2! 🎹
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- 🎹 Unveiling the Truth: Korg PA 5X vs. Yamaha Genos 2! 🎹
Ready for an honest, no-holds-barred review of two of the most talked-about keyboards on the market? As a seasoned producer who navigates multiple genres, I've got some brutally honest opinions about the Korg PA 5X and Yamaha Genos 2 that you won't want to miss.
I have spent several hours with both keyboards. I love both companies. Bear in mind my journey as a producer and arranger started with the KORG M1, 01/W, Trinity, Triton, Triton-Extreme, Oasys. I played some very low-grade Yamahas through the years until I got the MOTIF-XF8. I do not favor either firm and I am not an artist for either.
🔥 Korg PA 5X: Sleek design, slanted screen, and an 88-note fully weighted keybed... Sounds perfect, right? Think again. Discover why the plastic-like sounds and underwhelming realism left me disappointed.
🎺 Yamaha Genos 2: Gorgeous, lifelike sounds that blow you away - but at what cost? Dive into the shocking truth about its flimsy build quality and lack of weighted keys that could make you rethink your next purchase.
💡 Get ready for a deep dive into the pros, cons, and unexpected twists of these high-end keyboards. From build quality to sound realism, I’m breaking it all down to help you make an informed decision.
👉 Tune in now and find out which keyboard reigns supreme - and which one falls flat!
#KorgPA5X #YamahaGenos2 #KeyboardReview #MusicProduction #Pianist #RealTalk
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Couldn't agree more...I have both a Korg PA700 and a PSR S 975... together I get a nice combination of different styles and tones..without breaking the bank.
😆👍👊👊💡❤️ 🏧 🛑
It would have been great if you had compared the Sounds and Style of Genos Vs Korg
E.g. Strings, Piano, Accordion. And then with Styles like Bossa nova, Jazz, Samba, Reggae.
That way one can get some degree of realism on which Keyboard steels the show at the Orchestra Level!
Coming soon 😀👍
Nice observations from you all. And yes I do notice the build of the PA5x seems more substantial. But on the other hand the Genos 2 is lighter for moving. I have had the Korg PA5x for a year or so. I like it. Got the Genos 2 a few months ago I like it too. I just can’t settle on one over the other, they are both good. Still need to use the Genos 2 a little more. Thanks again for the video
Brilliant Jim! Thanks for sharing your views and bringing a fair balance to the narrative. Love both companies and the friendly feud but as you have demonstrated, both can live under the same roof! !!
Lovely video. Decribing the sounds, i believe it depends on what you are looking for. The pa5x is more of a 'edit yourself sounds.' With the yamaha, the sounds are cd quality and more of a studio feel. Whereas korg is a live verison with no effects added. I do hope one day we will get a video where the sounds on the korg are edited enough to make it sound like a yamaha
Thanks for weighing in and sharing a fair and fresh perspective! 🙏🙏🙏👊
@@phillcyou're welcome Phil. As always, I look forward to your videos and knowledge
I have a Korg KromeEX 76 and bought it for fun at home and i love it. easy to use and fun.
Only bad for me is " No Recording input".
It looks nice. By no recording input, you're talking about a mic input right? Cos I see it can sequence?
@@phillc Yes a mic input. Sorry
@@larrbaII Got it. Thanks for clarifying. I guess a Digital Workstation (DAW) would help with that. Just like my Triton, though it has a mic input for sampling, it cannot hold much. So I use Mixcraft now for vocals. th-cam.com/video/2WgfpYcwb3I/w-d-xo.html
You cannot compare a synthesizer /workstation like a Triton or a Kronos and an arranger keyboard like Genos 2 or PA5. These are totally 2 different uses.
Yes, one may not compare them in terms of usage or functionality, but in terms of value and sound quality, any product or brand is fair game for comparison.
Great video! Your video editing just gets better and better.
Thanks Myron!
Another informative and entertaining video. Thanks for doing this series. I've had the fortunate experience of spending a few days getting to know these powerful workstations. The first thing to jump out at me was how much I did not like the Genos 2 keyboard. It feels cheap to me and I don't like the playing 'feel'. The PA5X keyboard is quite good. There are positives and negatives to both instruments, but the keyboard issue is one that would prevent me from buying a Genos 2. I found the SST feature on the PA5X to be fantastic and the dual styles playing, to me, was quite useful for developing new styles particularly when used with the mutes. The Genos sounds are terrific but with some judicious use of effects and equalization, the Pax can, I believe match it. Too bad they are so expensive but I do think you get more bang for the buck with the Korg.
TY! Great insights @wpsam52! Thanks for sharing! Cheers!
Sorry but the style you played on the Genos 2 is too monoish. You made it stand out only because of your fast fantastic right hand playing. The PA5X sounded better for me. You mentioned nothing about a very important component that being if they have SST. The PA5X I think has seamless sound transition whilst the Genos 2 hasn't which is a pity at that price. The Genos 2 memorises the MIDI settings in each Registration whilst I don't know if the PA5X does this. The Genos 1 does not. How about including also the Ketron Event in this field? Thank you for this review video.
Very good points. I will endeavor to record a more robust sound presentation in future episodes. Agreed on the sound transitions. KORG has a track record of classy design in functions and appearance. Cheers!
Korg need to DO their long promised UPDATE.
I'm not encouraged to buy it until they do, and obviously the longer that takes, it doesn't give me confidence to buy that product.
I mean, will there BE an update?
That's a worry to me. It doesn't show commitment by Korg?
But I won't spend out on a Genos or Genos 2 anyway, because for that kind of money a cheap plastic case is just ridiculous. Who the hell let that become part of a TOTL arranger?
The Tyros cases looked professional, but the Genos case is shocking.
So for the time being, the money stays in the bank!
💯👍👍👍
Good video and some very Interesting comparisons. The Genos 2 is definitely lacking in the build quality. There is no real excuse for that given the price. I do think Yamaha nailed it in the sound department but there are certainly issues they should have addressed by now.
Thanks for weighing in! Agreed. I see the quality of the Montage and MX88 and wonder.... is this from a different planet in a faraway galaxy? An alternate Yamaha universe with superior intelligence?!
Pa5X all the way, including sounds 😁🤟
Thanks for weighing in on this topic! Viva KORG!
The build on genos isn't bad it doesn't feel cheap at all the only complaint I have with Genos is the lettering on the buttons it can wear away over time.
Awesome viewpoints Denven! Thank you for sharing your perspective. 👊
I highly disagree with the sound difference from Genos 1 to Genos 2. Genos 2 is a vast enhancement. Even the sounds that carry over sounds better on the G2. The New Steinberg Reverb do a big of the difference just giving it a much better defined audio stage, and the new drums is also a nice step forward building further on the revo drums. Despite Yamaha needs to start rethinking their conservatism of not having any meaningfull sound edits in their arranger lineup which is hillarious, the addition of just the current state of the preset DX7 sounds gives you a much bigger posibility of fairly easy getting those big LA Piano or other combos of a real synth and AWM sounds combined. I hope Yamaha will later add the posibility of loading DX sysex sounds into the YEM software. I don't expect to get a full blown Montage in the Genos, but Korg is a couple heads in front of the Genos in actually having some "sound design" features. Nothing beats Yamaha in the pure quality and expressiveness of its S.art sounds but they need to stop being so anal about being afraid that noone would buy their Synths if the add some real sound edit like we have had for 2-3 decades in any romplers that cost a fraction of these expensive boards. I am positive surpriced that Yamaha actually got a pretty good aftertouch implementation on the G2 which was horrible bad on the G1 despite using the same FSX keybed as the Montage line. I still liked the Keybed and sturdyness of the old P9000Pro much better. This is a sad developement over the Tyros years to go over to 100% plastic. I do like the weight change from the 27kg P9000Pro to todays 17Kg but I still miss having at least a base aluminium frame and could live with the added weight that would give. I do agree that considdering the cost of memory today It's kinda sad to see measly 15gb available. There could easily be 1tb available in many of todays instruments this is not just a Yamaha issue. The 3gb expansion (sample) memory is due to the VLSI design. Genos uses the same chips as the Montage ModX for sound generation and the chip only have a 32bit memory adress range so its the same problem as old 32bit OS'es on computers that they have a max of 4.3gb memory adress range for the sample memory. But with Yamaha bringing out the software version of The Montage M for at first Montage M owners only, we can just hope that Yamaha has seen the light and are working on ditching the archaic VLSI design and going 100% software based in the future. It would also make it able to get around the problem with the prealocated Effect processors in the Genos line and give people real SST functionality which is one of the cons of the Genos that people more or less starts to demand today.
Wow! Talk about a real deep analysis! Thank you my friend! Thank you for sharing your perspective. I appreciate your detailed insights and understand that opinions on sound quality and features can vary greatly among musicians. Your points about the Genos 2's enhancements, particularly the improved reverb and new drums, highlight some of the advancements Yamaha has made. The addition of DX7 sounds and better aftertouch implementation are indeed notable improvements.
While I have my reservations about certain aspects of the Genos 2, especially compared to the PA5X, it's clear that Yamaha has made significant strides in some areas. Your feedback about the need for more robust sound editing capabilities and the desire for a more durable build is something many users share. It's crucial for manufacturers to listen to such feedback to continue improving their products.
I agree that having more memory and moving towards a software-based approach could significantly enhance the Genos line's capabilities. Let's hope Yamaha considers these suggestions for future models. Thank you again for your thoughtful comments and for engaging in this important and passionate discussion!
I haven't watched any of the other videos you've posted on this yet, but I'll get to them. What I'm saying is my opinion, based on my experience with other Yamaha and Korg keyboards. I've not had the opportunity to play either the PA5X or the Genos 2 yet.
First, sound quality. It has always been my feeling that the Korg PA, or Professional Arranger, wasn't really designed as a gigging instrument, but a studio instrument. Because of that, the sounds it has are more 'raw', and not dripping in effects that you would find in a more finished product. The Yamaha, on the other hand, is more gig-ready in it's sounds. You don't need to worry about how much reverb or such that you need, because it's already there. With the Korg, you can go in and add the effects you want, and route them in a ton of ways that isn't possible on the Genos, and get the sound you want. You can also, of course, route them through external effects before your DAW. You can route the Genos also, but a lot of it is already done. You can add more, but if it's in the actual samples, you can't remove it. In that regard, I prefer the Korg because I get a more natural sound out of it. But, I play 'The Great American Songbook' and don't play a lot of music that 1980s and newer where the sounds are dripping in effects. I prefer to be able to add what I want, and not worry about having to remove something that I can't.
Styles. A huge difference between the Genos and the Korg. Chord recognition. I'm not talking about the actual chord (I am, but I'll make it clear) but the type of chord. Yamaha recognizes the chord, and plays a pattern for each of the style elements. Play a Major, a Seventh, a Sixth, a Minor, and Augmented or a Diminished, and it always plays the same chord pattern for each chord, just different notes. Whereas, the Korg treats each of those chord types differently, or, at least, it CAN. A bass pattern may be nearly the same for all six chord types, but a guitar or piano part may be very different for a Major versus a Diminished or an Augmented chord. This isn't available on all styles, but where it is, it is very noticeable. To me, that makes the styles of the Korg more 'musical' and 'realistic.' Furthermore, this has been the standard for Korg since the introduction of the ORIGINAL i3 way back in the 1990s, when it was introduced in 1993.
Pricing. They are priced out of the reach of so many individuals, but really, Korg prices haven't gone up *that* much. I currently have a PA800, which is 18 years old. I've had to replace the touchscreen and the power supply once. In 2008, when I bought mine (about two years after it was introduced; I had a PA80 before that) even with a discount from Guitar Center Pro (because I worked for a supplier for them), I still paid $3,500. Today, a PA5X-61 is only $1,200 more, $2,000 more if you purchase the new PaAS Mk II. For 18 years of inflation, that really isn't bad. I can't afford one now, but I eventually will get one. I've seen a B-Stock (in store demo unit) of the 88 key version of $4,300, which is amazing, since it is a demo unit and has a full Korg warranty. The PA5X 88 is $5,300 new, the Genos 2 is $5,700, both are for the keyboard alone. Add $800 for the new PaAS Mk II and you're at $6,100, add the speaker system, a stand, and a couple of pedals to the Genos 2, and you're at $6,400! So, fully maxed out, with everything you need to play, you're at about $6,400 (plus tax here in the States, depending on which state you live in) for either one. In one case, you get 88 keys with a weighted keyboard and in the other you get 76 keys.
For out gigging, the Genos 2 is probably a better choice, since there's less to do for the sounds. Plug it into a nice PA system, and you're set to go. The PA5X would take more work to set up the sounds for something like that. Both offer Microphone inputs, the Korg also offers a guitar input and guitar cabinet simulations, so if you're doing a duo with a guitar player, all of their effects are built into the Korg, and you can run both instruments to one PA system. But, I think the Korg would be better in the studio, particularly the home studio.
Anyway, my opinion. I'll get to the other videos in the next few days.
Thanks for the honest diligent expansion of ideas here Gary. It definitely helps put things in perspective, especially as I am gearing up for a fourth episode in this saga! Happy Fourth!
@@phillc Happy Fourth to you, also, if you're here in the States. I thought you were in the UK. I watched the second one earlier today. As I said, I haven't played either yet, so I can't accurately comment. What I did hear when the PA5X was introduced was a huge difference from the PA4X. In fact, I thought to myself at that time that the PA5X actually sounded more like the Genos than the PA4X did, and this was Genos 1.
I DO like the sounds I hear out of the Genos, for the reasons I stated above. Great for playing out in front of people and no real work to set them up, but if I'm laying down tracks in a DAW, I want the PA5X, at least from what I've seen and heard online.
Best to you and thank you for your videos.
This was a video I needed to see and to hear as I have been torn between the PA -5X and the Geno’s and the DGX and I think I will be having the best of all three thru the DGX and it is 3 times less $$ EXPENSIVE $$ than the other two mentioned earlier.
So that makes the DGX the no brainer for me.
And especially with my budget.
I have a KORG X-2 now 30 years old and it has got relatively great sounds in it even compared to the latest keyboards out there however the floppy disk drive has failed and now I think the backup memory battery has failed so I will be going for the DGX. Hands down.
Thank you for watching the video and sharing your thoughts Michael! I'm glad it helped you in making a decision. It's impressive that your Korg X-2 has served you well for 30 years - it’s a testament to the quality of older instruments. While it's unfortunate about the floppy disk drive and backup memory battery, transitioning to the DGX will undoubtedly provide you with modern features and reliability. My KORG Triton Floppy Still works! Happy about that! If you have any further questions or need more insights, feel free to reach out. Happy playing!
I have seen several threads and videos stating that the Genos comes tuned/EQd and good to go right out of the box, whereas the Pa5x is rmore "raw". If you take the time to EQ the output of Pa5x I believe you will get much better results.There is a Maxx Audio setting that should be enabled. Because there is nothing wrong with the sounds themselves.
Just my 2 c..
Thanks for sharing your insights and opinions @eirika666!
I need a keyboard with
korg buildqualite and yamaha sounds. Now I use DGX670 AND aPSR sx900.
Thanks for sharing your setup and perspective 😃🎉
You can see the chords of the long intro like a chordsequenser, press twice, you can play endless and improvised with the long intro. The same, press twice the break etc. It's has also a different pattern if you started the long intro with a MINOR or MAJOR chord, have you already try it or noticed it?? No GENOS 😢
On the KORG? That is unbelievable! Thank you so much for sharing those insights! Pretty remarkable 👏
@@phillc of course, KORG PA5X, that's your comparing with GENOS
@@royhesselink-rh7ce Thanks!
I totally disagree with you on the 5X and you are entitled to your opinion, I have practically every Korg synth out there and the technology that the 5X has, no other arranger to date can come close, now you are comparing a synthesizer to an arranger with full synthesizer capabilities? they are two different keyboards, those monitors are too cheap to really hear the quality, spending a little time at a music store does not give justice to the PA5x until you dig in deeper and the updates that will be coming will knock all the arrangers out of the water as far as editing because it is the most flexible out there. Maybe you are a YAMMIE enthusiast? or maybe VST? You are going to compare the piano of the Trinity to the KORG PA5X? come on give me a break, I have been in the business too long to hear this, you may sway a few arranger players not to buy PA5X but if you look at most videos it's very strong in Europe and Middle east due to the fact of the immigration of older sets getting transferred to 5X that will have a huge sample user memory and also one of the main reasons that I switched to the 5X.
@Vangelismusic1, Thank you for sharing your views! I love it! Thanks for respecting my opinion and sharing yours. Diverse viewpoints are so helpful as it balances the narrative and makes life rich when done in respect as you have. As musicians, it's impossible for us to always agree. I have been playing Korg keyboards since 1988, long before some began their journey with Korg. While I am not favoring either brand, I go hard on Yamaha too in Part 2 and 3 (to be published). Realistic sounds are crucial to me, and the PA5X does not meet Korg’s usual high standards in this regard, which is disappointing. However, for those who are not multi-instrumentalists or particular about sound realism, the PA5X can still provide a fantastic experience without judgment. When I take off my critical hat, I do enjoy playing it. Critiques and criticisms should be used as positive tools for improvement. Since Korg was my first love, I want to be honest and contribute to the narrative for future enhancements. Additionally, I recently visited three states in the US and did not see a single Korg on display. This needs to change!
@@phillc If you want realistic then I guess best way is VST, but for a solo or 2-3 piece band without drummer, arrangers is the way to go, I can see you're perspective and that would be more of a studio sound and not live because keep in mind, the LIVE sound changes dramatically and very hard to adjust unless you really know what you are doing and acoustics of room is an unlimited change of sound to the ear. The main reason music stores don't have any expensive keyboards is because they take a loss and don't make any money on used and abused merchandise from what I saw in a few videos, but how are you going to buy something expensive without trying it?
Now, if you want the most realistic arranger there is only one to date and that is the Ketron Event but there are no styles or sound support for what I play, so I have only one choice PA5X because I have tons of sounds and styles to make my job easier.
Beautifully said! Let's showcase KORG's brilliance and continue to uncover the hidden gems in the Pa5X. I am a massive KORG fan and will continue to share great insights like yours founded on not just passion but solid experience! Cheers!
@@phillc about the realistic sounds argument: we all know that different people hear sounds in different ways. Except for articulations, the quality of the sound itself can be perceived differently by different individuals. I feel like the sounds on the Pa5X are as good as the ones on the Genos. The main difference to me is that the Pa5X sounds are more raw out of the box, which for my use cases is perfect, because I really don’t care that much about presets with effects. I pass the sounds of all my instruments thru an H9000 module, and I must tell you this: The Pa5X sounds out of this world when configured this way. I bet the Genos would sound equality amazing on my setup, but what really made me go with the Pa5X is it’s technology. The OS is fully expandable, the midi implementation is done to perfection and the two arrangers in one is a killer when we know how to use it, mainly along with other instruments. I depend a lot on midi and the Pa5X is the heart of my setup because of it.
Your initial point; YES! The keyboards are nothing buy a laptop+custom midi controller!!!. The only value might be in how well the software clicks with the user. Reality! THERE IS NOTHING special in any of these beast! They are all CPU/Software based. There is ZERO justification for these prices! BUT, as long as people keep over paying, the top three will keep charging top dollar! Me? I don't see the quality or value in any of them once they bust the 3k mark!!! When you can get a Nautilus for $1700 brand new, how do you justify these 5-7k boards!!!!??? IF you want the biggest bang? It's still a quality laptop/desktop, giant monitor so you don't go blind, and some great instrument VST packs. NONE of the All-in-one workstations compare! Right now, I'd say the Komplete Kontrol MKII S88 w subscription service, will blow them all out of the water without trying! Plenty of cheap/free DAW's out there that are far easier to use than the workstations as well!
Thanks for sharing your insights and opinion!
And please spend time with the keyboards you want to review ... I was so disappointed with the styles you selected on the PA5x and even Genos, at least there are other interesting genres like ballads, funk etc., so I expected to sample a few of each. Also sample big band or the least comparative styles ...so we can judge ourselves but... Anyway ...objective opinion bro
Thanks for the comment. I have spent hours with both, not all on camera. I have several other PA5X videos on this channel. Its not a bad instrument, it just doesn't cut it for me with the solo instruments but together, the voices in the styles are ok.
And back your claims with practicals ... play as you compare ... Common
PA5X has a lot mistakes but untill now is much more bether as Genos.No full ringer mode Octacord play wrong bas pasage,Display is fixed,big instrument,plastic,infrastructure and screen infrastructure wrong and more,more?Thancks for Genos i will stay on PA5X
Thank you for weighing in with a powerful review! Much gratitude. I will contact Yamaha about that full finger mode to learn more!
not true at all ...my bro sound is subjective ...at all at all. Return their money if you were motivated. Common bro ....aaah. i expected to hear strengths in each one and disadvantage on each. for me ...the Pa5x is impressive with the pianos and Genos gud with brass and guitar ...thats my impression but ... this review bro ....hahahahaha
Thanks for the 2 cents. I like the controversy generated by diverse opinions. I grew up on KORGS so this was in my opinion not their best work. Again, agreement is impossible but generating new ways of thinking is. Genos piano is not spectacular. Agreed. But I am not impressed with KORG's either. I got their expansion cards for the Triton way back. I expected better. Not saying their bad, just not worth the $5K tag. My $150 VST is much better that both Genos and PA combined from Pianoteq. Again MY opinion.
Boring
Come on now! As a GENOS aficionado, I expect a beefier response to help "spice" things up since it's boring! Lol. (See what I did there?). Have you tried out the PA5X? What is your opinion? What makes the Genos work well for you. Keep up the great content. It isn't easy to put out as much content as you have. Cheers!
@@phillc yeah ok, you are somehow right, I was not very explicative. it's because I'm very disappointed by the content.. the guy seems to be on the highest skills on the playing, but the video is not good inm my opinion.. the sound is hawful (taken with a mic).. the guy talk too much; you cannot decide which is the best with such a video . and then, both keyboards are relatively good, Genos being more advanced however... I agree on the build quality of Genos that is discussable...voilà
@@spicyswiss33 Thanks for sharing your valued opinion mate! Very valid points coming from a GENOS aficionado. Top man! 👊