Korg Launches the New PA-80 Professional Arranger

Korg USA announces a new keyboard for music composition and live performance, the PA-80 Professional Arranger. The 61-note synth action PA-80 (with velocity and aftertouch control) features a 62-voice Triton-based HI synthesis sound engine, 640 high-quality factory programs (including GM level 2 programs), 200 musical styles/arrangements and a powerful XDS Dual sequencer plus many live performance functions.

The PA-80 Professional Arrangers critically-acclaimed Triton HI sound generation and effect processing engine produces a wide selection of acoustic and electronic instrument sounds. The PA-80 has 32 MB PCM ROM (including a stereo piano and new Melody Voice sounds), featuring sampled natural vibrato used to recreate solo instruments such as Sax, Trumpet, Harmonica, Violin and Flute.

Four stereo onboard digital multi-effect systems provide over 90 effects. These multi-effects can be assigned to a song, track or style, and can be used when an external microphone or guitar is connected to the PA-80. For additional tailoring of sounds, a fixed equalizer is provided.

The accompaniment system on the PA-80 provides a wide variety of musical styles as well as one of the most advanced chord recognition systems. Over 200 Styles (152 factory + 48 user) in Flash ROM are included and each Arrangement offers four Variations, two fills, two intros and two endings.

Korgs unique Backing Sequencer takes advantage of the extensive onboard accompaniment features to quickly lay down chord and melodic ideas. The user can play along with one of the PA-80s Styles, and counter melodies and other parts can then be added. The entire Backing Sequence is editable, and can later be converted to a Standard MIDI File.

The PA-80s revolutionary XDS Dual Sequencer engine (patent pending) supports up to 40 tracks of sequence playback (dual 16-track sequences plus 4 real-time tracks and 4 Pad tracks). The sequencers can play simultaneously, and each has its own set of transport controls and crossfader for switching between sequences in real-time.

A new multi-tasking operating system allows the user to load a new Style while one is playing, load a new Program while a Song is playing, and edit sounds or Global parameters while listening to song ideas.

The PA-80 has direct-from-disk playback of SMFs, with a Jukebox function for pre-selecting a set of songs (for ease of operation in a live setting). Lyric display is included, and a future option will support display of lyric information via a video output for connection to a standard television or monitor. An internal hard drive can be added for increased storage, and the PA-80 has a PCMCIA card slot for access to additional sounds, PCM, Styles and more.

Another future option is a Vocal Harmony/Guitar board, which adds more effects processing dedicated to the vocal and guitar inputs of the PA-80, including a four-part vocal harmony capability.

The PA-80 includes a 4 speaker, 2 x 22 Watt amplifier housed in a bass reflex cabinet for professional quality sound reproduction. Four outputs have been provided for connection to an external mixer or recorder, and the system allows the user to easliy define which instrument is assigned to which output. The PA-80 also features a large, easy to read custom LCD display.

The Korg PA-80 is available in October with a suggested retail price of $2500.