ABCDEFGHIJ
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(models ordered by release date)Yamaha MODX/MODX+Kurzweil PC4Roland Fantom-0Korg Krome/EX
Korg PA1000
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DISCONTINUEDDISCONTINUED
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SOUND ENGINES
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...sampleup to 8 elements per part, plus single instruments can be made of multiple parts; 128 polyphony mono or stereoup to 32 layers per part, 256 polyphony mono (128 stereo)up to 4 partials per part; 128 polyphony mono or stereo for sampled sounds, other sounds vary
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...tonewheel organno (sample-based organs instead)yes, 9 slidersyes, 8 sliders (9 adjustable on screen)no
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...FM synthyes, 8 operator, DX7 compatible, dedicated 64 polyphony (128 MODX+)yes, 6 operator, DX7 compatiblenono
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...VA synthnoyes, menu based editing, user-assignable controlsyes, touchscreen visual + menu editing, user-assignable controls, and some dedicated controls. May have lower polyphony than the sample-based sound engine.no
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...otherSuperNATURAL Acoustic adds modeling to some sampled sounds; optional dedicated VA emulations. May have lower polyphony than the sample-based sound engine.
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SEAMLESS SWITCHING
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...number of parts per seamlessly switchable sound4168
1 (works with Programs, not Combis)
but it also works when changing a Program from WITHIN a combi.
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...glitch-free held notes, without having to manually tweak fx
yesnoyesno
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...glitch-free while continuing to play a sound in both sound sets
may drop a noteyes (?)may drop a note
Yes, when changing a program WITHIN a combi
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...exceptions to seamless switchingwhen changing a Part within a Performanceswitching away from tonewheel organtonewheel organ, or changing a Part within a Scene (?)
Can't change Combis seamlessly, only Programs
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...maintained through more than a single patch changeonly within pre-defined sets of 8 (?)yesonly within pre-defined sets of 16 (?)yes
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EFFECTS2 fx per Part on up to 12 parts (plus an external part), plus add'l reverb, EQ, and master fx32 total effects units, flexible allocation (but some single effects can use up multiple fx units)1 fx per Part, plus 2 fx per scene (series or parallel), plus add'l reverb, chorus, EQ, and master fx5 total effects units for individual parts, flexible allocation, +w masfter effects and 1 total effects
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VOCODERyesnoyesno
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EXTERNAL CONTROLLER
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...supported via 5-pin MIDI or USB (class compliant)yesyes5-pin + limited USB5-pin only
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...can trigger multiple Parts on a single channelnoyesyesyes (?)
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...recognizes programmed split rangesyesyesnoyes (?)
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...max number of Parts that can be triggered externally (via controller or sequence)16168 if seamless switching is on, 16 if seamless switching is disabled16
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KEYBOARD-PLAYABLE SPLIT/LAYERED PARTS8, internal or external (+"loopback" trick to get 16 with limitations)16, internal or external8, internal or external, if seamless switching is on; 16 if seamless switching is disabled. (Seamless switching is always available within the 16 parts of a Scene.)16, internal or external
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...ability to re-use external sounds in new combinations without re-entering all MIDI parameters from scratchexternal sounds can be saved & accessed same as internal soundsyou can import external zones from one multi into anotherre-used ext settings have to be the first sound you use, no way to add it to an existing scene
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... can eaisly change the octave of inficidual zones on the fly
nono(?)yes, reasonaly wellnoyes for upper
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CONNECTIVITY
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...balanced outsnoyesyes
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...assignable outsnoyesyesno
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...USB Audio interfaceyesnowith Mac or Windows driverno
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CONTROLLERS
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...aftertouchnoyesnonoyes
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...sliders4 (part/element levels only), switchable 1-4 or 5-89 multifunction programmable8 multifunction programmable, switchable 1-8 or 9-16 as part controlsnono
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...knobs4 multifunction programmable endless encoders plus superknob9 multifunction programmable pots8 multifunction programmable pots, plus 6 context-labeled endless encoders/buttons, and 2 dedicated synth controls
9 multifunction programmable pots, limited functionality
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...ribbonnooptionalnono
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...foot controls4 total: (1) footswitch, sustain only (incl. half-damper); (1) footswitch, assignable globally; (2) continuous, assignable by patch (Performance of 1 or more sounds)6 total: (4) footswitch, (2) continuous. All assignable (half-damper supported when assigned to sustain). All assignable globally or by patch (individual Program, or Multi, or individual Program within a Multi).3 total: (1) footswitch, sustain only (incl. half-damper); (2) footswitch OR continuous, each assignable globally or by patch (Scene of 1 or more sounds.)
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...pitch/modwheelswheelswheels + lever
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...trigger padsnono16no
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RHYTHM PATTERN CONTROLS
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...switchable intro/verse/chorus sections on the flycan be manually setup via Scenes (?)no (?)yesno
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...ability to quickly change sounds while rhythm playsyes, from within a pre-specified set of 15 single sounds (no splits/layers) using KBD CTRL buttons, or 8 combinations of sounds (i.e. including splits/laters) using Scenes (?)yes, in Program mode, to any other single program (no splits/layers), and sounds do not cutoff (except organ); or in Multi mode, can change one sound while leaving another untouched (e.g. to do this within a split, like when playing LH bass.), but you can't change from one multiple sound combination to another. (?)yes, from within a set of 7 or 15 sounds without sound cutoffs (singly or in combination), depending on whether seamless scene switching is enabled; or to ANY other single sound but the first sound will cut off. This works while leaving other sounds untouched so also lets you do this within a split, e.g. when playing LH bass.
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FAVORITE/SET LIST PATCH RECALLtouchscreen, with "Live Set" pages of 16 at a time. Pages can be named. Items on a page can be re-ordered via copy-and-paste (keeping one space "empty" helps), or via 3rd-party Mac/PC editor.hard buttons, with "Quick Access" screen pages of associated patch names, 10 at a time (buttons switchable to other patch recall modes). Pages can be named. Items on a page can be re-ordered by selecting a sound and long=pressing the button you want to place it under. (keeping one space "empty" helps)touchscreen, 8 named entries at a time in a "Scene Chain" through a scrolling list. Chain pages can be named, Items in a chain can be -reordered via copy/paste/insert/delete.cue list
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Number of factory sounds
50
Available locations to store your own sounds
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Search function to locate sounds
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61
62
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USER SAMPLE MEMORY1 GB (1.75 GB MODX+)2 GB2 GB but only 256 mb avail for keyboard playable sounds and expansionsno
64
65
specific DAW integrationCubaseAbleton, Logic/Mainstage
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SEQUENCER typeloop-based multi-track pattern sequencer, plus UNeditable mulitrack linear sequencer ("performance recorder")workstation (editable multitrack linear) sequencerloop-based multi-track pattern sequencerworkstation (editable multitrack linear) sequencer (piano roll style)
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Editor/LibrarianMac/PC 3rd-party purchaseMac/PC/iOS 3rd party freeMac/PC 3rd-party purchasePC ?
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...doesn't manage favorites...doesn't manage favorites
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Othermotion control featureshigh trigger for organmotional pad
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note: ARP differences not noted in this comparison
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SUBJECTIVE
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...Action (semi-weighted versions)GoodVery goodFair
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...Ease of sound editingFairPoorGoodFair
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61 Price$1,400 ($1,500 MODX+)n/a$1,600 (up from $1500)
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76 Price$1,600 ($1,700 MODX+)$2,000$1,900 (up from $1800)
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88 Price$2,000 ($2,200 MODX+)$2,500$2,150 (up from $2000)
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61 Weight14.56 lbsn/a13.25 lbs
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76 Weight16.31 lbs19.4 lbs15.44 lbs
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88 Weight30.44 lbs28.7 lbs32.69 lbs
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Lower end midrange options: Korg Krome EX (61, 73, 88), Kurzweil PC4SE (88 only), Yamaha MOXF8 (88) still available at Guitar Center/Musicians Friend,
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A bit pricier and heavier: Korg Nautilus (61, 73, 88), Kurzweil K2700 (88 only).
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U.S. typical street prices accurate when chart first assemebled, may not be updated/current.
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