At the 2011 Winter NAMM Show, Korg announced the Pa3X, the new flagship of Korg's Pa Series. Here is a brief look at what the new arranger keyboard has to offer.

Arranger keyboards are similar to traditional workstations with sounds, effects, sequencing, drums, and sampling, all combined in a single instrument. Designed primarily for the live performer, the Korg Professional Arrangers add to those features a dual playback sequencer, more articulations, and a number of ready-to-use Styles.

The Pa3X comes in two different configurations; a lightweight 61-key model, and an enhanced 76-key version with semi-weighted action and a motorized tilting display. Both Pa3X keyboards feature Aftertouch.

Thanks to Korg's EDS (Extended Definition Synthesis) Engine, the Pa3X is loaded with over 1,100 sounds, including a new stereo grand piano (with string resonance and damper realism), electric pianos from the Korg SV-1 stage piano, wind instruments, basses, guitars, digital drawbars with leakage and key on / off noises, and more. The keyboard also includes a full rhythm section with more than 100 drum kits, including new Real Ambience Drum Kits and Korg's Drums Family Easy Editing. The General MIDI (GM) sound bank has been improved for better compatibility with GM files as well.

According to Korg, the DNC (Defined Nuance Control) system in the Pa3X allows you to re-create the articulation of an instrumental player in a way other keyboards cannot, providing extended realism of instrument parts. Assignable switches and a ribbon strip have been added to the existing joystick to control this extra articulation.

The Pa3X boasts new effects, with the capability of using up to eight stereo digital multi effect processors at once. More than 140 effect types are available, including new vintage effects from the SV-1 Stage Vintage Piano, along with the Waves Audio MaxxAudio suite of effects (included).

For the live performer, the Pa3X offers a microphone input with TC Helicon vocal effects, which provide professional pitch correction tools, four realistic voices, and two doubled harmonies that can be controlled by the keyboard, MIDI, and even MP3 input. Using the new Audio Chord Detection function, chord information can be automatically extracted from an audio file and sent to the Vocal Processor.

The Pa3X also includes more than 400 music Styles, each of which has four variations and four Fill In + Break patterns, one for each variation. Several new parameters have been added with Guitar Mode 2, making the guitar tracks of every Style sound rich and authentic, according to Korg.

With updated Lyric and Score Display modes, the Dual XDS Sequence Player now supports the "+G" format for both MP3 and MIDI files. This support allows backing sequences to play with lyrics and graphics, which can be displayed simultaneously via the onboard display or on an external monitor (VIF4 option required). MIDI files can also be displayed as scores in the same way. A new Marker Function allows direct jumps to a given position in the song.

Using the XDS Dual Song player, one song can load as another plays, with DJ-style motorized cross fading between the two. Both MIDI and MP3 files can be used, and both can be transposed, accelerated, or slowed down. The new Advanced Vocal Remover allows vocals to be removed from MP3 files accurately and easily.

The Pa AS, an optional three-channel, self-powered speaker bar, is also available for the Pa3X. Providing 80 Watts of sound through five speakers, the Pa AS attaches instantly to the Pa3X with no brackets, tools, wires, or power supply required.

To learn more about the new Korg Pa3X arranger keyboard, visit korg.com.