Anyone using a Korg Pandora PX4?

[Tenbender]

I'm looking for something to practice with using headphones. Does anyone own one of these and how do you like it? Thanks.

[RKeeley]

I just got the PXR4 to make it easy to record audio clips. I am not having any luck trying to lug around my WAY HUGE Tascam around from shop to computer office.....so I got the recording deck.
I haven't tried the built in effects yet....it does seem completley amazing that there is soooo many goodies in a device that weighs LESS than the AC Adapter wall wart!

Life is grand!
rk

[hippietim]

Very handy for throwing down ideas. The effects are pretty good. I think it's the best device out there to use as a sketch pad.

If you're looking to learn tunes, the PXR4 has one really cool feature - you can use the jog/shuttle wheel to cycle through a piece of music as slow as you want - I've sat there and spun the wheel back and forth on a particular note/chord until I nailed it. This was super useful.

Having said that, I went and bought myself the new Tascam CD trainer gizmo today because the process of getting tunes onto the PXR4 is a pain - my entire CD collection is ripped to WMA files so I have to convert to a supported MP3 format, copy it to a smart card, worry about managing the space on the smart card, etc. I like the simplicity of just popping in a CD and being able to have at it without fooling with the computer - and to think I make my living working on computer operating systems :).

The PX4 without the recorder is less appealing to me because it is limited to being a headphone practice gizmo. If you just want a some good amp sims and effects and if battery operation isn't a concern, I would get a Behringer V-Amp or a POD - they both sound better than the PX4 and can be used for "real" as well. If battery operation is a concern and you don't care about recording I would get the Tascam CD trainer because it has the ability to play CDs and slow them down at the correct pitch or also change the pitch up or down. If you want a recorder then the PXR4 kicks butt - it's not going to replace a modern recording system but it is more than adequate as a sketch pad - actually it is far more than adequate - it is significantly better than my old 8-track Tascam recorder - it's just that the harddisk recorders are sooo good now.

[maxwidmer]

chain, i.e. gtr=>PX4=>Vox Pathfinder, when I'm tired of using my headphones; the sound I get is not very useful though! Is this inherent from the device or is there a way to change the setup and make it useful?

[denny]

I am not familiar with the VOX amp, but I think you have two choices:

1) Go with the PX4 amp simulations and get the cleanest setting on the VOX or,

2) Disable the amp simulations on the PX4 and use the sound of the VOX amp

Your choice is whether to use the PX4 or your VOX amp to get your sound. I think the problem may be that you are combining the amp/speaker simulations on the PX4 with your amp settings. Use one clean and the other to get your sound.

denny

[Tom P.]

The previous generation. I use it all the time and feel it is a great tool for headphone practice. Lotsa features and tones but I primarily tweak a custom clean sound and prctice with the metronome or rhythm settings. The 15 sec. CD sampler is great for learning fast passages and changes.

[Kewlpack]

I started my modeling tone quest with a PX4 a few years ago. It was okay for headphone practice and lesson kinda stuff.

I suppose with some tweaking you could get usable tones from it... but in my experience the Korg ToneWorks series of multieffects aren't up to snuff with the latest generation of units. For reasonable money, you can get something very very good that will carry you beyond headphones.

[dhdfoster]

hippietim, let us know what you think of the Tascam. I'm learning C6 non-pedal steel and I'm looking at those Tascams as a great way to work on my bar intonation without cranking up an amp and a stereo. I know you just bought it, so I won't fire away with any questions.