Korg FISA SUPREMA

[saundersbp]

a very creative videographer with a sense of humor that’s quirky

He's a great presenter - the accordion humour equivalent of Jonathan Meades on architecture - and plays decent music rather than stuff that belongs to a drowned cruise liner band from the 1970's

Just looking at his latest video on bellows shake on Korg where he captions "I think bellows shake and rikoshet are overrated playing styles"
I couldn't agree more - and yet to do either!

 

[Thomas N]

Great videos! And wow, you just can't beat the real thing, can you? There is no substitute. A real accordion just sounds - better.

 

[Giovanni]

My FR4x has been running well. But if I went to another digital, will go with one the same size. I always have a Korg arranger at my side. No plans to be doing 3 hour shows solo without arranger in the near future. I may at times do solos at a table for birthday’s/anniversary. Which the FR4x serves the purpose.
Strange though, my FR1x, I can’t get comfortable with it sitting down. Maybe too small? Need the bulk of the FR4x.
Still watching, as more are doing demos on FISA.

From what I've seen of your live solo gigs You are making the right decision playing solo with no accomps would not be enough to hold the crowd all evening ........Lively audiences want to be entertained ........................not concertized ...................just my humble opinion
ps Korg type arrangers are ideal for this type of gig . with very good styles and accomps ....

 

[CPez]

Dale Mathis has a dozen Fisa videos up now. I've watched them........ After watching them all I've come to the conclusion that the switch just isn't worth it with the Roland FR-8X I've been playing for 10 years..... I only have four UPGs I use but I hopped into the editor and created 10 more based upon what I heard from Dale's Fisa demonstrations. They are very close.

Have you..... Not seen my Video and explanation and Set List that's already been out for months?

And with all due Respect, basing your opinion on weather to get a KORG or not.... on what you see from Dale Mathis.... is a Terrifyingly Bad decision. Watch Matthias, watch Luigi, and study the sets I've made.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Have you..... Not seen my Video and explanation and Set List that's already been out for months?

And with all due Respect, basing your opinion on weather to get a KORG or not.... on what you see from Dale Mathis.... is a Terrifyingly Bad decision. Watch Matthias, watch Luigi, and study the sets I've made.

Dale Mathis has a role to play. His selections and sheet music for beginners is great, but IMHO, that’s where he should have stopped.

His ‘arrangements’ for the Korg Fisa Suprema, again IMHO, don’t do anything to encourage sales of the instrument.

Since I’m 84, and already not playing on a regular basis, I doubt that I’ll invest in another accordion. But that doesn’t prevent me from appreciating what the Fisa Suprema can do in the hands of people with musical imagination. People listening to you, Luigi, Matthias, Uwe, etc. demonstrating what the instrument can do is what will sell it.

 

[JerryPH]

A real accordion just sounds - better.

... with gobs of skill and talent!

 

[Thomas N]

Have you..... Not seen my Video and explanation and Set List that's already been out for months?

And with all due Respect, basing your opinion on weather to get a KORG or not.... on what you see from Dale Mathis.... is a Terrifyingly Bad decision. Watch Matthias, watch Luigi, and study the sets I've made.

Commented on your set list in this very thread the same day it was released, so yep.

I've watched them all, and definitely not basing my decision on Dale Mathis sound sets LOL! Although the other 15 concerns I have are important to me.

 

[KeysFla]

Why stereo type what others are doing with scenes on the FISA? I would give Korg more credit on the scenes they set up already at the factory.
Then set up your own scenes that represent your style.

 

[EuroFolker]

Given that DM already had "Scenes" after a couple of days or weeks with a brand new, unfamiliar product... at best they're half baked.

In his videos (I've watched a couple) he's already publicly complained about the "stock" sounds of that accordion and stated that he can do better.

However, he's in his seventies and what about the inevitable changes to the way he hears sounds? Without the high frequency information in the mix, just how well can he judge the overall balance of the sound? From what I can tell as a beginner he's a decent player but like someone hinted above, not the right person to promote the product and inspire others to buy it.

 

[dak]

However, he's in his seventies and what about the inevitable changes to the way he hears sounds? Without the high frequency information in the mix, just how well can he judge the overall balance of the sound?

I doubt he'll be a main contributor to the accordion being more popular with older people than with those expected to have good hearing (how much that expectation is warranted any more considering the young people's music enjoyment habits is a different question).

 

[KeysFla]

In my view, I respect Dale as a performer and You tuber whom has many positive reviews. Connects with people well. I always call on him when I need an accordionist for a gig. He excels well in relating to others without strings attached. He is my top go to recommendation.

 

[EuroFolker]

I doubt he'll be a main contributor to the accordion being more popular with older people than with those expected to have good hearing (how much that expectation is warranted any more considering the young people's music enjoyment habits is a different question).

Perhaps the Edition will contain a much improved Techno set, to connect with the younger audience

 

[KeysFla]

Perhaps the Edition will contain a much improved Techno set, to connect with the younger audience

To me, the brand name Korg is all I need to know. Well respected brand…

 

[CPez]

".... He's already publicly complained about the "stock" sounds of that accordion and stated that he can do better."

I feel like this still gets confused with Electric Accordions. The "Sounds" are referring to each Individual Sound. The "Do better" is referring to Sets / Scenes where you have created multiple sounds with accordion attached, maybe other things, and percussion, bass, chords on other instruments, etc. In my National Anthem Symphony patch I used to open the election, I think I have 12 different Instruments on it!

There are over 200 Sounds on the KORG, and All are of Dexibell and KORG Quality. They are Incredible. Just listen to any of my Jazz Guitar video, Vivaldi Violin video, and Chopin Piano video. They are unlike ANYTHING you can do on the Roland Accordion. Now in reference to the 120 Sets / Scenes that the factory gives you - Yes, some are Total Blah and make you go "What?!", but many are useful, and a few are Great. But again, these accordions are NOT made for buyers to Wait until Dale or I or Richard or Matthias make sets - They are made to go to YOU the Buyer and YOU make your OWN Sets / Scenes, WITH the 200 amazing sounds they give you.

It Is hard to create them, yes, so buying my sets or Richard's sets or Dale's sets will Certainly help you TRULY enjoy the KORG. But the point of the instrument, is for You to learn how to make some scenes, and create your own.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

".... He's already publicly complained about the "stock" sounds of that accordion and stated that he can do better."

I feel like this still gets confused with Electric Accordions. The "Sounds" are referring to each Individual Sound. The "Do better" is referring to Sets / Scenes where you have created multiple sounds with accordion attached, maybe other things, and percussion, bass, chords on other instruments, etc. In my National Anthem Symphony patch I used to open the election, I think I have 12 different Instruments on it!

There are over 200 Sounds on the KORG, and All are of Dexibell and KORG Quality. They are Incredible. Just listen to any of my Jazz Guitar video, Vivaldi Violin video, and Chopin Piano video. They are unlike ANYTHING you can do on the Roland Accordion. Now in reference to the 120 Sets / Scenes that the factory gives you - Yes, some are Total Blah and make you go "What?!", but many are useful, and a few are Great. But again, these accordions are NOT made for buyers to Wait until Dale or I or Richard or Matthias make sets - They are made to go to YOU the Buyer and YOU make your OWN Sets / Scenes, WITH the 200 amazing sounds they give you.

It Is hard to create them, yes, so buying my sets or Richard's sets or Dale's sets will Certainly help you TRULY enjoy the KORG. But the point of the instrument, is for You to learn how to make some scenes, and create your own.

All true.

Many of us, especially FR-4x owners, could only create efficiently with an editor. If that’s also true for the Korg, then hopefully an editor for the Korg is also in the works.

 

[EuroFolker]

All true.

Many of us, especially FR-4x owners, could only create efficiently with an editor. If that’s also true for the Korg, then hopefully an editor for the Korg is also in the works.

Efficently, meaning without a neck injury & retina separation due to eye strain?

I could never get the fr4x editor to work on a Windows computer for more than minute without crashing, no matter PC / Windows / Java version.

No such issues on a Mac but what if I didn't have a Mac to use.

If they make an editor hopefully it will be a solid piece of software and not rely on Java.

I am sure people will now tell me "It works just fine for me on a PC"

 

[Thomas N]

There are over 200 Sounds on the KORG, and All are of Dexibell and KORG Quality. They are Incredible. Just listen to any of my Jazz Guitar video, Vivaldi Violin video, and Chopin Piano video. They are unlike ANYTHING you can do on the Roland Accordion. Now in reference to the 120 Sets / Scenes that the factory gives you - Yes, some are Total Blah and make you go "What?!", but many are useful, and a few are Great. But again, these accordions are NOT made for buyers to Wait until Dale or I or Richard or Matthias make sets - They are made to go to YOU the Buyer and YOU make your OWN Sets / Scenes, WITH the 200 amazing sounds they give you.

Exactly! I have never purchased a sound set from somebody and never will. I think they are useful for those that don't want to customize, or perhaps aren't technically inclined enough to customize. But for me just give me an editor and an hour and I'll set it up the way I want it for my playing style and preferences. It's fun to see what others have done, however, and I blatantly stole your Art Van Damme vibes/bassoon combination from your Korg video on my Roland a couple weeks back. I never combined them for some reason and love the sound of it. Probably put 40 hours playing just that combination in the past few weeks LOL!

I think more videos are coming out and really helping. If somebody is really interested they should watch every Luigi video. You can tell that guy just poured his heart and soul into this instrument and loves what it's become. I watched his deconstruction videos of his performances and learned a lot.

The Uwe videos are also incredible for learning. You can read Korg's blurb on their website about their approach to the bellows simulation advancements but when you hear Uwe explain it in detail over a series of 15 minute videos with direct comparisons to an acoustic and Evo (very similar to an FR-8X) you really start to understand what Korg is doing with this instrument. That was glossed over by me personally until I saw his videos.

I did hear one Luigi performance where I heard what I wanted to from the drum side of the house. It was the only video where I found distinct differentiation from the normal bass/chord drum assignments we've had for years. Sadly, somebody commented they loved it and asked how it was accomplished and Luigi responded that it was a .wav file on a USB stick. Damnit.

Keep this thread alive. We're learning more and more.

 

[John M]

All true.

Many of us, especially FR-4x owners, could only create efficiently with an editor. If that’s also true for the Korg, then hopefully an editor for the Korg is also in the works.

I agree an editor would be a nice addition for the Fisa. However, as I look through the Fisa manual, the “layout” of the on board screen editor seems more logical than that of my 8X. A few comparisons:

● The use of “Scenes” on the Fisa instead of “Sets & “UPG’s” on the 8X. I always made my changes to “UPG’s”.
I never figured out “Sets”
● Doing a memory backup. With the 8X, you have to backup both the “Sets” and the “UPG’s”.
With the Fisa, there is one command -> “Export Backup”
● The 8X backup files always had the same name. FR_8X_SET_ALL.FR8 for “Sets” and UPG_ALL.UPA for “UPG’s”.
I kept each backup in a separate folder with a name and dated it. The 8X date for all file backups was 1/1/2013.
The Fisa allows for an independent name for each backup.

There are other improvements for the Fisa on screen editor VS. the 8X on screen editor.

 

[Thomas N]

I agree an editor would be a nice addition for the Fisa. However, as I look through the Fisa manual, the “layout” of the on board screen editor seems more logical than that of my 8X. A few comparisons:

● The use of “Scenes” on the Fisa instead of “Sets & “UPG’s” on the 8X. I always made my changes to “UPG’s”.
I never figured out “Sets”
● Doing a memory backup. With the 8X, you have to backup both the “Sets” and the “UPG’s”.
With the Fisa, there is one command -> “Export Backup”
● The 8X backup files always had the same name. FR_8X_SET_ALL.FR8 for “Sets” and UPG_ALL.UPA for “UPG’s”.
I kept each backup in a separate folder with a name and dated it. The 8X date for all file backups was 1/1/2013.
The Fisa allows for an independent name for each backup.

There are other improvements for the Fisa on screen editor VS. the 8X on screen editor.

I just sent my FR-8X in for a MIDI board replacement. I had to back it up. Took about 10 seconds. It's just a couple clicks to back up both the sets and UPGs. It's two steps rather than one but I didn't even think about it.

I've read interesting comments about the Korg user interface. One note was that you cannot use the 13 treble registers to go between scenes. I do this for my FR-8X often, using the first 5 treble registers to jump between my UPGs. Apparently, on the Korg you cannot do this and must use either the Master bar to advance through the Scenes or actually hit the Scenes button corresponding to where you want to jump. Unfortunately the Scenes buttons are located in an unfavorable position right under your chin and it's an awkward button press to hop back down to the keyboard. Of course this may change in a new software release, it might just be flat-out incorrect, or you could use the chin switches to go through the Scenes. Hopefully somebody can comment on that in the future.

I had poor experiences with my FR-8X chin switches. I play rather dynamically and would accidentally hit one often. So I programmed it to keep the rightmost chin switch inactive, but then once per session I would accidentally hit the middle switch! So I inactivated both rightmost chin switches which then made it a chore to hit the leftmost one. So I ended up figuring out that chin switches on the Roland FR-8X combined with my style of playing and the position of the accordion where I like to play it were not compatible. Others have had great success with them.

 

[John M]

. . . I have never purchased a sound set from somebody and never will. I think they are useful for those that don't want to customize, or perhaps aren't technically inclined enough to customize. But for me just give me an editor and an hour and I'll set it up the way I want it for my playing style and preferences . . .

Starting out from "scratch" to build a sound set would take me hours to develop. I purchased Richard Noel's UPG's for the 8X. He builds 99% of the sound I want. Then I make minor adjustments (customize) the sound to what appeals to my liking. Sometimes it's only adjusting the volume between the Left and Right hand registers. I never do any adjustments using the knobs on my 8X. I leave all knobs at a fixed "default" position and then make all adjustments in software. That way, when I select a UPG it is exactly the way I programmed it.