oildrops

Thanks again @AlenK , I don't know why I didn't think to use the coarse tune. The mixer idea is a good one. When I am in performance+step sequencer mode, I often end up changing something without knowing what is going on and get frazzled. I'm pretty happy with my solution since it keeps things simple. No need to use the scroll wheel or number pad to get from a piano to e-piano to clavinet sounds. I still need to have organ and solo synth pre-selected.

On 10/9/2022 at 8:51 AM, Brad Saucier said:

In performance mode, press edit and go to zone edit.  You should see octave shift. 

Ah, so I need to do this in performance mode. Does this mean creating an associated performance for the hex layer, and making sure that performance is selected when I use that hex layer? Or would I want to just make this patch in a performance instead of the Hex layer. I have done this in the past, but with a Hex layer it's easier to manage in a performance, ironically.

My goal is to use the hex layer as a set of electric piano tones that I can select using the sliders, mostly to cut down on the time it takes to get between tones in a song in the context of a funk and rock live setting. It's faster to use the buttons to get back to organ and synth if needed. If the compromise is to change octave when I want to use the clavinet, I think it might still be faster than needing to go back into "tone" mode.

9 hours ago, Brad Saucier said:

Do you mean the hex layer tone itself (the performance zone)?  Or a layer within a hex layer tone?  Either way, both are possible.  

The hex layer tone. I'm making a basic stage keys patch and just want to Clav to be down an octave from the pianos.

I just went through the manuals and haven't found a setting to set one Hex layer tone an octave lower than the others. Most of the time the answer is a simple menu item I missed, but is this possible?

On 12/7/2021 at 8:25 PM, Tom banjo said:

the dsp includes a couple of rotaries but nothing to write home about---the drawbar with it's rotary with brake parameter is fun but takes some learning i,the switch  for the fast /slow on the brake can be  toggled to another unwanted job so you might have to learn about that.

The bass on the organ--- even if splitting in an octave down instrument on the left it is not something to write home about. no matter how many times you set the levels to be even ---somewhere one of the two will be too loud or the opposite. I do get by with it ,by keeping things simple.

An octave down done wonders last night on a piano preset ,I was trying to learn lady madonna ,it has a lot of left hand going on,for my limited ability that is

You get it. I'm using a Digitech Ventura vibe for rotary, but often will use the speed up button additionally depending on which hand is free, or use the chorus organ preset for more variety.

Hey, I'm curious what XW-P1 users have done for a stage keyboard configuration, assuming you want to use bread and butter tones over the course of a set- organ, piano, EPs, clav, synth lead etc. I'm looking for ideas on how to set it up for quick tone access.

My example is the organ - the organ mode can't be split, and the bass is too low in the mix vs the higher notes. I've been trying to come up with a tone where I can bring a synth bass in and out of the tone.

I've tried a few ways to go about this using hex layers, performance, or a combination but with limited success. With a hex layer, there is no drawbar or rotary effect, however there is real time control by layering PCM organs and using the sliders, and using an external pedal for rotary effect. I've set up a couple of hex layers with a left hand EP or synth bass which sounds okay, but the organ is then limited to what you can find in the PCM library.

The major plus with keyboard splits in performance mode is that organ drawbars or solo synth controls can be active. I am also able to layer user tones rather than only PCM sounds. The downside is that if I have a bass tone on the left hand, there is no real time control over the volume, or ability to bring a part in and out without going into the mixer.

@CairnsFella Sorry about the numbering, I guess after editing my original post I deleted questions but didn't update the numbering. That's interesting that you can play an arp pattern in performance mode and keep the arp going while navigating between modes, I wasn't able to get it working.

@Jokeyman123 Yeah, the distortion would come in when layering organ tones even at low volumes. I'll have to go back in and see what DSP is happening, but all the organ PCM sounds I was using were clean and I had DSP off in the main effects mixer.

@Jokeyman123 That's helpful thanks! What I'm trying to do is have an arp playing as a way to transition between parts. Making chains is a solution. Or, stay in step sequencer mode and access zones 1-4 individually in the mixer. Or enter mixer mode and select channel 2 before I start playing the arp, then I can mute and un-mute tracks.

@Brad Saucier Thanks that's what I thought, I get one DSP choice that I can apply to as many channels as I want, but can't have two different DSP effects on two different instruments, and once I turn DSP on for one channel I lose chorus on every channel. All of the menus that include DSP on/off make it confusing. I sometimes can't figure out why I'm not getting the effect.

paging the experts @AlenK, @Brad Saucier, @Jokeyman123

I made it through the Companion, watched all of the funnzie tutorials several times, and read through the FAQ on here. Please excuse my questions if I missed obvious things. The sequencer control tracks unlock a lot of potential of this keyboard. I have a few questions about how things are connected, and some issues I've run into. Maybe there are workarounds I missed from the manuals, or limitations I need to avoid.

A tip that I learned: when selecting a control track parameter, stop the step sequencer from playing before scrolling, or it will alter the track it's affecting and leave it set. This is apparent if you scroll past the volume or tempo parameter. Okay for my questions:

1: Is there a way to change sequence patterns while in performance mode? If I am playing an arpeggio on zone 2, then switch to sequencer to change the pattern, it stops zone 2 from playing. Similarly, opening the mixer while in Performance mode stops the sound from zone 2. Is there a way to have access to mixer controls in order to change track volumes, turn channels on and off via the sequencer buttons, etc while also, for example playing an arpeggio from zone 2 in a performance?

2: When I load up a performance, I need to change Channel 1 to Solo Synth in the mixer in both Performance and Step Sequencer, despite having saved the setting in both. I must be missing something with the saving process.

3: I am still confused by DSP effects. I understand reverb is independent, and I can either use chorus or DSP, but can I use delay on the solo synth and chorus on a PCM tone in the same performance? In order to get chorus on most tones it seems necessary to edit the tone, increase the chorus level, then save it as a user tone. Only then does the chorus effect work. 

4: This is minor, but what do the Step+ and Step- buttons do? I can't find any information about what they do and I've never seen anyone use them in the hours of video I've watched.

5: How do I change the selection of notes that are assigned to the sliders in the Step Sequencer? I end up hitting a slider and it's usually out of key when it changes a note.

6: I've been trying to make a hex layer with different organ tones, and I'm experiencing overdrive/overloading when tones are combined despite setting the level being set low. My monitors are good, and I get the same issue with my headphone as low levels. Any solutions?

Another tip: the PCM drum tones sound pretty nice going into a boost pedal. I'm using a jfet based overdrive/preamp, and it turns the somewhat dull bass drum into resonant analog sounding drums. It's very surprising the content that is there that just needs an "exciter".

32 minutes ago, Brad Saucier said:

 

Scroll down to "check your firmware version" here....

 

https://support.casio.com/en/support/download.php?cid=008&pid=56

Huh, I guess it wasn't. I always assumed it had been done since I got a CD with the updater from the person I bought it from.

....and it's done! I closed everything, disconnected from the net, and turned off Windows defender. I had one of those "I'm done with this thing" moments last night after making a sequence I really liked then losing it, so if it got bricked it was a good day for it. My heart did sink when I heard the windows usb sound from the back room. Luckily it was part of the process. 

I lost my work I think because I didn't save everything into a performance. I still don't really understand how that works, if you can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it! I was messing with running the entire sequence through the filter, and my filter settings didn't get saved into the sequence when I brought it back up later on

Is there a way to check the firmware version on the XW-P1? I want to make sure it has the latest installed.

I haven't checked out the manual, but I played with every setting I could and discovered I could either  have the knobs and two right-most sliders send midi, or only the leftmost 7 sliders and no knobs. The organ mode results in the sliders sending midi in steps, which is better than nothing I guess, but actually makes it not very useful/musical to use. I have the akai midimix which maps easily, so it was really just unnecessary frustration. I think I'm done messing with the casio as a controller besides the keybed. 😄

I just picked up ableton, so right now my focus is split, but I do plan on continuing to slowly learn the ins and outs of the Casio so that it feels more immediate to make sequences and tones on, even if that means just sending single sequencer tracks into the DAW as a sketch pad. After watching all of the available video tutorials, I am still not entirely sure what's possible regarding using the solo synth as a part in the step sequencer. I get the feeling once I start using the controller tracks and creating chains, the XW-P1 will open up a bit more.

My dilemma for this keyboard has always been is it worth learning the deeper parts, since on the surface it feels limited for how much I can design step tracks, and manipulate them in real time based on what I have read in the manual and heard people do with the sequencer- or would it be more worth my time to just keep it as a organ/rhodes/preset machine, and pick up something like an electribe, circuit, or elektron box.

@Jokeyman123 I decided to take a step back and actually learn the software and hardware on their own terms before trying to get them to talk to eachother, esp since I very new to MIDI in general. 

Is there a definitive guide on how to set the XW-P1 up as a DAW controller? I'm getting notes, but no sliders or knobs. I've tried drawbar mode but still unable to map anything. One thing to note is my interface doesn't see MIDI when it's set to MIDI in general settings, only KEY. I have a midimix which sits nicely on the ipad spot, but it would be more convenient if I could map the drawbar sliders, plus more knobs is more knobs!

That's a lot to think about! It's not really a matter of better or worse as far as the tones, although there is a certain eq/compression in the XW-P1 that I can't really escape especially on the drum samples, great for many purposes but I would prefer a rawer timbre to many of the PCM tones.

The major appeal of adding a drum machine is the ability to use more than one custom synth tone on the sequencer. Sure, you can edit PCM tones, but you know what I'm saying. For instance I just tried to edit the kick drum sounds with DSP and then realized there is only global DSP in the sequencer so my custom kick drum can be used.

While I'm on the topic, I still need to figure out how to even add mono-synth to a sequence while maintaining the filter and cutoff control.

@Brad Saucier I have seen that, and watching it again it doesn't seem worth buying an ipad just for that. The menu isn't too hard to get around, and I'm not sure I would end up using the ipad for anything else. I wish there was a way to hook my midimix up to control the envelope.

There are a lot of synths out for $300 these days that I would probably get a lot more use out of than an ipad, and I guess I'm not interested in investing anything but time in the Casio. I'm thinking a novation circuit or one of the volcas would compliment the XW pretty well with some drum variety and extra motion, but then do I really need 2 powerful sequencers?

I've had the XW for a few years and have enjoyed the presets, but I am getting into techno production and looking for ideas on how to expand on the XW.

I am weighing the pros and cons of getting an ipad to use for solo synth control, more drum sounds, sampling, and whatever else ipads are capable of, vs picking up something like a volca drum.

Or, finally just learning ableton and using plugins to fill in where I find the XW is lacking for a performance/recording hybrid, namely drums and adding effects and filters to individual tracks.

Bumping this old topic. I have been editing solo synth tones lately and would really like to have some of these parameters on knobs. So my questions are:

How good is the ipad app for the XW-P1? Does it give you interactive control over envelopes and different filter parameters?

I already have an Akai MIDI-mix. Is there any way to map XW-P1 parameters to it?

I see no reason to think it would be fake besides that it's incredibly impressive.

I was watching this and trying to figure out the best way to go about doing this on the XW-P1 alone. It seems like making a Hex layer with PCM tones that are as close as possible, and then using sliders in between parts would probably work, but there are other sections where splitting the board would be needed. I can't play most of these parts, so it's just a theoretical question as I'm just starting to really get into this keyboard. Would like to hear some thoughts.

I can't seem to figure this out.

What I want to do is use the faders to control my mixer in Cubase. Is this possible? What settings should the XW-P1 be on to send MIDI out to my DAW over the faders and knobs? Also, is it possible to set the sequencer buttons up to mute and unmute tracks, and use the faders to control volume levels? 

I am about a day away from ordering a korg nanokontrol2 unless someone can tell me what I want to do is possible with the Casio.

Another question, do I need to either have it set for KEY or MIDI? What does each do? I would eventually like to be able to control softsynth parameters with the Casio, like the TAL UNO.

On 2/18/2016 at 2:51 PM, Elgin Baylor said:

I'll preface this by saying I bought the EH Lester K and it has pretty much satisfied my need for a better rotary speaker effect. However, before I added an external effects box I had a much simpler solution to get a serviceable organ, at least good enough for this weekend warrior. I created a Hex layer with four separate organ tones, detuning some slightly along with some other tweaks, then simply used the chorus effect to add that rotating speaker. It's sort of what I used to do in the old days with my string synth and something guitar players have been doing for years. Pretty neanderthal I guess, but it got me by.

The PCM rock organ and rotary organ sounds are both really good to my ear. I am finally starting to learn hex layers after two years of just using stock tones, and my first project will be something like what you did. Using a drawbar layer, along with a few different PCM tones I should be able to blend in that airy tone. I've also read about this being a good workaround to the fact that percussion is monophonic, so I can split the keyboard into zones and use one of the percussive organs on the lower strings. 

Anyone else had good luck making a custom hex layer organ patch?

Nice, yeah I like those moog patches, and some of the roland style basses and pads it can do. Don't get me wrong, the keyboard has some really cool sounds in it. Even some of the EP sounds are pretty good. The main thing that is lacking is my keyboard playing abilities, so I'm happy with what it can do right now. Even if I eventually only use it as a controller once I hone in on the sounds I love it's still a great deal. I don't understand the complaints I've read online about the organ sounds, I think they are one of the best features and the main reason I had for buying it. For EP I may still look into VST or a yamaha reface, but only after I actually learn to play. The leslie ramping is really cool.

5 hours ago, AlenK said:

Patient to doctor: "It hurts when I smile."

Doctor to patient: " Then don't smile."

 

You're running into the limits of Casio's filter algorithm. I hear the same thing on mine. 

Seems like a lot of the user patches do better with the filter. It's odd that casio would include that range on all of their solo synth patches, since it seems too easy to accidentally get those unpleasant sounds. Looks like I'll be getting an analog mono soon for knobbing!

I'm going to record some samples for you to check out...

Here you go, this is the preset 0-0 patch first, then I turn the volume down in the mixer which definitely helped, but there is still "digital overload" at anything over 80 (starts at 127...), then I move to one of the leadsyn patches and do the same then one of the moog pack sounds, numans lead.

At the end I turn the volume mixer way down and have to turn my interface gain up at the end which adds a lot of noise. You might say I don't need to turn the resonance up so high, but I'm actually very fond of the high resonance filter sweep sounds as effects. Interestingly, the compression of uploading to soundcloud seems to help a bit.

Cool rig. 

I have the XW-p1 plugged into the guitar/ line input on my alesis io2 express sound card and it works fine without adapters. As it is set up I can listen to spotify and play keys while listening through headphones, so I plugged the aux of the phillips stereo into the headphones jack of the audio interface and that works! Easier than trying to figure out why my computer won't allow me to run two audio outs. 

My P.A. system is a Peavey XR560, and two Yamaha 12"s in wedge cabinets, and it can't seem to handle the low end of the synth. 

Does your XW-P1 get staticky when the resonance is too high?