Silvano Silva

On 3/12/2024 at 10:24 AM, Jokeyman123 said:

Not so simple even with software unless i am mistaken. Every tool I've tried that supposedly has an "auto-assign" function for mapping individual samples to create a multi-sample works poorly or not at al, unless I've missed something. And looking over the MZ-X sample manager I'm not sure the MZ-X can even load compiled multisamples, only individual wav samples, is this correct?

 

There a few freeware programs that can create multisamples-one is called Viena"-not "Vienna"-sounds like a silly distinction but the one is a true sample editor (Viena) and the other is much more complex and focuses on working with its own "virtual" instruments and large sample libraries that are already compiled.

 

The other is called Polyphone.  Both these programs will compile a group of individual wav samples into multisamples,  and these are designed to create a "soundfont" which would be your final multisample designed to be played on the computer with any program that can load a soundfont-I use "Coolsoft' which is a virtual synth that loads and plays soundfonts in Windows which now lets you play any midi file in your computer with higher quality soundfonts. I know this is getting off-topic, but both polyphone and Viena allow for the creation of multisamples from samples-whether you save these as soundfonts or not. I don't know of any simpler software that can create and assign wav samples to create a playable multisample. I wish i did, even the built-in editors in the expensive workstation keyboards are all fairly complex whether Roland, Korg etc.

 

As I don't think the MZ-X can load and play a complete multi-sample, none of this would do you any good, unless you are willing to use your computer as a "virtual" tone module-you could create multisamples from wavfiles, compile each as a soundfont (sf2) load into coolsoft and play live with the MZ-X connecting the MZ through midi or USB to the computer. If you are using a DAW, or any software midi file editor or player-you can load Coolsoft's virtual synth engine into your DAW or midi player/editor and use that as your synthesizer with whatever soundfont you create. The benefit to this is that soundfont can be one instrument done as very high-quality multisample, or an entire collection of orchestral or other style instruments in one soundfont file, which are easy to fine online, but vary in quality. And then, there is Kontakt......for considerably more money and complexity. I have it, hardly use it.

 

Unfortunately, unless someone else here can post something better, once you open the field of sample editing and compiling into multisamples, it gets way more involved than it should. i wish there was a simpler answer. I have searched for several years trying to find a simple software sample editor that can create a multisample easily-and i have not found any except fot Viena and Polyphone and these are not too simpl either. Thus my complex post.

 

One of the best automappers for wavsamples I found...was the sample mapper included in Casio's IDES 4.0 which I used with the Casio PX575-it was drop-dead easy to load each wavfile sample in its software editor, map it to whatever key range i wanted, and save it as an internal, playable multisample direct from the PX575. If the MZ-X can't do that, I have to wonder why. If it can, you need to use an audio editor such as Audacity or Goldwave, Ocenaudio or something similar (I think Soundforge is still around which I also have) to edit each wavsample, then you still need to compile it into a playable multisample, and that's where it gets complicated with software, or with...well anything! Chicken Systems has "Translator' which has a supposed multisample auto-mapper, but it costs, and it does not work too well. I just tried it yesterday, and it crashed my computer-again. 

 

If someone else has better info, post it if you can. I use the Alesis Fusion and Korg M3 for sampling and playing multisamples, and their internal editors are...well I'll leave it at that. Both can load and play (theoretically) soundfonts and can create multisamples internally, but it is definitely not for beginners, and even for advanced users, doesn't always work exactly right.

For me, it was enough to have an SF2 to ZTN converter.

This would make it easier as there are tons of more practical SF2 editors on the internet.

I'm glad you bought Translator and gave your opinion, even if it wasn't very positive.

On 2/10/2024 at 3:50 AM, Just Alex said:

Yes you can load Yamaha style files directly, via "SMF Import", but you have to change their extensions from .sty to .mid

 

And for the bugs in the MZ-X500, here's another one:

 

DSP priorities. The MZ-X's DSP is an Insert.

Choose sounds that don't have DSP in the instrument table.

This is not a bug

It's a Limitation

14 hours ago, FlashyEagle8 said:

Ho thanks for cheering me up and targetting me the little different details, so that everything is all bright and clear !

 

Okay, for the appearance and keyboard’s style, the PX is rather a "portable Synth" (like ctx5000) that’s been built with improved upgrades, so that it has the Feeling touch and physical appearance of a UpRight Piano ; also, the "metal" to give the impression of Heavy Hammered Keys !

And for that feature, "they" said to be having some Ebony material, when i said the unappropriate "wood" term, but in fact as u said, it’s the Metal Counterweight system of Hammering and the "real wood or Ebony" which is the Resine Mat that gives a very close aspect of Ebony/Ivory texture, on the HighRange PX-S Models which are real Digital Pianos, if i’can recall that.

 

Also, i can say now is, as it was done on the CT-X and now the PX, they built the keyboard "cheap" and played between the Key "Touch" and the "Sound" for making them look like Real GrandPiano.

Now, since i own the Ct-X5000, I understand this "combo" action mentionned above and thats fantastic as im glad to have this keyboard, indeed !

 

Now, for the Sound,  u well-explained me that the PX has a great Piano sound which im amazed. is it possible to reproduce that similar sound’s aspect (AIR),on the CT-X with its AIX ?

 

And for the HEX Layer on the Synth, i assume that there are 6 layers and i’was so stunned with the Sound’s Richness like Yamaha Montage (Modx, Genos, Kronos, DGX etc) that Hans Zimmer’uses for example.

Right there, im not sure if im right with my sound perception comparison between Casio and Yamaha, but i really think that PRIVIA PX does that, but if its the same or poly close or better than Yamaha, i dont know. Could u recall me that ?

 

And for the PX’s HEX Layers for SYNTH that the PX has, can the CTX5000 benefit of that Feature ?

Not sure, if it could get 6 Layers, but at least with its already existing/present layers, can it make the "similar" deep layered sound for SYNTH’s PX ? OR at least to adapt/improvise a Setup within AIX to reach for the less or the better the HEX’s PX ?

 

Could u tell me if there is a Possibility to do those on the CT-X Series ?

Because when buying it, since i heard of the "New" AIX, i thought it would’offer that Sound’s Richness just like PX (and the Yamahanmentionned above)

 

Just wandering as im still learning on CTX keyboard those features that i still ignore or wrongly use, and to be aware on what kind of Potential the Ctx can eprovide, so that i’ll explore deeper their uses and to acchieve it through my above questioned answer !

Thanks ! 

My friend, the CT-X is a good keyboard but we cannot put it on the same level as, for example, an MZ-X or PX-560.

The CT-X has a very good sound engine combined with a good DSP system.

When you get tired of the CT-X sound, the PX-560 will still have resources for you to continue editing and creating new Sounds due to its great Synthesis capacity.

Hexalayer, ADSR, polyphony are some of the PX that gain in quality.

Not even the new PX have as many features as the PX-560 and PX-5S. The new ones are very good in terms of sound quality with the new sound engines.

On 12/12/2023 at 1:08 PM, Mayo Vox said:

Super THNX Jokeyman

 

I was considering the touch screen it looks very nice, to be honest.

 

The next advantage of the MZ seems to be a "break" in the rhythms. 

 

I found it very useful on the Korg keyboards.

 

Thanks so much, and I'll post what I will decide.

-BREAK- on the MZ-X it only adds a measure without sound and it is not possible to create a variation with this button.

I have the CTX and the MZ-X but the MZ-X is much superior to the CT-X in terms of editing Rhythms

, It has a Drawbar, Hexalayer and you can even add Sampled Sounds. The MZ-X was built to be the Top of the Line arranger by Casio while the CT-X is a MID LEVEL

The PX 560 is another segment. It is a STAGE piano with arranger and synthesizer features.

The PX has heavy keys which for a Pianist is the perfect instrument.

The CTX is a new line of arrangers from Casio but it does not have all the sound editing features that the PX has.

What's new about the CTX is its new AIX sound engine,

but we can't compare the PX's pianos to the CTX's. As excellent as the CTX pianos are,

the PX is already a superior piece of equipment in terms of playability.

12 hours ago, Just Alex said:

In MZ-X500 you can assign any voice to any of the drum tracks, but there's a little issue - while you can assign a voice, it won't change it's tonality with chord changes. So there's not much profit of doing so. The only one practical use for that feature I see is that to use it for sampled voice playback, where pitch changing is not required. And since CT-X series can't do sampling anyways, there's no need for that function...

 

 

You are wrong. The fact that I want to put a tone on the Drum track is because I want it to be unaffected by the chord change.

The Bass 220 on the CT-X has the Last Octave Slide effects. If you put, for example, one of these Slides on channel 3 Bass when changing the chord, the effect will not play because the different chord will change the position of the notes.

Now if it can be placed in the percussion channel the Slide effect will remain active.

In MZX I created drum kits with Slides Bass effects in the last octaves. On Yamaha keyboards you can put Slide bass on any channel because Yamaha has a NO CHORD function where you choose which Main or Fill the function is placed on.

The Casio Keyboards I've had do not have this sound. On the Yamaha Tyros (also on the S900)

this sound is magically far superior to any adaptation and editing that is done on the Casio.

The ADSR on the Yamaha Start with a single wave and end with a small modulation.

And when using Bend we have a very convincing sound.

Casio has wisely added a Nylon guitar with Bend to the CT-X Line, as the MZX Line does not have this sound from the factory and it is necessary to sample an external sound.

As for the name, I think  ALOHA GUITAR.

The important thing is that the proposed sound is close to the intended sound.

On 4/9/2019 at 11:49 AM, jakenl said:

Anyone knows if the CT-X 5000 has Hawaiian guitar tone or how to get it?

The proper name is Pedal Steel. This sound doesn't even have on the MZX.

I had to Sample a Tone from Tyros 2. But in this case, to get closer just editing a Jazz guitar.

Hello. Why doesn't Casio release update 1.09 for old CT-X's? Has there been a change in hardware?

Another detail is that Casio could release some functions in editing Styles such as being able to put Melodic Tones on Drum tracks.

An example is the Bass 220 (VSTE.Bs1) where it would be possible to use a Slide effect from the Octaves above on one of channels 9 or 10. The Bass working on these Channels does not change chord changes,

keeping the Slide Effect where we could use it in Fills or Intros.

I don't know which country you are from, the name seems Brazilian.

Here in Brazil, in addition to the Casio website having regional rhythms, there are also programmers who sell Rhythm packages at good prices.

I am one of these Programmers.

For those who don't have time or don't know how to program, buying Rhythms packages is an excellent option.

https://www.casioteclados.com.br/ritmos/

On 5/1/2023 at 11:50 AM, SImon Jayakumar said:

I think u rightly said. I had a lot of sampled and converted tones. Maybe that's the reason. 

I'm sure that was it.

Now to save ZAL without samples the keyboard works correctly.

It is common for the MZ-X to corrupt SAMPLED TONES files in memory.

9 hours ago, Just Alex said:

Unfortunately, you have no idea about what I'm talking at all.

 

I've personally counted at least 12 bugs which are NOT related to samples at all.

These apply to style editing, sound editing (on board sounds, not samples)

User interface, file handling and other settings.

 

The guy who created the topic has doubts about Backup ZAL and in this part MZX has a bug when saving Sampled ZTN.

Please put a list of these non-Samples Bugs here. (This helps the community a lot even if Casio doesn't fix it)

Just leave a detail that Bugs and Improvements are two different things.

As for improvements, I have a list and as for Bugs, the most serious are regarding the use of Samples.

3 hours ago, Just Alex said:

I thought that CT-X series had a lot of bugs, due to relatively cheap price.

But when upgraded to MZ-X, bugs are far worse!

 

 

The Critical BUGS in MZ-X are very much related to the Samples (ZTN with Waves) that are installed.

There are many ways to practically end these problems by following a few rules.

And these rules require auditing installed Tones and always Save ZTN separately.

On 4/29/2023 at 4:37 PM, SImon Jayakumar said:

I have taken a backup of the entire keyboard and have the .ZAL file. However as I try to load the ZAL file it says "Error , Wrong Data".

Need help on this issue. 

Welcome to another Casio MZ-X BUG. Always save all sorts of categories including independent sounds.

Mistakes like this are mainly when sampled sounds are involved.

42 minutes ago, Just Alex said:

Clorando se fue?

 

Silvano, as I understand, English is not your native language, right? It is also not my native language. So I strongly suggest to better read and understand what I have written

 

MZ-X500 is full of bugs, like button action messed up or screen displaying the wrong items. And no one going to fix them.

 

Clorando se fue?  (CHORANDO SE FOI)   Is a Rhytm lambada 

In the same way that I try to understand what you write, some people do not understand what I write.

I also ask that you make an effort or ignore them.

Many friends here on the Forum helped me explain it to some of the native speakers who never made the effort to try to understand.

The most important thing is the experiences especially when it comes to solving problems and bugs.

It's been a while since I've responded to your quotes and I'm waiting for someone from the forum's native language to respond.

16 minutes ago, Just Alex said:

And I'm super very angry - I loaded this peruan junk and it deleted all my user data in keyboard

Including some of my own songs.....

 

ZAL files delete what you have on your MZ-X.

Before installing these files you should read the Manual and search here on the Forum about such a risk.

what is junk for you for others it is a necessity.

But at least now you learn the hard way not to install a ZAL file without BACKUP first

19 hours ago, Brockesound said:

Thanks very much for sharing. As I see, unfortunately the link to the Peru Kit is brocken. Do you have a backup or can you contact the hoster in portugues (maybe better than me in englisch ?) to take care of this?

KIT_PERU.zip

19 hours ago, Brockesound said:

Thanks very much for sharing. As I see, unfortunately the link to the Peru Kit is brocken. Do you have a backup or can you contact the hoster in portugues (maybe better than me in englisch ?) to take care of this?

KIT_PERU.zip

1 hour ago, CasioCTK said:

Keyboard buyers are mostly players only, partly musicians who create songs and very small part of musicians who create sounds and rhythms for their keyboard. Silvano with his knowledges and experience belongs to this last very small group.
Other buyers can in this respect rely on keyboard manufacturers and tones/rhythms creators only. Choice and offer of tones and rhythms for a keyboard  depends (probably) on market share. And in this regard Casio loses points. In wide area around no band uses Casio keyboard. Professionals here use Yamaha/Korg only.

After buying Yamaha SX700 I understood why it is so. I like acoustic instruments and these voices are superb here (sorry Silvano, you cannot do more than MZ-X engine allows). There is also wide choice of free and payed voices and styles (rhythms). In short time I downloaded over 2000 very good styles just from range of my interest - jazz, swing, ballroom, rumba, beguine and samba. There are many free and payed packs from Yamaha, too. Try to compare it with what is offered for Casio.

So, there are also other views here than how somebody can tweak his keyboard. Many others cannot do the same.

Your approach was very good.

I've always mentioned that the MZ-X is not and never will be a ready-made keyboard.

As for its sound engine, yes, it is outdated compared to the CT-X.

I have a CT-X and some sounds show the evolution of AIX even with reservations.

Perhaps one day an MZ-X with an Aix version 2.0 combined with the superior sound card of the MZ-X will be able to contemplate good results.

Yamaha had a great evolution in these aspects even not changing its AWM sound engine so much

But its base of programmers and users is the largest of all brands and as a programmer,

Yamaha was very successful in putting encryption on intermediate and advanced models, guaranteed and encouraging investment from independent programmers.

Casio put away top programmers on the MZ-X Line because of this.

Casio has also improved the AC7 file by giving third parties freedom to access its core file system for standard Midi CCs.

It's absurd to listen to a Casio rhythm that has 2 different Intros in major and minor chords and when you edit all this resource disappears in the Daw.

Here in Brazil, the Yamaha PSR Sx600 is already getting interesting prices, something that was unfeasible at its launch.

It's up to Casio not to give up on the professional market and follow its path. The reward will come to the one who doesn't give up.

5 hours ago, Just Alex said:

Yes you don't consider, but are you a mass buyer?

How much revenue made casio from you, how many their keyboards you have bought?

I guess not so much, for your opinion to become the deciding factor....

 

In my country there is a famous phrase that is: customer advertising is what matters most.

And yes I'm not a mass buyer but I've owned a few Casio's here's the list:

CASIO KEYBOARDS CA100 (with Michael Jackson sheet booklet)

WK7600

MZ-X300

MZ-X500

CT-S3000

From other brands I have had and have

Yamaha PSR 620

Yamaha PSR 730

Yamaha PSS 51

Yamaha DX100

Roland-E16

Roland E-50 (I still have it)

And I've even worked with other keyboards in the bands

Ketron MS50 (Solton)

KETRON MS100

KETRON AUDYA

YAMAHA PSR-3000

YAMAHA PSR s770

Yamaha P45

Korg X5D

YAMAHA V50 (Spent days sequencing a song on this keyboard)

I think I've done my small part in purchasing these keyboards. Today I have a You Tube channel with more than 2,000 subscribers and the Videos are only based on the Casio Brand (CTX,CTK and MZX) I just found the fact that you mentioned the Sellers who say that Casio Pianos are Toys, I found it kind of offensive because they are not.

And I still have a desire to have the PX 560 because there is no competition with a piano with so many features at the same price.

On 1/22/2023 at 8:16 AM, Just Alex said:

I talked with local (Republic of Georgia) Casio official dealer and here's what they said. 

 

Casio locally is recognized as either toy piano, or full size electronic piano maker. The positioning of MZ-X series is not good, since at the moment of their introduction, they had price same as competitor Yamaha and Roland/Korg models. As a registered dealer, we do have some requirements for sales, so we took 5 pcs. MZ-X500 and 5 pcs. MZ-X300 from Casio - this was the smallest number we can buy. By the December 2022, since 2018, we have sold 4 pcs. MZ-X300 and 4 pcs. MZ-X500. At the same time, we have sold much more Privia and CTK models. We can't disclose numbers, but we're getting a 40ft. container from Casio once per year, and there are a lot of Casio keyboards inside.

 

As we believe, the problem with MZ-X is that people do not consider casio to be worth investing in the target area - which is already taken by appropriate models from yamaha-korg-casio. Literarily saying, it is too late for casio to jump into that segment of arranger keyboards. So they understand this quite well, and this is the reason why they cancelled planned MZ-X700 and there are no updates for current models too.

Every company that enters a market takes great risks.

If that were the case, Yamaha would not have achieved its place in the sun.

I remember a time when Yamaha keyboards from the PSR line were humiliated by competitors like Korg Roland and Technics.

Yamaha's only legendary keyboard at the time was the DX7, but the fame of the XP80 was much greater.

The MZ-X line is not bad and I do not consider Casio Toy Pianos because here in my region there is no competitor in terms of prices compared to Casio and yes they offer good instruments.

Of course, Brazil won't make a difference in financial closures and other countries like India? It is very comfortable to speak ill of a brand where the cost is well below other countries in comparison.

Here in Brazil, Casio is the one that practices the greatest consistency in prices compared to other countries. And if you look alongside other more famous brands, we only see toy keyboards coming out too.

Here Roland and Korg are offering entry level keyboards with less features than the CT-X at midi level prices. Just ask that I quote the toy models and the prices practiced here.

3 hours ago, Choppin said:

Absolutely they did. For any business it's about overall cost and profitability.  And a company will employ methods to make money and keep going.  And if there are investors,  they need to find a way to keep them happy too.   If you go to:

 

CASIO Financial Plans

 

You can follow along through the years with their business plans, costs and financials.  You'll find clearly stated in more than one place and one year how to tackle the least profitability area of the business and for electronic instruments, how reducing overall size - which includes components that make up the devices as well as the affecting the amount of packaging for shipping/storage/transport etc. - is one of the strategies.   Here's a clip from one of the plans:

 

 

Smaller instruments may mean less (or less effective - aka cheaper) electronics.   So undoubtedly some functionality has to go.   I mean, if the PX-560x was really meant to follow the PX-5s, one of the biggest requests for a new PX-5s was to have 9 sliders so you could "organ it up" easier.   The sliders went away entirely - so did half the knobs and buttons.

 

So if an new PX-560 comes out, it's going to have to fit into the new design trends for the portable keyboards CASIO is making.  Electronics improve all the time but if you look at something like Roland's Fantom-8 from a couple years ago (an upgrade from the F-08) they sort of went all in with the electronics and functionality.  And this monster weighs in at 61 lbs to accommodate.  I don't think CASIO would move in this direction to upgrade the PX-5s or PX-560.  Roland can get away with it.

 

I'm sure this post is getting boring but some of the new adaptive strategies include "getting into the users heart/lifestyle" with music and digital instruments.  It includes more of an online presence and everything that surrounds that kind of endeavor.  A smart move might be to have their own DAW that pairs nicely with a CASIO keyboard... who knows, but I think the making of another deep super synth isn't on the radar.

 

Also, it's mostly the dinosaurs that are buying expensive and large synth rigs with multi-functionality.  Most young people aren't into that (and can't afford it) - and they are the ones that will be driving sales.  The dinosaurs are familiar with the names that have been around forever and regardless of innovation, still regard CASIOs as those toy tiny keyboards from yesteryear. 

 

"Also, it's mostly the dinosaurs that are buying expensive and large synth rigs with multi-functionality.  Most young people aren't into that (and can't afford it) - and they are the ones that will be driving sales.  The dinosaurs are familiar with the names that have been around forever and regardless of innovation, still regard CASIOs as those toy tiny keyboards from yesteryear. "

I disagree because young people also evolve and when they think that CTK is no longer available, they already want a CT-X. The Brand has to make an effort to KEEP THE CUSTOMERS.

I have countless cases of friends who have a CT-X / CTK and dream of a Casio MZ-X. 

The same can be said for Pianos and Synthesizers.

On 1/6/2023 at 3:55 AM, JF-SEBASTIEN said:

Hi everybody ! Do you think there will be a successor in 2023 ? 8 years ago, now…

Nope! 

Casio is concerned with Slim Pianos and Casiotones.

Casio is most focused on with the Casiotone line.

CT-X ,MZ-X, CTK, WK lines have been abandoned.