rsaintjohn

Your words, not mine, thanks for playing.

To all those falling over themselves to do apples-to-bicycles price comparison: I can’t help but notice you’re citing European prices that include VAT, and apparently unaware that US prices you see do not include the variable State Sales Tax that most have to pay. I certainly didn’t pay “$449” for my CT-S1000V, which thankfully finally arrived this week. How much is VAT? 20%? And the CT-S1000V is about 475€ incl. VAT? So £380 for the actual product, about $507. I paid $484 with tax. Californians would pay $488. That’s about 4% difference compared to Euro price, if my numbers are correct. So stop painting this false picture that those in the USA are somehow getting this gear for 20% less.

Not sure it was yet worth starting a thread in the CT-S section, but I see the site has been updated with the pages and specs for the CT-S500 and CT-S1000V.

I was so thrilled with what I saw and heard that I'd already pre-ordered the CT-S1000V before the stream was even over. Excellent instrument, and the presentation with its demos and guests was exceptionally well done. I hope the extra wait for the S1000V isn't too long. OTOH, it'll give me time to figure out what to do with my S400. I won't need both (but the S1 is staying!).

I’ll never understand those who spend so much time criticizing the Casiotone brand and products here, and on Facebook, and on YouTube. Often the same person 🤔 There has never been a keyboard market with so many choices as there is today. You protest too much, I think. Perhaps Casiotone is just not into you.

My Minimoog lacks polyphonic analog sounds, any effects, and has no sequencer. Same with my CZs. I would never call them incomplete synthesizers. In my experience there are more great synths with mediocre effects and rather pointless sequencers, features that are not really standard on synthesizers. No one calls the new Rev 4 Sequential Prophet-5/10s “incomplete” because they lack effects and a sequencer. Some modern synths actually bury the mediocrity of their basic tone in effects and distract with features like 16 or 32-step sequencers. So let’s agree that there is no single definition of a “complete” synthesizer, mono or poly, analog or digital. I know what I like, I keep what I use. I sold a lot of prominent gear this year. Not because they were bad, but because I wasn’t using them. There was overlap with other gear in sounds and/or features, and I just didn’t have the room. I kept the Minimoog, JUPITER-X, the CZs, Studio Electronics, System-100, Sub 37, a Yamaha Reface, UNO Synth Pro, and some others. I even got a Sequential Take 5 with the sales proceeds. But not once did I consider selling the XW-P1. Hex Layers are fabulous, as is the Solo. I love the look and feel, and its sliders and assignable knobs. The MIDI and sequencer are a bit cryptic but they’re nearly as effective as anything in my studio (and sequence other gear admirably). As far as I’m concerned it is unusual, unique and, yes, complete. I’m proud to keep it in a studio alongside other synths from the past 45 years. It was a daring synth and a daring part of the Casio Music history.

Sorry for the delay, needed time to find the right USB cable and one long enough to test it out. CT-S400 both transmitted and received Pitch Bend (14-bit high res too!) It also seemed to Tx/Rx Velocity. It also Received drums over channel 10, and notes over Omni. It doesn’t seem to Transmit on 10. It will Transmit keyboard notes on channel 1, possibly ch 3 for Split (lower) and ch 8 for the second Layer (upper 2), according to MidiView and Zenbeats DAW I need to dig further there. No start/stop or clock, as far as I can see.

I spent the past few weeks having a blast with the CT-S400 and decided to do a video, especially in the context of it as a Casiotone and how it ranks with the rest of my collection (including the CT-S1). I’ve been really impressed by its capabilities and interface, especially in comparison to much pricier synth gear in my studio. Includes a demo of setting up a performance from scratch. Verdict: the CT-S400 is a winner, incredible value for the money. Almost any “could be better” items I cite fall under advanced topics that are arguably beyond the scope of a Casiotone. The CT-S1 may be Casio’s triumph in design, but the S400 is a surprising powerhouse in its capabilities and out of box experience. I just wish I’d managed to do this video in November; the S400 should have been under many, many Christmas trees. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Did you plug and unplug the CME adapter while the PX was on? IIRC, you’re not supposed to do that, even with Casio’s own WUBT10. Did you try powering off, inserting, then powering up? I only ask because you didn’t really specify. But on a number of my keyboards, the boot procedure is essential for most external devices, and hot swap is rarely recommended.

Just sharing some results from some experiments with the CT-S400, and using iPhone apps to externally control it via MIDI. (private video) First, thanks again to Jay C, Brad, and others for providing details on the Casio MIDI implementation elsewhere in the forum. Using those clues, I was able to get the CT-S400 to do some things via MIDI I didn’t expect. I’m not sure if this is old news or even of interest, but I wanted to document my findings in case anyone ever wants to do anything similar. The video demonstrates how I have an app called Zenbeats on an iPhone XR sequencing three separate tracks over different MIDI channels. Zenbeats is available on iOS, Android, and desktop and is a favorite of mine for quick work with virtual instruments and MIDI, and has a killer library of drum patterns. It’s like GarageBand, but with better MIDI support. I also used another iOS app, MIDI Wrench, and configured it to send program changes to different MIDI channels on the CT, based on the MIDI documentation in the CT-S400 user guide. At first, I was using Bluetooth MIDI with the Casio WU-BT10 adapter. Using the app BLE-MIDI, I was able to establish a reliable BT MIDI connection between the phone and the CT. By sending Program Changes over MIDI channel 10, I was able to load different drum kits. By sending Program Changes over MIDI channel 1, I was able to load different keyboard tones. Awesome. I soon abandoned the WU-BT10 when moving to the next phase, external sequencing. The data proved to be too much and the response from the CT was buffered and stuttered. So I switch to an Apple Lightning to USB camera adapter and a regular USB A to micro cable, connected to the Host port of the CT. Don’t bother to try a single Lightning to USB cable to the CT’s other USB port. Without an adapter in between, neither device sees itself as host, and the apps won’t find the CT. Use my method and apps will see CASIO USB MIDI as an interface. Using a wired connection resolved my data and sync issues. This, too, was awesome. With Zenbeats, I generated a drum loop and set the drum track to output to MIDI Channel 10. Success! With MIDI Wrench, I was able to select alternate drum kits. Back in Zenbeats, I added a new track configured to accept input over Channel 1. I ran the loop and set the track to record data input I played from the CT. Zenbeats recorded the notes. Then I used MIDI Wrench to change the CT instrument on channel 1 to a synth pad. When I changed the track to output to channel 1, the CT played the notes with its internal tone. I repeated for track 2 and MIDI channel 2, and that worked as well. I’m not sure if the limit is 4 tracks like the CT itself, or just polyphony. I’ll have to dig deeper. When I was done, I could play the three track sequence in Zenbeats, hear it all from the CT, and even play on top of it. I also noted that the song recorder of the CT does not record what is being externally sequenced, nor recognize MIDI Start/Stop. The key takeaway here is that this external MIDI stuff is being played on another layer, independent of the local CT itself: no recording, no reflection of any of this in the display. The CT will still respond, play, and record what you do on the keyboard itself, but it’s independent from the external MIDI actions. That’s all, I think, for now. I think the practical application of this is just a different kind of performance and flexibility, like another way to do the drums. It also demonstrates how the CT can be useful as a keyboard for some mobile apps. And it may turn out to be a way to do with the CT-S400 a little bit more than it can do on its own. BTW, I have to say that the CT-S400 turned out to be fantastic all on its own. This is my first Casiotone in decades. I have a number of them as well as CZs, and XW-P1, a PX-S3000. It’s possible I didn’t need to do any of this stuff with the 400, but I like to explore. You never know when it’ll be useful. But the CT-S400 is kind of a Casiotone dream come true for me. The sound, form factor, layers and splits, arps and harmonize, workflow… I just love this keyboard. I have a studio full of synths, drum machines, and software, but sometimes it’s more fun to kick back with something like this in another room. Very inspiring and lots of fun. More to come when I have time! Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

I just wanted to post a belated thanks to Jay and others for posting additional findings on the MIDI capabilities. Although I decided to go Zen with the CT-S1 and love it for what it is, I finally got around to unboxing my CT-S400 this weekend. These details helped me dig deeper into what could and couldn’t be done with MIDI and the 400. Now that I better understand the way the CTs want to receive Program Changes, I was able to use a few wireless iPhone apps to send messages and get under the skin a bit. More testing to do with a wired connection, I’ll report back if I find anything really amazing. More than anything, I just wanted to say thanks!

My CT-S400 just shipped from Kraft, here in Ohio on Wednesday 😁

Perfection, thank you so much! Added to my phone and clear enough that I may print it on a half sheet or even index card to keep nearby. 👏

I saw last night in Japanese media that Casio has announced new PX-S1100 and PX-S3100 digital pianos. Although there was some emphasis on being the slimmest in the market, there wasn’t much indication of the differences between the previous models, other than “gold accents” and this: “While inheriting the design and playing comfort from the conventional model, the sound quality has been improved, such as rich expressiveness in a wide range from low to high frequencies.“ ”Upgraded speakers and speaker positioning give the PX-S1100 a warmer tone than ever...” So some minor changes to the interior sound hardware? Software changes to EQ? Any indication that a firmware update is coming for the PX-S1000/3000, or are the differences more significant side-by-side?

I was starting to tell myself the same thing last night, as I felt I was violating the spirit of the CT-S1. I always seem to fall into this inevitable mindset of trying to get gear to do what it wasn’t meant to do. Nevertheless, Imma gonna keep doin it. You both have given me valuable clues so I’m going to dig a little deeper. I also suspected those GM sounds are in there because that demo mode certainly has a lot of drums in it. I’m more interested in seeing what can be done with a live performance on top of a pre-programmed MIDI track. I may even see if I can create a Tone changer for that hidden engine using MIDI Designer Pro so that I can easily send the changes from an iPhone or iPad. Whatever results I get, I’ll post back here in this thread. Thanks again!

I’ve spent the evening experimenting with the CT-S1, the WU-BT10 adapter, and some mobile devices. One thing has me stumped right now. As I moved to testing MIDI In from an external device (iPhone, running Zenbeats, sending notes out from its timeline to CT-S1), it seems the CT-S1 only plays the default Stage Piano tone. Even if I change the Tone on the CT, the notes are still the piano (but live play on keys is the selected Tone). I’ve checked through the User Manual and MIDI spec, but it doesn’t say much about MIDI In, just Out. Before I spend hours on this: does anyone know if this is behavior as designed? Would I somehow need to execute a Program Change to get the notes to play a different Tone? Is there a comparable limit or method on other current Casio keyboards? I know not many of us yet have the CT-S1, but any advice is appreciated. TIA!

Like most features, MIDI support on a device is a function of the OS. Android support for MIDI was added in 6.0, but it was optional for the device makers. If you can update to at least 7.0, there’s a possibility that the tablet manufacturer added it. But it’s all up to the manufacturer and whether or not the hardware components support it. IIRC, MIDI support on 6.0 in 2015 was not common.

Received my white CT-S1 today from Sweetwater and I’m just blown away. Everything about it sounds, feels, and looks premium. Despite the size, it still feels lightweight and is very portable (impressive output on 6 batteries). The sound is indeed extraordinary, especially with Surround on, and the Advanced Layer Tones are just **chef’s kiss**. The VL-Tone selection is a blast, my wife heard it and grabbed it from me immediately (she had one as a kid, I never did). This really exceeded my expectations, and I was worried that I’d overhyped myself. The design is so elegant and the selection of the 60+ tones was inspired. Many of these tones rival the best synths and keyboards in my collection. Big, big compliments to everyone at Casio involved in this. It is as inspiring as the original Casiotones of the 80s were at the time, and I felt like a kid again out in the yard with it today.

Saw the email from Casio, but waiting for the one from Sweetwater. Pre-ordered white, almost switched to red last week. But I think the white will look as elegant as the sound. It’ll be interesting to see which I get first, the white CT-S1 or the CT-S400 (starting to show up overseas). Glad I’ve got the Privia to keep me busy!

Perfect, thanks Chas! I went to put this on my iPad only to find it was already there, d’oh! Would have saved me a bit of a headache last night and Joe some typing this morning, but I’m still glad I brought it up. If nothing else, a chance to talk about the 201.

You are a treasure, man, thanks so much. I was expecting a big delivery of something new today, but it was postponed until tomorrow. Now I have a whole wonderful rainy day to dig into this CPS, and I REALLY appreciate the level of detail you provided. Looks like I won’t have to fork out $5-$15 for a manual 😁 I did indeed spend time last night checking out the auto-harmonize, nice feature (I think I have it on my HT-6000?) though it seemed to hit the polyphony hard. I’m not sure how many voices the 201 has. There are a number of surprises here, like how accompaniment uses the selected tone. And I’m not sure if it’s just first impressions, but these rhythms and patterns sound more polished than what I recall on my other Casios from the time period. I’m going to do some side-by-side today to get a better understanding of the tech inside. Side-note: the way you describe Super Accompaniment fascinates me for another reason. It sounds virtually the same as Roland’s I-Arp feature in their JUPITER-X/Xm synthesizers. When I first got one (I’m a big fan), I described the Xm as “a 21st Century Casiotone”. Looks like I may have been closer to the truth than I expected! Roland made a big deal of their work with Meiji University in developing I-Arp. It’s funny to think that Casio beat them to the punch by 30+ years.

I just purchased a PX-S3000 a few weeks ago from Sweetwater. No clicky keys at unboxing, no change after about 50 hours of play. All still good.

I just acquired a CPS-201 (Casio’s first digital piano) and one feature has me confused: the Super Accompaniment button. I don’t seem to be able to trigger it to do anything or even understand what it’s supposed to do. When lit, I’ve tried different Chord Modes and variations, I’ve tried different Rhythms, I’ve varied my play style and velocity, but nothing I do seems to sound any different than when SA is unlit. I’m not even sure whether I’m supposed to hear something in the rhythm, the chord, or the melody. I don’t have the manual, and other Casio keyboards that supposedly have their version of SA are not enlightening me. @pianokeyjoe, this is one of your favorites, yes? Can you explain? Anyone else? Thanks!

Combining my CT-410V and CT-S400 (when it arrives) is high on my to do list. And the CT-S1, but it ain’t got no rhythm lol. But with the PX-S3000 already sitting next to the CT-405, I guess I could actually do this sooner than later. 3000 has only been here a few days so I’m getting to know my way around it. Re: the CZs, the 5000 and the 230S both had MIDI DIN, sequencing and could be set to internal or external clock. And, as you mentioned, the RZ-1 drum machine and the SZ-1 sequencer, much the same as the 5000, intended to tie a bunch of CZs together. CZ-1 didn’t have the sequencer. I never found much use for the SZ-1 as it loops poorly. I’m in the process of setting up an “all CZ” table in a back room with the 1, 101, 5000, 230S, RZ and SZ with the plan of finally creating a piece(s) that is all CZ to the max. But I bet I could also take a stab at seeing how a selection of 40 Years of Casio Gears (there’s the title!) get along as well. One of my most popular and effective videos a few years back was the CT-405 and a Korg Minilogue. Old and new combined made a really interesting sonic combination.

When you say “older”, how old? I’ve got, for instance, a Casiotone 405 (or 410V) sitting next to a new PX-S3000, and an XW-P1 and a CZ-230s in the next room. Are you just curious how steady the clock of those older models are and if newer models can be set to the same tempo, and how well they stay in sync over time?