CoreyW

I've not (personally) had this issue nor have I heard of it. What exactly is the customer doing when the unit freezes up? Please be a specific and detailed as possible.

The latest firmware is v1.6. v1.5 or v1.4 are earlier versions. In fact, I don't believe you can go backwards and "downgrade" if the keyboard has a later version. Not sure why you would even want to, to be honest?!?

I'm thinking this will not directly work because you'd need to use some type of USB MIDI Host as well as some type of programming interface to be able to program the various controls of the NanoKontrol. I could be totally wrong, but I've read numerous stuff online about this subject. I actually thought about doing this same thing, creating a USB MIDI Host, using an Arduino, but just haven't had the time to make it happen.

That would explain it! I wonder, if in a future update that could be changed to use the more standardized MIDI meta data, then it would (most likely) be compatible with most DAW or sequence software packages.

Since you brought this up...now I'm gonna complain! The track name data never seems to save when editing a MIDI file on a computer. I know there are specific meta data tags that get stored in the MIDI file header which is supposed to store the track name data, but it NEVER retains it. ARGGGGGHHH!!!! You name it in the MZ-X and then edit it on a computer...track names GONE!! The same is true in reverse, name it on the computer, open it in the MZ-X...again track names GONE!!! Am I missing something here?

Oh! I did want to add a comment about memory... How many remember the first CMI Fairlight? 8 voices with 16k (WOW!) sample memory per voice Large 8" floppy drives, with a boot floppy that took like 5m to load. A mono color (green) computer screen with light pen interface 88 note keyboard with keypad interface Page R sequencing software Whoa...all that memory for $25K!!! Boggles the mind. My point...while 256M seems like a little, maybe Casio wanted to see how many people would actually use the Sample Manager software before investing and moving forward in that direction.

I agree with Rick. Casio is a very large company with separate sales divisions in many countries. While Casio Japan may be the main company, in most cases it is up to the individual divisions to decide how to market a product line in their respective countries as well as determine whether or not a product line might be successful. It might be that a country could import only a small number of a product to make that determination. Casio Japan may rely on the input from the sales divisions as to whether or not they believe a product is or will be successful. In regards to the many comments about upgrading the MZ-X product line, I'm sure those like Mike Martin and various others who promote Casio listen to customers and pass those comments onto Casio. But remember that not all those potential features mentioned will make it into the current (or next) product. There's many features I'd personally like to see added to the MZ-X line, but many of the features would be only for my convenience and may not be suited for every player out there. For years I was (In fact, still am) a Yamaha supporter. I still own many Yamaha keyboards. I still have my original DX7 I bought in 1987 which still works great. I still have a DX21, SY77 and have gone through a myriad of PSR series keyboards. The latest being an PSR-S900. In my opinion, the MZ-X500 has features and sounds the S900 doesn't and the S900 has features and sounds the X500 doesn't. I guess the bottom line is for one keyboard to have everything one would want in a single keyboard is just not reality. I used to own a Tyros 4, but sold it when I bought the MZ-X500 because I felt I wasn't using the Tyros enough to constitute keeping it. Plus, it was a heavy beast!! I starting using the X500 more that it replaced the Tyros and worked perfectly in that role. Believe it or not, some of the sounds in the X500 just better suited me. It all depends on how you use what you have. OK, I'm not one to pick at anyone, but I'd like to comment on some of petersohn's "wish list" items: 1. Good on-board styles - you run the keys and want to play - that's what Yamaha gives you, most styles are weak and sound bad at Casio. We managed to create a nice Global Rythms package - why isn't there such a style in the instrument? I haven't found much wrong with the available styles, but again individual tastes vary. There are those styles that "pop" and those that are ehhh. However, if you feel a style is weak, edit it and make it your own! In fact, with the ability to import styles from Korg, Yamaha and Roland, etc...I've actually added styles from the S900 that I use more regularly. With the ability to create your own styles, the possibilities are endless, so what more could you want? In fact, if you come up with some good styles you can always share them with others in the forum! Some I've seen are rather unique. 2. The new sounds of the Aix module - mainly acoustic sounds and new multilayer samples of acoustic drums. 3. A new set of effects - (available in the new Ct-X Series) will significantly improve the sound of the MZ-X Series The AI-X chip seems fabulous. From what I seen on YouTube, the sound is really awesome. This chip was probably still in development when the MZ-X series was developed. Could the new sound engine be available for a new MZ-X keyboard...HMM...maybe. I guess time will tell...but I don't think any company would tell you what they have planned because that would hurt current sales of products already on the market. Especially those that would be discontinued when the new product is announced. 5. Using the registration without any limitations - is it not possible to save the registration on the usb memory as in Rolands? If I'm not mistaken (Brad and Rick your input here), but I thought that you could save registration banks to USB? I've not had to do this yet... 6. separate Upper1/2 , Lower1/2 buttons would be useful - but this is a secondary matter. These are already on the LCD and dedicated buttons would be a nice feature, but it all comes down to the cost for those buttons. 8. a larger touchscreen display - but of course it's a dream. All comes down to cost. All added hardware comes down to cost. Casio did a great job of keeping the cost of the keyboard down with the features that were included with MZ-X series as it stands now. And, those features are many. No, it's no Yamaha, Korg or Roland, but the features are good for a board around the $1k price point. The fact that you can load samples and make your own sounds using the Sample Manager software for a keyboard around that price is phenomenal. I've created many sounds and a couple of drum sets using TR-808 and the old Seeburg/Gulbransen Select-A-Rhythm samples. I just wish the PX-560 had some of the arranger features the MZ-X does because of the touchscreen interface. For example, on the MZ-X, I can and have assigned all sections as "UPPER" or "LOWER" for one massive tone OR even 3 tones to UPPER with 1 tone to LOWER. I can't do that on the PX-560...bummer!! So much potential there!! Maybe they'd consider adding some of the features of the PX-5S. Cheers!

I've had a few lessons and considering my mom was a organist/piano teacher she deemed me "unteachable" LOL!! However, I found that if you want to play bad enough, you'll find ways to learn. Start off with basics and build from there. I've seen friends/people who want to learn so bad that they practice for hours and hours every day. To me, that's ok if you're a seasoned player, but for one just starting out, I don't recommend it. 20m a day is a good start so that you don't become too overly frustrated and want to quit. I found that I could go over and over a song only to become frustrated because of messing up in the exact same place every time. If I walk away from it, most times when I'd come back after a few hours or even a day, I'd play straight through what I was practicing the time before. Yea, I know...go figure!! Start with 20m and build up from there. I also agree with Casiokid...no two teachers will ever agree about the same approach and technique. My son had that problem and it really messed him up. So we cut down the practice time, changed his focus a bit and he became a really good musician. Maybe it took a bit longer, but it was much less stressful and he was able to relax and really focus. In my opinion, it was the cutting down on the practice time that really helped because he was much less frustrated.

It all depends on the manner in which a specific "style" is stored. While Yamaha uses ".PSR" as the extension, the file is actually just a standard MIDI file with markers set to identify the different parts within the file. But remember and as mentioned, the import is not clean as you will need to do some editing once the file has been imported. The Yamaha style format is well explained and documented as is the Casio formatting. If you do some searching on the Internet you'll find several sites that explains the details.

That's beautiful!! Very creative!! This is probably one of the best I've heard to date and you really have the guitar style of playing down really great too. That really helps it better stand out because you're not playing it in the typical "keyboard" fashion. Too many keyboard players use the guitar sounds but play them like a piano. You have to think of how a guitar player would play it and change the technique. Yes, that's hard to do! But, you pretty much nailed it. Terrific!!

Ok...that's probably the BEST guitar simulation I've seen yet!! I'd like to know more specifics as to what you assigned to the pad controllers. Please share... Thanks!

Thanks guys! Your comments are much appreciated. And no, I'm not Mike Martin in disguise LOLOL!! I'll let you in on a little secret...This is the type of information you learn and are accustomed to when you're the National Service Manager for Allen Organ Company in PA. 31 years ... an loving every minute of it. So yes, I have a bit of knowledge when it comes to sampling because that's what AOC pioneered for the church organ world back in 1971. We were also the parent company for the RMI line of instruments too, but we no longer do synths or electric pianos. Remember the RMI Electra-Piano 300 or 386X or how about the RMI Keyboard Computer 2 (KC-2)? Yup, that was us. We now leave that job up to the synth manufacturers LOL! Cheers!

In most cases, there are a variety of parameters available that can be adjusted using a computer, rather than using the keyboard itself. For example, you can increase or decrease the loudness of the sample, trim the starting and stopping points, set the loop points, adjust the tone using EQ, remove or limit noise using Noise Reduction, etc. You pretty much limited to the features of the software. Understand, not all samples will load "ready to play" as there are other adjustments that need to be made once the sample is loaded. Basically, you're playing with the RAW samples when using software. When the samples are loaded to create a tone in the X500, you can then further fine-tune the samples using the tools within SampleManager. But, the X500 needs to be connected via USB to make those adjustments in real-time. The PADS are pretty much the same, except you can't use SampleManager for the PADS (yes, a disappointment!). But, using the computer software, you can again fine tune the samples before they are loaded to the PADS. This will also allow you to trim the samples because the PADS are limited in the amount of time depending on where you select to store them (yes, I found this out the hard way). Some of the USER spaces are designated for 3 seconds samples and others are for 9 second samples. (The sample I was importing was approx 8.3 seconds. I couldn't understand why the sample was being cut off at the 3 second mark until I tried loading the sample to a different USER space and that's when I figured it out! Also, when you record PAD samples using the X500, the keyboard will automatically place the sample in a USER space for the size selected, SHORT or LONG. Loading samples using the IMPORT feature does not do this as you select a USER space to load and there is no warning the sample will be cut.) Again, there are some adjustments that need to be made with the PADS so the samples playback correctly, but not as extensive as those adjustments with tones. I use the X500 extensively with the classic rock cover band I'm in and use different samples to re-create the sound effects from the original record, pretty effectively. For example, I've tried a long time to get the sweeping filter sound from The Cars - Moving In Stereo using the XW-P1, but there's too much stepping that really degrades the effect. Once I had the X500, I sampled the sweeping filter from the record then trimmed/truncated the sample to fit into the time allowed. Adjusted the timing and loop settings in the x500 and PRESTO!! I've done this with several songs, again Pink Floyd's - Time and Money using multiple PADS to re-create the different sections where the sounds changed. The X500 works brilliant for that!! In fact, I've just added the PX560 to my rig, so I have a pretty decent arsenal (MZ-X500, XW-P1, PX-560M, Novation Bass Station 2). One of these days, I'll need to take a photo of the rig and post it on the FB site.

Absolutely!! This is the only way to have full control over the sample and the various parameters that are not available in the X500.

I've downloaded and used multiple 32M Mellotron samples in 2 or 3 user places and without problems. I've also created a new Drum set using samples I did from an old Seeburg Select-A-Rhythm unit and that works really well. Setting up the samples within the SampleManager was really easy too. The Mellotron samples do take some time to load when selected, but I have assigned the PRELOAD function for those samples. Seems to work ok for me as I have never been able to duplicate anything that was mentioned. Understand, I don't doubt there might not be an issue, but I've personally not seen it.