TLc

Hey, Alberto. Well, there weren't much other options, so I've indeed bought the MIDI Expression Quattro. It's pretty simple, but requires a computer in this case. I just connect the ME to the computer, and through its standalone/VST plugin interface set what messages it will send, and then stream it onto the PX-5S over its USB port (or MIDI input if you prefer). I bought a Roland RPU-3 piano-style pedal set (all three are actually continuous control) and a Moog EP-3 expression pedal. They all seem to work fine with this setup. As I mentioned before, Audiofront also have a MIDI Expression iO product which has 5-pin MIDI I/O and doesn't need to go through a computer (it needs power over USB, though, but IIRC the guy over there said it should be able to get it from the PX-5S' USB-stick port, but I can't verify that), but I haven't tried it myself and it's both more expensive than the Quattro and has only 3 pedal inputs. He actually promised to send me one for free after I helped him tackle some bugs with the VST plugin, but then didn't answer my last email. It's possible he just forgot, but I didn't feel like asking whether he remembers my free iO ($150, but meh... never mind).

Are you sure? As I mentioned, the recorded output sounds pretty similar in timbre to how it is right into my earphones (other than being mono). The one that sounds different overall is the Line output. But, as the volume difference between the outputs is different depending on the note, I assume it could be related to the cable and mono/stereo signal. I guess I'll need to get a stereo cable for the Phones output and record both of these as stereo to really compare. Still no answer regarding the noise, though. As the volume knob doesn't change the noise level (I assume it only changes the volume digitally inside the sound generator), it seems like it involves the internal amplifier which is consistently engaged through the Phones output. It is definitely not totally silent, so I don't believe there could even be a difference in interpretation here.

I had some further insight after posting it and edited my comment, so it could help if you'll read my comment now (but shouldn't the bass be more prominent on the left side and vice versa? Or are the reflections inside the piano supposed to reverse these?).

I'd say the difference in that demonstration is quite noticeable, but now when you mention it, the Phones output is stereo, and I connected the Line Out from the L/Mono. I can see the L/Mono outputs a mono mix-down of the two channels if the R Line Out has nothing connected to it, which is what I recorded. Now, the Phones outputs in stereo, and I connected it with a mono 1/4" cable. In this case it doesn't happen at the software-level, but I assume the cable still causes the two signals to be mixed into mono, and I'd say the timbre of the Phones output on my recording sounds similar to how it is through ny earphones.

Well, the "External Volume" was set to 100, but changing it to 0 didn't silence the noise nor the slight crosstalk to the Line In. The crosstalk is quite low and would be recognized only if amplified enough, so I assume people might not detect it if they happen to try connect the Line In to a speaker by mistake. If you could check it with your PX-5S, connecting the Line In to an amp just to see if you can detect at least some sound leak, I'd know whether it's a defect with my specific unit or not. I think the noise from the phones output could be a bit less audible when going through my Babyface Pro rather than directly into my headphones, but as I said, it's still there. The recording I'm about to post won't demonstrate it all that well as I used Touch Off at 100 so the relative volume of the noise is lower than usual. So, the recording: I'm now more concerned with the timbre difference - it's actually quite huge between the phones and Line Out. I played a simple series of notes at a constant velocity of 100, each note first recorded from the Line Out and then from the Phones output. I tried to match the gain on the Babyface Pro, but as the signal seems to come out inconsistently differently between the two outputs, different notes seem to have different volume differences so it isn't even consistently matching. http://picosong.com/Dg34/ Regarding the batteries, don't ask me why as I've checked last time to see they're all placed in correctly, but right now before posting this reply I tried again and suddenly the keyboard did turn up using the battery power. But, it didn't seem to affect the Phones noise. EDIT: And here's a demonstration of what the signal leak in the Line In sounds like using the same gain as in the Line Out recording: http://picosong.com/DgRR/ It was recorded from the L/Mono input. The R input seems to experience a bit stronger of a signal leak (because it's closer physically to the Line Outs? I don't know).

Nope. Only the headphones. I use an 1/8" to 1/4" adapter for that as I'm using an in-ear earphone by Shure, but I don't think should that induce noise, the connector looks pretty good. But I now tried something else - I have some old bass amplifier–really not the best option, but it should work–I tried connecting the Line Out (mono) of the PX-5S to it and let it do the amplification, and you can hear some humming added to the amplifier's speakers when just connecting the AC adapter (before even turning on the keyboard). Regarding the batteries – yes, they were all new. I've unwrapped them just for this test. EDIT: OK, I tried connecting it to my Babyface Pro. The input levels displayed by the BF seemed rather close to me–using the same gain settings the BF showed -6dB from the Line Output and -3.5dB from the phones output–the volume sounded similar enough in this situation (which is weird, I'd expected the phones output to become much louder/clip far easier, but perhaps that's the difference needed to drive enough volume in a headphone), but the timbre was different (even after adjusting the BF's input gain) – I assume it could be from the PX-5S's own amplifier coloring the phones output? Anyway, there's still some noise. It's weaker, though it's also different in character – instead of a hiss like the phones output gives, the Line Out sounds more like a buzz. The thing is, again, you can hear noise as long as the PX-5S is connected to the AC power (on or off). Only when I disconnect it from the wall power is the noise gone. Another thing I noticed through my testing: there seems to be some sound leaking to the Line In of the PX-5S. I've accidentally connected my cable there first and noticed some sound. Again, I'm not sure how "expected" that is, and I wonder whether that could result in some "self echoing" if the internal signal somehow becomes fed to the Line In and then back from there into the output stage. It's really weak, so connecting headphones there doesn't reveal it.

Hello. This thread possibly involves two separate issues. There's some noise coming out of the phone outputs of my PX-5S, one that is there at a constant volume regardless of what volume is the PX-5S set to output. I think I read about this somewhere, but I couldn't find that exact issue being cited when I searched for it at the moment. Anyway, it's not super-strong, but it's quite audible and you notice it as soon as the keyboard is turned on. I don't know whether that's regarded as "normal", and as the output volume doesn't affect the noise level, I thought perhaps it's some ground noise from the AC adapter. So, I tried running the PX-5S on 8 Duracell AA batteries – it doesn't turn on! Why is that? I've put them in correctly. Is there a chance something's wrong with the wiring that should go from the battery compartment? Thanks in advance.

Wait, I'm not following. You say this mimics something that does happen in an acoustic piano or not? As I said, my upright doesn't exhibit this behavior, and I didn't understand whether you think my Privia seems on par with other units/DPs or not. I tried watching some videos of the PX-5S, but it's harder to tell when it is not shot closely or slowed down.

Well, it does happen as well with more firm pressing, it would just settle down a bit more quickly. If I'll force down onto the key like I have plutonium fingers it would obviously keep more restrained, but that's not how you should play. If I'll depress the key very, very slowly it wouldn't initiate any bounce-back at all. EDIT: I believe you misunderstood the video, seeing your edited comment? The video is slowed down to half-speed (from 60fps to 30fps). The velocity was not that low and there are definitely notes being triggered. Listen to the muffled hums – these are the piano notes slowed down (the speaker wasn't aimed towards me so the volume captured is a bit low).

Very well. I tend to believe you as there's not much point in deterring someone from replacing a faulty unit, but I wonder why raymb1 says he doesn't experience what's demonstrated with his own PX-5S.

Is that so? I seem to be getting contradicting answers. I think it's quite visible in my video (referring to you just barely seeing it); but as stated, it is (obviously) slowed down to half-speed. I did notice it while playing, but it should also be easier to see in my video. It appears across the keyboard, but it is less forceful at the upper keys (probably because their mechanism is lighter). I'm not entirely sure whether there are few individual keys that do feel less bouncy, though. It seems to be a consistent behavior of the keys, but the effect is possibly not completely linear throughout the keys.

Very well, then. I wanted first and foremost to know whether that's expected from the PX-5S. I do see thought that Brad says it's an expected feature of a hammer action (in general is what I'm getting), even if my acoustic upright reacts differently, while Scott seems to agree it won't truly be the same as an acoustic (at least mechanism-wise) but still praises its action's playability, so there's that. I just wonder how perhaps other acoustic pianos would compare regarding this effect as I haven't gotten to play many at all. Also, I am yet to have a bag for my Privia and so I managed to bump the edge of the keyboard's casing into my stairs' damn banister, so there's already a dark mark on it. While I'm unlikely to return the keyboard, I like to at least take a couple of days before I begin demolishing a new purchase. EDIT: On a side note, I'd also want to mention I've received the MIDI Expression Quatro adapter I plan on using with the keyboard. I haven't tested it with the keyboard itself yet (and I plan on buying a Roland RPU-3 for that), but I tested it with a Moog EP-3 expression pedal and my guitar inside a software amplifier, and it seems to work great! Really smooth response and you can easily change what output each pedal sends. I do feel like it was a bit expensive at $119 as the circuit for such A/D conversion is probably pretty simple, but the available offering of pedal adapters is quite slim, so I guess that's a pricing you can expect when there aren't many alternatives to choose from.

I'm referring more to the little hopping it does while being held down, rather than the return speed. I know it doesn't use springs, but there's obviously something different in its mechanism from say my own upright. Let's presume this is how all the PX-5S are expected to behave – how does it compare to other kinds of acoustic piano actions? Maybe mine is also really "un-bouncy"?

Hello. I've opened a thread some while ago about fixing the PX-5S with CC pedals before bying it. I didn't have anywhere to try it locally, but eventually I have ordered it from abroad counting on the many good reviews, and I received it today just a couple of hours ago. Well, I started fiddling with it a bit, and one of the first things I have noticed is that the keys seem to bounce back right after you press and are still holding them. I'm not talking about the bouncing it performs when coming back up, but rather that when I'm holding the key down it doesn't settle immediately as I depress it but rather bounces up and down maybe twice quite noticeably. I'm really not a piano expert, but I have checked it with some cheap upright I own and it seemed to have no noticeable such bouncing (and the bouncing when releasing a key is more subtle as well). What's happening with the PX-5S feels kind of weird to me. Even if I don't have much experience playing pianos/keyboards and I haven't really played the upright I own since a year or two ago (I planned on using the Casio to develop my playing as well), I feel like it could hamper my playing as I suspect this shouldn't really be a "feature" of the action. It's especially noticeable and possibly problematic in my opinion when trying to play softly: as you don't come with much force which counters its tendency to bounce back, the bouncing moves the finger more. Here's a 1/2 speed video demonstrating the bouncing (yes, my finger is at the very edge of the keys, but playing at the more usual depth doesn't seem to remedy this): I doubt that's universally normal with pianos, but is that normal with other PX-5S as well or is there something wrong with my unit? I read so many great reviews of its action that it seems strange this wouldn't be mentioned. Thanks in advance.

Well, just for playing with the keyboard and its own sounds, the person from Audiofront (of MIDI Expression) suggested me to simply plug in the ME into the computer and have the computer send the pedaling DATA directly to the USB port of the PX-5S. I don't know whether that should be any slower or faster than connecting it through the MIDI ports of the Babyface Pro. But, can the PX-5S both receive and send MIDI data over its USB port at the same time? Or is it either? Probably not very often needed, but that would be for situations when I both want the Casio's internal sounds and to capture the playing in MIDI. I Could use the MIDI in and out for that, but this would obviously require more cables laying around.