SkipEB3

Thanks, Jokeyman... I found the prefect case and it set me back a whopping $41.00. I never even would've thought about checking Amazon...thanks for the suggestion. See ya...

Looks cool... thanks. I'll let you know how it works out.

Hi all... I'm looking for a case for a PX 160/560. I'd like to find the one made by/for Casio. I've got one, but swapping out the 2 keyboards in one case is getting old... Anybody have one for sale? This is the one... Thanks in advance... -Skip

Well, my 160 has finally rebelled against me. For a while now, if I plugged in one side of the audio outputs (either side, didn’t matter) I got a really loud buzz - an obvious short. But, if I plugged in the other output also, it stopped and all was well. Not any more… all shorted & buzzing like all get out. If I jiggle the jacks a bit, it’ll stop - for a second. Bottom line, I can’t use it anymore. It’s a no-go. I also have a 560, and that’s a good thing. I’d like to get the 160 repaired…it’s got a mojo & feel that I’ve really like, and I’d like to keep using it. Any recomendations on a repair facility in Los Angeles? Thanks in advance…

Well, my 160 has finally rebelled against me. For a while now, if I plugged in one side of the audio outputs (either side, didn’t matter) I got a really loud buzz - an obvious short. But, if I plugged in the other output also, it stopped and all was well. Not any more… all shorted & buzzing like all get out. If I jiggle the jacks a bit, it’ll stop - for a second. Bottom line, I can’t use it anymore. It’s a no-go. I also have a 560, and that’s a good thing. I’d like to get the 160 repaired…it’s got a mojo & feel that I’ve really like, and I’d like to keep using it. Any recomendations on a repair facility in Los Angeles? Thanks in advance…

Casio should consider making their boards compatible with a Yamaha FC7. Best Exp/VP pedal on the market. It has been for a long time. JMHO... Having said that... Try a M-Audio vp.

Agreed…sliders are a great idea… for drawbars as well as zones, like on the PS5, and a real sustain half pedal input instead of the flimsy one that's on the SP33. Lose the auto-accompaniment stuff… leave that for the home enthusiast market. Built-in speakers are a nice touch, but not really needed on a pro board. JMHO….

I sure hope so… a new PX is a great idea. The PX5 is missing some serious pro features, and the 560 still has one foot in the home enthusiast's camp. A real pro board would be a welcome addition. Here's hoping...

Wow... Interesting article. Thanks for posting that. I stand corrected. Since the part is mainly legato, percussion doesn't seem play that big a role in the sound, at least to my ears it doesn't. Thanks again for posting that. I enjoyed reading it.

I don’t have a 560, but, as a Hammond player for over 50 years, I can tell you that it shouldn’t be all that hard to do…at least in theory. AWSOP uses 3dbs for the verses…no perc or C/V. The choruses add some higher pitched db’s, as well as fast leslie. I would say try making a hex layer organ patch, using the 3 main db pitches (fundamental/5th above/octave below), and have one of the assignable knobs crank in 3 higher pitches on the chorus, as well as kicking in a fast leslie effect with the mod wheel. I’ve been able to do that sort of thing on other synths, all of which were less sophisticated than a 560. btw, the reason I don’t have a 560 at this time is because I’m waiting for their next model (NAMM is next week). Hoping for an upgraded PX5 or more pro level 560 to show up. Till then, a 160 fills my piano needs just fine… better than a couple Kurzweils or Yamahas that I have. Let me know if you’re able to make that organ thing work…

Good question… The 5S is kinda due for an upgrade. Expression pedal/half pedal damping, etc. And while we're at it, what about the 560? Even though it's got some very cool features that are a step up from the 5S (better piano/piano adjustments/better quality sounds/display/expression, etc.), the 560 seems to be stuck between a pro board and something for home enthusiasts (to quote Rich Formidoni), with the auto accompaniment & such. That real estate might be better served with a bank of sliders. I'd love to know what Casio has got on the drawing board. Anyone else curious?

Bear in mind that Wurlies don't really have vibrato (frequency modulation). They only have tremolo (amplitude modulation). A Wurlie sample/sound that has vibrato just sounds wrong right out of the gate. JMHO... And yes, I realize the Wurlie control panel says vibrato...but it's trem.

Exactly, AlenK. I’ve got a PX-160 (which I’m totally digging) but I haven’t as yet used it for VST. I’ve been using a Yamaha P150 as a controller in my studio, and while I love the action, it doesn’t translate well with my software - Ivory or Galaxy. It’s not quite right with orchestral software, either. So, a new controller is in my future, and a 560 is on my short list.

I have a question about the SP33 pedal unit. I understand that the unit is necessary in order to have half-pedal, sostenuto and soft pedal functions on a 560 (and on a 160, as well). My question is… Are half-pedal, sostenuto and soft pedal MIDI messages transmitted (either via USB or MIDI port) to a computer running VST piano software, like Galaxy Vintage D or Ravenscroft 275? I've searched the Forum, and haven't been able to come up with a definitive answer. Thanks in advance. -Skip

Thanks, Mike…appreciate it. I must've missed that in the other thread.

So, first off let me say that I'm a new convert to Casio. I'm a pro player, and have been for about 50 years. I've had a stable full of Kurzweils, Yamahas, Korgs, Rolands, Generalmusics, Hammonds and so on. About a year ago I got a PX-160 just to have something simple & light (!) for a quick on-the-go piano, and I was just blown away. Seriously…still am by how good this thing plays & sounds. Now I'm about to move on a PX-560, but this jerky VP thing bothers me. One of the main things I do live is piano & strings with the strings controlled with a VP. Has Casio gotten a handle on this problem yet? Is it a question of using MIDI Expression vs MIDI Volume? Have they or are they considering an update to solve this problem? And while we're at it, what about being able to use a Yamaha FC7 volume pedal? They might be the best VP made in terms of ruggedness, smoothness of operation, and a physical curve very much like a Hammond exp pedal. (Not to mention that I have about 6 of 'em…) As long as Casio is trying to fix the VP problem, maybe they can make using a FC7 an option. Thanks in advance for any replies… -Skip