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Songwriter2015

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Everything posted by Songwriter2015

  1. Well, I can't even remember the last time I posted anything, but I still read the Forum on a regular basis, and it's nice to see it's still alive and kicking, although, in terms of new topics, things seem to have slowed a little since the glory days of a few years ago! Natural, I guess? Although, since those enjoyable days, I've expanded the keyboard - studio with a wonderfully perfect ( if ageing, a little - like me ) Triton Extreme 88, a MODX, and a System 8, my MZ-X500 is, with no exaggeration, still in it's rightful position, close by the same X32 mixer that's in my profile photo! The studio has been altered a lot - but the X500 is the same, reliable, genius of a keyboard, that it's been since the day I first set it up! In no way is it shamed by my more recent, and contemporary, acquisitions, and stands alongside them all as an equal in almost every respect! My scathing opinion of the shameful lack of support and marketing that Casio gave to this magnificent, innovative, keyboard ( in the U.K., anyway! ) will never change - and, yes, I realise that Brad, Rick, and, I'm sure, others, have different views on that subject! BUT, I still hold the same opinion and, probably, OTT admiration for this beautiful keyboard, that I always had. That it it deserves to be remembered ( whatever it's flaws and frailties! ) as one of the finest examples of innovative and creative keyboard/synth/arranger technology of this, or any other, era. I truly hope that all the "original" guys are still going strong ( sorry about the quotes Leonh 🙂 ), and that the music is still flowing strong! My genuine affection to every single one of you. Take care all.
  2. Fortunately my memory returned just in time for me to recall that if I clicked on the "I agree" button on the Firmware Upgrade page, then all, as they say, would be revealed! -- -- but thanks anyway!!
  3. Maybe I'm blind? Maybe I'm more stupid than Ive ever thought! 😊 But I can't seem to find any clear details on what improvements/changes the latest update has bought? I realise that Brad has said the details are at the end of the 1.6 PDF, but Im darned if I can find them! By all means "treat me like a fool" ( as Elvis said! ) but if you can, very helpfully, guide me to where I can find these details I'd be genuinely grateful. SO sorry to be such a pain! Take it easy all Chris
  4. Hi Scott, I believe that you've illustrated what I was suggesting with a most beautiful example. I'm sure I'm not quoting him with total accuracy, Scott, but Pierre Henry's general philosophy seems to have been that, whereas musical notes made up the world of the composer, and composition - the formal nature of which he had little or no interest - his belief was that far more creativity ( and interesting results! ) was to be found in exploring the forms and the qualities of sound, and the way those sounds interacted with each other. Hence the extraordinary character that much of his work exhibited! Not all of it was, can I suggest, "easily accessible' - The album "Ceremony" that he produced with the rock band "Spooky Tooth" was described ( I think by the Melody Maker? ) as: " One of the great screw-ups in rock history!! " and resulted in the band breaking up!!!! I'd love to see how some of his more "musical" work could be recreated using the mighty MZ-X500!! Now THAT would be a real challenge for someone!?! Take it easy Chris
  5. The "DX7" examples are pleasant enough - but what exactly do you intend to do with all these pre-created samples?? You have a brilliant sampling-keyboard. You have the flexibility of Sample Manager. Why not create a library of your own samples and show everyone your OWN brilliance, and your OWN creative talent? Just a thought! In no way meant to be "criticism" 😉 Take it easy Chris
  6. I know you don't normally respond to compliments BRAD. I feel you must be an incredibly modest man, as well as being astonishingly knowledgeable when it comes to the X500! Well, modest you may be, but someone has to make it very clear to you, Brad, how much of an invaluable one-man "resource" you have been, and continue to be, to all members of the Forum, and, by definition, owners of the X500. I stated my opinion, some weeks ago, that, despite the X500 being almost impossible to purchase, any longer, ( if you're a U.K/EUROPEAN musician ), still the "life" of the keyboard can be a long, and very full, one, thanks to the genuine brilliance, and wide-ranging knowledge, of, dare I say, the consistently present, "Core" membership! By "Core membership" I obviously refer to members such as : yourself Brad, Rick S., AlenK, Silvano, Carter, Casiokid, Lobbard, Leonh, Randelph and several others. I believe, still, as I did when I posted my opinion ( concerning how essential this Forum is to the life of the X500 ), all those weeks ago, that so long as this "core membership" remains solid and consistent, then the X500 will remain relevant to the music of today AND the future! And I have no doubt that anyone and everyone who may be reading this will have no problem with my insisting that, if that consistency of the membership is important - - then YOUR presence, Brad, is absolutely essential, period!! Take care all Chris
  7. Thanks Brad! As usual, brilliantly concise information. So, firstly, apologies for missing your update to the manuals 🙄 Secondly, there's obviously more, in terms of the differences, than I led myself to believe. Thanks again Brad Take it easy Chris
  8. I'm certain I have an awful lot of faults, guys, but "ego" based around stuff I know little or nothing about, is not one of them! Thus, having made a firm decision to add either a "3000" or "5000" to my arsenal of keyboards - including, of course, my MZ-X500 - I need to know whether the hypothetical conclusion I've come to is anywhere near accurate, or whether I'm way off the mark!! My "conclusion" is that the best value, across the entire range comes in the shape of the "3000"!! I'm going to stick my neck out and say that the only significant difference, as far as I can see, between the 3000 and the 5000, is in the output power of the inbuilt speakers? So, as the keyboard, like virtually everything in the studio, will be, without exception, output through the monitors, the studios' PA systems, or headphones, the power of the speaker system is pretty much irrelevant. ANY advice that any of you incredibly knowledgeable people ( and, no, I'm not being sycophantic! ) can give me, that might assist me in deciding which of these two keyboards to pre-order, would be very much appreciated. 😊 Hope this hasn't sounded too "needy"! Take it easy all Chris
  9. Hi Rick! I ask this, purely because I'm inquisitive, and not for any other reason, but why do you leave your X500 on "all the time"? I don't know whether anyone on the Forum remembers, Rick, but, back in the early days of the DAW coming to the fore in Home/Project studios ( around the late '90's? ), there was quite a healthy debate as to whether it was better for our computers to be left on permanently, or turned off at the end of each day! I can remember some seriously knowledgable people, on RIP ROWAN's, much-missed, "PROREC" site, ( incidentally, that site's Forum was the first I ever discovered that was specifically for the recording musician! ), suggesting that more potential damage could be caused by turning computers on and off each day than by simply leaving them on. For all I know that debate may still be continuing, behind the scenes, to this day?!? I don't claim to know the answer one way or the other, but, as the X500 is, to all intents and purposes, a computer with keys, ( yes, I know that's an over-simplification! ), then, if there IS a definitive answer, then it might apply to our keyboards as well as our DAWs? Take it easy all, Chris
  10. I'm old enough to remember the very earliest days of the Analogue Synth era, stretching into the advent of Digital and the beginnings of Midi, and I swear some of the manuals that came with those keyboards were funnier than anything you'd read in MAD magazine, or see on tv!! Roland were definitely the worst - or should that be "best"! 😄 - but the others weren't much better! ( or worse?!? ). I can't believe I'm the only member of this Forum who found himself literally helpless with laughter at the totally inept translation of, what were, completely unintelligible "instructions", from Japanese ( yep, they were, pretty much, all still made in Japan back then, believe it or not! ) into English! It made for some highly entertaining moments in the rehearsal room, I tell you! That is, until we realised we still had to figure out how to PLAY the things! I know the MZ-X500 manual is far from perfect, but believe me, its like a Pulitzer Prize winner compared to the way things were "back then"! 😊 Take it easy all Chris
  11. Hi all! Firstly, I'm pleased to see that Silvano is still with us, and that he hasn't "disappeared" from the group as he said his commitments might force him to do. He has much to contribute! Secondly, as far as the several questions, ( and, apparently, vociferous,complaints ), in this thread, are concerned, I honestly believe there is an inherent obligation, which is applicable to all we users, whether new or more experienced to: 1) - Read the Manual, Tutorial, Appendix, and Midi Implementation pages, in full, -- and not simply skim through them -- because doing that will teach you little, if anything! 2) - Be very careful that your own "inconsistency", when using, or trying to use, certain features that you THINK the X500 possesses, don't lead you down a path of ranting about, what you see as, failings that the keyboard has, but which might just be your own expectations exceeding what the X500 ever promised it was capable of doing! 3) - Accept, with gratitude, the assistance, and advice, that fellow-users, ( especially BRAD!! ) try to give you. Bear in mind that if they reply to your question/post, then it's because they're trying to help. They are not here to waste yours, or their own time, by trying to deliberately mislead you -- Why on earth would they do that?!? 4) - Learn the lesson that I, myself did, many months ago!! Before you rush to criticise individual members, or the Forum in general, be VERY certain of the ground you're standing on, because, if it's not as firm and solid as you first thought, you may slip -- and, sadly, simply reveal your own ignorance! I've never tried to hide my admiration for what Casio achieved in their creation of the MZ-X500! I've had to suffer criticism for what some others have seen as my sycophantic love affair with Casios dream-machine -- and I STILL feel the same as I always have! The X500 is a stunningly brilliant, creatively versatile, near-masterpiece of a keyboard -- BUT, it has only ever been, and only ever will be, the keyboard that it's manual, tutorial, specs., o.s., etc clearly state that it is. It can never be what some people simply assume that it is! Take it easy, all Chris
  12. ALENK - Alen, NOTHING ( sorry, promise it's the last time I'll use them ) I wrote was aimed at you, or anything you may have written! I honestly have no idea why you would have thought it was? Take it easy Chris
  13. Dear all, I'm not going to stupidly try and hide the fact that I was very pessimistic about Casio releasing another "professional" keyboard this year. After all, it's there for anyone to see in the "Casio....NAMM" thread! I've also, as an owner of the X500, never hidden the fact that I believe that Casio's "support/marketing" of the keyboard was nothing short of, "lousy" - at BEST, and "pathetic" - at WORST!! Whether or not U.S. owners defend ( or not ) Casio..... Whether they " put-down " some of the justifiable " complaints " from members from " elsewhere " ...... Whether they make some spurious ( imho ) argument along the lines of: " Casio believe the potential market in 'A' / 'B' / 'C', is more "lucrative" is, again, imho, totally redundant! If Casio SELL an instrument in the U.K./EURO Zone, then they are, by definition, obligated to SUPPORT that instrument, and the owners who've parted with their hard-earned, in order to purchase it!! CASIO, in THIS Zone, made not the slightest effort to support or assist buyers ( OR, for that matter, PROSPECTIVE buyers ), apart from with "a couple" of very brief, and not exactly in-depth, videos from Rich Formidoni, and Mike Martin!! Please, let no one try to argue with this, because it's there for all to see --- or rather, in this case --- NOT see!! Casio failed, abysmally, on all levels, to support, assist, and RESPECT, the musicians whose cash they were more than happy to take!! BUT --- All those incontrovertible facts DO NOT alter the fact that the X500 is a FABULOUS keyboard!! Despite some posters, over the months, trying to deny the fact, it simply HAS NO competition at its price-point!...... ...... And the arguments for an "upgraded" model may be nice to have in a wish-list --- but it doesn't make that 'upgrade" a necessary thing! From a personal standpoint, I use my X500 every single day, and I've not found myself thinking, yet, that it SHOULD have this feature or that feature!! A WISH does not a NECESSITY make!! Likewise, finally, Casio are under no obligation to release a new Professional keyboard, of the kind we'd all like,.... .... ( and what IS that, by the way - answers on a postcard! 😊 ) just because people say they SHOULD!! Just because there's no new "Pro keyboard" at NAMM. Just because Casio messed-up with their support of the X500. Just because they don't comply with the dozens and dozens of "demands" from members/owners re "upgrades / features / products / whatever" doesn't suddenly make them a BAD Company!! It just makes them, (if my 40+ years as a working musician, live and in the studio, mean ANYTHING! ) the SAME as every other Company!! Join some different products Forums and I'll guarantee you'll read the SAME KIND OF POSTS as you read here! There ain't nothing new in the world of the musician!! Just different shaped pickguards!! Take it easy all Chris
  14. TUXFRIEND - Hi! I'd be genuinely interested in knowing what you mean by: " an option for WK7600 users or potential 76 key users " ?? Also, I assume, by the inference of your second sentence, that you're impressed enough by the spec of the CT-X5000, but you just require 76 keys - is that right? Interesting enough, but I STILL sense that you've got other things in mind, of which you've not revealed any detail - is THAT right?!? Over to you, Tuxfriend, in the hope that you "dot some i's, and cross some t's", for those of us who might be genuinely interested in your views! 😊 Take it easy Chris
  15. Hi MichaelL, Well.....!! 70 eh?!? Nice to see that there's someone else on the Forum who's at least in the same age range ( ish ) as me -- although, I confess, I'm a little way off reaching your excellent figure! Okay - Firstly ...... I'm VERY proud that, of all the "foot-in-mouths" I've achieved on this, as you infer, quite excellent Forum, I've never yet referred to anyone as a "newbie" 😊 Second ...... you, obviously, had a very good reason in asking the questions you did -- although I'd "defend" my reply to you by gently pointing out that you really DID give the pretty clear impression, in your first post, that you'd discounted purchasing an X500, ( quote: " I WAS considering the mx500.... acoustic sounds aren't realistic enough ....." ), which is what "pushed my buttons"! Third ..... ISTANBUL?!!? ...... You won't even find one in LONDON!! 😂 Fourth .... You've obviously, dare I say, like myself, devoted the majority of your life to creating music --- and that ALWAYS gets unconditional respect in my book. Fifth....... Well..... Welcome along, basically 😊 Take it easy Chris
  16. Hey LEE, Those were pretty much my thoughts, but he seems to have duplicated this post (??) and seems to be getting some sympathetic replies on the other one so it must be me that's out of step!! 😂😂 Take it easy Chris
  17. Hi MichaelL! Ive already embarrassed myself once, in the last 24 hours - on the matter of a piece of Forum-terminology of which I was totally ignorant ( thanks again BRAD! 😊), and I MAY be about to do it again! I don't understand why, having considered, and then, apparently, discounted, as a potential purchase, the brilliant MZ-X500...... ....... you would choose it's own, definitive, forum site, to, pretty much, ask for advice on what OTHER manufacturers keyboard you should purchase?!!? You've got a god- given right to go where, and when, you like to seek advice on a new instrument, but SURELY there can't be ANY regular contributor to this Group, who, having read your post, would argue that you would be better served placing it on a more general keyboard forum?!? Strikes me that you're VERY naive, or that you're expectations of a Group of musicians ( who's opinion of the X500 is, by definition, higher than yours ), being particularly keen on helping you, are overly high!! But then I could be wrong! Take it easy Chris
  18. Thanks BRAD!! Not just for the reply - but for not heaping any sarcasm on me for what is, probably, common knowledge to everyone else on the Forum! 😊😊
  19. RICK - So sorry to be "thick" dear friend, but I don't understand the inference of your: "This!" ? I think I'm well into the age-range of being able to claim premature senility Rick, so I think there's actually a law that says you HAVE to excuse me if I AM being stupid! 😄 😄 Take it easy Chris
  20. BradgeMusicTube - " The MZ-X seems great but is TOO EXPENSIVE " (!!?!!?!!)...... ...... W..H..A..T..??!!??
  21. Echoing what RANDY said, CARTER, this IS a pretty small group, but there ARE ways to get the best info possible....... ........ for example, the post from COREY, that Randy quotes, is worth anyone's time in reading. I believe, EVERY member tries to be as helpful as they can, but there are, undoubtedly, to my eyes, some members who stand head and shoulders above the rest of we poor mortals!! 😊 Surely the the most BRILLIANT of all such knowledgable members, MUST be BRADMZ, who, it must be said, seems to know the X500 inside out!! 😊 He rarely fails to shine light on the darkness of confusion that some user is experiencing with the keyboard --- And MORE often than not he goes a long way further than that toward solving whatever problem they're experiencing!! 😊 I've said a couple of times in the recent few weeks, that, provided there's the WILL and enthusiasm from members, then there's no limit to how long this Group can continue to offer and receive help...... ...... because, "small" it may be, in terms of active members, but the knowledge, skill, and talent, is most certainly here ---- in abundance!! 😊 Take it easy all Chris
  22. Nice to see you PETE!! 😊 If I give you the number of my local, U.K. Ford dealership, do you think you could give them a ring and see if they'll lend me a new Mustang for a week or two?!? 😄 Anyway..... Congrats on a great purchase mate! You're going to have a LOT of fun!! Take it easy Chris
  23. Hey RANDY, I hate to seem critical of Casio, or any of the other major manufacturers, but wouldn't it be a nice surprise if we woke up one day to find they'd actually LISTENED to some of the excellent ideas that users, such as those on this board, come up with?!? "Scrolling lyrics", for example, RANDY, as you seem to suggest, SHOULD be a no-brainier - I mean, who on earth is going to say they DONT want them? Further to that, as LOBBARD asks, what about lyric-input for original material? That's something that I, as someone who is heavily involved in composition, would DEFINITELY go for! Incidentally, RANDY...... I'm SO pleased, to hear that you enjoy a SINGALONG!! 😊😊 Maybe you, me, and Lobbard, can get together for a quick burst of "Hey Jude" 😄😄 Take it easy all Chris
  24. SILVANO - I know, from my own experience, how sad you'll feel about "leaving" the Group, even if you don't quite feel that way now. As I said, VERY recently, in the "Sampler" thread: " SILVANO OBVIOUSLY has something significant to say about what he thinks are the failings of the Sampler".... It's a shame that, hopefully for just a short time, you don't feel able to remain as contributor to the Forum, and continue with your best efforts to explain the way the X500 contributes to Brazilian music. Take it easy Chris
  25. COREYW - Now THAT'S what I CALL a post, Corey!! You sure you're not Mike Martin in disguise?? 😄 Seriously, though, a truly excellent post! "Technical", but genuinely helpful, and VERY well explained!! Great stuff, mate!! 😊 Take it easy Chris
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