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PX350 DSP settings


Jokeyman123

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Starting a new post-I posted some info under the PX user reviews about DSP settings for the PX350 and decided might be time create a separate topic. After studying the MIDI implementation chart from Casio's website, I discovered a few interesting things about DSP settings.

 

According to the chart, not only can reverb and chorus depth and send levels be varied through sysex messages, (I think) there is also a 3-stage equalizer, an enhancer and settings for the Leslie effect parameters built into not only the PX350, but several of the other recent PX's.

 

Anyone not content with the default built-in DSP settings (each sound has specific effects parameters preset internally and this is how DSP variations on the piano, organ and other sounds are created) might be able to through MIDI control messages re-adjust alot of the DSP engine's settings although I'm not sure. I'm guessing that through another MIDI controller or software, variations in DSP settings can be changed in real time, and can also access the equalizer, enhancer and leslie settings.

 

Whether this can be recorded to the PX sequencer I have no idea (not enough experience with that yet) but would give these "preset" instruments quite a bit more internal control, something like the PX5s at a cost of a little more fussiness-the equalizer settings alone would be very useful. This also suggests the possibility of a complete editor for the PXs although as I already said software programs may be able to access these settings.

 

I will try this out and post my results-control of the PX DSP settings with the XWs for those of us who have these would be very cool. These send control change and MIDI messages in real time and can also be programmed and recorded with the XW step sequencer. Whew! Alot to explore. Mike Martin, if you can give any insight into this topic, it would be very interesting IMO-and give the PX series, already outstanding instruments, even more music power. I crave music power!

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hello ....yes like i have informed in an separate Forum this is possible, i have owned the Px350  and after few mails with Casio they

confirmed you can programm the DPS Engine via SYSEX....i tried but it was very tricky to figure out the parameters and sending them to the PX350 so i switched to the PX5S, i also don´t know if you then can save the Sound with the DSP settings.

There are some controllers you can programm to send SYSEX or also DSP Software..i will stay tuned to see if you can get this to work it would be a mega improvement for the PX350 owner,,,,

 

 

Good Luck

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Agreed that this would be a major interesting development. I would like it Casio could weigh in here on whether this can be done in any simple way (and save Jokeyman some research time!) :)

 

Maybe I'm only dreaming in colour, but I have:

a) a third gen iPad.

B) a korg micro-control (8knobs, 8sliders, 16 buttons).

 

I don't think it's huge jump to think that MIDI messages generated from one of those could  adjust the reverb and eq on the Px-350 in real time. It's only a matter of software, I believe -- so Casio could write it that way, IMO, if they wanted to. Do they want to? That's the question. It's got my vote. :P

 

AF1

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I posted again (I'm post-happy lately) suggesting Casio  create a data editor/librarian for the PX series, like the editor available for the PX5s and the XW series even if it has limited functionality would still be nice.

 

The WK and CTk keyboards are accessible with the IDES software. I tried today to access the PX350 with these (IDES and PX5s editors yes I like to push my luck) and had no success, although with Windows XP computer USB and MIDI ports both see the PX and I have been able to use it no problem as a MIDI controller and play MIDI files on it with several different software sequencers. Next will be connecting an Alesis midi controller with 8 programmable CC analog knobs see if it does anything.  I'll keep trying and post results.

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Another aspect to this-a program on the web called cryptically "CTRLR" which is an open-source creation for 3 platforms, Windows, Linux Or MAC OS which allows complete creation of custom software-front ends for just about any MIDI device from scratch. It looks like an amazing but daunting program. I studied it until my hair caught on fire from my brain over-heating, but this looks like the place to custom-create a new "editor" for the PX-350 or any other Casio instrument that doesn't have one.

 

Anybody willing to help on this project(if you are a glutton for sysex punishment, hex string self-immolation and other assorted mayhem will go straight to forum heaven, or the other place if that's what you prefer (sorry I forgot no religious discussions here). I managed to get a rough idea of how to create controllers and program associated code with it.  There is an amazing assortment of front-ends that have been custom created for all manner of MIDI hardware already on the website, nothing in the Casio dept. unfortunately but the capabilities are there and are astoundingly comprehensive. I'll keep y'all posted on any progress I can make. And again, Mr. Martin any insight into this, enough said.

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  • 1 month later...

Hi,

This sounds very interesting - any further with it?

I have just bought a PX-850 and am using it with a dedicated laptop for the music files.

The settings and parameters are a bit confusing - I'm never sure if I have made the changes I want and there are rather a lot of them.

 

It would be great is to just read the settings and show them on the laptop.

 

Come on Casio: 'how hard can it be' !!

 

Any comments,

Martin

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  • 1 month later...

OK, weighing in again. Mike Martin has informed me that although there is no ability in the PX to firmware upgrade, those of you using MIDI Designer with an iPad or similar may be able to access all of these settings within the PX-350, EQ, DSP, Leslie speed etc. This is good news, I would be interested to see if anybody has success with this. I'm guessing the other Privias might be capable also. Although I do not have an iPad, I'd still like to design some type of similar software control for the Windows platform if i get a little more insight into what midi messages the PX needs to see, still haven't made any further progress (yes I like self-inflicted torture I shave with a straight razor but I put it away when I'm working on software troubleshooting or design) :P 

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  • 2 weeks later...

. . .  (yes I like self-inflicted torture I shave with a straight razor but I put it away when I'm working on software troubleshooting or design) :P

Small world -- I was very active on "StraightRazorPlace.com" for a while.

 

I eventually decided that I could get good results with an EJ DE89 and a Feather blade, and haven't touched a straight razor in over a year.

 

I think that you're wise, in putting away the razor when working on software.   Too much temptation to do something you might regret later.

 

.         Charles

 

PS -- I have a copy of "Bome's SendSX" sitting on my computer, waiting for me to program my MIDI Solutions "pedal controller".   One day . . . 

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Yes, I've gotten back to some vintage stuff, not just keyboards. I have a beautiful safety razor my brother got me with a Persona blade that has lasted (amazingly) over a month of daily use. and the straight razors seemed to have gotten to be a collectible now. Still have my father's old ovory or bone-handled and another hardwood handle. And a couple of badger brushes. I think its the quality that is attractive, its nice to use stuff made with chrome steel,, wood rather than all the plasticky c***. and i feel that way about music equipment but I don't miss huge electric pianos, Leslie speakers, Hammonds anymore for gigging, but the old materials are still nice. I still haven't crunched all the cc numbers on the PX yet, but I will, haven't had much spare time lately and this is a project that needs time. There must be a way with a small hardware controller to control these hidden settings in the PX, if there were a way I could read the code coming out of the iPad that Mike says will control the PX as it does for the XW, Midiox won't help if i can't change settings in the keyboard itself, I'm just guessing what might work.......I don't want to buy an iPad just for this. I'd rather use something like a small Behringer ro even the old JL Cooper Fadermaster if I knew it might work. What is Bome's SendSX-O'll take a look.

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  • 1 year later...
   Anybody still searching for a PX-350 editor to change the internal settings?  Last post here was in 2014.   I still haven't found any programming software for the PX-350.  Too bad someone hasn't come up with an Apple app for the iPhone or iPad.  Need more buttons!  I hate searching thru settings on the front panel.  It gets better once you memorize where everything is.  Casio could have done a better job of silkscreening the functions of each button.   
  Now with Windows touch screens,  a laptop app could be created with a ton of buttons which would allow you to get more out of the instrument quickly. 
  I'm a programmer, but don't have time to create an app for this keyboard, though the thought of doing it is appealing. 

 

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Yes, an Android (or even a PC) app would be nice.  But the PX-350 is obsolescent (I think it's still in production), replaced by the PX-360.

 

I've read some reviews of the PX-360 touch screen -- it sounds very nice.  But it doesn't permit programming the DSP chip.

 

.      Charles

 

PS - my PX-350 is now a MIDI keyboard for Pianoteq.  Its built-in sounds are OK, but Pianoteq's are better.  And there's an adjustable reverb, an EQ, and so on, inside Pianoteq.

Edited by cpcohen
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MidiDesigner looks like the most likely candidate to setup the PX-350 or 360.  Wonder if anyone's done it yet.   I have so many other keyboards & tools I probably won't write a program myself.    I'm just using my 350 basically for the 88 keys, grand piano and stereo strings patches.

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Mike Martin had posted a reply to me regarding this way back then. He had said that Midi Designer could control certain parameters of the PX350 with an iPad. I do not have an iPad (I have so many computers running every OS, Windows, Linux Android) maybe I should!) so I never tested this capability. I never consider anything necessarily obsolete (if anyone owns an obsolete Stradivarius they like to dispose of, let me know).

 

Getting off on a tangent here but mentioning the obsolete PX350 got me thinking-It is unfortunate that many big music food groups (companies) do not support older equipment because of this way of thinking. The field of computer hardware has already hit the wall as tons of old computer equipment is now in landdfills all over the world, complete with all the highly toxic materials that make up a typical computer. I am already pondering what is becoming of all the older electronic musical instruments that are obsolete. Much of this is being recirculated via the used marketplace, but this can only go so far. What happened to the thousands of old Yamaha DXs, Roland Jupiters, Korg DWs etc.? I have restored several older instruments over the years, but it honestly gives me some concern, as I know of no manufacturer who is willing to recycle or restore their older technology in a non-destructive way, or at all.  I found one repair service who was willing to dispose of something for me (at cost) but it seems terribly wasteful to destroy an entirely physically sound instrument for the sake of what could be one IC component or IC board with a defect, much less a perfectly good working instrument simply as obsolete. Too bad there is not a viable safe "graveyard" for much of this old technology, aside from dumping it in a landfill. I think this field of technology is so new, that there has not been sufficient time for a supporting industry for this to evolve. for example-there is only one technician in the US that still supports older Ensoniq equipment and he has restored one older keyboard for me already a no-functioning MR61 which was in new condition except for a defect in the mainboard. The surprise is that technicians like this are still so rare, and that even major companies do not seem to be equipped to deal with this.  Guess there isn't enough profit in it, so far. I have had to maintain a huge amount of computer and music equipment for many years, obsolete and otherwise and I'm sure I'm not alone. it would seem to me that someone who could maintain/repair these advanced technologies would be a vital part of the structure many of us use on a daily basis. It is easier for me to get my washing machine/roof/car/truck repaired than my keyboards, by a long shot!

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I bought MIDIDesigner and I'm trying it out on my PX-350.  It seems to work ok but..,,. This isn't a deal killer, but the damper pedal does not receive midi, but it transmits it.   The other 2 pedals work fine.  This a bug?  The implementation chart says yes for receive and transmit.  I'm using the USB MIDI port, not the standard MIDI in/out ports.

   Looking at the manual, there is a ton of stuff inside the 350 that you'd probably never use or get around to using without software.  Hoping to remedy that with this app.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks SirLance-let me know how you progress with this. I would play the PX-350 alot more if only I had better control of even a few parameters not accessible excpet through midi software sequencers. And although I have every kind of OS except (!) Apple and an iPad, I would invest in (sigh) an iPad if Midi Designer opened enough programmable parameters to make it worthwhile. it is a doddle to have to record multitrack arrangements constantly tied to a computer, when with the internal 17-track sequencer, just being able to alter volume levels and some additional effects would help tremendously in doing my recording internally with the PX sequencer/song recorder, among other things (Leslie speed maybe and better settings for EQ.  Yes, I'd be tied to an iPad, but oh well! There  is no real computer control or editing easily accessible with the PX-350 and I'm repeating but, there are many variable parameters based upon sysex control-studying the midi spec sheet shows this is possible-even the the PX360 and 560 seem to be implementing some of those variables directly now with the internal PX360/560 controls. Someone at Casio (probably Mike Martin) must have been listening!

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