How many tracks for sequencing external gear?

[Casio Man]

XWs can juggle respectable amount of tracks simultaneously, but I'd like to know how strictly the 'drum tracks' are just for drumming purposes.

And more importantly, how many tracks can play external synths?

[XW-Addict]

On the G1 I can use all nine channels for drumming if I want, But as far as I know the channels the step sequencer uses don't send midi information out.The controllers however can send midi information out as well the Zone Channels 1 to 4 send midi information out on the G1 I dunno if the hexlayer mode on the P1 can send more. 

 

However its easy to record or play a drum pattern on either zones using the phrase sequencer or arpeggio and let the XW send it out as midi that is one of the beauty behind the XW.

[Casio Man]

Can the drum tracks sequence anything else, than just drums? Internal and external.

I have a dream, that I would use an XW as my sequencer for my monos, Bass Station 2 and Pulse 2, and perhaps a couple of timbres from iPad. Can XW carry that much?

[Null]

The XW's CAN send MIDI OUT on channels 9 to 16 BUT you have to be in performance mode and you have to configure each channel to output MIDI in the Mixer settings.

 

AFAIK they will only output in performance mode though.

 

Gary

[Casio Man]

The XW's CAN send MIDI OUT on channels 9 to 16 BUT you have to be in performance mode and you have to configure each channel to output MIDI in the Mixer settings.

 

AFAIK they will only output in performance mode though.

 

Gary

Many thanks!!!

 

That sounds mouth wateringly promising, but I want to be absolutely sure, so if you excuse me for harping on this subject.

 

From Casio's official specs for XW:

"Number of Tracks; Mono x 8, Poly x 1, Control x 4"

 

So I should be able:

-to freely harness 8 mono tracks to what ever I want? For example a handful of iPad synths, Bass Station 2 and Pulse 2, as well as XW's own monosynth?

-And then there should also be a poly track, and I should be able to put it sequencing what ever I want as well?

-And still there should be 4 tracks left for controlling parameters on what ever source I want?

[waveformer]

I asked Mike a similar question via youtube, and he told me that any of the sequencer tracks can trigger any of the internal sounds.  For example, though tracks 1-5 are labelled for drums in the manual, they don't have to be used for drums.  Based upon this, I'd say you should have 8 monophonic tracks for whatever internal sounds you want to trigger with them, 1 polyphonic track, and 4 controller tracks.  How this applies to external instruments via MIDI, I can't answer.  I trust happyrat knows of what he speaks, however. 

[ritchie]

I just got an XWP and am frustrated most of all by the 'manual' ( and I use the term very loosely )

 

Why are the proper track counts and polyphony per track not mentioned in the manual? 

Using the XW following the 'How To;' Midi description in the manual,  is also severely pathetic. It describes nothing except how to enable and disable midi channels!

 

And this is called sensible support?  eg;   "I had to ask a guy at Casio via Youtube about the track count.. " ???   The Casio 'support' people should be sacked for obtaining money under false pretences..

 

I bought the XWP as a cross between a mini-work station and a fast to select Hammond drawbar sound keyboard, and a poly/solo synth, and it does all except the first admirably.  It may even do the first admirably as well, but the manual is so badly written and non-informative, that it's very difficult to comprehend how to accomplish anything..

 

Also, it is not an arranger, per se, but features a transposable root-note phrase sequencer, and  the fact that some people don't know this is another testament to Casio's obvious inability to communicate.

 

Instead of getting easier to understand, Casio manuals are getting the exact opposite, and the O/S is convoluted and totally non-intuitive. (which is a great pity, given the great sounds that are on offer)

As a pointer, I use different generations of Kurzweils,  various expandable EMU Proteus synths ( PX-7 and P. 2500's ) and also a highly valued Casio VZ10M, so am not unused to complexity. 

 

Unfortunately, it seems that the XWP O/S has been developed without a comprehensive overall structure, but just by tacking various performance options and feature sets on at random, then adding a few buttons to accomplish the different tasks, all to suit a perceived marketing need..

 

The poor end-user unfortunately, has been left forever in the dark, thanks to Casio's short-sightedness, and lack of proper planning, and it could all have been so much better..

 

A 'training aim' should presume that the learner starts knowing nothing.  Unfortunately at the end of the 'manual' , she/he knows almost exactly the same. ie; almost zilch..

 

Another stupid move is that the non-tilted screen is impossible to see if the XWP  is on top of  another keyboard..

 

 

1) Terribly written O/S.

2) Terribly written manual

3) No thought given on how to see the screen if the XWP is on top of another keyboard.

4) Totally inept descriptions of what the XWP does. (and this must hurt sales)

 

Four bad moves Casio.... and you could have done so much better.. :-((.

[Brad Saucier]

Hi Ritchie.   Welcome!!  

 

Try these six videos by Mike Martin.   

 

1) 

 

2)

 

3)

 

4) 

 

5) 

 

6) 

 

 

We have a huge section here with discussion on many topics for the P1.    http://www.casiomusicforums.com/index.php?/forum/8-xw-p1-specific/

 

And we have a facebook group for asking questions.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/Casio.XW.Synths/