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Considering 6600 purchase - how close to the 350?


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Anyone have experience with this and thoughts? I stumbled on it (its existence) by accident and looks like it might be a viable, cheaper option to the 350 I was considering, esp if I buy some DAW software. How's the sound and feel?

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You will find my posts about using the PX350 with software recording. I've been doing strictly midi multi-track recording no problems with several different software sequencers. Unfortunately the built-in sequencer has no editing facilities except for punching in over a track, software is necessary for this. IMO the pianos sound superb and the key action is the best I've played-closest to a real piano.

 

Now i don't own a WK6600 (been considering but have so many other workstations) so will only speak from studying the online manual and what I know of my XW-P1 key action, which is not a true piano design but rather uses a system of springs to create the key response. I'm pretty sure the WK series use a similar or identical internal design. The PX350 has actual steel fulcrum arms with weights inside to simulate piano hammers. So if you are after a real piano-type weighted action the PX350 or PX5s are the ones to get.

 

The benefit of the WK6600 (and the 6500 and CTK 6000/7000 etc.) over the PX350 and to a certain extent the XW-P1/G1 is that you will have a larger assortment of "tones" and can do many things the PX-350 cannot as far as sequencing, editing sounds and making other adjustments live unless you use software. For example-the WKs all have the "mixer" function visible in the LCD where you can change and store settings for voulme, pan and other settings and save these for a particular mulit-track recording. The PX-350 cannot do that, it has no "mixer" function.

 

ggThe PX-350 does have some very usable electric pianos, organs, drums and percussion and the complete set of "GM" compatible sounds which I wouldn't hesitiate to use in a live gig so it is certainly capable of playing pre-recorded multi-track midi files and whatever you create.The WKs are more like true "workstation" keyboards than the PX-350 which is definitely designed coming from the digital piano world. And although my XW-P1 has one of the best acoustic piano simulations I've heard, it is not a tri-sensor triggered sample like the PX-350. I have to think the WK6600 doesn't have that either since it is partly a function of the physical design of the keyboard-the PX350 actually triggers one of 3 different samples or combinations depending upon how hard and fast you hit the key, makes for a very realistic acoustic piano response. Others here may be able to clue you in some more about the WK6600. Hope this helps.

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Jokeyman

 

A very good comparison, indeed - especially of two instruments that are so enormously different, but one point of correction - the CTK/WK-6XXX/7XXX models do have the triple-strike voice design on several of their piano voices.  If I recall correctly, Mike Martin commented, when all of these units were first released, that the CTK/WK pianos were of triple strike design, while the piano of the XW-P1 was of a double strike design, although I, personally, have a difficult time hearing the difference, but that could have a lot to do with my age.  This was just a little before the release of the new PX units, so no reference was made to them at that time.

 

 

Bill

 

Because of the vast differences of these two models, it would really be to your benefit to visit a music dealer and play both, if at all possible - not just to hear the sonic differences, but to experience the "key feel' as well, and then compare the features of each model  to help determine which unit best fits your needs/preferences.  I have a very difficult time seeing either one of these units as a "substitute" for the other.

 

Best of luck on making your choice.

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Jokeyman

 

Don't trade your 350 in on a 7600 yet.  I suspect that the PX's, being primarily piano voice units, have audio systems that are factory tuned to those piano voices and piano voice release times that are a little more like those of a real piano.  Without some aftermarket user tweaking, the CTK/WK piano voice release times are a bit abrupt in order to save a tad on the polyphony when the Auto-accompaniment is running.  They can also make very good use of the EQ'ing of the latest models.  When I run my 6000, 7000, 7500 outputs through my old Realistic 10 band stereo equalizer, I can come up with some piano voices that sound really great.

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