Brad Saucier

Mike is your guy for this one. I wish I could help. Sorry.

Redwave. I have a possible workaround for your Drums/Octave shift issue. Mike answered a question for me about user drum set editing. You can map any of the PX5's drum samples to any of the 88 keys. So, with this you could put drums near the top end where you want and leave the rest empty.

Great List willf!

U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name.

Mike. WOW! Impressive! Knowing that your original recordings sound better than the Soundcloud versions is very important info. Maybe you could find a way to help make potential buyers aware of this. Hearing the keyboard in person "live" would be ideal. But for me... for the time being, the internet will have to suffice, unless you know of any dealers in my area with one. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing some uncompressed recordings. Thanks my friend. I feel so well informed. Casio should promote you. But then who will monitor the forums? lol Me? We don't want that. I've overstayed my welcome already.

Understood. The ZPI engine was great in its day and still sounds good, but it was replaced some years ago. Today, the AIR engine is a nice step up. I have been able to hear a marked improvement in the smoothness and warmth of the new engine (even trough compressed youtube and soundcloud samples). Even the XW series has some mild graininess (technical term) and slight harshness that is just not there in the PX5s. (again, judging from samples... so I could be wrong). Is there any way to hear an uncompressed (wav) grand piano sample piece from the PX5s?

I understand Mike. CASIO did this with their mono piano samples on the MZ. The preset sample was called "G. Piano WIDE". IDK if it still exist today in some form. Unfortunately there was no way for the user to create something like this.

Thanks Mike. I assume the pdf manual will be updated with the new firmware changes. I will study into it more at that time..

Nice ideas beowulfx. I can imagine a new workstation keyboard that is a mash-up of the MZ-2000, XW-G1 and PX5s and then beyond any of those.

Good idea about the stereo panning Mike. Question? If 6 layers are set up to different key ranges (each overlapping by several notes or more), can the overlaps be cross faded to give a smoother transition between them? I.E. As you play from low notes to high notes the volume of one layer would fade out as the next layer fades in.

You can set velocity limits upper and lower in a similar fashion to the key range limits. Velocity outside of these limits will become silent. Keep in mind the velocity setting will affect the entire key range of a that layer (not just where it overlaps with another). I'm not an owner of a PX5s. I'm going from the pdf manual for it and my experience with my MZ-2000 which has these same parameters as the px5. There may be more new tricks added since the old MZ days.

I will add this: If the metronome is not available outside of "phrase recording" and you really want one to be. I would create a phrase with the bell and click sounds myself (the bell and click sounds are in drum "standard set 1" just below the kick drums). Then I could recall the metronome phrase when I wanted to play along to it.

I think I can help with this. Yes you can do that. You set the "Upper Key Range" and Lower Key Range" for each layer. For example: Cello can be set to Upper Key Range C2 and nothing in that layer will sound above that note. The same goes for lower key range in that nothing will sound below the specified note. Just make these settings for each layer and you should be good.

Glad to help.

Chuck, I know where your coming from with the tonal balance issue. I have the same issue with my MZ-2000. On some songs I find that the left hand accompaniment overpowers the right hand melody no matter how I set the cutoff filter or velocity curve. Whether its a reflection of the sound system's eq curve or its internal to the keyboard samples or just my left hand, I don't know. But I agree that on board compensation would be very helpful. I did come up with my own workaround for this. Its not easy or quick though. For me, on the MZ-2000 you can create a user tone with 4 layers and then set upper and lower key limit for each layer. I set all four layers to the piano tone i like and then divide the layers key range among the keys where i think they would best hide the transition. Then I set volume levels and lowpass filter levels for each range to shift the balance of the keyboard. I'm sure the Px5 can do this easily. Its not and ideal solution, but it works surprisingly well in a bind. At least until Mike the magician comes up with something else.

Features I would like too see on the PX5: I'm not sure if this is already possible but I would like to see the addition of user programmable function keys. Similar to how you recall different tones and settings on the px-150 (by holding down the function button and then pressing a note on the piano), but in this case various system functions would be freely assignable to any of the 88 keys for quick recall during performance. An example would be: Master Transpose could be assigned to middle C and D or any other note you choose. This is a simple example but more interesting things could happen with this setup. The only problem would be remembering what function you assigned to what key. Some tape and a marker would help.

Great! You answered the part I forgot to ask (tuning them). It seems that the px5 gives you total control over every sample to do with what you please. Thanks again.

Thanks Mike. that was my first Robo-spam . I'll be trying the new keys out eventually. I will do a long term test for everyone. Warning: It may take years to get the results. By then it won't matter.

Thanks Mike, That clears it up for me. I suspected this was the case but was unsure. I still like it anyway. I'm not looking to duplicate the functions on my MZ2000. I want a different beast for live performance and this seems to fit nicely. One more question: Can a completely custom drum set be made by mapping the px5's individual drum samples to each of the 88 keys?

Hey Mike, I see a PX5 in my future so..... I was reading the pdf manual on the PX5 and noticed a section on the Song sequencer. My first instinct was to assume that this is a 16 track sequencer (and maybe that 17th system track) just like in the MZ-2000. But after reading more I am unsure. The basic manual describes it as "a way to combine phrases into a song". The tutorial manual shows how to edit a song and lists the mixer parameters, but I am still unsure about exactly what the "Song Sequencer" is. Is it the MZ-2000 type sequencer or something for arranging phrases? I know there is no mention of a song sequencer in product descriptions. How many tracks is it? Thanks. and Mike, I truly appreciate your time spent answering questions here. and Thanks again.

To Mike Martin. Any idea what that response above me was? It seems like trouble.

Hello, Maybe someone can answer this. Are the "Simulated Ebony and Ivory" keys on the new Privia's simply plastic with a surface texture molded into them or are they made of some kind of new composite material similar to composite wood decking? I ask this because I worry that after some use the texture would begin to wear away in heavily played spots. This is just a minor concern of mine, and definitely not a deal breaker. But, I am curious. I would like the appearance of my keys to remain intact for a few years. Thanks.

Wow you beat me too it t9c!

Ok!