Just Alex

My posts get deleted, but I'll try to post again 90% of sounds built in MZ-X and CT-X are exactly the same. The MZ-X has far better pianos and strings, compared to CT-X. MZ-X has better editing capabilities for sure, and better synth options, BUT MZ-X has very weak DSP, compared to CT-X. In MZ-X, you can only have two DSP effects at same time (one per sound) On CT-X, you can have 3 sounds at same time, with 4 DSP effects on each. Also, DSP quality on CT-X is far better. Also, on MZ-X, you can't use USB cable for sound and data transfer, only for MIDI. You have to use flash drive if you want to transfer tones or styles. Also, MZX has a EDM drum kit, which has same drum arrangement as Yamaha EDM drum kit, so porting styles is much more easier. Also, MZX can import Yamaha styles directly, which is for legal purposes, I believe, is called "SMF" import, but in real life, MZX reads and interprets all Yamaha specific CASM data properly.

Yeah it is SMD chip, TASxxxx, don't remember exact model now, it is stereo D class amplifier, QFN24 package or something like that.

I have posted the model of the sound IC here, find my posts for more info.

Ok, today is 2023. Last update is 2017. 6 years passed, can these 6 year old updates have any practical usability in the modern world? Fairlight CMI was also getting some updates, yes, in past, but does these make any sense right now? Same here. Regarding the features, most of them apply to the style editing, like, when editing the style, displaying DSP status currently applied to specific sound (only if it is custom made, even in keyboard itself) as 2nd line under the sound name in mixer editor (And it works badly, sometimes displays question marks and empty square boxes, check the photo). Or in HexLayer sound editing mode, the filter control sliders control not only cutoff/resonance, but also, HPF/LPF whatever filter is applied, it's data.

I have both. 90% of sounds are exactly same, however, there are some advantages over CT-X: 1. Grand Piano and strings sound much, much better on MZ-X. 2. There are more variations of existing instruments on MZ-X 500 3. You get full featured sampler, with up to 256mb (actually, about 170mb usable) memory, where you can load totally new sounds. 4. You have HexLayer engine - it is possible to use up to six samples per single sound, which allows creation of some juicy, Jupiter-80 style sounds from 80s. 5. Color touchscreen, much simpler operation. 6. Audio recorder. 7. More memory for user styles, songs, sounds. 8. Much better speakers, both in terms of sound quality and volume 9. Far better customization options, like assignable knobs, pedals, wheels 10. Pressure sensitive pads with phrases/chords/sounds And now disadvantages: 1. Last firmware update was back in 2016 and it has a lot of bugs in it and no one going to do anything. 2. Far weaker DSP (You can simultaneously have only 2 instruments, with 1 DSP effect on each), while on CT-X you can have up to 3 instruments same time, with up to 4 DSP effects on each of them! And DSP effects quality on MZ-X is worse than on CT-X 3. There is no data transfer software, you have to use USB flash drive for sounds and other data transfer 4. No manufacturer provided updates, sound packs and so on - all are done by community and are quite limited (go check MZ-X500 download section here) 5. Very badly written user manual, and latest 1.61 firmware provides many updates, a lot of which is not documented in manual at all. Conclusion: MZ-X500 is more like synthesizer, rather than arranger keyboard. If you need all round device, with better sounds, better updates and just huge amounts (over 50000) free styles available, go for Yamaha PSR-SX600. Same budget as you quoted, Sure, there will be no touchscreen, but on MZ-X500 it is resistive type, so low precision and bad sensitivity anyways...

Yeah and when size increases, the problems increase, too The screen is flat, right? But these magnifying glasses have curved focus field, as any normal optics do So with larger sizes, you will have either center in the focus, or edges, but not both together. The "normal" optics in cameras and so on, use special measures, to make that focus field flat which of course, not available in these magnifiers.

These magnifying lenses have another issue - very narrow viewing angle, making things even worse in case of limited angle LCD screen, which Casio has. So my idea is far better - Buy a cheap camera, which can output image over the HDMI or VGA - these can be bought on ebay under $20, place it over your keyboard and connect it's video output to a larger monitor.

Since ItaloDisco is gaining popularity again, especially since the Georgian Cover of Kolors - ItaloDisco become viral on tiktok, I've made a quick style for all you to enjoy. There are 4 variations, each adding more and more instruments, but there are no intro/ending or fill-ins -too lazy currently to do them. Here is the preview: https://whyp.it/tracks/140998/new-italo-disco-style-played-on-mz-x500?token=ftYWb It is played on MZ-X500 with my custom 80s sound pack. Can be used for above mentioned Kolors - ItaloDisco, Danuta - Touch My heart, Lian Ross - Say you never, Ivan - Fotonovela and many, many others. NEWITALO.AC7

Technically, not possible. However, you can use a thing called "camera microscope" - it is a camera with own LCD screen, so you just place it over the your screen and see the zoomed image on it's screen. Or you can use camera module with HDMI output and connect it to monitor of desired size.

Another 60s classic - Del Shannon - "Runaway". This style comes in two versions, one for all casio keyboards (file ends with X) and one for MZ-X series keyboards (file ends with 5). The difference is that "normal" file uses built-in sounds, but the MZ-X version uses a "Telstar" sound for characteristic sound for intro and ending. For it to function properly, you have to load the "Telstar" sound into position 881 on your keyboard. RUNAWAYX.AC7 RUNAWAY5.AC7

Desireless - Voyage voyage Some sounds optimized for MZ-X500, but should be ok on CT-X, too. As usual, intro, 4 parts, ending. VOYAGE50.AC7

Let's go back to the 60s - Here's a nice style with nice intro/ending which fits a cheesy 6/8 ballad songs of early 60s, like Paul and Paula, Unchained Melody, Earth Angel and thousands of others... UNCHAINE.AC7

No, There are different. I want ones that are provided on casio website as expansion pack and have styles for "red red wine", "just can't get enough" and others.

In MZ-X500 you can assign any voice to any of the drum tracks, but there's a little issue - while you can assign a voice, it won't change it's tonality with chord changes. So there's not much profit of doing so. The only one practical use for that feature I see is that to use it for sampled voice playback, where pitch changing is not required. And since CT-X series can't do sampling anyways, there's no need for that function...

Sorry but can't find them.

I do not want to load the pack into my keyboard and ruin all my data. I just need couple of styles from that expansion pack Anyone got them?

Well, I had CT-X5000 for more than a year, so I know what I'm talking about. It's 3-4-5th octave pianos are especially awful - no resolution, sound almost as square wave. So I sold it and bought MZ-X500. At least, grand piano sound there is good. But e-pianos are worse than on CT-X5000.

In my personal opinion, CT-X series have one of the worst piano sounds in casio history. Plasticky and not natural at all. Yamaha E series have better piano sound. However, MZ-X and privia do have very good piano sounds...

294 Celine Dion - My heart will go on (Titanic theme)

It is possible to program an arduino pro micro that way, that it will be USB midi from one side, and classical MIDI IN/OUT from the other "side".

Another strange thing - no matter how you adjust chorus and reverb settings, for certain drum sounds, like snare and so on, it won't be applied! Why?

I'm asking totally different thing.