Jokeyman123

Yes Dama you are right about warranty (I didn't say I did this on the PX-350 wink, wink!) And it doesn't solve the problem completely for me but it does reduce the shock a little. I wouldn't do any mods unless you've had prior successful experience with this kind of thing.and tremendous patience-I don't. I've learned more out of sheer need rather than a "burning desire!" Fortunately the mechanism in the PX is such that if I avoid a "dead-stroke" with my technique, and adjust sensitivity to require less velocity as suggested in this post, it is better than some. Very difficult doing this type of mod-see my horribly detailed description in this forum of how I did this with my XW-P1 which I also found to be tough on my hands when hitting key bottom. I put a fairly thick strip of felt under these keys. Purchased the XW used so was not concerned about warranty coverage, was more concerned about my hands. Since XW keys are not weighted, the stress on my hands is not as great and the felt provides a softer sensation (and quiets the clunking) but I still found the action hard at key bottom unless I altered my technique, not so easy. To duplicate the hammer action of a real piano would require a mechanism that releases the key hammer at key bottom (escapement mchanism) which is why a real piano has a cushioning feel when depressing the keys. Not trying to be a know-it-all but as a school music teacher years back I used to have to tune and repair my own dreadful school uprights when the school wouldn't give me funding to hire a pro piano tuner, why I started using electronic stuff on that gig! Hope this helps, sometimes just knowing stuff makes life a little easier.

Sorry-an error in my earlier post-I don't know how to adjust the PX5S velocity response, I was thinking of the PX-350, my bad. Height adjustment-right, got to have the wrists at the right level for any keyboard as above posts already describe. I agree-might not be bad idea to get some medical attention before you do more and possibly irreversible damage, gotta keep those hands healthy. I have repetitive stress injury in one hand and if I don't work on correct playing technique constantly, my hand will freeze up, it's not fun.

Set velocity response to "!" in functions menu which gives the lightest response possible. Are you a piano player? If you are, then what you may be feeling which is different than an acoustic piano is the sudden dead stop on key bottoming out. I've added extra piano felt under several of my keybeds to try to cushion this effect but it will not help much if your technique involves alot of hard playing. An acoustic has (usually) a much softer response at bottom of key travel since a felt hammer is striking strings and has more "give" once the hammer hits unlike most digitals. Not much you can do except adjust your technique. If you are not coming from piano and have always played spring action keyboards, might want to get a piano instructor or any player with acoustic piano technique to give some tips before you wreck your wrists or fingers which is possible with any piano, digital or otherwise.

Little more progress. Controllers 16,17,18 and 19 seem to be changing EQ settings, sounds like 16 for bass, 17, 18 midrange/midhigh and 19 high frequency although I'm not getting consistent results not sure why. Wondering if the newer MIDI resolution spec is causing trouble. Got panning working and cc 91 and 93 do control reverb and chorus depth. I'm getting more depth with both when controlling with external controller. Not having any success yet with software-am trying VFM virtual fader master program, designed to mimic JL Cooper fadermaster but although it is sending MIDI data to the PX, PX doesn't seem to be responding. Program changes default to the GM soundbank, there must be a bankset number to access the other sounds with program changes but i don't know what these are yet.

Progress so far-only a little. Made a panel with 4 sliders, 4 rotary controls. With hardware controller, only managed to access reverb depth so far, but can continuosly control that, and seems to squeeze more depth out of it than the presets by quite a bit. Thanks BradMZ for taking a look. The big problem is knowing what each continuous controller actually does since the midi spec doesn't say exactly.. Numbers for CC for DSP are 16-19 and 81-84 and 91, 92 for chorus and reverb send level. Maybe I should PM Mike Martin and see if he can help, but I hate to bother him when its something I probably shouldn't be messing with anyway. The fact that I can get greater depth from the reverb tells me this is probably worth the trouble. It would be real nice to be able to change settings for equalization, enhancer, Leslie, reverb and chorus. The Leslie spec in particular looks very programmable, ramp up, ramp down, speed all are there I guess this is like the PX5s. I'll keep working at it.

Just discovered an important function when using the PX-350 5-pin DIN MIDI ports which is not documented in the manual and had me stumped. I connected a smaller controller keyboard to the MIDI in of the PX-350 to send CC messages and discovered it will not work unless I unplug the USB thumb drive, at least on mine. Similar to unplugging the thumb drive when connecting a computer to the PX with the back panel USB port which is documented in the manual. You must disconnect the thumb drive from the PX to access the internal memory of the PX with a computer connected to the rear panel USB port. Just passing this on as it had me stumped thinking my MIDI ports were somehow malfunctioning.

Starting on page 63 of the manual there is a setting for filtering the phrase tied to the performance on or off. If this is set to off, this might be the problem. This is all I could think of, as you definitely should be able to tag a phrase to any performance and store it with all the other performance parameters. And although I haven't tried it, according to the specs in the manual you should be able to attach a different phrase to each zone in a performance, pretty wild! Hope this helps.

Very nice, thanks.

I'm throwing in on this one too (I've been all over the boards lately sorry but I'm psyched!) The midi spec for Android hasn't been developed enough yet, from what I've researched. With dual and quad core CPUs even in inexpensive tablets now, maybe the time has come. Whatever apps exist have limited or no functionality through the usb ports so far and require something called OTG (on-the-go) specs. I did find one developer who claims to have developed a midi driver for Android with OTG but I haven't tried it yet since I haven't found an app in Android market that is designed to use this connectivity, if anybody can pitch in I'm all ears (no joke intended). There are some amazingly advanced Android apps that work as stand-alone. I've also posted a request elsewhere in this forum for Casio to develop an editor for the PX Privia series to give more access to control parameters. Maybe they will. Maybe we can, see below. Having complete control of the keyboard from any computer platform would be wonderful but would require a different design for each keyboard's specs. Check out a program called CTRLR which I am studying (trying to develop my own control interface for the PX-350) and allows for development ofcustom front-ends for just about anything with MIDI specs and there are already many on their website. It's complex but it looks promising and is designed to be used with Linux, OS10 and Windows, not Android but Android is Linux-based so..........

I.m working on this, studying the Casio midi implementation chart for the PX350 and how to possibly alter/reprogram DSP settings with a software editor or external hardware controller with control change messages.The capabilities are in there. Would be great if we can get full access to changing reverb, chorus and other settings that exist inside the PX350, including an enhancer, an equalizer and additional settings for the Leslie effect. Might even be able to save these with a registration memory. I've also posted the hope here that Casio would develop a real editor useful with all the PX series not just the IDES program. And although it is daunting, I am studying a Windows program I found online called simply CTRL which has the capability to custom-design editors from scratch for just about anything midi-their website already has front-ends custom-designed for many instruments that had none-a daunting program I don't fully understand yet as it requires some knowledge of sysex and hex (gulp), if anyone wants to pitch in and help me develop a PX350 editor and make it available here as an "open-source" application, it would be IMO a major step up the Casio food chain.

OK Brad maybe I'll hold onto my other keys after all, I create arrangements with sequencers all the time and like the convenience of a built-in. I suppose the design model here was to provide a sketchpad type of song creator, and provide a way to pre-load arrangements for live playing to the user song banks and the thumb drive which isn't a bad design and simplifies things. Android is not going to be able to interface anytime soon from what I've found except over wi-fi which seems even more complex. Time to get out an old Windows mini laptop and stick with Windows sequencers at least with the PX. Maybe Casio will create (shudder) a firmware update and give us at least a few more sequencer feaures? Hi Mike Martin, is this possible? and this coming from the guy who pooched his XW via firmware, I'm still willing to wack at it!

Cr**! Thanks BradMZ. At least it seems to recognize and play midi files correctly. And probably a way to market the PX5s as the workstation for serious onboard arranging functions. Maybe I can dig up an Android app for tablets that can work as a sequencer/mixer, it works with Windows sequencers- I use Anvil Studio, Jazz+. Also looking at some Android apps that might work, but the issue is midi connectivity via the PX 350 usb port or even the midi ports which is still probably a sketchy propostion at best. Only certain tablets have true (but limited) USB functionality and as far as drivers that will recognize any type of outboard music gear I have no idea. Time for more experiments. I really hoped for more than this which is otherwise a very nice addition to the XW-P1. Pretty astounding what can be accomplished with just these two instruments. eBay may be seeing some of my "old stock" soon.

Need help with this. I'm stumped about the features in the PX-350 "17-track" sequencer. I have suddenly (after about a week of playing and studying) realized either this sequencer has no editing capabilities at all except punch-in and out and selecting different "tones" for each track or Casio is keeping the sequencer features a well-guarded secret. Or worse, it has none! Except for actually at least recording something. How do I set individual loudness levels for each track? I'd be happy even with just that. Quantize? Selecting measures? Nothing. I've never owned a music keyboard with a sequencer with no features. What am I missing here? I understand most stage pianos have minimal or no recording facilites typically, but................. It seems to me this is a serious ommision in design. If anybody here can help fill me in about any of this. The sequencer is almost useless without at least some basic setup or editing functions. Is there some way registration memories can be set up for individual songs? I can't tell from the manual, pretty frustrating.

Hey Hozzer, just curious since I need to restore-I'm the guy who fried his XW with Casio fryware and will need to get it to Casio. What happened to yours? As far as sitting or standing, I once had to sit on a freezer behind the bar to play at one memorable gig. Gave new meaning to the phrase "cool jazz". Hope you get better-now I sit on my drum throne since I busted my foot but will stand at gigs-I can keep a better eye on customers that might be throwing things at the band or want to come up and do "open-mike" fright I mean night!

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.

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.

I am working on ways to access and fine-tune the PX350 with CC messages, at least for parameters that are not user accessible from the PX panel such as DSP. Of course the sound ROM (tonebank) is fixed, and rhythms cannot be edited at the note level with the internal sequencer but after studying the MIDI implementation chart from Casio's website, it looks like there may be an internal equalizer, enhancer, Leslie effect parameters, control of DSP sends and a few others in addition to the user preset chorus, Leslie and reverb programmed into each tone and selectable from the front panel. How about a specific Casio editor for the PX series? The Wks, CTKs and the PX5s have programmable capabilities and dedicated editors. I suspect the PX has similar code built-in. Casio, bring us something like the IDES program, but specifically for the Privias and PX'es. I've looked around for software specifically for sending control change messages, but aside from doing that with a software MIDI sequencer, I haven't found anything. if anyone knows a good program specifically for sending CC messages it will help my "experiments" hoo-ha! The only CC software I'm finding is designed to work with an external hardware controllers which defeats my purpose of a simple program to modify the internal settings of the PX without another piece of hardware, a laptop is enough already. I know, just buy the PX5s, but the PX350 is really nice too and I can't keep both!

You're right I misread the manual. 3k. Close enough for jazz.

Impedance-the XW is a high-impedance input jack-it is 9K, I believe the Shure is low-impedance, this will need a transformer adapter in order to work. I use these adaptersfor similar high-impedance inputs which are typically 1/4" monophonic jacks and are found in many mixing consoles without dedicated XLR low-impedance inputs such as the lower end Roland, Korg, Yamaha and other digital decks. These are easy to find online, and have the XLR female "jack" on one end and 1/4" male "plug" on the other. This also converts the balanced XLR connector from the Shure to the unbalanced (I'm a little unbalanced myself lately ha-ha) connector in the XW-P1. Or buy a microphone which has a 1/4" mono plug which will be high-impedance but these are (usually) cheaper and not as sensitive and also noisier in my experience. Hope this helps.

Boy I'm a bit dense-after wondering why PX350 speakers sound a little muddy (and I've read other's comments to that effect) of course it sounds like that. These fire out the rear, not out the top like I thought! Seeing the speaker style material on top I didn't even notice this at first. A couple of pieces of hard sound reflective material on the back does wonders for self-monitoring through the built-ins, or even setting up against a hard wall. Guess many here figured that one out a long time ago! Just a quiet little PS-I enjoy this forum so much (and contribute as much as I can) because there happily has been a lack of "bashing" or trolling here, just alot of inquisitive and knowledgeable people. Can never be enough of that, in the 'cloud" and elsewhere IMO.

Another post from-I should call myself "doesn't get out much"! I found a little conversion program (all these programs run with Windows XP, not sure about 98, windows 7 or 8) that will change any of Yamaha's ".sty" style files and convert over to the Casio .ckf format. I tried a few (there is a huge database of .sty files on the Internet) and it works perfectly. I posted elsewhere that there is a .ckf player program again for Windows which I've been using to preview "rhythm" files before loading into the PX-350, very handy. So taken together, this IMO gives this particular Casio an amazing array of versatility-pretty much makes the PX-350 "open-ended" when it comes to auto-accompaniment functions. Now onto my other project-trying to edit and save PX-350 DSP settings with CC messages and registration memory, but that's another post!

Hello Ted-Mike Martin has checked in with me and I am confident he will be helping me get this fixed-I am limited due to an injury I've dealing with which is why I haven't gotten this done yet, no fault of Casio's. Thanks for taking an interest and I will update here ASAP. What I am hoping for is a more convenient solution for any XW (or future Casio keyboard owners) who wish to benefit from firmware upgrades without fear of causing an "unrecoverable error". I have dealt with worse technical catastrophes than this by far, without benefit of an easily accessible forum full of knowledgable people and a support person like Mike Martin. Meanwhile, I just purchased a PX-350 and am having a ball playing it, so I guess I haven't lost much faith in Casio products!

I don't have an iPad so I can't help there but I've read that there are no "latency" issues-meaning the iPad will respond immediately to your playing using the piano samples in the iPad. (if that's what this program does). As far as the other-any time you connect a midi in to a midi out on the same instrument, you might set up a midi "loop"-which will crash most midi equipment but I'm not sure the PX will. If the 330 has a midi setting called "local on/off" this will avoid the midi loop problem-local off disconnects the keyboard from itself and only sends midi data out the midi port-so then you could bring that signal back into the PX with a midi cable and it "should" play the tone generator in the PX, if the local on/off function works as it should. This also gives you the ability to alter the signal going back in. If you keep local on, if it doesn't crash your stuff, you will hear a midi "echo" which some keyboard players used as an effect before there were DSP echo effects built-in. I saw no-one responded to this post for awhile I figured I'd give it a shot, hope I helped.

Hello Dave. I have studied the midi implementation chart for the PX-350, which I think is pretty close to the 330. Why? This shows that each "tone" in our PX's has specific effects programed into it-thus different Leslie effects, reverbs, there are even enhancer and equalizer settings with specific tones, how the basic piano, organ and other samples can have varied timbres using the same sample set. All of which are not accessible from the PX directly-this must be how the other Casios can control individual effects, including the Leslie simulations. I am working on how to change DSP settings with something external-software or hardware, which could provide the ability to turn off or alter any internal DSP settings we want. I've played around with the IDES program which I downloaded from Casio Europe and is really designed for other Casios but....I am experimenting to see if the data editor will work with the PX-350. Too bad there isn't a specific editor for the PX and Privias. I'll post if I have any success. Would be real nice if one could actually program effects, even "tones" and save to user registrations, would make the PX330/350 more like the PX5s or the WKs, certainly give it alot more capability if I can do it, including turning off built-in programmed effects. Others may suggest just buying a PX5s or WK, but for another 400-1000 smackers or so, I'd rather stick with what I have and I love to hack!

From another topic I've read, apparently you have to save that setting in a "registration" memory. I have the PX-350 and that seems to be the only way it works. There is also a weirdness to the back-up function. From another post I read-something about having to turn back-up off, then on again every time you want to save a different group of backed-up settings. Haven't tried that yet.