Ebonivor

Just a further clarification of how these settings work: In any target that is intended to send an On/Off message, such as Zone On/Off, Arpeggio On/Off, LayerX On/Off etc., any Min value of 63 or less sends the Off message and any Max value of 64 and above sends the On message, therefore a Min value of 0 and a Max value of 127 will send the Off and On messages respectively. With these types of targets, reducing the On Rate and Off Rate values to less than 127 causes a delay before the message is sent. For example, reducing the On Rate to 3 will cause a delay of a few seconds; if it is reduced to 0, the message will never be sent.

If the targets are Continuous Controls that accept variable values such as Volume, Expression etc., the Min Values, Max Values, On Rate and Off Rate act differently. The Min and Max values are obviously set to whatever you require for the control and the On and Off Rates control how long it will take reach those values. Importantly though, it needs to be understood that in the case of the pedals set to Momentary Mode, the Max value is the value that is sent when the Pedal is depressed (on), while the Min Value is the value that is sent when the pedal is released (off). In Toggle Mode, Max and Min values are sent alternatively.

For example, say I want Pedal 2 to provide a sforzando-like effect to give a quick dip in volume and slow recovery. In this situation, I select Expression (CC11) as the target, set the Min Value to 127, the Max Value to 30, the On Rate to 70, the Off Rate to 20 and the Mode to Momentary. Now, when I depress the pedal, the level of the selected zone(s) quickly dip to a bit below the set volume and when I release the pedal, the level gradually recovers.

I could do a similar thing to increase the volume of a zone for a solo rather than using a slider, assuming that the volume is not already set at the maximum 127. In this case I have a zone with its volume set to 90. I select Volume (CC07) as the target, set the Min Value to 90, the Max Value to 127, the On Rate to  127, and because I don't want the drop to the original volume to be too sudden, I set the Off Rate to 85 and the Mode to Momentary. Now when I depress the pedal the volume immediately jumps to maximum for the solo and smoothly returns to the preset volume when it is released.

I hope you find this explanation and examples helpful.

Actually, you can import the Stage Settings into Set List Maker. If you are a member of the Casio Privia Pro PX-5S Digital Stage Piano Group on Facebook, you'll find my instructions and the Import files in the Files area. If you are not yet a member, please come on over and join us.

I totally agree with Brad, Hugh. Love your work :-)

Gee pax-eterna, that last sentence is a bit harsh.

Brad, after all this time, I didn't realise that you didn't have an iPad! My personal recommendation is to get an iPad Air, minimum 64GB...and be prepared to fill it with more than you ever imagined you would! :-)

Pax-eterna, as a 70+ year old, I was not at all interested in using Facebook prior to joining the PX-5S Group, even though I had an account set up. I now find it invaluable and the perfect partner to this forum. The forum has a more technical focus and as you already know, there are some extremely knowledgable members, but many of them are also great contributors to the Facebook group.

We now have over 1400 members from an ever growing number of countries in the FB group, and we love helping each other (and having lots of fun along the way). Please come and join us...you'll be made very welcome!

I suspect that since this wasn't addressed in firmware updates 1.12 and 1.13, both of which were released after this matter was raised, it is most likely a hardware issue. Unfortunately, no response or explanation has been provided by Casio. Quite disappointing.

BelgianChocolates, download this file using Safari on your iPad and then when it shows "Open in...", choose MIDI Designer.

http://www.casiomusicforums.com/index.php?/files/getdownload/1228-privia-px-5s-midi-designer-layouts-iphone-and-ipad/

I can see that you're going to fit in very well in th FB group, Zombie 1210! :-)

Mau Van's contribution to the Downloads is truly remarkable and greatly appreciated.

Unfortunely, yes, that seems to be the case. It's a pity the settings aren't also supplied in a Package file...that way you can just copy the individual stage settings to the PX-5S via the Data Editor. As it stands, you need to install the .ZAL file via the USB drive, but save your exiting settings to an ALLDATA file before doing it. Then you can save the Way It Is to the USB drive, reload your saved ALLDATA file to restore your original stage settings and then load the Way It Is into whichever slot you prefer. Sounds cumbersome? Yes it is :-(

Of course, the benefit of using the .ZAL files is that it can contain all the stage settings, tones, etc. and places them in their correct location when loaded.

My practice is, after I load the .ZAL file into the PX-5S, I then create a new folder on the computer and give it a name similar to rhe .ZAL file ( perhaps with a version number or date ). I then set that as the files location for the Data Editor using the Preferences. Then I drag all the files across from the PX-5S so that I can access them and load them back in individually as needed.

I've been using Avatron's apps for years, and they are very good. But the best way to use the editor is the way it was intended; with a computer. I don't understand why so many people are obsessed with trying to do these things with an iPad when the Data Editor works perfectly well, and so much better, from a computer. Plus, I am yet to find anyone with an iPad who doesn't also have a computer. Please tell me if I am wrong!

I think Mau Van is referring to the PX-5S Data Editor which can convert a selection from a MIDI file into a phrase.

I just saw some good news from Dan Rosenstark, the developer of MIDI Designer. Apparently, the current version of MIDI Designer (1.6.5) is compatible with the first generation iPad, but the next major release will require iOS8. That means that you will be able to continue using the app on iPad1 and I think it is safe to say that Dan will continue to provide support for version 1.6.5 for as long as it is practical to do so.

Hi Leoaprilla2001,

I've been unable to do any work on the MIDI Designer layout for a while due to an RSI problem. This is starting to subside and I'm hoping to resume work on my version soon. However, I believe MIDI Designer is dropping support for the first generation iPad. This is not surprising, because the latest version iOS won't run on the original iPad either, and because Apple have also introduced a new programming language for iOS (Swift), MIDI Designer needs to move with the times. You might want to clarify this situation with the developer.

On the matter of progress, I am finding it difficult to determine exactly what is expected from a MIDI Designer layout for the PX-5S. I think the general expectation is that it will be an iPad version of the Data Editor, but I don't believe this will be possible. The PX-5S is a very complex instrument and I am finding that many of the functions that are accessible via the Data Editor are difficult to address from MIDI Designer. I am still hopeful that there is someone out there who might be able to translate the information in the PX-5S Midi Implementation Manual into a format that a simpleton like me can understand! In the meantime, I would welcome any suggestions of essential features that you would like to see included....I just don't see my version having the same functionality as the XW version. I will, however, be uploading a layout based on my own needs to the Facebook group ( and probably also to the MIDI Designer site) in the next few days and would welcome comment on it.

Choppin, I've been away from the forum for a while and thought it was about time I checked up on Hugh's diatribe. I have to say that I totally agree with your sentiments, but hope that Hugh was making a lighthearted observation that there were not a lot of acclaimed female keyboardists. I took it that way, but unfortunately, when we post online, it is hard to tell whether a comment is made in jest or in a derogatory manner. It is too easy to forget that a post in a thread is not a one-to-one conversation. I believe that Hugh has a great Irish sense of humour and would be unlikely to intentionally denigrate women.

I, for one, have the utmost respect for women and was interested in the fact that there were so few in the list that Hugh posted. It makes me wonder why, especially when there are so many incredibly gifted female classical pianists....and, of course, a great percentage of us had women teach us.

It does make one wonder though...why are none of the great composers women? Hopefully, our descendants will see a better balance.

Hi Mau Van,

I'm sorry that it has been so long since I said that I could send you the text file for Set List Maker import...I'm suffering from RSI, so I'm limiting my online activity while I recover.

Are you a member of the Facebook group? I have uploaded a couple of the Excel files there. that you need to convert to tab- delimited text for import into SLM. I'm not sure whether I can upload them here.

If you are not a member, why not come over and join us; otherwise, message me and I'll send them to you directly.

QED: Question Entirely Destroyed! When I was a young kid, I had a mate who used to end all of his explanations with QED. He was also a pretty good at eight ball, so we used to call him "Cue Eddie".

Not sure how long it will take before there is a gender balance amongst famous keyboardists, probably not in my lifetime. It's surprising that there aren't more, because when I was at school, there were many more girls learning piano than there were boys. A lot of those ended up as teachers, choir accompanists, church organists or housewives.

Hope you had a good time in Cyprus...a slightly different climate to Eire I would imagine. ;-)

No need to give up Norm...basically just hope that the next model supports an expression pedal. :-)

But if you took one knob and targetted CC 11 and turned that on for all four zones you would have basically the same thing. By the way, just to clarify, the master volume control basically sets the range of the Volume Control knob.

Nick, that would be amazing if you can get it done. Good luck with it!

Page 52 of the Midi Implementation Manual indicates that this is possible, so perhaps someone with a comprehensive understanding of MIDI can guide you through the process...unfortunately it's way beyond me.

I reckon that's a brilliant idea. Dave Curtis over on the FB group posted photos of the interior and circuit boards when he was disassembling his PX-5S for his custom spray job. They might give an idea of what the opportunities are without pulling it apart.

Mau Van, I've had a look back through my stuff and found where I made the preset list. I made it as an Excel spreadsheet, but then it has to be saved as a tab delimited text file with the name import.txt. Then I remembered that there was a problem where the midi preset takes on the name of the song, which was confusing when I wanted to use that preset with a different stage setting (or song). So, for example, when I import the list with the names of the factory stage settings, the song name shows "GrandPnoConcert", and the midi preset gets the same name. Say I put a different Stage Setting in slot 0-0 and then want to add that to Set List Maker, I need to create a new song with the name of that stage setting and select the midi preset that is called "GrandPnoConcert". If that sounds counfusing, it is!

I emailed the developer six months ago about adding the option to include the midi preset name field in the import file format and they indicated that they would look into including it in a future release. There has been a lot of updates since then but I am still waiting!

In the meantime, I imported a file that used the names "0-0", "0-1" etc. and then went through and typed in the actual Stage Setting names. The annoying part is that you can't export the list...you can only sync it with another device on the same wireless network that is running a separately registered copy of the app.

All this is to say that there is no easy way at the moment to share a set list. And by the way, you also have to pay extra for the option to be able to import the text file. About the best I can do is to email you the text file, but you'll need to lookup the online instructions on how to use it. Let me know if you want it.

Roger, thanks for clarifying the situation. How about coming over and joining us on the Facebook group? You'll find a lot of great friends there, lots of lighthearted banter and heaps of help from the members. We currently have over 1100 members and growing fast, plus there a quite a few of us who are "getting on in years"...although I think I might be the only septagenarian! I had little interest in Facebook before joining the group, but the friends I have found there brighten every day!