anotherscott

On 9/21/2020 at 10:21 AM, Brad Saucier said:

@McMick  Have you gone through our downloads section and tried installing many of the EP sounds shared by Mike Martin and the user community?  I know some of them already have the bell assigned to a slider where you can adjust the level, and also ones with more bark.

If they are hexlayers, not only might you be able to control bell level with a slider, but you should also be able to change the velocity break point of where the bark kicks in. I don't know whether the editor allows you to make those kinds of sample-velocity-range changes to non hexlayer sounds. Maybe...?

The PX5S arranges locations this way...

TONES:

I played multiple XW's right next to each other at a store, some had very nice "buttery" keyboards, and some were horribly clacky.

I've never seen any board that can save Local Off between power-ups. I think they don't want to create a situation where it could become too easy for someone to turn the board on, hear no sound, and possibly just assume it needs service!

On 6/5/2020 at 3:03 AM, CharlieWorton said:

Are hex layers composed of the 550 'common' tones?

No. They are composed of waves. Though the "common tones" also draw upon the same set of waves.

Download the appendix manual for the PX560. The 790 waves are listed starting on page 19.

The PX560 lets you split/layer 4 "complete" sounds, whethere they are "common tones" or hexlayers. Each hexlayer, itself, lets you split/layer up to 6 waves, which are the basic building blocks that underly both the hexlayers and the common tones.

On 3/26/2015 at 11:42 AM, Brad Saucier said:

I know you can select performances on the XW from external gear but I don't see a provision in performances for customizing program changes sent to external gear.  

I know this is old, but in case anyone finds themselves here via a  google search (as I just did), the information on how to do this is at https://support.casio.com/en/support/download.php?cid=008&pid=56

On 10/26/2019 at 4:05 PM, Rocket said:

For some reason, this problem does not occur when I use, say, the Garageband app, but it does happen when using Audiokit Synth One or Sample Tank.

The reason it does not occur with Garageband is that Garageband does not recognize MIDI Program Change at all. (Boo!)

On 10/29/2019 at 9:45 AM, Brad Saucier said:

I think you would need a MIDI filter to prevent the program change data from being received by the app.  Some apps may have a program change filter built in. 

There are also IOS apps that have MIDI filter functions, which can often take input from a keyboard and filter it on its way to other specified apps. But I don't think we need to go that way for this, just alter some settings...

On 10/29/2019 at 1:14 PM, Rocket said:

I was able to resolve the problem, partially at least.  Sample Tank has a setting which allows the MIDI PROGRAM CHANGE CHANNEL to be set to 1 - 16, as well as OMNI and OFF.  Setting it to OFF fixed the problem.  I had it set before to OMNI. Unfortunately, I didn't see such a setting in Audiokit Synth One.  That app apparently allows for MIDI input channels to be changed from 1 - 16 only.  No OFF option.  If I find a solution, I'll post it here. 

"MIDI PROGRAM CHANGE CHANNEL" is not the same as "MIDI input channel." Something called "Program Change channel" would be just for Program Changes. The more common MIDI channel parameter will be, not just what an app receives Program Changes on, but also what it receives other things on (like notes). It's always 1-16. If there were an option for Off, it just wouldn't see any MIDI input at all (meaning you couldn't play it).

So you really have a two part question:

1. How do you stop apps from seeing those front panel tone change Program Changes from the Casio? By default, the Casio sends those Program Changes on MIDI Channel 1. So an answer is, either change the channel the Casio sends them on to some channel which none of your iOS apps are set to receive on (look in the Casio manual for the "Basic Channel" parameter to see how to change it), OR change your apps so that they receive on some channel other than channel 1. (Any of the other 15 channels will do.) That assumes that these apps don't have an option to ignore Program Changes (or receive them on some other specified channel, as SampleTank lets you do). 

2. But, now that you have "disconnected" the Casio's MIDI send channel and the app's MIDI receive channel, how do you use the Casio keys to play the sounds in the app? Here you can use the MIDI zoning function of the XW-P1. Set up a Performance on the Casio with (at least) one zone, and set the zone's External Out Channel to the channel that your app is set to receive on. Now the keys will trigger your app (via that Zone in that Performance), while Program Changes from selecting tones (which are now sent on a different channel) will not. Now it should trigger the sound from your app, without sending it those unwanted Program Changes.

But there are some other permutations to consider. What if sometimes you DO want calling up a Performance on your Casio  to initiate a Program Change on the app that you have controlling it? Well, the Casio has parameters for that, too. Make sure you're running at least version 1.10 of the Casio firmware, and you can control exactly what Program Change commands do (or don't) get transmitted when you call up an external sound (i.e. a sound that's on your iPad) via a zone in a Performance. The options are shown on the chart at https://support.casio.com/en/support/download.php?cid=008&pid=56

Perhaps the main thing to remember about all of this is, if you want to control external MIDI devices, do it via Performances, that's where Casio built in all the MIDI controller functionality. 

Really interesting topic. If anyone in the future is brave enough to try this kind of thing on any of their Privias, it would be great if you did a video of the process.

1 hour ago, OogieWaWa said:

The manual doesn't help much.  It looks like it's fairly straightforward to send a MIDI note stream out to another device, but I don't see where it would let me bring anything in.  It looks like all of the A 1-16 channels are out only, and the B 1-16 channels are all involved in triggering sequences.

 B 1-16 should work fine as MIDI In.

I wish they'd stop omitting all the MIDI functionality from any of the boards that have speakers.

PX5S vs. PX560:

https://casiomusicgear.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/the-definitive-px-5s-vs-px-560-comparison/

I see PX-S3000 as more of a home/hobbyist model than the other two, less suited for live performance (though obviously still usable for some). It has the advantage of Casio's newest action and newest piano technologies, but is less fully-featured. i.e. much less split/layer functionality, no 5-pin MIDI jacks, more cumbersome patch navigation.

17 hours ago, Eduardo Rojas said:

The problem in general with Fatar actions are the issues. Several reports about noisy actions, squeaks, malfunctions, etc. Even in some cases, out of the box!. In other, within just a couple of months

It depends on which Fatar action you're talking about, and even sometimes which board it is used in. But you can say the same about Casio. In fact, at this moment, in this very forum topic area, the two most active threads are this one and the one on "Clicky/clacky keys."

2 hours ago, Shad0wfax said:

I prefer weighted action for almost all sounds (except for tonewheel organs, I admit).

Me too, though not enough to have a strong preference. The only strong preferences I have is weighted for pianos, no for organs. Almost everything else is sufficiently satisfying on either.

2 hours ago, Shad0wfax said:

I wouldn't consider "built-in speakers" and "arranger functions" as "advantages",

Like almost everything else on my list, they are advantages if you need them, and you can ignore them if you don't. But I'd say they are significant differences to be aware of, if you are choosing between these boards, and that was the point of the list. 

1 hour ago, Jokeyman123 said:

The PX560 is pretty close to the MZ-X series, except for pad controls and slide controls. The operating system looks pretty much the same, I'm sure the tones are from the same samples-not sure but menus for tone selections look the same...I miss the independent sliders for the organ and hex layer patches so that would be nice.

Some other differences:  MZ-X has monophonic synth functions and clonewheel organ functions (which is not merely a matter of sliders... the tone generation system is different, the single trigger behavior of the percussion is correct, many other parameters are customizable, etc.). You can load custom sample data (not just for the pads, but as playable instruments from the keyboard). The split/layer setups are more flexible. You can pick registrations by name from the touch screen. It has a pattern sequencer, and the arranger features of course.More editability in general.

1 hour ago, Eduardo Rojas said:

I think the "weighted, piano action feel keys" have gone nuts. Honesty

 

If you try, for instance, the Kawai MP11 (which is completely overrated, IMHO). One of the most sluggish and oversprung actions I've ever play...You cannot play anything other than piano...Roland in general have better actions than all brands using Fatar 

Weighted actions (and un/semi as well, for that matter) vary a lot. I haven't played the MP11, but the MP10 was quite heavy feeling. But the MP7 was much lighter, and I think most would find it very usable for a wide variety of sounds. Rolands also vary... I don't like the actions of the FA-08/DS88, but I've liked others. And Fatars vary. The TP40 is a lighter and better feeling action than the TP100. The version used by Kuzweil is especially light feeling.

When it comes to non-hammer actions, I like Casio's better than the low-end models from Korg and Roland, as long as you can avoid the clacky ones. But Fatar makes nice actions, and I would take the one in the Numa Compact series over the Casio.

re: " I don't know why in latest years nearly all new keyboard/synth has put the headphones jack on the back" -- probably cheaper. The other output electronics are already in the back. Putting headphones in front requires an additional circuit board at another physical location, and wiring it up to the rest.

14 hours ago, Randelph said:

As unlikely as it seems to compare the X300 to the MODX, both being designed for different purposes and the 61 note MODX being $200 more in the USA than the X500, I'd be curious anyway.  Our mutual frame of reference is the X500/X300, and I'm strongly considering the MODX7.

I would say advantages of the MZ-X500 over MODX include:

* built-in speakers

* 16 velocity sensitive trigger pads

* arranger functions

* easier to do (and modify) 2-way splits on the fly

* tonewheel organ engine with 9 sliders and other controls - though the organ sound, itself, I still find lacking

MODX advantages include

* mostly better quality sounds (though that can be subjective or vary with which sounds you focus on)

* many more simultaneous effects

* availability of 76 key version (and 88)

* 1 GB custom sample expansion capability (vs. 256 mb)

* FM synth

* Large touchscreen providing better interface for many functions

* 8-zone MIDI controller

* built-in computer interface

Other 7x-key non-hammer action boards in a similar price range would be Roland Juno DS76, FA-07, VR-730; Kurzweil Artis 7; Korg Krome 73 each with their own set of advantages/disadvantages relative to the MZ. 

On 4/23/2019 at 9:55 PM, JimPlaysKeys said:

On the Roland you basically set up an upper/lower split where the upper tone is played on the Roland and the lower tone is played on the Casio, which is exactly what I want.  However, I cannot get the lower sound to transmit to the Casio.

First, just to help you understand the concept, your last sentence is kind of backwards. What you're trying to do is not get the lower Roland sound to transmit to the Casio but rather get the Casio to transmit MIDI data to the Roland (to trigger the Roland's Lower sound from the Casio's keys). MIDI does not send sound anywhere, it sends only MIDI data. And the fact that are unclear about which keyboard is transmitting and which is receiving means the first thing to check is whether you have the two boards cabled correctly: You need to go from the Casio MIDI OUT (to transmit) to the Roland MIDI IN (to receive).

Second, to get the Casio to trigger the Roland's Lower sound, you can ether (a) change the quirky Roland's "MIDI IN" mode to KEYBOARD (in which case the Casio will play the Roland's lower sound whenever it transmits MIDI on any channel), OR (b) change the Roland's "MIDI IN" mode to MODE 2 (in which case the Casio will play the Roland's lower sound whenever it transmits MIDI on channel 3).

If you haven't done it, download the separate downloadable MIDI Implementation document for the Roland. It covers all the different options.

Here it is: https://support.casio.com/storage/en/manual/pdf/EN/008/PX-560M-midi-imple_EN.pdf

Another great MZ-X feature... you can load your own custom keyboard-playable sampled sounds.

Yeah,  I know. But PX5S is still current, and this topic is still a concern... and a relevant google search easily brings you here. So where better to keep this info consolidated?

While I'm here...

On 10/13/2014 at 12:31 AM, Scott Hamlin said:

MIDI Pedal
I was somewhat surprised that I couldn't find a stand-alone pedal that connects via MIDI. It seems that the Behringer FCB-1010 pedal board ($150.00) is the only option for an all-in-one solution. 

You could also keep your eyes out for a used Digitech MC2.

An issue with any directly attached MIDI pedal is that they will affect the sound of just one MIDI channel. Sometimes that's fine (or even specifically desirable), other times it can be a limitation.

PX560 is different from PX5S. A least it already has a jack for an expression pedal!

13 minutes ago, ilya19631 said:

And adding a way to assign some functions to pedal plugged into Damper Jack would also be awesome, so one can have both - an expression pedal and a footswitch.

Not possible with the PX5S hardware, but there are workarounds... see the thread below.
 

On 10/13/2014 at 12:31 AM, Scott Hamlin said:

Computer
One final method is to use a USB-adapter with an analog pedal and use a computer to send the expression data to the PX-5S. MIDI Expression makes such a device. I haven't tried it, but it looks promising.

Besides using a traditional computer, you should also be able to use an iPhone/iPad and the Midiflow app (and probably other apps as well). You'd need a way to plug the MIDI Expression device and the Casio into the i-device at the same time, so you'd need some kind of USB hub. But especially since so many people have their iPhones or iPads at gigs anyway, this can be more convenient than bringing a computer.

15 minutes ago, AlenK said:

And any PCMs you load into an FA can only be played by the pads. You can't use them to build a new instrument that you can play across the keyboard.

That's true, with the exception that *Roland* can make additional sets of PCMs that you can load in. That's what the axial EXP packs are.

24 minutes ago, sslyutov said:

The extension packages are compatible with both devices. As far as I understand it is possible to load any external PCM wave on both devices.

 

There is no way to load any external PCM into an Integra. It can use its main set, and it can use any of the expansions that are built into the unit, but there is no way to load new ones.

The best acoustic instrument sounds of the Integra are its Supernatural Acoustic tones. The FA has a very small subset of the ones in the Integra (just piano, EPs, clav, organ, basses, acoustic guitar, and ensemble strings), and there is no way to load the others into it.

26 minutes ago, sslyutov said:

I have never said it includes everything. Unavailable does not mean incompatible. 2000 vs 5000. it is obvious.

Integra supposedly includes virtually "everything"  Roland ever made.

"everything"

 

Thanks, guys for your criticism at least it made me look again through some specs.

Our posts are crossing a bit. 😉

The only real issue I was trying to address was the "100% compatibility with Integra 7" assertion, which implied that you can get any Integra 7 sound out of an FA, perhaps that the limitation was only that you couldn't have them all at the same time (as you say, 2000 vs 5000 or whatever), but the two sound sets are more different than that... there are lots of individual Integra sounds that you simply cannot get out of (or convert over into) an FA. So if someone bought an FA assuming they could grab any sound they liked from a friend's Integra, they might find themselves disappointed.

BTW, even the Integra isn't everything, it's still missing a good bunch of Roland sounds! It has their "latest and greatest" sounds, and it has the classic XV-5080 sound set from 2000 (also in the FA), and it has the equivalent of the SRX cards (which are mostly also available as FA expansions). But there were other Fantom era sounds that are not in it. I also found that some VR-09 sounds are not in it, perhaps those were also from the Fantoms, I don't know. It's always something... 😉

4 minutes ago, sslyutov said:

I double checked it with specs

There are 7 types of engines

SuperNATURAL Acoustic (SN-A)

SuperNATURAL Synth (SN-S)

SuperNATURAL Drum Kit (SN-D)

PCM Synth Tone (PCMS)

PCM Drum Kit (PCMD)

GM2 Tone (PCM Synth Tone)

GM2 Drum Kit (PCM Drum Kit)

Integra has exactly the same list of engine types.

Those are categories of sounds, but they don't all represent different "engines" as people usually speak of it. PCM is PCM. The GM2 and PCM Drum sounds are still a function of the same PCM "engine." Tons of romplers (PCM) over the last 20+ years have had  drum kits and a GM sound set, no one ever said they had 3 engines. A different engine would be something that used different sound generating algorithms (something in addition to or instead of PCM sample playback), something functionally/operationally distinct.

As for Integra, here's the list from https://www.roland.com/global/products/integra-7/specifications/: 

SuperNATURAL Acoustic {but tons more instrument models than in the FA, with no way to get them into the FA}
SuperNATURAL Synth
SuperNATURAL Drum Kit
PCM Synth {include the XV-5080 set in the FA plus a HQ set which also does GM2}
PCM Drum Kit

So the two do have the same general categories of sounds (SN acoustic, SN synth, PCM including GM2), but not the same sounds, with some but not complete compatibility between the two platforms.