pax-eterna

Another possible solution (cheap) for those using a PC/Laptop or Mac....and using the USB midi out to the PX : http://www.audiofront.net/MIDIExpression.php

Thanks Brad...I will check some of these out! I need to start again with my PX 5 (just came back to it and found that the ALL file I thought I had when I had a PX before was not in existence ) and perhaps some of these will get me started Cheers Dennis

Thanks guys and yeah access to expression and transpose is important. I would be using it mainly as a keys instrument using either backing tracks, or splits and a beat box pedal.

I am considering moving back to a PX-5s, but I see the PX-560 is now on the near horizon...I can get the PX-5S at about $900 USD (I am in Oz it's 1150 here) but now that the 560 is here AND it has the Expression Pedal input, it has given me pause to re-consider...what advice would experienced users have here? Obviously as the keybed is the dame (I assume) it is going to be based on sound and operational features and hardware. Any and all advice appreciated. Thanks

from a purely "Synth/sequencer" p.o.v. the Kross is definitely the way to go. However if you want a good stage piano, with some synth sound capabilities and are happy to do sequencing/recording work on a PC/laptop then the PX is the way to go. Excellent keybed (the Kross is simply quite awful). I am now starting to suggest to people who ask, that the setup should be a PX on the bottom and pretty much any 49/61 note synth on top. This is a killer combo imo. If you shop carefully you will probs get this setup for about the same money as a Kross 88 (or if more, it will not be THAT much more for a great keys kit)

big +1 for the basses!

Well, I would not have gone quite that far BradMZ, that is a bit of a stretch. It is a very good bit of kit for the price, but a "monster"? Nah!

hmmm, could have been harsher. But I toned it down. I have no issue with the guy posting amateur noodlings but just put it where it belongs. The admins have allowed dedicated threads for these efforts, they should be placed there. As to the quality, well you and Bradz and JoeM all have your own stated views, I have mine. If I posted something on a public forum, I would expect plenty of brick bats right alongside the bouquets ;-)

Yes I had a hunch this was your desired plan. But please follow the advice of Joe and Brad - there ARE dedicated places for efforts such as yours and it is where most folks will go who are interested. Personally it is why I have not listened to anything else after your first post. But you do what you feel you need to. I was only raising just in case you were innocently re-threading, but it would seem not. And to be blunt, your stuff does not really deserve a new thread for every bit of doodling you come up with.

Why do you keep creating new threads for this stuff? Why not just keep using the one you started way back....

Yep I already said that (re the simple method) in the post above Brads

dim I seriously doubt if there will be any more firmware updates - NAMM would have been the place to announce imo. I suspect any changes now will be on the new hardware PX whatever number it will be.

The downside is that there are only 100 stage settings to play with. If one starts to setup a number of SS with preset transpose then they will run out very quickly. So setting them up on a song by song basis is really not practical. And the PX (afaik) cannot dynamically load a SS from the thumbdrive in any dynamic (as in on the fly in the middle of a set) sort of way. There are several steps (and buttons) to navigate through first. TBH, transposing on the fly is really quite simple and two button pushes away..Sys Setting button then Enter and you are at the transpose selector, Exit, Exit and you are back to the main screen.

http://www.casiomusicforums.com/index.php?/topic/7015-almost-decided-upon-the-px5s-but/?hl=transpose

I hear what you are saying Stein, but the GHS keybed (the cheapest in the Yammie weighted 'boards) is ordinary to play. So if you want great bread and butter sounds, and let's face it the Yamaha motif series are the best in that reagrd, then the MOXF/PX-5S combo is perfect. In fact I am looking at adding back a MOXF (61 note) at the moment. I did own the MOXF8 but really did not like the action. Ordinary for piano, terrible for organ and even worse for quick line synth action. Again ymmv, but that is my view.

No comparison between the MOXF and PX as far as sounds and studio operations go, the Yammie wins in a landslide, however the Yammie keybed is pretty average, and this is where the PX shines. IN fact the PX keybed is better than many other brands as well. Ideal combo? PX5s + MOXF6 or even an XS rack, MX49/61...but the PX has to be your bottom "playing" keybed. jmo, and as always ymmv

On most keyboards there is a Rx/TX filter, one simply filters the rx of cc11 for whatever channel it is required...or all of them.

You will grow to love it Stein There are many ways in which it will surprise you over time (pleasantly).

yeah me too!

However B is a VERY imprecise way of doing things...trying to zoom straight into the transpose number you want using the slider? May be okay for stay at home users. but not really practical on stage. . NO keyboard is perfect, so we all must realise that and instead of "glossing" over things, just accept it. I do...no continuous pedal socket is a pretty big omission (for example) however I can accept that in light of the other good things. Again, I have no real NEED for it so I am not asking for it to act in this fashion at all, hence my comment that you perhaps misunderstood. 99% of the time I remember to reset the transpose, it was more an "off the cuff" suggestion that imo is quite do-able in software. Anyway the OP bought one so good news.

I think you misunderstood - I DO use the transpose function all the time. I am just saying as a suggestion for an OS upgrade (if there is another one) to maybe have a setting in there that does it as an auto function upon changing Stage Settings. It was not a criticism!

FWIW, I use the above mentioned method for transposing in live gig situations all the time...too lazy to re-transcribe charts (dots - not just chord symbols) so it is really handy. I too was used to having a transpose on the panel of the 'board, however the Casio system is pretty quick and easy, and now, almost second nature. The ONLY minor criticism is one must remember to reset it afterwards Perhaps one thing for a software update is to clear the transpose automatically upon selecting a new Stage Setting? Anyhoo, good luck....

^^ This. I had a look at the PC editor, and there is the option to set an "out" midi channel via the drop down box. Now assuming this is as per standard midi spec, then Choppins suggestion (to the O.P.) should work nicely. tbh I had not really noticed that section in the editor before, seen it, but not noticed it as I had no need to control external devices. Mind you, it still only allows it on four channels max, but at least it gives (with the PX four) another 4 channels to use.

But you must admit that it is a bit disappointing to have to figure messy workarounds for what are basic midi operations? Even if they do work. And then a new midi file for each time you want to adjust the settings again for a new song. It works, but so messy.

Yes sadly it is programmed this way Brad. For something that is touted as being okay (not the best mind you) as a midi controller there are some "gotchas" with it. To me, the ability to set control sliders for ANY midi channel is a basic function of midi control. As is the continuous control pedal (but that has been done to death already. I only include it here for context).