Technics

@ ED I agree with Gary. Modular system is probably where Casio's market strategy is not heading. They are only just back after 24 years, so it is still too early to tell, but this is my hunch: They try to target hobby, prosumer market while punching way above its weight, so pro market gets in scope as well, w/o sacrificing hobby, prosumer) that brings their max price lower than the other manufacturers'. If XW cost nearly a grand, hobbyists such as myself wouldn't even consider it Their design clearly targets younger generation and actually brings back some of the 80's design - I don't think it is populist. It's more of a generational gap. I think Casio's approach is "one board does it all" type of a thing where you have the ability to connect other equipment, but WX has enough functionality to work on its own and is much more packed with features and flexible Unlike modular systems, here you can grab a single board shove it in a bag and hop on a scooter to see your buddies. Modular system? You need multiple bags and a minivan. :-) Modular system (Moog style) is not likely possible in this price range they are targeting. You have to think about the design and logistics of the manufacturing process - the more models or parts, the more complicated the process is. In order to even consider to have dedicated assembly lines for each product, you'd have to have enough volume to pay for itself, if you want to make profit and still keep the price low. That's why modular systems are so expensive - there simply isn't enough volume to bring the price down. I like Casio's strategy: Keep price low enough to attract hobby and prosumer musicians, pack it with features to pleasantly surprise even pros who would not have expected this quality and steal the thunder from the "big three". As long as they keep their focus, keep the synth category model count to a handful at most and keep refining them, they have a really good chance to make a big success. I almost bought a Korg microstation or Gaia before I saw the XW. Now, I'm really considering XW instead - if only did it have poly synth! :-). I like Korg and was disappointed to see that they released a "new" product which had actually less ROM and cost more than its indirect predecessor? WTH!? There is no way in hell I'd buy any $500 Korg, Yamaha or Roland product after hearing what XW can do. Not even a Microkorg - it may sound better and be more flexible than XW, but 61 keys and sequencer on XW totally K.O. the Korg in that regard. Shining example is Apple, they do not release dozens of model categories, they have a handful of iPods and Macs, few iPods, couple iPhones and that's it. Instead of dozens of products, they focus on a few and keep razor sharp focus on refining them... I really like where Casio is heading. They are filling in a void where the other brands were too lazy to even look.

Thursday can't come soon enough! This new Privia looks promising. Hope you guys steal the show again. Sonicstate claims that this is supposed to be Casio's most powerful synth ever, so hopefully: it has XW synth engine, but this time it is a polysynth it retains Privia's AiR engine, samples and hammer action keybed it has an enticing street price lots of people have been crying for phase distortion from CZ The rest are just details....

WHOA! Where did you fish this one out, Joe?

Thanks, Ed & Mike!

Of course, I could be totally wrong with deciphering Mike's poster and we are all looking at a new "Privia on steroids"

OK, I just had a closer look at the poster Mike put up above and enhanced it in Photoshop. 3rd glass shatter: graphics ar blue (duh!) the very bottom of the picture has a portion of keybed - two black keys with white in the middle, with blue felt dust cover going across the panel above it (silver with blue graphics) has matrix style controls (three of them as XW series machines do) with the top blue LED lit up and then.....nothing else!!!! ...that means a very shallow depth design My guess is a MIDI controller 1st glass shatter under a magnifying glass slider with blue graphics, so the machine will likely be the one and the same as the one in the 3rd glass there is a rotary knob right above the slider and nothing seems to be above it my guess is that this is one of those K1 ...K4 knobs That would mean that: this could be a board with much shallower profile than current XW series (10" deep at most) something like sliders and 4 knobs on right side? something like matrix style controls on the left side? that would leave the middle for the display perhaps? We could be looking at a new MIDI controller. If this is not in its own brand new category, then it might be a new XW-M1 or XW-C1? :-)

This is how I feel now...

@ Mike. OK, now you got me slobbering. P1 has orange graphics G1 has red graphics ?1 has blue (!) graphics... First glass fragment has some sliders (at least 5 of them) and a rotary controller above it. Third glass almost like the matrix style section of current XW with the top LED strip lit up I doubt you guys would change colors schemes on current XW products, so the blue one could be a new sibling to P1 and G1 then? Sampler? Arranger? Bare bones synth?

Thanks, Ted! Macs are different than Windows, they do allow runtime applications without any install, but it all depends on how the app was built. I have a newer Mac and just tested it. It works, so I'm afraid my theory about minimum CPU requirement of C2D or higher was correct. I won't hold my breath for getting a new laptop just because of this. I hope Casio sees the light and goes straight to a tablet app, same as Korg and Moog have done. That is the future in this post-PC era That rubberized pad on the right side is just made for iPad, so having an XW editor for iOS within your fingers' reach is a no brainer in my opinion. I could potentially buy some junk no name laptop for few hundred with crappy W8, but I've left the Windows world and ran for the Mac hills almost 12 years ago and never looked back.

@ James With your CoreDuo 2.0 GHz, the best you can do is to upgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6.8 which is the highest OS X supported on this processor. But it won't be of any help. I have the same MacBook as you do, run on 10.6.8 and get the same error as you do. If the software was built for Core2Duo or iX processors, then the only solution would be for you to get a new Mac. Let's see what Mike is able to fish out from Casio's software team...

Ted, you wouldn't be able to install the ZIP file because it has an EXE file inside and OS X (being a UNIX based system) doesn't know how to run EXE files. But you have a point there: I (as well) thought that the installer got corrupted during download or something and re-downloaded and re-installed it. No avail. The thing installs just fine, w/o a hiccup. It just won't run. It could be any of these: The installer is corrupted - but then every one would be complaining about it (I haven't found anyone besides us two) Installer has higher hardware requirements than CoreDuo, but Casio did not mention it in their support materials Third option could be any variation of Murphy's law... I haven't yet attempted to install it on my Mac mini with C2D CPU to see if it works at all.

Mike, I have the very same problem. Couple months back, I e-mailed Casio via the official website support page and never heard back. The Hardware requirements for the editor listed on Casio's website clearly state that you need an Intel processor, but that's just about it. I too have Core Duo Macbook, not Core2Duo. Install runs fine, but OS X won't fire up the application as it is not supported, exactly as James posted above.

My first guess for NAMM would be 73-key version. Second guess would be aftertouch Third guess would be even better samples or larger ROM @ Mike You asked for ideas. I have one in my head, but need to brute over it and see how to put it in words

I think you are on to something here, Mike. This forum lacks a blue sky section for brainstorming and dreaming up new machines. Though, I'm sure since you guys are back with the vengeance, you'll have some nice surprises up your sleeves this year. Can't wait.

Dear Santa, I want an XW-P1 with: aftertouch 73-key weighted and 88-key weighted version larger ROM sample memory for better quality tones (leave the junk filler tones for your elves and give non-looped piano and strings) 128 note polyphony Sound editor for iPad PLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEEE - do the mono synth controls the same way as you did on G1 model for better real time controls P1 has 3 sections for control by the sliders - solo synth, hex and organ solo synth should have 3 sections just for itself exactly as on G1+ plust the hex and organ = 5 sections for the sliders If you run out of space, you can always move the 4 knobs right above the power button (unused area) How about making the mono a poly synth for making our own pads? 8 note would suffice If you got confused, I can do a mock up for ya in Photoshop, Santa! :-) If you do, I swear I'll leave the best cookie and glass of milk by the fireplace for you next year...

I've been reading the manual back and forth multiple times and can't find this anywhere. Topic: When you have the P1 playing a preset phrase during Key Play and then press any key over and over P1 will modify the phrase into that key/pitch. Question: Can P1 actually change scales while doing this? Meaning: If I'd press CEG, it would play C Major, If I'd press CEGB, It would play C7 etc... Or If I'd press EGC, GCE, it would still play C Major... Explanation: What I'm looking for is whether P1 can do something similar to Korg microARRANGER where multiple keys can be pressed not only to change pitch, but also the scale of the phrase. I do understand these two are different machines for different purpose, but still I wanted to know how powerful/flexible the accompaniment/sequencer features were on the P1. Thanks. JK>

Not interested in listening to JUST IN BEAVER.

If you have another keyboard with aftertouch, just MIDI it up to the XW. According to the user manual, XW does support aftertouch via MIDI. Not the cleanest solution, but should cover your needs.

Sounds like you were really unlucky and got a lemon? Have you considered talking to GC and asking for a replacement?

Adam, I see that James & Mike pretty much covered the most important topics on the differences. I already put my two cents in and will add a bit more: These are the questions you should ask yourself and here also are some other tidbits I'd like to point out: What kind of music do you want to make with the XW? Dance, dub step, techno, and other beats? My Pick: G1 Would you do live performance and want more instruments? My Pick: P1 Will you need drawbar organ for live performance? My pick: P1 P1 has a little better grand piano sample (triple) than G1 double sampled), if I remembered correctly G1 allows you to sample your own sounds and the sequencer is a bit more tweakable for live situations (DJ) P1's hex layer allows you to mix 6 PCM sounds (with up to 64 note polyphony?), so you could create your own really rich mixtures of sounds I've read the whole manual twice and haven't figured out, if it is possible to make a hex layer out of your own user-created synth sounds from the solo synth library or if you are limited to only those ready-to-use synth presets in the PCM library The reason I'm saying this is: if you create some beautiful warm pad sound in the solo synth (which is only monophonic), it would have been nice to be able to bring that sound to the hex layer and play it polyphonic. I haven't figured out, if that is possible. But, the Hex Layer seems to be powerful, each of the 6 layers can have its pitch, volume, ADSR, reverb and other effects tweaked. The solo synth on both is pretty much identical, with G1 having more "knob and slider" leverage whereas P1 will force you to do more menu diving The solo synth is a 6 oscillator design (2x VA waves, 2x PCM, 1x external, 1x noise) Careful! The solo synth mode is monophonic on P1 and G1! One note at a time! They take 6x D batteries. Camp fire songs will never be the same again..... You can go to the XW pages on Casio's website and download the user manual, but you can also download the appendix where you will see all the synths, organs and PCM instruments listed for P1 and G1, so you can compare and see what waves each board has. P1: http://support.casio.com/manualfile.php?rgn=1&cid=008013001 G1: http://support.casio.com/manualfile.php?rgn=1&cid=008013003 The more I'm reading up on them, the less sure I am which one to get and the more I want both As I said in the previous post, either of these will give someone very Merry Christmas for sure!

Thanks, Ted! That was a total brain fart on my end. I've fixed my post. JK>

It is in the name of the synths: G1 - Groove - can do sampling, costs $100 more than P1, aimed at DJ's I guess? P1 - Performance, good for pads, organs and has more PCM instruments, aimed at stage performers or synth newbies, I guess? Here is an idea: Make Santa bend over backwards this year and get both! P1 and G1 kind of complement each other I don't think you can make a mistake with either one, as for the buck you get a lot of bang. I don't own one, but the more I read about them, the more I'm convinced that one of these has my name on it next year. Personally, if the P1 had the solo synth real time tweakability of G1, I wouldn't hesitate.

I saw some answers at Harmony Central where there is an extensive review - dozens of pages long with pics and sound samples. Look for post #71 from Mike Martin, he elaborates on the waveforms a bit - I think it was on the 4th page. The whole review is worth reading. Tons of questions and tons of great answers till the very end. http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2900825-Casio-XW-P1-Performance-Synthesizer/page1

I did some digging and found this so far: Click on your name in the top bar to go to your profile Click on My Settings In the left pane click on Manage Attachments Looks like we are limited to only 500kB of attachments - that's good for patch files, but not recordings I don't see any way to upload anything from here Another place I found: In the tool bar while replying to posts, click on the My Media button That's where you manage attachments Again, I don't see any Upload button or anything how to actually upload stuff It'd be great, if we could upload patches right here. Putting stuff outside and linking to it as a pain, sites change URLs or accounts get deleted which will lead to broken links down the road. Looks like the the attachment functionality is not up yet, but the site is less than a week old. Let's give it time to improve. I suggest use of Soundcloud to share songs here (after the widget support is fixed) - you can get a free account for SC and share your masterpieces upload patch files right here at this site

@Ted You are not supposed to see a hyperlink or URL. You are supposed to see the whole widget which is a rectangle as wide as this page, has a big play button on left and the rest of the window is taken by the waveform of the song you are playing from Soundcloud. The waveform changes color as the play progresses. SC lets you copy the entire IFRAME web code to embed this at other sites, but somehow it doesn't work on this site. A simple hyperlink which redirects you to the SC site works OK. What I was trying to accomplish was to allow others to play the soundcloud file without ever leaving this page and to see the waveform (widget) graphics right here. The BBcode edit menu has some dozen different types, but I won't annoy everyone here by trying every single one of them. We'll see if anyone has better luck. I'm on Safari on OS X and am seeing the same as Happyrat, a very pale rectangle, his is blue mine is grey. No widget, no waveform. Glad to see YouTube works! Thanks for checking into ti guys!