smithh

Brad. Yes, thanks, I have used the software. But my message to Casio is that the trend is to expose the architecture of a synth via explicit and dedicated controls in all details. Korg get it. Roland get it. Dave Smith get it. Behringer get it. Arturia get it. Casio need to get it. Otherwise their wonderful engines will always be underappreciated. That's my point. Software does not solve the problem. What's needed are simple, intuitive controls dedicated to their purpose and reflecting the full architecture and power of the engine.

Hello Casio, I hope you hear this. I am the very proud owner of a PX 5S. I love the thing, dearly, but I am also continuously frustrated by it. The PX 5S must surely be the most unfairly underrated synthesizer on the face of the planet. Why? The answer is simple. The sound engine, samples, tones, layers, zones and parameters offer up the most incredible opportunities for sound design. Yet they are presented in the most complex and impenetrable manner imaginable. Yes, of course, it is possible (just) to learn this complexity. But the complexity is hidden for the *vast majority of users*, I am sure. I love the fact it has zones (Z1 to Z4). I love the fact it has 'hex' layers (L1 to L6). But I *hate* the way all this is buried in a terribly badly designed user-interface which requires moving up/down/left/right and among a myriad of tiny edit screens that resemble something out of 1970s computing. I also hate how it is possible to re-assign the 4 knobs and 6 sliders in ways that makes it impossible to understand what any stage setting will do in real time. The PX 5S is a legendary instrument in so many ways. It exceeds the sound creation possibility of the vast majority of instruments out there. But its power will, unfortunately, lie forever hidden. This is frustrating because the answer is so very simple. Instead of hidden layers and zones and instrument and sound selection, all this power should be exposed via dedicated knobs and sliders. Yes, everything!! In this way, the sophisticated (and unique) ARCHITECTURE of the PS 5S would be immediately apparent to the whole world. Suddenly: the relationship of stage settings to tone settings would be clear, and separated, with dedicated control knobs and sliders. The relationship of zones to layers would be clear, and separated, with dedicated control knobs and sliders. The stage settings would be separated from the tone settings. The tone settings would be separated from the effect settings. Etc etc etc. *Everything* needs to be laid out logically using dedicated knobs, slides and switches so that anything can be changed by touch only, no menus. No knob or control should be multiple purpose. While this will, no doubt, significantly increase the number of knobs and sliders on the panel and require the instrument to look very different, it would expose the massive power of this instrument/ENGINE for all users. And, LED lights are needed on each control to show what is active at any time. Yes, the instrument would be a little heavier. Yes, the instrument would be more expensive (but not significantly). The result would be a legendary instrument, in my humble opinion. I have sneaky feeling that there must be, among users, and designers, and those who support Casio instruments, people who feel the same way. In simple terms: the PX 5S is a WONDER OF A MACHINE but it is HIDING ITS GREAT LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL. Next time ... please ... expose the power of your sound technology to the user via a properly designed and exposed set of knobs and sliders and switches. No compromises. If you did this, I would buy one in an instant. And it would change the face of the synthesizer marketplace, I have no doubt. Views?

Can anyone please help with this. When I plug a USB lead into the PX 5S and THEN plug it into my PC (for use with DataEditor) I get considerable (loud) noise out of the PX 5S (both from phones and L/R monitor outputs. This happens with any length of USB cable, including short cable and cable with one of those suppressors. It happens on my old laptop, but ALSO on a new Macbook (to a lessor extent). When I first bought the PX 5S none of this happened. Now it does. Any thoughts or ideas? Sincerely, Howard Smith

Sorry, I have found this in system setting - MIDI - Transpose. No idea how I missed it.

Hi everyone, Can anyone tell me where I can set transition in a stage setting, or globally? I want to play in one key, say B, but transmit MIDI notes a tone below, e.g. A. Then, when playing back that MIDI, through a VST in my DAW, for it to play in A. Best, Howard

Brad, thank you for helping me. It worked beautifully.

Hi Brad, thanks for replying. Are you saying that the pedal 2 input is on/off and won't transmit MIDI expression?? I am using the PX5S both in its own right, where I don't care about a second pedal, but also to drive PianoTeq software. It's a physical modelling of a real piano and has 5 pedal inputs. One of this, Harmonic pedal, is very useful. It allows you to play stacato (take hands off keys) and retain 'resonance'. Amazingly real. If I press the pedal down in the software the effect is lovely. I was hoping to use Pedal 2 input on the PX5S for this. But it is simply not transmitting properly. Any more thoughts? Also, what is the workaround you are referring to? Howard

Hi there, I'd welcome the wisdom of the community on the topic of pedals and the PX 5S. I'm confused about the operation of Pedal 2 Input. Will it take an expression pedal? Does it transmit MIDI depending on the position of the pedal or just on/off (0/127)? Sincerely, Howard Smith

Thanks for the reply. I will do some tests. It appears to be more complex than I thought. For example, with Pianoteq 5 virtual instrument all is well. The sounds from the virtual keyboard and the sounds as played by PX 5S controller are identical. The same is true of Una Corda plugin for Kontact Player. I will also test the Korg and Arturia instruments using a different keyboard. Will report back.

Hello everyone, I really need help, really .... I am using my excellent PX 5S *also* as a controller for some virtual instruments, running in stand alone mode, on my Macbook. They are Analog Lab from Arturia and M1 from Korg. When a press a key on the virtual keyboards, using a mouse, I get the full rich sound of the note. When I press a key on the PX 5S, even if I press very hard, it is clearly not sending full velocity to the virtual instrument. Has anyone encountered this when using virtual instruments, and what can be done about it? Sincerely, Howard Smith

Please could someone clarify for me whether the data editor is available for my Mac. On this page, only PC is listed: http://support.casio.com/en/support/download.php?cid=008&pid=20 On this page, it says the data editor for PX 5S is compatible with all current versions of MacOS: http://support.casio.com/en/support/information.php?cid=008&pid=33 Any help gratefully received.

Excellent. So I could set them to some unused CC numbers and then assign them in Learn mode on a software synth to any on screen virtual knob I wish.

Hi Brad, Ah .... that would explain it. Are you saying that the knobs don't send the CCs by themselves? So, if I wanted to use the PX5S as a controller, perhaps I could keep a spare patch just as a set up for that? Do you know where in the menu system I could, in a patch, set the knobs up to send CCs?

Hi folks, Sliders S1 to S6 can send midi so that I can control software instruments. Can knobs K1 to K4 also send midi? Howard

I will. Thanks.

I was running 1.13 before. I inserted a USB stick with 1.13 and re-booted. The install began, after briefing showing the [ERROR] again. All is well after re-installing 1.13. My sounds are still in tact as well. So panic over. BUT ..... why does this happen?

Looks like other people have had this problem: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WMR8K6V Casio even running a survey about it. So, what do I do?

My keyboard has worked flawlessly since I bought it. Today I turn it on and get [ERROR] No Media. What could have caused this? It was running 1.13 installed some time ago. I have not put a USB stick into it for a long time. I have not changed any sounds. All I did was play it. Now it does not work. What do I do? I need this keyboard working today. Please help!!!

Just played the PX 5S for four hours continuously and exhaustively using phones. Not a hint of aural tiredness. Could carry on for hours more. I think this is quite extraordinary.

Thanks for the reply. Could you also explain in that case why the stage setting refers to tone 159?

I think the piano and EPs are much better than for 'emergency' use. Here is my experience: 1. Install the latest OS firmware 1.13 2. Install the latest stage settings 2.5 3. Then go through the instrument, finding the sounds you like least. Replace these with the best from the community. 4. Then go through the sounds you will use most, and tweak to taste. Often, significant improvements are very easy. The PX 5S is a curious instrument in some ways. Because a stage setting hides so much power (zones, effects, alternate layers, hexes etc), I reckon more than 50% of the stage settings can be made more impressive with simple changes. But because of that power, the change one person might make is very different to another person. In other words, its hard to show it all off in the stage settings as shipped.

@dc2k thank you very much for the clarification

I must admit, finding it hard to understand. Let me see if I have it right: The "Sys Settings" button is a set of global parameters, affecting all stage settings. The DSP button I need to study in a flowchart. The System button settings are saved in each stage setting. (the name is confusing??? System?? Sys Settings?? Very similar The Master button settings are saved in each stage setting. (again, Master seems to imply otherwise)

As a new user of the PX 5S I'd be grateful of replies to these questions. They concern what's at which level of editing: 1. The Sys Setting button -------------------------------- It contains options such as Temperament and Touch, among others. Do they all apply across all Stage Settings? Or do they apply to each Stage Setting? In other words, what is global and what is Stage Setting specific? 2. The DSP button ----------------------- Same question. Is this a master DSP or a Stage Setting DSP or a Tone DSP? 3. The System button --------------------------- Pressing it takes you to a screen called "Sys Effects". Two questions: 3a. If this is effects, how does that relate to DSP above - which is also a system effect?? 3b. Do the changes under the "System" button relate to individual Stage Settings, or to Tones, or global? 4. The Master button --------------------------- This contains options such as Compressor, EQ ..... once again, are these global, Stage Setting specific or Tone specific? Thank you for any help.