pianomax

I don't disagree that a mixer is a better choice, in general, but in many cases having that stereo audio in comes very handy and there are many other instruments which have that feature and working fine (such as my Roland FP4, for example), no noise or noise gates required.

 

By the way, on the PX560 the (HW) problem is apparently solved, Audio In jacks go directly to output mix withouth any noise gate... 

I am afraid the answer is no, for sure for the 2nd point (Expression) as it would require a HW modification; for Transpose, being a software feature there is still space for an implementation at Firmware level, but at the moment the transpose function is "deep in the menus" (as you said).

I turned off the compressor with no result. But upon further testing, I've discovered that the "audio in" signal is affected by the changes that I make in the EQ settings of my stage settings. So how can I get the incoming signal to bypass the EQ?

You can't... Look at the signal path diagram in the manual, this is also the cause for the "noise gate" effect which is causing problems to effectively use the audio input in many circumstances (there is discussion on this problem in this forum here )

Theoretically to turn off the Compressor you should set the threshold to 0, but that doesn't seem to fix the "noise gate issue" actually (as I and other users have tried and observed)

Up.. just to remind Casio that we expect at least a feedback to know whether this issue can be solved by a FW update or not...

Here's the correct link http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/38203/Arduino-Based-MIDI-Expression-Pedal

Not to put it down, but maybe it is also thanks to the headphones (which ones do you use?) and keeping the volume level right?

The PX-5s doesn't support the Midi Merge capability in the current firmware version (1.13) so at the moment the only option is to use an external MIDI Merge box.

PX5-s sends full velocity range 0-127, though I have observed that with the Normal setting I can hardly get to 118, while with the Light setting I easily get to 127 but I lose control on low velocities range, so I keep the normal and prefer to adjust the velocity curve on the VIs (if required)

I also keep High Res Velocity switched off, since there are just a handful of VIs which can handle it (e.g. pianoteq) and on the other hand CC88 can cause problems with other MIDI equipment which don't support HiResVel but use CC88 for something else (e.g the Nords)

If you have Windows you can use MidiOX to monitor your MIDI data, on OS X there is the Midi Monitor program (both are freeware)

File Name: PX-5s Mainstage 3 Layouts

File Submitter: pianomax

File Submitted: 16 Dec 2014

File Category: PX-5S Other

The attached file contains 2 layouts for MainStage 3 that mimic the controls section of the PX-5s.

One layout is graphically simple and "linear", the other is more "photorealistic"; both layouts are unmapped and fully customizable so you can adapt them to your liking and needs.

To use the layout, create a new (or load an existing) Mainstage concert, then go in Layout mode and using the top-left "gear" menu select "Import Layout..".

As a general consideration, if you plan to use the PX-5s with Mainstage, I suggest that you create a specific Stage Setting for that, with a single Zone/Channel and assign generic MIDI CC numbers to S1-6 and K1-4; then you can map them to the layout I posted (and do the rest of mappings, zoning etc. within MainStage)

Click here to download this file

The  file contains 2 layouts for MainStage 3 that mimic the controls section of the PX-5s.

 

Download Link

 

One layout is graphically simple and "linear", the other is more "photorealistic"; both layouts are unmapped and fully customizable so you can adapt them to your liking and needs.

 

To use the layout, create a new (or load an existing) Mainstage concert, then go in Layout mode and using the top-left "gear" menu select "Import Layout..".

 

As a general consideration, if you plan to use the PX-5s with Mainstage, I suggest that you create a specific Stage Setting for that, with a single Zone/Channel and assign generic MIDI CC numbers to S1-6 and K1-4; then you can map them to the layout I posted (and do the rest of mappings, zoning  etc. within MainStage) 

My own attempt at building a "neutral" acoustic piano stage setting, I focused particularly on dynamics (master compressor and Tone amplifier velocity settings) and trying to correct the timbre of the central octave (F3-F4) which is where I really don't like the original PX5s piano samples (using Master EQ and also trying a different Stretch Tuning setting in the Tone Pitch section)

 

Download Link 

 

PS: as also for other parameters values, the manual doesn't actually explain the differences between each Stretch Tune setting, would be good to know....

Seems Dynamic Panning is set to off by default. I just checked through several SS's using pianos and it is off on all of them. So no solution. Thanks anyway.

Yes, I finally had time to try it myself too and, regardless how it is set, I can still pan each Zone from the Mixer, so it is strange but I cannot reproduce your problem.

@BradMZ: looking at the PX5 User Guide (Tutorial) Diagram on page E-7 I see that you can pan any DSP effect, provided you set the Pan position parameter to "Post DSP"; System and Master effects of course can't.

I suggest that you check the Dynamic Panning is switched off in the Piano Tone.

On the System Setting tab in the Stage Setting Filter box there is a button that says Compressor. It is blue when it is on and black when it is off.

That setting doesn't turn the Compressor off, it just prevents the Compressor Parameters stored in the Stage Settings from overriding the default values.

There is not a way to fully bypass it, but Ratio=0 is the setting to have no Compression.

Right Choppin. It is rather the way the PX5-s handles Stage Settings change that should be modified to handle these situations properly, as other keyboards do.

Yes quite disappointing, considering this topic is more than 1 year old...

Up, any news?

At least it would be good to know if this issue can be fixed by a Firmware update or if it is Hardware related (which would be really bad, but I am ready also to do a Hw modification, if it can save me from using a mixer in many cases...).

I use the PX5 mainly as a master keyboard, but sometimes I use the internal sounds and occasionally I went into the same problem, which I think has to do with the way zones and controllers are reset when switching the Stage setting.

I have found an easy way to reproduce it, at least partially, using the programs from Mike Martin's Alternate Order set:

1) select the patch 0-5 "TheWay it is"

2) set Zone 2 (Warm Pad) cutoff and/or volume to 0 (move slider 1 and/or 2 up and then down to do that)

3) holding the sustain pedal down, play a chord (or several notes)

4) without releasing the sustain pedal, select patch 0-2 "LayerRockPno" and...

... the Warm Pad sound of 0-5 will "respawn" in full volume (the "surge of sound" the OP mentioned) till you release the sustain pedal, after that the 0-2 sound will play correctly.

PS: to make the effect more evident, you may try and set cutoff (slider 1) to maximum and volume (slider 2) to 0 at step (2). It is possible that with other combination of stage settings and/or controllers the "surge of sound" effect is even worse than this example, but the root cause should be the same.

Hi Mau Van, you need a program on the Mac to do the MIDI routing for you.

Mainstage for example can do it or alternatively you can use the free MidiPipe app (check it out on its website)

In Italy (not sure if they sell also in other countries) you can also get a Stefyline KC134 which is perfectly sized for the PX5-s.

Mau Van try to play a piano sound from the external keyboard, or any sound with a long decay, just a single chord keeping sustain (or the keys) pressed and listen to the sound fading out (decaying): when it will reach a certain level, pretty low, you will hear the cut.

I can't help feeling life would have been a lot easier though if there'd been a couple of continuous pedal controller inputs on the px5. My current plan is to modify the px5s once the warranty period has expired. I really don't need 6 sliders and 4 knobs! Although I find I use the the sliders quite a lot, I don't use the knobs much. As far as i can tell these knobs are analogue pots. So I'm planning on adding a couple of switching stereo jacks on the back and paralleling the pots for knobs 3 & 4 through these and a little bit of protection circuitry. So when the pedals (I use modified Yamaha Fc7's) are plugged in they take over the knob operation. Because these knobs are so configurable and they're at the heart of the px5s system, the control options multiply massively without compromising the rig with extra wires, power supplies and boxes. Roll on next year!

Same idea here just not sure I can wait till warranty expires (it is 2 years in Italy, where I live)

If you have a PC in your setup you may consider this solution that adapts any foot controller to USB MIDI  http://www.midiexpression.com

It's a fantastic keyboard for an incredible value! My single request for a firmware update would be...

 

Removal of the noise gate from the Line In jacks

 

Or better yet, user control over the gate - even On/Off would be great. They way it stands, those inputs are unusable for me (and many others, I believe). I am thrilled at the chance to combine on- and off-board sounds, but need the gate to disappear in order to do so. 

 

Mike, and others, thank you for your tireless work on this great instrument!

+1!

New owner, same problem. Any news?