CoreyW

I've not (personally) had this issue nor have I heard of it. What exactly is the customer doing when the unit freezes up? Please be a specific and detailed as possible.

The latest firmware is v1.6. v1.5 or v1.4 are earlier versions. In fact, I don't believe you can go backwards and "downgrade" if the keyboard has a later version. Not sure why you would even want to, to be honest?!?

I'm thinking this will not directly work because you'd need to use some type of USB MIDI Host as well as some type of programming interface to be able to program the various controls of the NanoKontrol. I could be totally wrong, but I've read numerous stuff online about this subject. I actually thought about doing this same thing, creating a USB MIDI Host, using an Arduino, but just haven't had the time to make it happen.

That would explain it! I wonder, if in a future update that could be changed to use the more standardized MIDI meta data, then it would (most likely) be compatible with most DAW or sequence software packages.

Since you brought this up...now I'm gonna complain! The track name data never seems to save when editing a MIDI file on a computer. I know there are specific meta data tags that get stored in the MIDI file header which is supposed to store the track name data, but it NEVER retains it. ARGGGGGHHH!!!! You name it in the MZ-X and then edit it on a computer...track names GONE!! The same is true in reverse, name it on the computer, open it in the MZ-X...again track names GONE!!! Am I missing something here?

Oh! I did want to add a comment about memory... How many remember the first CMI Fairlight? 8 voices with 16k (WOW!) sample memory per voice Large 8" floppy drives, with a boot floppy that took like 5m to load. A mono color (green) computer screen with light pen interface 88 note keyboard with keypad interface Page R sequencing software Whoa...all that memory for $25K!!! Boggles the mind. My point...while 256M seems like a little, maybe Casio wanted to see how many people would actually use the Sample Manager software before investing and moving forward in that direction.

I agree with Rick. Casio is a very large company with separate sales divisions in many countries. While Casio Japan may be the main company, in most cases it is up to the individual divisions to decide how to market a product line in their respective countries as well as determine whether or not a product line might be successful. It might be that a country could import only a small number of a product to make that determination. Casio Japan may rely on the input from the sales divisions as to whether or not they believe a product is or will be successful. In regards to the many comments about upgrading the MZ-X product line, I'm sure those like Mike Martin and various others who promote Casio listen to customers and pass those comments onto Casio. But remember that not all those potential features mentioned will make it into the current (or next) product. There's many features I'd personally like to see added to the MZ-X line, but many of the features would be only for my convenience and may not be suited for every player out there. For years I was (In fact, still am) a Yamaha supporter. I still own many Yamaha keyboards. I still have my original DX7 I bought in 1987 which still works great. I still have a DX21, SY77 and have gone through a myriad of PSR series keyboards. The latest being an PSR-S900. In my opinion, the MZ-X500 has features and sounds the S900 doesn't and the S900 has features and sounds the X500 doesn't. I guess the bottom line is for one keyboard to have everything one would want in a single keyboard is just not reality. I used to own a Tyros 4, but sold it when I bought the MZ-X500 because I felt I wasn't using the Tyros enough to constitute keeping it. Plus, it was a heavy beast!! I starting using the X500 more that it replaced the Tyros and worked perfectly in that role. Believe it or not, some of the sounds in the X500 just better suited me. It all depends on how you use what you have. OK, I'm not one to pick at anyone, but I'd like to comment on some of petersohn's "wish list" items: 1. Good on-board styles - you run the keys and want to play - that's what Yamaha gives you, most styles are weak and sound bad at Casio. We managed to create a nice Global Rythms package - why isn't there such a style in the instrument? I haven't found much wrong with the available styles, but again individual tastes vary. There are those styles that "pop" and those that are ehhh. However, if you feel a style is weak, edit it and make it your own! In fact, with the ability to import styles from Korg, Yamaha and Roland, etc...I've actually added styles from the S900 that I use more regularly. With the ability to create your own styles, the possibilities are endless, so what more could you want? In fact, if you come up with some good styles you can always share them with others in the forum! Some I've seen are rather unique. 2. The new sounds of the Aix module - mainly acoustic sounds and new multilayer samples of acoustic drums. 3. A new set of effects - (available in the new Ct-X Series) will significantly improve the sound of the MZ-X Series The AI-X chip seems fabulous. From what I seen on YouTube, the sound is really awesome. This chip was probably still in development when the MZ-X series was developed. Could the new sound engine be available for a new MZ-X keyboard...HMM...maybe. I guess time will tell...but I don't think any company would tell you what they have planned because that would hurt current sales of products already on the market. Especially those that would be discontinued when the new product is announced. 5. Using the registration without any limitations - is it not possible to save the registration on the usb memory as in Rolands? If I'm not mistaken (Brad and Rick your input here), but I thought that you could save registration banks to USB? I've not had to do this yet... 6. separate Upper1/2 , Lower1/2 buttons would be useful - but this is a secondary matter. These are already on the LCD and dedicated buttons would be a nice feature, but it all comes down to the cost for those buttons. 8. a larger touchscreen display - but of course it's a dream. All comes down to cost. All added hardware comes down to cost. Casio did a great job of keeping the cost of the keyboard down with the features that were included with MZ-X series as it stands now. And, those features are many. No, it's no Yamaha, Korg or Roland, but the features are good for a board around the $1k price point. The fact that you can load samples and make your own sounds using the Sample Manager software for a keyboard around that price is phenomenal. I've created many sounds and a couple of drum sets using TR-808 and the old Seeburg/Gulbransen Select-A-Rhythm samples. I just wish the PX-560 had some of the arranger features the MZ-X does because of the touchscreen interface. For example, on the MZ-X, I can and have assigned all sections as "UPPER" or "LOWER" for one massive tone OR even 3 tones to UPPER with 1 tone to LOWER. I can't do that on the PX-560...bummer!! So much potential there!! Maybe they'd consider adding some of the features of the PX-5S. Cheers!

I've had a few lessons and considering my mom was a organist/piano teacher she deemed me "unteachable" LOL!! However, I found that if you want to play bad enough, you'll find ways to learn. Start off with basics and build from there. I've seen friends/people who want to learn so bad that they practice for hours and hours every day. To me, that's ok if you're a seasoned player, but for one just starting out, I don't recommend it. 20m a day is a good start so that you don't become too overly frustrated and want to quit. I found that I could go over and over a song only to become frustrated because of messing up in the exact same place every time. If I walk away from it, most times when I'd come back after a few hours or even a day, I'd play straight through what I was practicing the time before. Yea, I know...go figure!! Start with 20m and build up from there. I also agree with Casiokid...no two teachers will ever agree about the same approach and technique. My son had that problem and it really messed him up. So we cut down the practice time, changed his focus a bit and he became a really good musician. Maybe it took a bit longer, but it was much less stressful and he was able to relax and really focus. In my opinion, it was the cutting down on the practice time that really helped because he was much less frustrated.

It all depends on the manner in which a specific "style" is stored. While Yamaha uses ".PSR" as the extension, the file is actually just a standard MIDI file with markers set to identify the different parts within the file. But remember and as mentioned, the import is not clean as you will need to do some editing once the file has been imported. The Yamaha style format is well explained and documented as is the Casio formatting. If you do some searching on the Internet you'll find several sites that explains the details.

That's beautiful!! Very creative!! This is probably one of the best I've heard to date and you really have the guitar style of playing down really great too. That really helps it better stand out because you're not playing it in the typical "keyboard" fashion. Too many keyboard players use the guitar sounds but play them like a piano. You have to think of how a guitar player would play it and change the technique. Yes, that's hard to do! But, you pretty much nailed it. Terrific!!

Ok...that's probably the BEST guitar simulation I've seen yet!! I'd like to know more specifics as to what you assigned to the pad controllers. Please share... Thanks!

Thanks guys! Your comments are much appreciated. And no, I'm not Mike Martin in disguise LOLOL!! I'll let you in on a little secret...This is the type of information you learn and are accustomed to when you're the National Service Manager for Allen Organ Company in PA. 31 years ... an loving every minute of it. So yes, I have a bit of knowledge when it comes to sampling because that's what AOC pioneered for the church organ world back in 1971. We were also the parent company for the RMI line of instruments too, but we no longer do synths or electric pianos. Remember the RMI Electra-Piano 300 or 386X or how about the RMI Keyboard Computer 2 (KC-2)? Yup, that was us. We now leave that job up to the synth manufacturers LOL! Cheers!

In most cases, there are a variety of parameters available that can be adjusted using a computer, rather than using the keyboard itself. For example, you can increase or decrease the loudness of the sample, trim the starting and stopping points, set the loop points, adjust the tone using EQ, remove or limit noise using Noise Reduction, etc. You pretty much limited to the features of the software. Understand, not all samples will load "ready to play" as there are other adjustments that need to be made once the sample is loaded. Basically, you're playing with the RAW samples when using software. When the samples are loaded to create a tone in the X500, you can then further fine-tune the samples using the tools within SampleManager. But, the X500 needs to be connected via USB to make those adjustments in real-time. The PADS are pretty much the same, except you can't use SampleManager for the PADS (yes, a disappointment!). But, using the computer software, you can again fine tune the samples before they are loaded to the PADS. This will also allow you to trim the samples because the PADS are limited in the amount of time depending on where you select to store them (yes, I found this out the hard way). Some of the USER spaces are designated for 3 seconds samples and others are for 9 second samples. (The sample I was importing was approx 8.3 seconds. I couldn't understand why the sample was being cut off at the 3 second mark until I tried loading the sample to a different USER space and that's when I figured it out! Also, when you record PAD samples using the X500, the keyboard will automatically place the sample in a USER space for the size selected, SHORT or LONG. Loading samples using the IMPORT feature does not do this as you select a USER space to load and there is no warning the sample will be cut.) Again, there are some adjustments that need to be made with the PADS so the samples playback correctly, but not as extensive as those adjustments with tones. I use the X500 extensively with the classic rock cover band I'm in and use different samples to re-create the sound effects from the original record, pretty effectively. For example, I've tried a long time to get the sweeping filter sound from The Cars - Moving In Stereo using the XW-P1, but there's too much stepping that really degrades the effect. Once I had the X500, I sampled the sweeping filter from the record then trimmed/truncated the sample to fit into the time allowed. Adjusted the timing and loop settings in the x500 and PRESTO!! I've done this with several songs, again Pink Floyd's - Time and Money using multiple PADS to re-create the different sections where the sounds changed. The X500 works brilliant for that!! In fact, I've just added the PX560 to my rig, so I have a pretty decent arsenal (MZ-X500, XW-P1, PX-560M, Novation Bass Station 2). One of these days, I'll need to take a photo of the rig and post it on the FB site.

Absolutely!! This is the only way to have full control over the sample and the various parameters that are not available in the X500.

I've downloaded and used multiple 32M Mellotron samples in 2 or 3 user places and without problems. I've also created a new Drum set using samples I did from an old Seeburg Select-A-Rhythm unit and that works really well. Setting up the samples within the SampleManager was really easy too. The Mellotron samples do take some time to load when selected, but I have assigned the PRELOAD function for those samples. Seems to work ok for me as I have never been able to duplicate anything that was mentioned. Understand, I don't doubt there might not be an issue, but I've personally not seen it.

Not sure about the status of the MZ-X outside of the states, because all of the online retailers like zzounds, American Musical, etc. still have both of the MZ-X models listed and the pricing is still the same as before. I am a bit troubled by the lack of non-response from Casio (in general) in regards to the software complaints listed throughout many of the posts in the forum. Understand, many (if not most) of the complaints were not bugs, but feature requests for a future software version and some of them were definitely good requests too. But, then again, I work for a similar company where that seems to be the norm... When the shoe is on the other foot...grrrrrr!!!

IMHO...There's too many biased opinions with regards to the multitude of manufacturers out there. It seems that now-a-days you can't get one unbiased review. Just because the MZ is Casio doesn't mean that it's not up to par with any of the others. For some reason, Casio isn't regarded as a "PRO" choice. Um, wrong! Going all the way back to when the FZ series sampler came out...the was some rocking sampler, but it never got the credit it deserved until later in life! I wish I still had mine!! I agree with Rick as I've owned mainly Yamaha boards the past 20 years and Casio has really up'd the ante with this series. The sounds are really good and match up nicely with my S900. They add a different flavor and augment my other boards well. In fact, isn't that the purpose of owning different brands, to get some variety and different flavor (as well as features too)? After all, how many different brands of cooking spices are there and don't they add a different flavor to the mix?

Thanks for the explanation Brad! Much appreciated. Hmm...never used this, but I'm going to try it. The Mellotron samples I used are rather large (37 samples at about 670KB per sample (average)). That would be about a 22MB tone when loaded and it does take some time for the sound to load, but I never viewed it as a bug because the documentation indicates this may happen with larger sample tones. It takes several seconds, but I could see if you need to switch between tones quickly during a song in a performance that it could be a problem. But, this hasn't been an issue for me personally.

Perhaps I may be a bit dense here, and please forgive me if I am, but what do you mean by "preload" samples? I seem to not had the problems with the Sample Manager that has been reported, but maybe my samples are not large enough to create the problems. But, the definition of "preload samples has me baffled... All in all, the MZ-X500 is spectacular and I use it both in gigging and for home studio use.

You really can't fully compare the T5 to the MZ-X500 straight across the board. The price points of both keyboards are thousands apart. IMO, Casio designed a product that brought many high level features to the lower to middle end market with a really good and feature packed board. The sound engine in the Tyros series are far more advanced than most arranger boards on the market, but Casio did up the ante with the engine in the newer MZ-X boards. The Hex Layer feature is a good addition and the fact that you can import your own samples to create tones is also a plus. That is something you can't do with the bigger boys. Yamaha has the Super Articulation and Mega Voice functions which are far superior than most boards on the market today. But, you're also paying for that technology! A more fair comparison to the T4/T5 would be the Korg PA series or even the Roland boards. The new Genos is unreal, but at $5000 plus...holy #$%#$!!! I (personally) would like to see Casio do a bit more in the feature category by adding another DSP for vocal harmony effects since there is a dedicated MIC input and also expanding the keyboard to 76 notes, but that's me. There were also a lot of other good suggestions listed on another topic for which I will not go into detail here. But, remember...more features add cost even though most are software related functions. In order to keep the price point of the MZ-X series close to where they are, that has to be taken into account. I had a T4 and sold it because I found myself using the MZ-X500 more and more. I still have my PSR-S900 and also use it extensively with the MZ-X500. The blending of both boards along with the XW-P1, WK-6600 and Bass Station 2 are phenomenal. There isn't much that can't be done. So again and IMO, keep the MZ-X and buy the T5 too!!

Nope, I meant no intention of putting down the MZ-X or any of the other boards one bit. Just offering my opinion with all that I've played with or owned over the years.

All in all and in my opinion, I've seen the Korg specs for both the 700 and 1000. But, the price point for the 700 is a bit more than the MZ-X and the 1000 is over $1k more. The MZ-X has a very impressive tone and arranger engine and if you haven't tried the sampling option, you should! Unlike the KAOSS pad, the Casio pads can do so much. Casio did their homework on the MZ-X and incorporated features from many of the Yamaha, Roland and Korg series boards and kept the price point low. The sounds in the MZ-X are really good too!! I used Yamaha for years and had Tyros 4 (which I just sold) and still have and use the PSR-S900. But, the Casio impressed me with what they did. I'm still hoping for an MZ-X with a 76 note keyboard and an expanded sampling memory OR at least have the option of adding more memory. I think, in most cases, you are paying for the name (Korg). Again and in my opinion, Yamaha seemed to be the best out there with the arranger workstations. Roland never seemed interested in it until lately. Korg seemed pretty much the same too, but to me their arranger keyboards always seemed to be overpriced considering the features.

Sorry, I misunderstood! But yes, that is exactly what I do. As a side note and I've mentioned this before, but the track names seem to be non-existent in the MZ-X even though they appear in the MIDI files when opened with a computer program like Anvil Studio, Power Tracks and even Sonar (Cakewalk). There is a standard in the MIDI spec that is designated for Track names as a meta-event. Either there is a bug, or I'm just missing something. It would be nice to see the track names listed in the MZ-X since the feature is there, but it just doesn't seem to work.

Rick, I'm wondering if Silvano means "loading" a rhythm and/or style from a defined MIDI file (like a Yamaha STY file) into the MZ-X where the Intro and Ending data may not load? If so, I think there might be a bit of a translation issue with what he means by saving into the MZ-X instead of loading into the MZ-X. If so, I've had this same issue with Yamaha STY files. I think most people know that the STY files are nothing more than a MIDI file renamed to .STY file. The STY files contain markers to detail the different parts; INTRO, MAIN, VARIATIONS, FILLS and ENDINGS. The formatting seems really specific and is a little different based on the manufacturer. To many details to go into here, but Casio does do it very well. I've found that if you want a more robust import, then you have to figure out the formatting for where ever the file came from and edit the MIDI files to be more specific. Yes, a pain, but it does work!! Just my 2 cents...

I've done a few of them myself. I also own a PSR-S900 that I wouldn't part with and I like many of the styles within it that I've imported some to the MZX. But, its a definite bear to convert because the import process is not very transparent. There is a lot of editing required to get the setups right so that it sounds correctly. So, my hats off to you and/or anyone else who does this because its a lot of work!!