CoreyW

Definitely agree! Tone quality is great. Much more flexibility than the Yamaha (as I owned several over the years). The MZ-X500 allows you to create you own sounds by using the Sample Manager software which far exceeds anything Yamaha is offering in the price range of the MZ-X500. You don't simply change parameters in the software, but load your own samples and then you can adjust dozens of parameters to massage the sound to your liking. I've seen several samples demo'd on the forum with velocity control that makes the X500 sound like your playing one of the top end PSR Yamaha with the Super Articulation voices. Boggles the mind!!

I haven't been able to re-produce this yet, but I'm still trying different scenarios to see if it rears its ugly head. Hopefully if it is a bug, they'll fix it in the next version.

Yes, my Tyros 4 hasn't been turned on in over a year now. I'm actually considering selling it!! I still have a PSR-S900 which works well, but the MZ-X500, XW-P1 and W-6600 fit the bill nicely on gigs. I just recently added the Bass Station II to round out the set. Too much stuff to carry to gigs. One of these days, I got to get a pic and post it of the whole setup. But, I will say, there isn't much music you can't do with this setup!!

I'm gonna check this out when I'm home later tonight and see if mine does the same. I don't remember using that specific tone before...

Rick, I still have to do some experimenting with the x500 by naming the track in the x500 and then looking at the MIDI file using a HEX editor to determine if the track format is correct. Yes, I do some programming and Standard MIDI Files are a PITA!! The MIDI File Standard is very specific, but different manufactures could use the meta-event identifiers differently for their purposes. For example, the Track Name meta-event identifier is FF 03. The next byte identifies the length of the track name. So, if the track is called "Drums" the next byte would be 05 followed by the hex numbers for each letter in the name, one byte for each letter. Another example: If the track name is called "Drums - Primary", then the length is 0F for 15 characters. The next 15 bytes are the hex number equivalents for each letter (or space) in the track name. The test is to load a MIDI file and then name a track in the x500 and then look at the MIDI file within the HEX editor to determine if the x500 follows the correct meta-event format or if it uses something else. Then, report back here with the results and decide whether or not it's an actual bug or limitation with the x500.

I've not experienced this one time and I use the x500 on gigs all the time. I've even created my own voices with Sample Manager and without faults. Does the problem happen on certain sounds or does it seem to be any sound and only on the E5 key?

One thing I've noticed and can't seem to find any reference to has to do with the Track names. I use Anvil Studio when editing MIDI files and assign Track names to the various tracks within the MIDI file. However, when you import a SMF file on the MZ-X500 the track names get dropped. SMF files have a standard file format and the track names are a part of that format as to how they are saved in the MIDI file, so I was kinda surprised that the track names were dropped. I haven't tried naming the tracks in the X500 and then loading the MIDI file into Anvil Studio to determine if the track name is dropped, but I am going to do that. It would just be easier if the track names would transfer and you wouldn't have to do double work. Does anyone have any insight into this issue or maybe this is something that Casio would consider changing in a later update? I usually play with two other people, guitar and bass, and sometimes the bass player has other commitments and can't make it. When he is there, then I mute the bass track so he can play it live. I try to follow a strict format with the MIDI recordings, i.e. bass is always on a specific track, but that sometimes doesn't always follow suit and have to keep a separate notebook so that I know which track to mute. Yes, its a PITA!! Ok, enough whining LOLOL!!

Very true!! But, you never know until you ask. And, your ideas definitely have merit as well Brad.

Here are a couple of items I wouldn't mind seeing Casio incorporate into the MZ-X500 for a future update: 1. Set/Playlist Creater/Player for SMF files. When using the MZ-X500 on a gig, this would come in really handy as you could create a playlist with an adjustable delay time in between songs. The files would automatically load ready for you to hit PLAY. This would prevent the stumbling around in between songs when you're looking for and loading song files. 2. Any chance for built-in vocal harmony processor for the microphone input? I know this is a stretch and I don't know the inner workings of how the microphone is routed through the internal processors. There is some control as the mic volume is adjustable, but that is a far cry from how the audio signal routing is done. Plus, not to mention, the processing power needed for processing harmonies...just a thought tho!! So, what are the chances?

In addition to BradMZ's explanation, and if you want to be able to produce a finer edit/trim sample, use a sample editing program such as Audacity and create a WAV file. Make sure you save the WAV file using the proper file settings (look for Casio's WAV file guidelines) because if you don't, the sample will not load. Then, load the WAV sample directly using the Import WAV function for the Pads. I've done this many times with great results. You'll still need to make sure the settings for the Pads are correct so that the full sample plays back, but that's a pretty easy task.

Ok, so I did some experimenting with the Import WAV file feature for the PADS and found something which may not be evident. Let me explain...The PADS allow for either up to a 3 second (SHORT) or 9 second (LONG) sample length. In the XW-P1 forum I had asked for help in creating the ARP OMNI filter sweep sound on the P1, of which several of you guys successfully assisted me with. However, with the MZ-X500, the PADS make it now possible to actually sample the starting section of the song, which is just the filter sweep sound, and actually play the sample using one of the PADS when we play the song live!! When I first started experimenting with the concept, I recorded the sample using Audacity. Then, using the excellent tools in Audacity, was able to trim the start and end points of the sample by getting as close to the zero crossing points to be able to loop the sample with minimal "clicking". Again, this worked great. However, at the time I did not have the ability to import the sample into the X500 and had to actually record the sample into the X500, which worked. I set the sample length to LONG and had to play with the Timing and Timing Unit values to get it to loop correctly, but, it worked. When the new version was released, I could now actually directly import the WAV file into the X500. Here were some things I found which could be very easily overlooked: 1. Make sure the WAV file is formatted for 44.1KHz (or lower rate). If not, you will get an error when trying to load the sample into the X500. The manual mentions the 44.1KHz rate, but does not indicate anything about an error occurring if trying to load a sample at a higher bit rate, say 48Khz. That was one problem. Audacity automatically saved the rate at 48KHz which created the loading issue. Once I converted the WAV file to 44.1KHz, problem solved. 2. This one took some time, as again, the manual does is not clear about it. This has to do with selecting a user storage location when importing a WAV file. I actually realized this one by accident. My WAV file is actually 6 seconds long, so I when I first recorded it into the X500, I selected the LONG sample option. When I loaded it directly using the import function, I selected the first available user location. However, the sample was truncated to only 3 seconds. At first I thought I did something wrong and tried it again, but ended up with the same results. Now, I started scratching my head thinking what the heck... I tried several things which just kept getting me frustrated. I opened up the firmware release notes and read thru them again thinking that maybe I missed something. Well lo and behold, and I didn't get it at first, but then it hit me...the release notes mentioned about the 3 second and 9 second sample are based on location. When I looked in the X500 at the available user locations, I noticed that the original sample I recorded (before I updated the X500) was not located at the first available user location number, but at a higher number location. When you record directly into the X500, you can only select for a SHORT or LONG sample and it automatically assigns the sample to a user location. However, when directly importing a WAV file you need to actually select a user location. So, this time I selected the next higher user location above the original sample and that fixed the problem. The entire 6 second sample loaded and played perfectly!! So, it seems that the user locations for samples are predefined by length. If I interpreted it correctly, the first 12 user locations are for 3 second samples and the remaining locations are for 9 second samples. I hope this helps if anyone ever decides to use the WAV file import for the PADS.

Thanks guys...I'm an idiot...LOL!! I just downloaded the update and read the documentation and seen that WAV file load was an added feature. So, I wasn't missing something Also, the overall update really expands what you can do with the MZ-X. I can't wait to get into it!!! Lobbard: Using Audacity I could import the sample without any problems. I'm usually very proficient with computers. It was in the MZ-X that I couldn't find the import function. Thanks for the clarification though! Much appreciated

AWESOME!! And thanks BRADMZ for the other information about the PAD sampling. I tried looking for an import feature for a WAV file, but maybe I missed it in the menu? Using Audacity I did exactly what you suggested and setup the WAV file, but could not find the import function. I had to sample the WAV file, which is why I think I was having problems. I'll have to take a look again. Just in case (and also if I'm just insanely blind here LOL), where is the import function located?

Yes, that is similar. But, I had to play with the loop timing and loop timing unit to eliminate it. But, it kinda now interrupts the sample length. I'm gonna play around with it some more to try and see if I can get it better. Did you notice that when he sampled the pattern into the MZ, and played it back before he actually saved it, you'll notice that the end of the sample is different then after he saved it. It's like the loop timing is cutting it off at beat 4 and recirculating it from there. It doesn't seem like the MZ is playing back the entire sample when he hits the pad. Am I wrong or am I missing something here?

Thank BradMZ!! I don't have any problems at the moment. I just like to use the software editors as most times software editors provides more visibility and also allows you access to other parameters which may not be available on the unit itself. For example, I did some sampling with the pads on the MZ and noticed the MZ seems to only allow adjustment to the start position of the sample and not the end. This begs the question of whether or not the MZ automatically truncates the end of the sample? I was hoping there would be more editing tools available in the software for sample editing. In other words, being able to trim the sample at the end for more control. Understand, I already used Audacity to sample what I needed and trimmed it to size there. Then, all I did was connect the computer audio output to the MZ and set the AUTOSTART function to ON, but there is still some lag at the start and end of the sample when it was recorded. When you set it to LOOP, you can hear the silence and I'm assuming that since I was able to trim the start point in the MZ that the problem was at the sample end. I tried using the Loop Timing function within the MZ to try to eliminate it, but to no avail. I thought the editor might have better control features for sample editing.

Has there been any word about the release of the software editor for the MZ-X series which I've read about in other posts?

Hi Guys! I finally got to try the patch with the P1 ... It works perfect! It's exactly what I wanted!! Yes, there is stepping with the first method, but the range is WILD!! I tried both and using the first method in a live situation, is not really that bad. My hats off to you BRETTM!! Awesome!!! Thanks again! Corey PS: I haven't really played around with the MZ-X500 too much yet, but I'm planning on incorporating it into my live rig for use with the band. The pads will provide some definite plus's because of being able to sample sound bytes and use them live. The sounds are amazing!! Casio has definitely come along way. If there's one b*tch, it's the manner in which the storage on the USB is done. I wish they would've used a more traditional approach by using directories instead of just one directory (MUSICDAT). That takes some getting used to and reorganization. Other than that, WHAT AN AXE!!!

BRETTM: Wow! Thanks for the suggestions and advice. What a GREAT forum!!! I can't wait to try it and see the results. I'll have to see how bad the stepping is once I get the parameters setup. I'll be using this in a live situation, so maybe it won't be so noticeable. But, I'll try both your suggestions and let you know. Thanks so much!!

Too late LOL! I just bought the MZ-X500. My Yamaha PSR-S900 has some problems and until I can get it fixed, this was the better alternative. I haven't really gotten into the MZ-X yet, but what a nice keyboard! Casio really did themselves good on this one!!

Thanks for the response AlenK! I've tried a lot of combinations to try to get it working, but have been unsuccessful. I'm going to try what you suggested and see if can can get close. It doesn't have to be exact, but close enough to be realistic when performing the song live. I've even thought about sampling and looping the sound! The new MZ-X series has the sampling pads, so I've been really been thinking about getting one!!!

Hello all! I'm brand new to the forum and have seen many great ideas on here for sound creation. I bought an XW-P1 some time ago and have been gradually incorporating it into my rig by creating many of the sounds I need for the Classic Rock music the band plays. One song we do is The Cars - Moving In Stereo. I was using a really bad version of the ARP Omni Filter Sweep sound that Greg Hawkes uses throughout the song. From what I could tell, he uses the LFO to modulate the Cutoff or Resonance of the synth section filter in the Omni to create the sound. I haven't been able to find the right combination to reproduce this effect on the P1. Does anyone have any ideas how to accomplish this? Thanks in advance!