drb32856

3 hours ago, Brad Saucier said:

I don't have experience with the app.  I can only suggest trying the solution.  It may work for Android as well.  

Thanks, I will try it. I also loaded the app on my PC as was mentioned just in case.

Sorry for a question about an older issue but being a newbie I just discovered the video Mike Martin did using Setlist Maker and his template file for the PS_5S. I read the comments about the error message when importing the file into the program (which I received also), and I also saw a solution given. However I am not using an iPad. I am using an Android tablet. The solution involved renaming the file for iPad. Is it the same for Android? Or do I need to do something differently? Or does anyone have a loadable Android copy that they can share? Thanks for any help. This forum has eased my learning curve on this board.

Hi all today I decided to try to control the MZ-X500 from the keyboard of PX5s to basically layer the tones. However it seems just plugging a midi cable out from the PX5 to the MZX's midi in doesn't work. What settings am I missing? Also I want all 4 zones of the MZX to play at the same time as part of the layer. From what I can see both boards are on ch 1 for sending and receiving but it's not working.

18 hours ago, Choppin said:

Also, are you playing the board directly or playing back MIDI from a DAW to the keyboard?  Your symptoms sound like what happens when the same note is sent or received on Multiple MIDI channels.  For example, if you recorded MIDI from the PX that had 4 zones engaged, the same note would be recorded on 4 different channels.  Upon playback, the same note might phase out or silence other notes because they are competing for playback.  This happens in cases with Omni on etc,

 

 

This may come as a double response if so I'm sorry. Anyway, thanks for answering Choppin. I have not tried using my Casio with my DAW. However I had it connected to the computer for use with the software which I use for storing/editing sounds for shows. I had been leaving the connection to the computer up even when I was not using the software. I wondered if that could have been playing a part in the problems. I disconnected the USB and I have been surprised/relieved that the issues seem to be gone. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is a problem now solved.

Sorry I have been away and not close to my board. I will try it wearing headphones when I return Friday. Thanks Brad.

Hey Brad. This is happening over speakers. No headphones or midi attached. The volume issues happen on any bank and program that has any type of "piano sound" so stage setting 0-0 as well. Now interestingly enough the phasing is much more pronounced when using HEX layers. These also suffer from volume issues as well. On the 0_0 concert grand I also noticed that the farther down the bass notes you play, the lower the volume gets until about F2 there's no sound. Higher notes  (above C5) will sound with reduced volume but you have to play much harder to get the same volume from them. I may try to factory reset the board and see if that helps, I have saved all my sounds to folders and to a thumb drive. Maybe that will cure it. 

Hi all. I am starting to have an issue with the PX5s. When playing the sounds all seem to have a phased sound effect (without a phase shifter effect on) at the same time the volume seems to be dropping across the keyboard. I have to play harder to keep the volume up but then some keys fail to sound at all. They come back in weakly before fading out again. The board is only about 3 months old. I am at a loss as to what's wrong. Anyone else ever had this happen?

Just a quick update. The gig went off without any problems for the PX5s!! This was really a rough one due to the 100 degree temp and high humidity. Guitarist were all having tuning issues and 

all of us were soaked in sweat, but I was  so happy that the Casio never flinched. Thanks again Brad for the reassurances. On to the next one!

Thanks for letting me know this. I am looking forward to this 1st gig with this instrument. And feel better about how it will perform. Now how I will perform remains to be seen😆👍🏾

I am gigging my PX5s for the first time in 2 days. Outdoors with some cover provided on top but otherwise open on all 4 sides. Weather prediction is for sunny with highs around 98-100 actual#s, and 110-115 in the "feels like" dept. My Kronos never liked anything above 85 and would shut itself off every few minutes. My Roland FA-06 will continue to play, but the screen seems to be bothered and it will freeze on one sound at times . How's the Casio for these types of gigs? Any kind of tips to avoid issues? I am going to have a small fan to give the boards some circulation.

On 6/8/2022 at 10:52 PM, Brad Saucier said:

I don't know what the FA can do, but I can tell you what the PX can do, then you can decide what's usable. 

 

One word, stage settings, well that's two words.  😅 Stage settings can create song ready setups.  Each stage setting is a snapshot of performance related settings on the instrument. You have 4 zones to work with, each zone fully configurable.  A zone can control internal sounds, MIDI output, USB output, or any combination of the three. A zone can select an internal tone, or an external patch with bank and program change data you program in each zone.  A zone can be also be any range of keys, and any range of velocity thresholds.  You can name each stage setting, 100 in total on the board itself.  Stage settings can be selected through MIDI with NRPN data or bank and program change data.  

On 6/12/2022 at 6:49 PM, PeteT said:

@drb32856  I’ve been somewhat successful.  I couldn’t get the manufacturer here in town to make up a few hundred PTFE sleeves, (I was gonna share them with users here), in both sizes needed to cover the support ”pillars” located between both the natural and accidental keys.  So I decided to try a number of different ways to insulate the intersecting plastic parts.  What I finally did was these few things:

1.  I bought white self adhesive felt cut and attached it to the inside of each key on the closed end.  This somewhat effectively insulates the keys from the keybed supports beneath every key.  Note:  I haven’t done this to the accidentals, (black keys), simply because the space beneath the keys is really narrow.  It’s possible to do the accidentals.  I haven’t the patience for this, tbh.  Also, the black keys aren’t the problem.  It’s the white, (natural), keys.

2.  I attached self adhesive maple veneer to the underside of each natural key.  This is Kris Nicholl’s suggestion according to the video posted on this forum.  It works to both strengthen the plastic key sets and to soften the blow of the key(s) against the key support(s).  Kris applied the wood veneer to more areas of the keyset subassemblies.  I may do this since the board is still apart.

3.  I have also attached more insulation to the rows of existing foam insulation underneath and below the keysets.  I bought felt from the local craft/sewing store, got a roll of double sided adhesive tape, cut the tape to length, attached it to the wrong side of the felt, (matte finish side), and then cut the diy self adhesive tape/felt combo to length and width for each row of existing foam insulation.  Lastly, I secured the felt directly on top of the existing styrofoam insulation.  This has made a tremendous difference, especially to the row of sound deadening insulation underneath the keyboard case.  This is the area where the key returns to resting after being released by the player. The plastic appendage shaped like a  hook 🪝clacked as it returns to rest.  Now it doesn’t.  

At the outset I said I’ve been somewhat successful because I haven’t finished.  I need to know where to lubricate the keys and how much key grease should be applied there.  Can anyone help?

Please note:  I’ll answer any questions you have that I have answers to.  Also, please join in if you’d like to help make this amazing board play as quietly as it can.

 

🤦🏾‍♂️ RANT:  i’ve spent about $100* on materials needed to make the adjustments that I’ve made so far. Casio likely could’ve spent 50 bucks more on each keyboard to do what I’ve done.  Had they insulated the underside of each key with a sound deadening insulation we wouldn’t be here. Had they used more effective sound deadening insulation in the areas where the inferior insulation is applied, again we wouldn’t be here. So, for lack of insulation and/or better insulation, they’ve wasted money repairing and replacing unsatisfactory MZX 500’s.  This thing is packed with so many features it’s mind-boggling. Shift some of the money spent in R&D to better insulation alone and this board likely would’ve been legendary.  
I just don’t understand it…

 

*Clarification:  I have spent about $65.  Some of the supplies I bought I’ll use in the sewing that I do; so I can’t attribute the extra $35 to this project. I bought those things for this project, but don’t need them.  This may mean that Casio likely would’ve spent $35 or less if the one to one ratio as applied by me here were to hold true.  It likely would hold true because they wouldn’t have paid retail.

 

Pete

Thanks for your time and effort. I hope it pays off in a quiet and long lasting keyboard. 🎹👍🏾

PeteT, were you successful in your clacky key repair? I had given up using my MZ-X500 for that reason. Played it for the first time in over 3 yrs last week.

Thanks again for the assistance. I think you understand what I am going for. My PX-5s is due to arrive today and after unpacking I will begin to explore and create. I'm sure you guys will be hearing from me again😫🤯🤗

Thanks for the help. But I want to use the Casio as the master. For example , we play the song "Alone" by Heart. Right now using the FA keyboard split, I play the piano part on the left and a pad on the right. I want to build a patch with the Casio playing the piano only while it triggers the FA to play a better multi part pad with the sliders on the Casio handling the mix for both, stored as a studio set (Roland) and a Casio stage set for instant recall. And do the same for every song in the set. Some have said I need a laptop running mainstage or something similar but I want to avoid computers on stage.  

Hi guys! Today I pulled the trigger on a new PX-5s after going back and forth on getting it or a new Korg Nautilus. My favorite keyboard for live playing is my Korg Kronos. That thing has more ways of doing stuff live than I thought was possible. Plus it has the one feature that made me break my budget at the time and buy it which is set list mode. How sweet to have that touch screen with 16 slots with each song labeled and ready at the touch of the slot. Alas my Kronos is a first gen model and has been gigged heavily for 12 yrs. It still works but I am becoming more gun shy about using it especially outdoor gigs in summer heat.

I have been using the FA06 but hate the grand piano sounds. Also hate having to have a Roland studio set per song instead of being able to have all my combis in one slot. I really liked the grand piano and E piano sounds on the Casio, and I even have a MZX-500 ( like the sounds but the keys clank so badly I stopped using it) and the touch screen is frustrating as well so scared off of the PX 560. So what's the best way to use the 5s live along with the FA06. I want to control sounds (stack/layer) both boards sounds together with ease from song to song. And be able to have the songs in the set in order for 1 button push. Sorry so long.

Why I chose a Casio keyboard MZ X 500 

1/ For his functions- I needed a 2nd keyboard to serve as a spare for live work in my band and I could use the hex layers to recreate some of my

patches from my Korg Kronos combis. The touch screen also was a big reason as again my Kronos has a touch screen and it makes adjustments

easier to do.

Love your narrative as it somewhat mirrors my own. Except for me I suffer from "Newgearus Musthavious"! And my poor wife has learned over the years that when I have a major flair up I have to go to the advanced clinic called " Sweetwater" for Gearfest therapy. Infusions of many methods of treatment  including but not  limited to: Kronos, Ion, FA-06,and yes that new experimental MZ-X500 have worked only to dull the condition. Alas there is no cure on the horizon, but I vow to continue searching until my wife puts me out of my misery and takes the credit cards away. Welcome to the group!

Congratulations, I have the same feeling playing my MZ-X500 after a year as I did on day 1! I know you will too!

Cubase Artist for me.  Started out with Cubasis back in the day cause it was pc (never owned a mac) and it was cheap .  It was also easy-to-use and so the upgrades are easy to use.  Now it allows me to tailor the daw to my way of working. 

Let me know when you do the Casio to Kronos hook-up. I have the need to do that as well and had some (midi)issues doing it. 

021 70s soul-What's going on

009 Love Pop-You Can't Hurry Love

Is it possible to create new hex layer from presets from the keyboard? Or can we import sounds to use to build new hex layers?

Also is it possible to use the Leslie effect on any other organ preset (not drawbar type) on the instrument? I've been trying to find

A way but seems like it's not possible.

14 hours ago, BradMZ said:

Keep checking the forums for the latest.  As soon as we know something, we'll let everyone know.  If you have any questions on how to use the MZ-X, feel free to create a thread for it.  

Thanks BradMZ. The problem with creating a thread is that at this time there is not a sufficient user base to answer some of the most technical questions and other than you and a few others everyone is at the same level of know how. I think as the user base grows and people begin to find out how to get the best from the MZ-X boards, the threads will become more viable and useful.  

I too would like to know the answer to this! Also training videos and or webinars to help those of us that are new to the Casio way of doing things move forward quickly. I love my MZ-X500, but it is so frustrating to figure some things out that are not well covered by the manufacturer in manuals. If Casio wants to be considered by more players, they need to address these things as quickly as possible.☺

Thanks for that information. I was having trouble with the way things were labeled vs the way Korg labels things. The Kronos has space for 3 #S for sounds/programs like 027 or 025 while the Casio uses 4 0001, 0134. And bank information is kinda tricky. Played the first gig with the Casio and I had figured out the registration trick you mentioned just hours before the show, but was able to get a few key sounds set up on registration pads 1,2,3 bank 10. The USB trick is next for me. Sounds like it will be great for live use.