moontom

I agree as well -- there are lots of possible avenues Casio can pursue.

What concerns me is the radio silence: Casio USA returned to pro-level instruments with huge fanfare a few years back and many of us checked out the gear and happily got on board. 

The (possibly erroneous) assumption was that the company would, in fact, support the gear with OS updates and tutorials -- it sure did seem that way at first, what with all the work Mike Martin did posting custom sounds and answering questions on this forum, etc.  This, and the efforts of this forum's gurus, was especially helpful with the MZ because the printed manuals are, to be diplomatic, somewhat lacking.

Given that the competition in the arranger segment has moved ahead, and that the only Casio offering at NAMM was a budget line, it's reasonable to wonder about the company's commitment to its higher-end users. 

Casio should welcome these questions as evidence that its products have earned respect and loyalty. 

And it should answer them in that spirit. Because when Casio said it was "back" in this game, pro users had the entirely reasonable expectation this meant an ongoing commitment -- not just for the duration of one product cycle.

Thanks for posting that Scott! Interesting....

Just want to say that my post was intended only as a request/plea for information from Casio USA, not to gripe about or in any way attack the keyboard!

Rick -- I'm still finding many amazing things about the MZ as well, in large part because of this forum. 

and Rick, Scott, and Brad thanks for sharing and helping so many of us make use of the many features on the MZ! I feel quite certain I wouldn't still own this board if it wasn't for this forum!

Here's hoping Mike or someone from Casio shares some intel here someday!

sorry Brad! didn't mean for any forum disarray! I put it here b/c I'm an MZ person but it does pertain to the future of Casio pro boards generally...

Dear Casio USA....

So...the big NAMM reveal from Casio in 2018 is that it's back to being a budget arranger keyboard company? Hope I'm wrong, but it looks like the announcement of the new sound source and CTX line was basically it. There was no announcement about OS updates to any existing products -- and let's be real, if you don't have new hardware to show dealers, you'd better be able to promise software-delivered upgrades, something/anything to spark interest. Otherwise you are DOA.

I recognize that new products take time to bring to market. From the user perspective, though, this NAMM show offered Casio a chance to offer a general overall signal about where its higher-end "professional" level product line is headed. Based on reports from the show, it looks like it's not the direction most of us -- who rejoiced and voted with our dollars when Casio announced its return to pro keyboards -- would want.

That leaves existing Casio users -- particularly those with the MZ-X and the touchscreen Privias -- wondering what it is realistic to expect in terms of updates and support going forward. Casio's competition all dropped new or refreshed products this month, and if history is a guide, those companies are already offering OS updates, tutorials and related materials to new and prospective customers. Meanwhile, from Casio, it's crickets. We have to assume that nothing further is in the pipeline.

I still believe in my MZ-X500 but find myself tempted by what's in the marketplace for arrangers right now. It sure would be great to hear something (anything!) from Casio about future plans for its pro keyboard operation. I hope Casio recognizes that the users of these instruments rely on their products every day, and thus have different relationships with their gear than those who buy budget keyboards. Nobody's asking Casio to divulge big secrets here, but please (PLEASE) give your loyal and longstanding customers some indication of what to expect in the near future.

That's not too much to ask.

Respectfully,

TM

MZ-X500 owner

Wow....this is the first time I've been able to fully understand the way this system functions! Thank you Brad!

Thanks Brad. I’ve done that as per manual w mixed results— basically getting 2 measures of 4/4 bc the timing setting only goes to quarternote x8.

ive also had trouble saving and retrieving samples. User should not have to reinput the edit parameters each time a sample is called up!

its odd bc in some ways the Casio is easy to use, but in other ways it’s totally fiddly....

I know a bit of Portuguese and Spanish but these are helpful without language -- when they show the sequence of button-presses and commands....

for me, it's just a challenge getting the timing and the trim/truncate correct. 

say I want to sample a 2-bar drum thing to a pad via audio in. I set it up, I do what the manual says and select "Long," and start recording.

the capture is fine but it's not a perfect 2-bar loop.

the problem is truncating/editing so that it can become a seamless loop 

Great point Alen.....this is true for features throughout the board. I'm still puzzled over how to use the Pattern Sequencer. the manual does not cut it. feels like something that could be covered in a crisp 5 minute video tutorial.....sigh

Perhaps this is yet another instance where the technological capabilities of the MZ are not being properly explained by Casio? 

Tson, you're right. but the posts about Casio's support of the MZX are also spot-on and relevant: This is a very complex instrument with many different (ideally interconnected) capabilities and Casio has supported it hardly at all. it seems to me the company either signals its commitment to this product line w/ explanatory materials (tutorials, step by step instructions, whatever) as well as OS updates. or it doesn't.

right now, Casio is not listening to its arranger customers. it seems like wasted effort to make wish lists for a product that may already be abandoned. we'll know by NAMM.

Thanks a lot....you're right about the nutty comparison. but what you said about using the MZ more b/c it's more playable -- that resonates w/ me. the Tyros sounds are really good, in that glossy Yamaha way. I just don't click with them esp w/ pianos and EPs. every time I think about the Tyros I think I'd have to get the vintage keys expansion and by then I'm like, lemme just play the MZ. didn't expect that!

now, I wish the acoustic bass was better and I've got a longish wishlist for MZ updates but there are workarounds....using Compression effect on the acoustic basses (even the GM one) helps a lot!

thanks for the input!

TM

Seems like a ridiculous question but....

I like the MZ a lot for basic sounds and some arranger functions. not impressed by the (much-discussed) half-baked nature of some of its features, and also not crazy about the lack of tutorial support for phrase sampling, seq., etc. 

I have the chance to get a used T5 at a great price. I use yamaha styles (kept an old PSR for this purpose) and am seriously considering. home use only, so weight is not a factor. this would allow me to eliminate a little used PSR in my rig, and give me the good yamaha keybed. (I like the Casio keys just fine).

some of the factors in the decision....

hard to resell the Casio

uncertainty about OS update/feature improvements on Casio

the hex and sound creation on Casio is a plus -- Tyros is basically about presets

better array of drum kits and perc sounds in T5

no arpeggiator in T5 

straightforward Yamaha sequencer operation (tho the 4-bar loop creation thing is tricky on both)

looking for thoughts from those who have played both....at this point I'm leaning toward keeping the Casio and hoping they support it a bit more in the future....

thanks

TM

OK I see how to change but not how to Save the rhythm. thanks for your patience!

Brad: I had the All Element trick the other day and now I can't find it. do you have to use in sequencer mode only? is there no way to change when just playing the keyboard?

thanks

TM

thanks Brad! very helpful!

where drums are concerned, my wish list would include : MAKE IT EASY to change kits. don't make me do steps for each of the 4 rhythm variations.

I'd say one of the newer Privias -- the blue one (PR 560 or something like that?) has similar sound engine and some similar features (not sure if it's the exact same midi sequencer)....

and what's weird about that is Casio hired Rich Formadoni, a former Korg guy who did great tutorials on gear for years! Mike, Rich, if you ever dig into this forum, please let us know what's in the pipeline for the MZ in this regard. even knowing that "nothing" is in the works would be helpful.

thanks

Just checked out a series of short tutorials Korg did for the Krome 2 budget workstation. this board isn't out yet and already I have a clear sense of how to work with it! I've owned the MZ x500 for nearly a year and still struggle in small ways. some blame goes to the manual but some also0 to Casio for not covering all the capabilities in tutorial form.

C'mon Casio...that Kross 2 looks awesome right about now!

Brad....I want to bring in some drum machine stuff I've done on the volca -- not via MIDI, but sampling it as the basis for a loop. I can sample that no problem other than my own spazzing w/ loop points. but if I want to add say another track with internal drum sounds I can't seem to do it. I have auto accomp OFF.

I'm just looking for instruction on how to do a four-bar loop with some internal and some sampled material....

thanks

TM

Thanks for that Brad....so can I "sample" an internal rhythm (4 bars say) and then assign it to a pad, then create the other phrases using internal or external sounds?

I found the manual and more-in-depth manual very confusing on this....really wish they'd do a step by step tutorial of some sort, text or video.

thanks

TM

I just read the specs on the Korg Kross 2 keyboard, which has a sampling feature in which four phrases can be active at once.

I think this workflow is great, and should be at least partially doable on the MZ. 

basically I want to use 4 pads this way and loop the results:

1. sample a four-bar rhythm from external drum machine

2. bassline from MZ

3. keys from MZ

4. lead synth from MZ or external

is it possible? 

how is it done?

thanks in advance....

thanks for this one too Brad! never saw that in the manual! 

thanks again Brad....I do have the tutorial manual as well.

I'll try to make a video but I'm not set up for it (cramped space etc). basically I'm using the main 16 track MIDI sequencer and there the issue is with loop points and also having it remember sounds assigned to the individual parts. not trying to change on the fly, tho that would be great.