Casio Privia Pro PX-5S

[Mike Martin]

The concept is similar to the XW-P1 but that is where the similarity ends.

A Hex Layer program is an individual program that is made up of up to six components. One application might be something like a guitar sound where you get mutes when you play soft, another sound when you play harder and maybe a feedback type sound when you play really hard. In that example I'm only talking about using three layers when it is capable of up to six. In many of the videos from NAMM I demonstrated some synth sounds that use all six layers.

An orchestral simulation might be one example of needing more than six layers. You can have timpani, brass and other parts trigger only when you play hard. Using multiple zones and the other tools in the PX-5S like the phrase sequencer that can open up other possibilities (timpani rolls, harp arpeggios, brass riffs).

Here is one example of something I was experimenting with last night.
Zone 1: HexLayer Guitar and Bass. This is a 4 layer program. 3 layers are used for the guitar. The 4th layer is a bass.
This zone is the on the bottom half of the keyboard.

Zone 2: Organ, pretty straightforward on the top half.

Another cool trick I'm using here is the phrase sequencer. I'm only playing one note but it is playing a riff. That riff will transpose with me as I play.

https://soundcloud.com/casiomusicgear/p ... bass-organ

I believe they meant the "S" in the PX-5S to mean "Stage". It could also mean "Synth".

[Mike Martin]

BTW: I'm not in anyway trying to SPAM a NORD forum.
I'll keep it to direct questions if they're asked.

Thanks,
-Mike

[Gustavo]

Thanks Mike!! I may be indeed tempted to buy this when it comes out just to have a highly portable 88 keyboard with all the necessary sounds, which lately has become piano, EPs and some ambient pads/organs.

The soundcloud channel looks interesting, is that kind of Mike Martin plays Casio channel? I got to say I am already following, can't believe such a good sound is coming out of such a cheap keyboard! Definitely a great product.

PS: I do not think anyone here in the forums think you're spamming!! I like to believe we are open to people owning other brands (even Hammond SK-1 !) and a lot of people have said that the best way to get a Nord Stage 2 is to get the NS2 SW plus a lightweight 88 weighted keyboard and if I remember well some have suggested the Privia line for that matter. So at least in my case your publicity is more than welcome and feel truly welcome to the forum!

[Macrozimo]

I will say officially that you're not spamming.

I have a Privia PX-130 that I bought specifically to control the Nord Stage 2 Compact and it works *wonderfully* at that task. It's so nice to cut my controller weight in half and when I'm not gigging with it the kids can noodle on it in the living room, so extra bonus!

Thanks for your contributions!

bri

[Mike Martin]

The soundcloud channel looks interesting, is that kind of Mike Martin plays Casio channel?

I've only played on a few of those clips so far.

I got to say I am already following, can't believe such a good sound is coming out of such a cheap keyboard! Definitely a great product.

I don't think the words cheap and Casio go together any more.


Thanks for the welcome here on the forum.

[RedLeo]

Hi Mike

I'm seriously considering getting one of these as a lightweight all-in-one replacement for my current two kbd rig (Nord Stage and Triton Extreme) for small gigs, but I'm struggling to find information on its synth capabilities.

Basically I need bread-and-butter sounds:

String pads, brass pads, choir pads as a basic minimum, but I also needs some rock'n'roll/Deep Purple-type overdriven organ sounds. I know it's not a clonewheel, but can it cover this?

Is the synthesis section just traditional subtractive synthesis or does it include any sampled material?

And finally, to what extent are synth sounds user-programmable? Is this a basically a preset machine or can you edit and save your own sounds?

[mjbrands]

This Casio interests me, as it seems more versatile than the previous ones in this series. I might be able to get better piano sounds out of a plugin on my computer, but sometimes I don't want to mess with a computer; I just wanna turn on, tune in and press some keys.

[Mike Martin]

Basically I need bread-and-butter sounds:

String pads, brass pads, choir pads as a basic minimum, but I also needs some rock'n'roll/Deep Purple-type overdriven organ sounds. I know it's not a clonewheel, but can it cover this?

I think it will cover this stuff quite well. I don't have a heavily distorted organ audio sample up yet but the leslie sim can definitely get you through a gig when you don't have a dedicated organ.

There are some audio samples here, there is one that includes organ with a guitar:
https://soundcloud.com/casiomusicgear

Is the synthesis section just traditional subtractive synthesis or does it include any sampled material?

Subtractive synthesis with using samples as the source material.

And finally, to what extent are synth sounds user-programmable? Is this a basically a preset machine or can you edit and save your own sounds?

Very programmable. You can create patches with up to six layers. Each layer has it's own filter type, filter envelope, pitch envelope, amp envelope and effects mix...velocity and keyboard range...etc. In this mode you can grab any of the source samples in the machine and build sounds from scratch.

[RedLeo]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I think getting one of these is going to save me a ton of time and effort.

[Gustavo]

Here is an overview of it by Mike Martin for KraftMusic. Gives you a better idea of what it can do than before.