Casio XW-P1

[Tomkeen]

 

Hey...eat a dick....K?

 

 

Haha.

[deanmass]

 

My good deed of the day is to turn everyone on to this site: http://www.meritline.com/super-talent-32gb-secure-digital-high-capacity-sdhc-card-class-10-sdhc32-c10---p-71162.aspx Recently got another 8GB USB Flash Drive (Adata) for $6.99 w/free shipping.

 

Another the faves....dealnews.com

 

And, whomever posted it, point taken about leaving the SD in. Flash sticks would prolly snap off.

 

Isn' it crazy that in a side pocket, we can have a 1/4 terrabyte of data for like $50 bucks?

[Needmorebass]

 

PC361 is on the way. XW is still here.

 

 

I ordered a PC361 also because at $949 it was too good to pass up, but I'm also keeping the XW-P1. May even get the XW-G1 when it comes out. These sound surprisingly good and are very user friendly. At first it comes off as being flimsy because of the weight, but it's actually made quite well.

 

[video=youtube;8-Gc3OYAQ1g]

[Franz Schiller]

Hey...eat a dick....K?

 

 

 

Alright, fair `nuff...now that we've all had our jabs, let's smoke a peace pipe and get back to the business of synth nerding.

 

Dean, the PC361 is a great call. The synth engine is crazy deep, and the sounds are amazing, much superior to the Casio.

 

Being a sequencer junkie, I think the Casio's pattern sequencer is more intuitive and immediate that the Kurz sequencer. Honestly, the `P1's sequencer is really 80% of the reason I bought it.

 

The Kurzweil sequencer requires (imho) too many "saves" and button presses. It's strength is really in linear tape-like recording, I feel. However, I think the "unloop" recording feature is a small touch of genius that makes a huge difference.

 

Also, when I first got the XW-P1, I was a little put off by the keybed action. But actually I got used to it pretty quick.

[cresshead]

 

 

bingo-tastic

[Bernard]

 

bingo-tastic

 

 

 

U gonna press the button or wait for future Casiotastics...

[deanmass]

 

Alright, fair `nuff...now that we've all had our jabs, let's smoke a peace pipe and get back to the business of synth nerding. Dean, the PC361 is a great call. The synth engine is crazy deep, and the sounds are amazing, much superior to the Casio. Being a sequencer junkie, I think the Casio's pattern sequencer is more intuitive and immediate that the Kurz sequencer. Honestly, the `P1's sequencer is really 80% of the reason I bought it. The Kurzweil sequencer requires (imho) too many "saves" and button presses. It's strength is really in linear tape-like recording, I feel. However, I think the "unloop" recording feature is a small touch of genius that makes a huge difference. Also, when I first got the XW-P1, I was a little put off by the keybed action. But actually I got used to it pretty quick.

 

 

I'm good with it...The K P361 gives me the 'security' I want. I LOVE the features of the Casio. I want it to 'win' So, I am keeping mine too, but I have the other 'big' synth if need be. I watched that preview when it was posted months ago and was thinking 'man, if hey pull this off, no one will see them coming' kind of like Ensoniq when they just popped up and started blowing units out the door (but admittedly, VFX COUGH!). Roland, Korg, Yamaha were not ready for their features set at that price.

 

it is incredible what a $500 synth sounds like now. They used to be all totally cheese...now, especially this one, big, fat, dynamic, juicy noises.

 

I think that is what pissed me off about the 'duh' type comments...I bought it early, and I do think the point of the chassis being rugged or felling cheap is valid, but I have been dragging it around, and so far, it has not missed a beat. Ifit is still happy in a few months, I am adding the other one...

 

I had one of the other guys in the band ask me why I don't just use my mac book and do Reason...my answer was, those are cool ( I have a Maschine/APC40) but sometimes, I really miss just an amp or good set of phones and workstation. No f***ing computer, you know? Knobs....sliders.

 

Anyway, I WANT Casio to knock this out of the park,. I was not hating, just pondering...But I am coming around. I think now the opportunity is for Casio to point out that it is in fact super light yet durable, and that defuses the whole argument right from the get go.

[cresshead]

 

U gonna press the button or wait for future Casiotastics...

 

i need to try them both out, or see/hear a good in depth review of both of them...sonicstate please!

[Bernard]

 

i need to try them both out, or see/hear a good in depth review of both of them...sonicstate please!

 

 

Nick will strip them to the bone in detail... LOL

 

I still have to double take the cost when I see you can buy both for the same cost (near enough) as buying one M50...

 

Not to compare those synths but they are opening the market up. Hope to see more synth bands...

 

The new Jup50 is wooing me just now so I may have to pass this time round...

[DJ RAZZ]

CF is still the dominant format in DSLR's due to their durability and size. They are compact, but not easily losable, and generally outperform SD in transfer rates. I am pretty blown away that more on this thread don't get that the basic idea is that is seems flimsy, and at $500, it should NOT seem flimsy, especially when they are trying to attract a certain kind of buyer, the gigging musician. The tech in the machine is cheap now, that is no longer where the costs lies.. But, whatever. PC361 is on the way. XW is still here. Arturia's are sold, case closed.

 

 

Dude no offence, but I played one 2 days ago and it was just as sturdy and felt just as good as any $1000 synth currently out there, minus the KURZ PC361. In fact it looks much cooler in person than in the photos in my opinion. Once again just my opinion concerning the whole matter.

[lupene]

when this casio comming to eu ?

[piano39]

I played a XW-P1 at Cleveland area Sam Ash today. Can't give an honest opinion because they had it running through a crummy little monitor. The monitor had no low end. This made it hard to evaluate the drawbar organ and the PCM synth. I can tell you that the solo synth and hex layer sounded great, even through the crummy monitor.

Build quality looked very good. In fact, it looked way better than the Yamaha MM6 sitting next to it. Keyboard action was fine.

I went down the street to Guitar Center. They didn't have any in stock. Didn't have a clue what they were either. By the way, they had very little in keyboards- No Motifs, no Kronos, one Fantom. Lots of keyboard controllers. What's going on?

I'm pretty sure that I will spring for the Casio, once I clear out a few other things.

[Timelord]

Guitar Center have no idea as to which planet they are on !!!!!!

[gordonwiebe]

I just got back from playing with one in store and I find it hard to believe that anybody would say the build quality is any good. This has got to be one of the worst build qualities I've ever come across in a "professional" keyboard - all plastic (yeah, all the big co's are plastic - but this feels especially cheap), the keys are mushy feeling, the buttons are just terrible (one must press them to believe them) and will no doubt not last, the little rubber pad on the right was already coming off the floor model etc... etc... I won't even get into the design and UI.

The sounds? I only played with the "solo synth" to get a feel for the VA and the filter - wheezy and reedy is about all i could coax out of it (true to the CZ heritage I guess?!) The filter is just a digital mess - terrible, terrible, terrible.

This thing actually makes the venom look and sound good - i thought that was about as low as new synths would go.

[piano39]

 

I just got back from playing with one in store and I find it hard to believe that anybody would say the build quality is any good. This has got to be one of the worst build qualities I've ever come across in a "professional" keyboard - all plastic (yeah, all the big co's are plastic - but this feels especially cheap), the keys are mushy feeling, the buttons are just terrible (one must press them to believe them) and will no doubt not last, the little rubber pad on the right was already coming off the floor model etc... etc... I won't even get into the design and UI. The sounds? I only played with the "solo synth" to get a feel for the VA and the filter - wheezy and reedy is about all i could coax out of it (true to the CZ heritage I guess?!) The filter is just a digital mess - terrible, terrible, terrible. This thing actually makes the venom look and sound good - i thought that was about as low as new synths would go.

 

 

 

Huh???

The build quality looked as good or better than any other $499 device in the store.

I did plenty of filter sweeps and didn't notice the "terrible,terrible,terrible" mess that you describe.

 

My advice to you - don't buy one.

[Bernard]

Casio defense league

[aymat]

Casio defense league

 

Looks more like downtown Barcelona today:

[Jercat]

I took mine to funk band practice Tuesday. Was a nice change from lugging my 50 lb. S90ES. The organ leslie effect still isn't to my taste, but I'm going to do some more tweaking, it only sounds bad at the fast rotary setting, when on slow it sounds fine. Otherwise it did pianos and electric pianos great....way better than expected....they sat very well in the mix. I'll give the synthy stuff a whirl tomorrow night when I use it the first time at a show with my 80's cover band....got some phrases and such programmed and ready for the show. Will report back later.

[Casio Man]

Casio defense league

Casio defense league

[Re-Member]

Wow, this thread is hilarious.

On one corner you have a couple people making comparisons to the Micro-X, claiming it "was never made to gig with" when the Micro-X actually came with a specialised carrying case for it. Perhaps Korg pulled a fast one and pulled off all the "Warning: This Instrument Was Never Made for Gigging, Literally" stickers from the package at the last minute, because I don't recall ever seeing that.

On the other corner, you have people saying it's a terrible build quality for a "professional instrument" when in fact it's a budget instrument. I mean, seriously people... Chances are if you can afford to have a roadie toss around your synths like a hot potato, you can afford a better instrument than a budget Casio. No roadie? Well, guess what, it is your responsibility to take care of it. My Korg R3 has to be one of the flimsiest synths I've ever owned, with the build quality of a cheap MIDI controller, yet I've been gigging with it for nearly four years now (in a SOFT CASE BTW) and it's still in one piece with zero problems.

No instrument will ever be idiot proof, no matter what the cost.

[workstation M.I]

Casio defense league

+ yours truly

[Re-Member]

Eh, I think it's less about people here trying to defending Casio and more about pointing out the obvious. For the features it has at its price-point, it is a budget instrument. I seriously doubt the build quality is any worse than the Roland Juno Di, which seems to be the same price-point they are matching with this thing. But it should be noted that the Di is just a "performance rompler" while the XW-P1 is weird hybrid of things.

[Metrosonus]

I dont get arguing opinions as facts..

 

To me, the MM6 felt light and the case flexed when I touched it. Does that mean it'll break when you gig with it? I dunno.... I imagine the XW-P1 feels much the same way, but until the pics of broken keys and cracked casings come in, we'll never know.

 

I imagine though, someone who gigs semi regularly wouldn't encounter any issues with their gear most of the time. I mean really, when was the last synth or keyboard lemon anyone's talked about? And then on the flip side, we've heard plenty of actual complaints about Motifs and whatevers being damaged in shipment from vendors and ebayers. And that's what most people would consider quality gear..

 

So the point is, you don't know until you try it for yourself. But please consider the difference between an opinion and an actual fact or experience (such as a broken case and poor customer service) you're trying to warn people about before you say anything.

 

I think this is just a case of it being new, novel and therefore run to poke with a stick.

 

Really? if you don't like it, don't buy it. Go get a used XP-30, Triton or save your money for something newer

[lupene]

http://www.thomann.de/gb/casio_xw_p1.htm

 

 

EUR 531

GBP 443

 

[deanmass]

Just for clarity;

 

1) My intent was my opinion

2) They are marketing this as a pro board, my expectation was that it would surprise me and feel like a Gaia or Novamaster

3) Much of this, if not all is subjective

4) I like Casio, having stated I owned a Privia, which pretty in expensive BUT SEEMED better built ( my opinion, subjective)

5) I do think for the money it has an amazing feature set

6) Being that I DID buy one and have owned it a few weeks, it does qualify my opinion over those who do know own one and have not spent any time with it.

7) Building a keyboard as important as this for they, I still think they missed the mark, but, I well may be wrong. I think it would been better to put it in a slightly more substsntial chassis and hit $599' rather than $499

8) If I were keeping this board to gig with, and was dependent on it because I liked the sounds, I would own 2

 

Overall, the closest analogy to me is, it is similar to the plast Behringer pdeals. Most of them sound damn good, and are cheap, but I'd never not have a spare just because the housing all feel junky. The thing with this board is, time will tell. It is clear many people, myself included, like the sounds and what it does for the money. I started thread as a friendly conversation, and it got dicky really fast, and admittedly, I fired some dickiness right back, but my intent was simply...hey, I got this, I like it, but I don't think I will keep it cause it just does not feel good. And, I sincerely hope I am wrong, the thing is rock solid and a runaway hit for Casio, because they definately are on the right track feature and sound wise. If 6 months from now they have a rep as being lightweight, durable little tank, I'll buy one of each of them. Right now, I won't risk it.