I don't know how many of you have had a chance to play on the new version of the WK3500, but if you do get a chance, listen to the new sounds and the new styles. Casio has really taken this keyboard to the next level. I used to complain that the Grand Piano had to much reverb on it's preset, but now there are 3 different grand pianos and they have just the right amount of effects. I really spent some time today at my store playing the new styles and although they were OK before, Casio has replaced their old samples, especially the cymbals with new ones. The styles have been improved upon and I'm thoroghly impressed with this new addition. Price is exactly the same as the old keyboard.
The WK3200 has the identical set of sounds and styles but without the floppy disk drive, the modulation wheel and not stereo line outputs.
I also got in a new low end Casio called the CTK800 which sells around the $159.00 price range and it now has the sounds from the Privia collection of digital pianos which makes this a very good sounding keyboard with effects compared to their old models.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

George,

I just purchased this board WK-3700 from the east coast. I have not received it yet but I am oh so happy to hear your opinion of the sounds. I am anxious to get my mits on it now. Casio has come a long way with their sounds and after having owned their flagship MZ-2000 it is so nice to know they are improving with that quality. I won't have to tweak the piano tones! YES!

-Linda

I'll have mine before Thanksgiving Like Linda having owned the MZ-2000 and the WK-3500 I have to agree that Casio has indeed come a long way.

Squeak

I played a WK3500 today. Pretty good pianos and organs. There really isn't a 3700 is there?
DonM

Oh yeah there's a 3700 out Improved piano voices as well as other new voices added, new styles, more polished drum kits, twice the user sample memory. Casio did another great job here. They added more and took NOTHING away and still are selling the thing for the same price as the model before it

Squeak

Don,
The 3000 and 3500 are the OLDER models. The 3200 and 3700 are the newest models.

George,
Thank you for your hospitality at your store. Enjoyed visitting your store a lot.

-Han

OK,after all of the glowing opening comments,it's time to get down to brass tacks...

How does the 3700 sound as far as brass,french horn and timpani is concerned?
Is there anywhere online where one can listen to the 3700?

Thanks!

O.K. What I played was the older model. I actually have a 3000 and that's why I couldn't tell any difference in sound!
I'm going to experiment using the 3000 to control a Midjay.
DonM

Some demos of tones and rhythms can be found here: http://www.casio-europe.com/euro/emi/wk3700/sound/
Since the CTK-900 has the same "sound engine" as the WK-3200/3700, this demo also applies: http://www.casio-europe.com/euro/files/emi/CTK-900_mix.mp3

--Barry

I suggest checking out the demos The grand piano sounds GREAT! Also they even added scat voices to the list. They're not too bad either. The breathy alto may throw people off a bit, it sounds like there is some distortion in the sample (even at high res.) What impresses me is that Casio added newer better quality samples (including nicer sounding drum kits), doubled the user sample memory, touched up the styles, and didn't jack the price up by one penny.

Squeak

Did you hear that Yamaha?

Still has 76 full sized keys as well. Will have to check it out.

I don't like the modern, busy, styles on the Casio, (I don't usually use the onboard styles on the PSR550 either), is it posssible to create my own styles or convert Yamaha type styles to the Casio?
How many external styles can be saved?
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 09-14-2005).]

I could hook it up to my computer and use the Yamaha styles with OMB. I could use the lower notes to control OMB (fills, start/stop, etc.)
I like the organ voices on the Casio.
Starkeeper

I already did the "Casio Europe" thing and was really impressed by the sax-it sounds like ZPI is getting better all the time(of course more memory never hurt either.)

It is fall however and pretty soon Sams or Costco should be getting the 3200 in, at the very least.

There are still some slight improvements that could bode well for the future if implemented.
They should go back to 73 keys,6 oct set up ( C to C)like on the WK-1350-It was just a much neater layout that way-I've never cared for the 76 because it seems to take space away from the left hand section

And maybe just 2 more tracks for the on board sequencer for a total of 8? That would be just lovely because then it would be more than just a sketch pad-you could actually get away with *production* on this...

Thanks for the info guys..

George,have you had the chance to dig further into the WK 3700?
How are the orchestral voices sounding?

Thanks!

[This message has been edited by casiobot (edited 09-23-2005).]

I know LindaFus here on the forum just got her WK-3700 the other day. She posted a brief review on a Casio forum. Hoping she posts here as well.

Squeak

Might be a nice keyboard for the money, but 32 polyphony, yuuuuuuck! Bob L.

Yeah the poly is a little limited, but for the money it's a great bargain. Just having the option to load new samples (and now with twice the memory) is a huge feature on the WK's. I don't find the 32 poly limiting when using the internal sequencer, but of course you'll start to have problems with heavy sequences when doing midi recording that use a lot of tracks. Of course there's always work arounds too.

Squeak

32 polyphony is a major shortcoming on the WK's..
I also have a WK3000. When I play a sequence, and play over top of the sequence...the busier sequences force the Casio to stutter , slow down, and play eratic...The Casio does not handle allocation very well...but on the bright side, my older 32 poly PSR use to shut down when it reached the poly limit..at least the Casio keeps on going[human feel??].

32 poly,at least,is a step up from the 24 poly of earlier WK's(my 1350 is 24 poly)but another area where Casio could improve is the number of on-board sequencing tracks.2 extra for a total of 8,for starters-maybe even 10 or 12.The polyphony would naturally have to increase to 64 and I think that would do it for awhile.

Another complaint:The linear sequencing *sucks* and there is no reason to believe it has changed for the 3700,and that is sad.
Casio has assumed that the majority of their users were sophisticated enough for the onboard sequencer,200 DSP and a 16 track mixer.They should take the next step and install a pattern-based sequencer which would allow you to work on little bits of your songs/instrumentals,at a time,then string them together in a song mode.This would eliminate having to start the WHOLE track over due to mistakes made.It would all but eliminate step-editing(step record would probably remain though as a viable option)

Take a look at the specs and pick *your* favorite improvements:
http://achamilton.co.uk/Casio/MZ2000.htm

I can't believe they are offering as much as they are for the price.
DonM

DonM,which keyboard are you talking about?

The Casio WK3700. I purchased a used 3000 a couple weeks ago, just to fool around with. Great piano and organs. Now they have improved the line and haven't raised the prices.
These are not supposed to be high-end keyboards, and I wouldn't expect it to replace my Ketron SD1, but for the money, they are great.
DonM

Actually,I'm hoping that the 3700 is great beyond "...for the money.."

I am really,really hoping that the biggest mistake Casio made with this board was the omission of just 2 more sequencer tracks...

If only they carried 4 variation styles on from the MZ-2000.....
You could transfer new styles from PSRs, PAs and Rolands easily, without having to decide which variations to ditch.
That would be a deal maker for the Casio, even with say $100-150 more in the price.
I paid about 550 Euros in 1994 for a CTK-750, that was 1.5 times my monthly salary of the time. I still play it almost every night, even though the sounds are horribly outdated now.
I am waiting for a WK with 4 variations. :-)
Theodore

Yeah it would be nice to have 4 variations. The 6 tracks don't really bother me too much, but of course more is always better. I think the board greatly needs the ability to record user styles. Just the ability to loop and overdub drum/bass/chord/pad parts would be great. That would then open up the other 6 tracks for solo work.

However, given that Casio has increased the number of sounds and styles (and improved the sound quality), and added more user sample memory without jacking the price is more than enough for this model. With those additions they could have easily jacked the price another $100.00 The 3700 will be sitting in my home before Thanksgiving I'll probably keep my 3500 for a midi controller or just an extra board.

Squeak

How do you think the WK3500/3700 compares with Yamaha's DGX-305 for a performance AK? Both 76 keys, same price, other similarities.

Glenn

Honestly I think in many areas the WK is above the DGX-305. Especially the newer WK-3700. The DGX does not have voice editing, no modulation wheel, (crappy pithbend wheel), distortion guitar and bass sounds don't even compare to the WK.

The newer WK's have new piano samples (which I think are as good if not better than the DGX. The WK is also going to give you a better speaker system with more bass and crisper highs (because the WK's tweeters are better)

Plus the WK will let you load in new samples. Using the included software you can convert samples to the Casio format and use in the WK. Oddly enough I use my WK's sampler memory to trigger (live railroad sounds for my model train layout)

If I'm correct (not sure off hand), but I think the WK's going to give you more song editing control (after the recording is completed).

Overall I think the WK's more bang for the buck. Sure Yammie has those signature voices, but the preset voices on the DGX (in my opinion) are well below the WK-3500/3700. This I think is also because the WK's effects are (MILES) ahead of the DGX.

I got to play the DGX-305 about a week ago while out of town, and like before I was not impressed. The only sound on the board that made my mouth water was the "sweet saprano" sax. Gotta give it to Yamaha because they really NAILED that one.

The store I played the DGX in also had a WK-3500 sitting right next to it, so I and the sales rep were doing a side by side comparison. Man, I'm telling you the distortion guitars and bass quitars on the DGX are a joke! You can't do any serious pitchbend work because the quality of the wheel is quite poor. The piano's were up in the air. I think after dropping the reverb down a bit on the WK-3500 it faired VERY well against the DGX.

If you can try both models out for yourself. Hopefully you can find a store that has both


Squeak

Thanks for the rundown, Squeak.

Glenn