Hi

I am a new member of this forum
I am preparing an article for my web site and woulfd like to have your opinions

What would you buy as second keyboard if you already have a Tyros 4 ? not necessarily another arranger...
and why ?
to have more different sounds ?
more styles
more sampling capacities?
to have a keyboard 76 keys ?

I've been interested in Casio's PX-5S synth/piano that has 88 weighted keys, and very useful controller functions...it also has pitch/mod wheels, which I prefer.

As far as arranger instruments, I'm happy with the Tyros4...I don't wish to get another arranger.

I could use the Casio in place of my Yamaha P-85 for solo piano work and recording as well as being able to access some cool synth textures, and other sounds unique to the PX-5S.

I see in Dreamer's signature that he owns a Casio PX-5S. Perhaps he can give us his thoughts on it?

Ian

For me, as an entertainer that's pretty much on the road 7 days a week, I want that second keyboard to be identical to the first. I need to be able to put that second one into service if the first were to suddenly hickup and not function. While this has never happened to me in more than 2 decades, I have read of instances where that has occurred. Now, for a home player, there are lots of options, and that Casio is not a bad choice. Casio has really improved over the past few years and their arranger keyboards seem to offer more and more with each new model.

Good Luck,

Gary

What is your budget?? What kind of different sounds you are looking for?? You said you want sampler too.

I am 83 years young so no more gigging for me. I have the new Tyros 5 76 note keyboard on order and this will be all I need to really enjoy my music. Sold my Tyros 4 and am without a keyboard till the Tyros 5 gets shipped to me. Believe me, It's been a long wait but I got a very good price for the Tyros 4 and believe selling it early was the best way to get the most for it. Regards, Lloyd
Pray for my health to stay with me please.

Ian,

I bought the PX-5S the last month of May; after six months of use here are my thoughts:

Pros:
1- incredible action; I am not an expert on pianos, but according to people who have played all the digital pianos available (including Yamaha, Roland, Nord and Kawai) this Casio gives the player the best connection with the music played, to the point that you tend to forget that are playing a digital emulation of the real thing.
2- massive polyphony (256 notes) that enables you to layer many sounds without running out of notes.
3- Synth engine: incredibly warm and almost analogic in quality; go to the Download section of the Casio Music Forums and listen to the demos of some of the sounds uploaded by actual Casio users and you will understand what I mean.
4- Excellent master keyboard, with lots of possibilities and flexibility.
5- Low weight: almost incredible for a digital piano with such a nice and firm keybed: 11 kg (24 pounds)
6- Price: 999 USD.
7- Can run also on batteries.

Cons:
1- Not everybody likes the black and white look.
2- The display is small, but there is an excellent editor for Windows.

Speaking of sounda, the acoustic and electric pianos are excellent, while the guitars or other orchestral sounds are just ok. If you go to sites like Keyboard Corner right now the talk of the day is the new Yamaha CP-4 and how it compares with the CP-5; everybody has a different opinion (like happens for real acoustic pianos), but these are digital pianos that cost (and weigh) like two PX-5S.
In my case, I bought the Casio almost at the same time as my Kronos 61 and I got both for the same price of a Kronos 88; in fact I use the Casio to drive the Kronos and this combination is just magic, especially because the Casio, with its limited depth, fits perfectly under the Kronos.
So, I can recommend the PX-5S to everyone looking for a digital piano that can be also used as a complete master keyboard. This combination alone would justify the purchase; if you add the low weight, the huge polyphony and the almost unbelievable price you have a product that, as far as I know, has no rivals in today's market.

Thank you very kindly for your straightforward review, Dreamer.

The cons are minuscule compared to the pros.

Has the action remained silent...some weighted hammer actions tend to get clicky here and there after a lot of playing? I remember having a Roland FP-8 (early production model) that started to sound like an old Underwood typewriter.

I am pleased to hear about the feel and connectivity to the player regarding the action...I wanted a decent 88, but having just a controller or a cheap digital piano was nowhere near as attractive as having a fully programmable synthesizer with a great weighted action.

I am familiar with Keyboard Corner, having been mostly a lurker there for quite some time, but I am more interested in your opinion, as I know you are relatively un-biased, especially compared to some there, and here, too ( I count me as very biased ).

The 256 poly and the words "warm" and "analogic" are magic to my ears, as I was a real fan of analog sounds (just not analog fussiness lack of polyphony, and tuning issues) and now that my Jupiter 8 is gone to a nice new home in a studio, I miss having the possibilities of a programmable synth.

Thanks very much again, and I will check out the Casio Music Forums as recommended...also Mike Martin seems a cool (no BS) and very supportive rep, and that makes a difference as well.

Gratefully,

Ian

PS...I had Casio CZ-1 and VZ-1 years ago and I was pleased with those instruments...very professional, and distinctive sound.

Ian,

I can confirm that the action is still tight and silent like the first day.
And you are right about Mike Martin: he is one of the most supportive rep I have ever met, in every way: he still programs new sounds, free to download on the Casio Music Forums: digital and acoustic pianos, gritty clavinets (a la Stevie Wonder), luscious pads... every week you find something new and worth the download.
I think that Casio deserve every kind of support in this effort to make instruments of professional quality available at such low prices: imagine a Tyros 5, a PAX-3 or an Audya for sale at less than 2000 dollars... who could resist?

Thanks dreamer...all good news. I'm also tickled to see that it also includes a Phrase Sequencer and an Arpeggiator, plus, each Zone within a Stage Setting on the PX-5S can choose to use an Arpeggiator or trigger a Phrase.

I actually like the look of it, and I like how the knobs are set up on the left.

What is rather mind-boggling, is the Hex engine's power, the layering possibilities, the staggering 256 note poly; actually, all the features already mentioned ...and for that very attractive price.

Almost too good to be true, but I said that about the CZ-1 and was more than pleasantly surprised.

Thanks again,

Ian

Thank you all very much for giving me your opinion...

I am preparing a series of articles on my website. Each article will be an example of tyros configuration and a second keyboard.
eg tyros with juno 50 as a second keyboard or casio PX55 or Pa3X korg .
For each configuration , I give opinions , the pros and cons based on my experience or your own.
In my case : I currently own a tyros 4 , I also have a Yamaha digital piano that I use less and I have a lot of expanders , some are quite old (Roland jv880 , korg 01r / w ... ) .
The project of a second additional keyboard will help me to expand my sound capabilities , and have very different sounds, and why not : an additional 76 keys.
I will use the styles in tyros 4 , and the voices on the right hand , the 2nd keyboard gives me more sounds to play the melody with the right hand and also control all expanders .
As 2nd keyboard : I think about the Juno 50 and Korg pas3x (for 76 keys).
Or a Korg Pa800 associated with another expander Roland Integra 7

There is no point for you to get another arranger.You still didn't mention what kind of sounds you seek.

I did think about Roland Integra 7.It has almost all of the sounds made by Roland.But, you need a keyboard too.You could get really good controller.Or, what about Korg Kronos.It has 9 different synth engines.Plus a full sampler and steaming samples up to 2 gigs I believe.I wouldn't get another Yamaha.T4 has good acoustic sounds anyway.There is also Roland BK9 with great styles and sounds too.Basically it's all up to you and which kind of sounds you want to add.There is many more choices...

That's what I would suggest. Roland Integra plus one of the Roland master keyboards, e.g. the A800pro, which has 61 keys and only weighs 4.5kg (9-10 pounds). With the Roland Integra you get a choice of 6,000 sounds; not all of them are up to date, but a large part is absolutely premium, especially the SuperNatural acoustic sounds (>250) and about 2,000 sounds from the integrated SRX expansions.

the kind of sounds I would like is analog and acoustic.
you may say the tyros 4 has a lot of very good sounds, I do agree. But, you know it, we still want more and more

I have watched a demo of the Jupiter 50 keyboard and I was really impressed.
I wonder if the Integra 7 has all those sounds (Jupiter 50) too ?

I don't think the idea of a master leyboard suit me
what a pity I may say : I have room for another keyboard (76 keys ?) under the Tyros 4.
Why not a Korg pa3x instaed of a Roland master keyboard?
+ a roland integra 7
best of both worlds ?

I find the perfect second keyboard for me is the Korg Kronos. It has sounds and customizability not available in an arranger keyboard. Having 9 synth engines on board certainly helps. I have a 61 key Kronos and that should complement my T5 76.

Yes, the Integra has all of the Jupiter 50/80 sounds and many, many more. You can download the PDF tone lists on the Roland support pages. The Integra has more supernatural sounds than the Jupiters, and the complete library of 12 SRX expansions, which the Jupiters don't have (special strings, brass, complete orchestra, world etc.).

Ian,Dreamer,

Having read your comments here I started listening some demos and reading some reviews on this new Casio wonder. I nearly thought they had it nailed for me until in the final sentence I read that they had omitted a Sustain pedal connection ?????
No sustain ? Am I missing something here ?

regards,
JOhn

John,

if you follow this link you can download the PX-5S tutorial. At page 9 it says that you can connect two kinds of pedals: one to damper a sound and another that acts more like a switch; both pedals can be configured to activate different functions, depending on how you program them.
Some piano purists over at Keyboard Corner have complained that the PX-5S lacks the half-pedaling function that other digital pianos have, but apparently there is a workaround: you just have to buy a different kind of pedal from the one that Casio includes in the case.
Rest assured that, even with the small pedal that comes with piano, you can sustain (or damper) a sound at will.

Hi John,

The PX-5S has two auto detect pedal inputs, and, being a "Piano" based synthesizer it surely must have a sustain pedal function assignable to either. I see Dreamer confirmed this for us above.

However, I believe that neither pedal input will support a volume pedal (Dreamer can correct me if I'm wrong), which, in all likelihood, must be an in-line type of pedal (in between line-outs and amplifier/PA system. I don't think a volume pedal can be used to sweep the filter either.

Every review I've read has rated this keyboard very high indeed, although I'm not sure our local Long & McQuade carries it.

256 notes polyphony! Phrase Sequencer and an Arpeggiator!! 88 Scaled Hammer Action II Keys (Tri-Sensor) synthetic ebony/ivory Keys!!!

If things go as planned in the new year, I'm going to get me one of these puppies!

Ian

PS...Dreamer, I know I'm probably asking too much (especially at the suggested price), but can you process a line in signal (i.e. from another synth) through the PX-5S's filters??

The answer is actually quite simple, the perfect companion for a Kronos would be the new tyros 5... Because it adds what the kronos lacks. Great arranger styles out of the box, and awesome acoustic instruments (sa voices) which is in my opinion the weakest point of the Kronos.

If you want 2 keybaords tyros and kronos is the way to go, espescially if you allready own a tyros 4/5. Personally i would go for a 76 T5 and a 61 kronos. however the 88 key Kronos has one of the best piano keybeds available, so espescially if you are a piano player, this could be a great option.

[video:youtube]http://youtu.be/Wq-Czb-Ramg[/video]


Hee is a video explaining the advantages of Kronos and casio PX-5S from the viewpoint of a pro musician.

Ian,

as far as I know the signal coming from the line or audio inputs bypasses the filter section and goes directly to the Master Eq/Master Compressor section.

As for the other question, you can configure a pedal so that its on/off status causes a gradual increase or decrease of the sound volume.

You might also want to check these threads:

PX-5S in Canada

Volume pedal

What exactly is audio-in for?

Gents...I have a yamaha mox8 setup below my korg pa600 (may upgrade to a pa900 when avail)...this setup which i have used on a couple of single gigs works great...i think this keyboard or the new moxf8 would work great with a tyros 5...full 88 keys, great sounds and easy to carry....steve



stevec...mox 8, psr 910, 2 pa600's, microarranger, cx3

I am 79, and just lately stopped gigging , I am a Christian, and will surely pray for your health! May God bless you and may you enjoy the new Tyros5 board!

Thanks Ian and Dreamer about the update on the sustain pedal.
I will audition one after Christmas, I hope. I still have an offer to try out a Ketron Audya during December which should then compete with my recently acquired Tyros 4SE. (??) Guess one of them will have to go again cause I cannot take leave of my Korg PA800, if only for sentimental reasons....

regards,
John

Referring to the Integra idea, here are two classical/symphonic examples I recorded from my Integra:
https://soundcloud.com/rorosetree/roland-integra-symphonic-demo
https://soundcloud.com/rorosetree/roland-integra-7-version-of

I think I have to test the Integra 7. For now, all the demos I've seen on youtube , I found the Integra sound very thin compared to the demo of the Jupiter 50 curiously...

2nd point, can you confirm the Integra 7 has ALL the sounds of the jupiter 50 ?
thanks

Actually, you can't even compare Integra to J50.Integra is a much much more.If you get Integra and Kronos you will never run out of sounds for life.

OK gents
thanks for all the suggestions, now I have some interesting suggestions . I will do a serie of articles on my website, to expose these suggestions 2nd keyboard for the Tyros.

1) Casio PX 5S
2) Korg Kronos
3) Yamaha Mox 8
4) Korg Pa3x

personally I would go for :

- sell my tyros 4
- buy a tyros 5 - 61 keys
- second keyboard : a pa800 or pa3x 76 keys
- this second keyboard will control all my existing expanders (roland jv880, korh 01r/w, proteus 2000)
- I will add later a roalnd integra 7
- and why not the ketron in rack ...

what do you guys think ?

http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=manuals&p=INTEGRA%2D7&id=62482120
http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=manuals&p=JUPITER%2D50&id=62467123

These are the sound lists of Integra and Jupiter.
You'll see that the Integra has all the supernatural acoustic sounds the Jupiter has, but more.
In the supernatural synth section, the Jupiter has a few additional, but rather average, acoustic tones (e.g. trumpet sections) which you don't find stored as a tone in the Integra, but still as a waveform so you could edit and store these few tones yourself - but it's pointless because the Integra has much, much better versions of those sounds in the SRX expansion section.
The integra does not sound thinner, there is absolutely no difference to the identical Jupiter sounds. I know some Jupiter owners who are angry they bought the Jupiter before the Integra came out. It must be due to the varying audio quality of Youtube demos if you think there is a difference.
Have you listened to these official demos?
https://soundcloud.com/rolandcom/sets/201208-snat
https://soundcloud.com/rolandcom/sets/srx-10-big-brass-ensemble
https://soundcloud.com/rolandcom/sets/srx-04-symphonique-strings

rosetree

wow, very impressive
thanks a lot

integra 7 = you will be mine, soon !
in december I will go to my musical shop for an official tyros 5 demo and will test the integra 7 at the same time.

If you already have T4, you are not getting much with T5.

this is the jupiter 50 demo that impressed me a lot

jupiter 50

If you didn't know,Jupiter 50 is a little brother of Jupiter 80.
And Integra 7 is Jupiter 80 plus more.

The Jupiter 80 has one advantage: it has 256 voice polyphony, Integra and Jupiter 50 have the standard 128 voice.

And there is one disadvantage of the Integra which keeps some people from buying it: it has a ridiculous 64 storage locations for "studio sets" (= performances or 'combinations' in Korg terminology). The number of storage locations for user tones is sufficient, but if you need more combinations of tones for long playlists you have to find an external solution, e.g. controlling tone changes via IPAD "Set List Maker" or, in my case, by the MOXF master mode.

I've got the Casio Px350. It came out before the PX5S. I agree the action is first rate and the piano sounds are great. It differs from the PX5S in many ways but as a basic piano it is the same but with built in speakers. It also has a very basic arranger section which would be OK for a cocktail hour or similar backround music gig.
I think the PX5S is more aimed at being a Pro Midi contoller/Master keyboard and the 350 more of a all around home keyboard.
For the price either one is well worth it.

The Casio has 256 notes of polyphony, and it is very reasonably priced, and doesn't need a controller as it already has a highly regarded 88 note weighted action.

I really like what I am hearing both in the demos and from those using it.

It can also act as an extremely powerful controller if need be. It has pitch/mod Wheels that I find best for my way of playing.

Plus, there is great followup support.

It gets my vote for sure.

Ian