High quallity video in English with Ralph Maten showing off much of the functionallity of the MZ-X500... This video clearly explains why it can become a cult item with our younger teenagers... And how an arranger can be an important part for making EDM and other modern dance musick...


However, still not convinced about the typicall arranger quallities most typicall arranger players want... High quallity styles (tough it can import YAmaha styles) and typicall arranger instruments... i still havent heared a single naturall sound (Wood, winds, brass, solo strings, acoustic guitars, etc etc..) that convinces me..


Yet still i believe the functionallity Casio adds to the market with this little keyboard (thats much more a workstation with added arranger functionallity then a typicall arranger) shows where the future is...

If yamaha would have added the same functionallity to the Montage, everyone witotuh exception would go crazy about it... Same goes for Korg, adding this to the Kronos would even put it higher on everyones ladder..


To me, this instrument shows, that arranger styles should be a part of everyones ultimate music workstation...

Some kool features and I also learned that wearing a scarf indoors makes you look cool too,....just sayin'

... it would have to be about 35F for me to wear a scarf indoors ...
But you HAVE to wear one if you are a European ...
One of the times we were in Italy it was about 85F ... a little Italian boy - about 6 or 7 years of age - was playing on the sidewalk wearing a short sleeve tee shirt, shorts and of course, a scarf ...

Meanwhile, back to the keyboard ...

This is actually a very good sound.. very powerful and deep.
Im impressed from this demo.

This is the best demo I have seen of the MZ-X500

Actually it is....

Sounds very nice...

But Ralph does not show the typical weak sounds of the Casio brands... (Winds,woods,guitars,brass and other acoustic instruments). Also there is not really much use of typicall arranger styles... But i guess since it can import yamaha styles, its not that important how the factory styles sound...

Seems casio made a step where it comes to DSP...

another video with good sound quallity

does anyone know what the diffeences in specs are between the MZ 500 and the 300 models??

The 300 version doesn't have the hex layer ability, also there's only 4 performance pads,as opposed to the 500's 16 pads...if you're not into editing the sounds with the hex layer...the 300 looks a good buy

Where is a player going to get more styles when needed for the MZ x500 etc,..and I'm sure you will.

I also heard in the end of the first demo above that you can also IMPORT Midi file Songs to create NEW styles, ....is this the same feature as in the KORG Pa4x?

The MZ-X can import yamaha style files as wel as convert midi files to styles... I dont think however this is the same feature as the pa4x... I think the midi files need to be specifically created with sepperate parts...


Time will tell, but i dont think this Casio key will suffer from having to few styles available..


Lets hope the XG/GM sounds and effects are of high enough quallity to warrant acceptable style quallity.....

Importing styles, smf is one thing but how do they sound CONVERTED is the big question,......Although a very interesting concept at this low price point I think much more needs to be seen and heard about the Casio MZ x500 to get a better understanding of what it can actually do and sound. Hope to see many more demos of the features operations..