Squeak,

You are completely overlooking my point,which is,that if Casio is going to charge $1400..then they should offer professional features all around,which the 7500 does not deliver.
PERFECT EXAMPLE....the Korg M50 73 note keyboard is going for $1400 as well and check out the specs;

Synthesis Technology: EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis)

Tone Generator:
- 256 Mbyte (when converted to 16-bit linear format)
- 1,077 Multisamples
- 1,609 Drum Samples

Maximum Polyphony:
- 80 voices, 80 oscillators max, single mode
- 40 voices, 80 oscillators max, double mode*

* The actual maximum polyphony will vary depending on oscillator settings such as stereo multisamples and velocity crossfading.

Sounds
Programs: 640 total locations, 608 preloaded

Combinations: 512 total locations, 384 preloaded

Drumkits: 48 total locations, 32 preloaded

GM: 256 GM2 programs, 9 GM2 drum kits

Program Structure EDS
Oscillator:
- OSC1 (Single), OSC1+2 (Double)
- Stereo multisamples are supported
- 4 velocity zones per oscillator, with switching, crossfades and layers.

Filters:
- Four types of filter routing (single, serial, parallel, 24 dB)
- Two multi-mode filters per voice (low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject)

Driver: Per-voice nonlinear driver and low boost

EQ: Three bands, with sweepable mid

Modulation:
- For each voice: two envelope generators (Filter & Amp)
- Two LFOs
- Two key tracking generators (Filter & Amp)
- Two AMS mixers
- Pitch EG
- Common LFO
- Two common key tracking generators

Combination Structure:
- Up to sixteen timbres
- For each Timbre: keyboard and velocity split/layer/crossfade
- INT, OFF, EXT and EX2 MIDI status settings
- 3-band EQ with sweepable mid
- Pitch/Transpose
- Use OSC1, 2 or Both
- Force Osc Mode (PRG, MONO, LEGATO, POLY)
- Portamento and Bend range settings
- Controller filters
- Modifications to the program settings via the Tone Adjust function

Drum Kit Structure:
- Stereo and mono drum samples
- 4-way velocity switches with crossfades and adjustable crossfade shapes (Linear, Power, Layer)
- Exclusive keygroups
- Per key 3-band EQ, Drive, Lo Boost, filter and level offsets

Effects:
- 5 Insert Effects (stereo in/out), 2 Master Effects (stereo in/out), 1 Total Effect (stereo in/out) are available simultaneously
- 2 effect control busses, 2 effect common LFOs
- 170 types (can be used for Insert/Master/Total.) Note: double-size effects cannot be used as a Total effect.
- Effects Presets: Up to 32 per Effect, 700 provided in OS 1.10
- 3-band Track EQ (High, low, and sweepable mid band) Per Program in Program Mode, per Timbre in Combination mode (16 total), and per Track in Sequencer mode (16 total)

Sequencer:
- 16-track MIDI sequencer with 480 ppq resolution
- 128 Songs, 20 Cue Lists, 210,000 notes (max)
- Tempo: 40.00 - 300.00 BPM (1/100 resolution)
- 16 preset/16 user Template Songs
- 522 preset patterns, 100 user patterns (per Song)
- Cue List function: 20 cue lists, Songs can be arranged consecutively or repeatedly in up to 99 steps, A cue list can be converted back into a song
- Standard MIDI File (SMF) format 0 and 1 available
- Auto Song Setup function (One Touch Record) for easily going from a Program or Combination into "record-ready" status

Dual Polyphonic Arpeggiator:
Two arpeggiators, useable simultaneously (Combination, Sequencer modes)

5 preset arpeggio patterns; 216 user arpeggio patterns (200 preloaded)

RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording): A set of 100 patterns are available per Song

Drum Track:
671 preset patterns/1,000 user patterns

Patterns created in Sequencer mode can be converted to drum track user patterns

Trigger Mode (Immediate, Wait for Keyboard), Sync (On, Off) and Zone (Key and Velocity) settings can be specified.

Program selection, 3-band EQ and effect bussing available

Audio Outputs:
L/MONO, R - 1/4 in. TS (Mono), unbalanced

Headphones - 1/4 in. TRS (Stereo), Output Impedance: 33 Ohms, Maximum Level: 32+ 32 mW @33 Ohms

Interface:
MIDI IN, OUT

Computer USB type B connector (for MIDI interface, USB 2.0 supported)

System Requirements
Computer with the KORG USB-MIDI Driver

Windows Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition/Professional Service Pack 2 or later (MIDI Driver for the 64-bit editions is a Beta version), all editions of Microsoft Windows Vista (MIDI Driver for the 64-bit editions is a Beta version), computer supports Windows XP/Vista with USB port (Intel USB Host Controller recommended).

Macintosh Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, Apple Macintosh with USB ports supports Mac OS X 10.3.9 (PowerPC/Intel-based supported).

Please use the latest Korg USB/MIDI driver.

General
Keyboard: 61-key, 73-key versions use a new semi-weighted Natural Touch keyboard

88-key weighted action (RH3: Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 keyboard with 4-zone graded action response)

Controllers: Joystick, [SW1], [SW2]

Display: 5.7 inch TouchView(TM) GUI, 320 x 240 dot

Control Inputs: Damper Pedal (half damper pedaling supported), Assignable Switch, Assignable Pedal

Common specifications: Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHz, +/-1.0 dB, 10 k Ohms load

THD+N: 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.08 % 10 k Ohms load (typical)

Included Accessories:
- Three-Pronged IECC13 Power Cable (Model D8B5518003B)
- Owner's Manual (M50 Operation Guide)
- CD-ROM (M50 Parameter Guide (PDF)
- Voice Name List (PDF)
- KORG MIDI driver
- M50 Editor stand alone and plug-in versions

The WK-7500 does NOT have a resonance filter in it's tone editor,it does NOT have a 3 band EQ per track,it does NOT have 80 note polyphony,it does NOT have a 4 X 5 inch touchscreen display,it does NOT have a 210,000 note capacity in the sequencer,it does NOT have 5 insert effects and 3 master effects,it does NOT have semi-weighted keys and the WK-7500 does NOT have the ability to be used as a midi controller for neither a computer,nor to control other keyboards.

See what I mean?In many ways,the WK-7500 is half the keyboard that the Korg M50 73 is,so the Casio should be half the price of the Korg.

If you shop around enough on the internet,you could find a Korg M3 61 key for about $1500 and it's everything that the M50 series is,but with the M3 series,you get audio recording,a ribbon controller,a full color 4 X 5 inch touchscreen display,the option to add on a Radias synthesizer board and with the expansion set(which is a USB stick with an additional 1GB worth of sounds that's included).

Try to understand that the WK-7500 will be nothing but a toy in the $1400 range,in contrast to most everything else out there,for the same money.

Bear in mind also,that I've been a keyboard player for 25 years,so I've owned a few different Casios over the years and just about every Korg workstation that was released in the last 20 years,so I'm intimately familiar with pro boards and I know exactly what $1400 will buy...so with my experience,I am flat out telling you as a fact,that Casio charging $1400 for the WK-7500,is pure extortion.

It's all very simple dude..think about it...if a pro company like Korg can deliver a pro quality keyboard for $1,000 and up,then Casio can certainly deliver a semi-pro keyboard for under a grand-very easily...especially since Casio is a huge company like Korg.

All this being said,the fact that both the MZ-2000 and the WK-7500 are Casio's best,does not justify their over-inflated price tags,because when all is said and done,Casio's products are just toys,compared to the pro boards you can buy for the same price.

If for some reason,the WK-7500 ends up being well under a thousand,then I think it would be a great keyboard to have.

Since the release date of the WK-7500 is actually spring of next year,then there's a good chance that this keyboard is only a prototype at this point.

That being said,if Casio resonates any common sense from now till then,then they will increase the polyphony and the amount of insert effects.
So if they make improvements before it's release that are comparable to the competition in this price range,then I would be happy to pay $1400 for a Casio...but otherwise,forget it.

Didn't you ever wonder why the MZ-2000 disappeared so quickly and why the WK-3800 is still in production??

Price proportionate-wise,the WK3800 offers a lot for it's $400 price tag,whereas the MZ-2000 was more than 3 times the price,but did not measure up to the pro competition and if the WK-7500 is going to be $1400 as is,then the this keyboard is going to crash and burn,just like the MZ-2000 did.


-Elwood

------------------


[This message has been edited by elwoodblues1969 (edited 10-04-2010).]