Hey check out this MP-3 from a member on the "Painoman's WK-Studio Forum". It was recorded using the preset stereo grand on the Casio WK-3500. Even though it's an MP-3 I think it really shows the quality of the piano sample on this keyboard. If you like this piano sample, you'll love the newer 3700 because it has an even better one.

Squeak
http://www.cheshirepianist.co.uk/CasioWK3500Piano.mp3

Apart from the extreme hissiness of this mp3, I think the biggest problem with this piano is the fast decay. Good piano sounds ring. This does have a good piano tone, i actually like it, but it just fades away probably to hide the shortness of the sample size before loops. Makes the piano too percussive and not smooth.

Hi squeaq...i own the wk-3500...is it an arranger ? what can i do with it if i'll play at parties, weddings..diff. kind of gigs..what can i do with it.. ? It helps me playing live easier.. ? so i won't switch instruments on the va.. ?

Regs,

me

Hi squeak_D,

It there any chance that there is a midi version of that song available. I like it and would love to load in into my piano and play it.



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Heather- Leesburg, FL PR54

Shcox,
I can try an email the guy to see if he can do a midi. I can only assume the answer would be yes considering he recorded the song using the WK-3500's recorder.

Claudiu,
Yes the WK-3500 is an arranger keyboard. There are several things you can do with it at parties and gigs. Here's an example, you can write songs using the WK's recorder and load them all back into the machine as midi files. Using the SMF player on the WK you can load full song sets in it.

Also you can load completely new samples into the WK's. Using the Casio software you can edit them for use in the WK.

The WK also works as a great controller (being it has 76 keys and good quality pitchbend and modulation wheels).

Also with decent software like Cakewalk and the appropriate instrument definitions it opens up a whole new world for midi recording using the WK. I have Cakewalk and the instrument definitions I have open up the ENTIRE voice set (not just the GM voices).


These are just a few things

sqeueak you could e-mail me and tell me more please because i almost fell off my chair....my WK is an ARRANGER ? oh god...it's in my house for about a year and something and i didn't know that..i just played the piano on it...pretty much...i don't even know how to use the 16 track sequencer....i can just record a little bit by pressing the Song Memory button twice...and that is all.....please tell me how smart my kb is...cuz you got me dizzy...my wk is an arranger ???????????? oh my god
I'm looking forward to getting your e-mail..

Thank you for opening my eyes..i'm wondering if i'm about to find out that i have to beautiful arrangers..VA and WK ( it rhymes )
Regards,

Claudiu...geez squeak...you just made me happy )

Wow! Very nice playing. Sounds great. I hope I can demo the WK3700 soon.

Cladiu,
The person playing this arranger is not using the arranger function. He is playing the piano voice only inf full keyboard mode.
Kevin

oh my god..i know that

geez...that's obvious...if you use the arranger ...you choose a style...press the mode button 2 times...to reach " fingered "...and press start...play a chord with the left hand and " voila.. " the arranger...and play something with the right hand !!! Duh !

....... that piano sound is pretty impressive..
t.

.

Yes, that certainly is a fine performance. I wonder why the Casio piano sound doesnt seem right to me? I have read your many posts in praise of the Casion here. I respect everyone's opinion. To my ears, though, there is something in the midrange of the Casio piano tone that just doesn't seem to belong. The sustain and release portion of the sample has a sort of aftertaste that, for me, really spoils the believability of the sound.

I mean no disrespect for those of you who have spoken in favor of the Casio. Many of you are better players than me and have demanding and discerning ears. There's just no accounting for taste, I guess. A year ago I tried out both the new Casios and the new Yamahas. I went with the DGX and I enjoy it more every day.

Y'all have a terrific holiday.

.

Hello,
Yes, this is a great sample. I must admit the Grand piano on Casio WK 3500 series sound much better than the one on the Yamaha's DGX (I own a DGX-305). Just wondering what the Yamaha's response to these advanced WK will be.

sueak,
I like your piano sound too.
Very nice peace and well recorded.

Ask and you shall receive...

Here are four demos from the new Casio WK-3700 Keyboard. The first is the Stereo Grand Piano. The second is an Electric Piano, the third some Scat Voices, and the fourth is a called the Pure Acoustic Guitar.

WK-3700 Acoustic Grand Piano

WK-3700 Electric Piano

WK-3700 Scat Voices

WK-3700 Pure Acoustic Guitar

Casio has to be commended for putting such good sounds in a very inexpensive package, i.e. the WK-3700 Arranger keyboard. Plus you get 76 Keys also.

Casio is getting better and better with each new WK series they release regarding the sounds and also the features. But they still lack in a few critical areas like the Polyphony and the less than stellar 6 track Sequencer with only 10,000 notes max recording. But if you can live with the negatives then it would be hard to beat the Casio WK-3700 at that price range in my opinion.

Best regards,
Mike

In this "Price range" with 76 Keys, Excellent Organs and Piano sounds the WK3500 series is a good bang for the buck depite lacking features found on higher end units.

Why in the world did Casio demo that Scat voice...it is terrible..

To date, only Roland has captured a great sounding, playable "Scat"..

Even though this sound stinks, Casio WK series is hard to beat for the price..

I keep mine for the organs and piano alone..

If only they had 4 variations instead of 2. Ahh....
MZ-2000 had that.

Also, I remember Squeak had discovered something about the fill-ins on the WK, like they are 4 instead of 2.

Yeah Casio did something funny there. A good example is the Big Band style number 70. You can tell there is more than (2) fill ins with this style.

Here's how. When you play variation 1 and press that button again to activate the variation one fill in.., you get just that. However if you press the (fill-in next) button that takes you to variation two, you get a different fill in than assigned to variation one.

Then while variation two is playing you press the variation two button to activate that fill and you get yet a different fill in. However if you press the (fill-in next) button to go back to variation one you get yet another fill.

I counted them and there (4) fill ins for this style. I know this because this was one of my favorite styles on the MZ-2000. I thought I was hearing things when I realized that ALL four fills were carried over on this style. I haven't really checked all the styles. Maybe I'll tackle that tonight. I think it's also on a few others.

Squeak

Hi Mike,
I was impressed by the quality of the voices. And this keyboard costs only $400!!! I should det rid of my DGX and buy a WK-3700.
I'll definitely raise my interest in the new Casio keyboards.
Best regards and thanks for sharing.
George

[This message has been edited by George V (edited 12-12-2005).]

It's great to see the budget/lower end keyboards are getting better in the sounds department. The top end arranger manufacturers will have to keep putting better sounds and features in their future releases, otherwise the likes of Casio will soon be catching up with Roland, Korg, Ketron, Yamaha and Gem etc. This can only be better for all of us, a bit of competition is great

Either it is just that particular style (ported over from the MZ2000 or the Casio style creators are not talking to the Casio operating system programmers.
Starkeeper

Squeak,

On the WK-3700 big band is 081 and I did exactly what you said and yes there are four variations of fills. WOW! Thanks for that info! I would never have known that you could get 4 fills out of that style! I am going to try some others as well.

-Linda

I was messing with a few and there are several that have at least 4 fills. I'll try and get a more detailed number then evening. Got to play with my new Fostex MR8-B first

Squeak