Casio MZ-X500

What happened to this arranger kb after it's release.....
anyone here using it?

I think there’s only one other person other than me on this forum who owns one.

Sqk

And as Squeak_D shared with us, this keyboard is poorly made physically. Although Casio presented it as a follower of MZ-2000, I guess, even visually we see that it’s not the same level. Although, while I hear a lot of talks how great MZ-2000 was, probably by today’s standards it’s not gonna be that impressive.

From what I can tell based on comments posted at Casio’s forum, the OS is unstable. People are now reporting issues with memory storage, sounds and samples just disappearing. When I reported my latest issue, the test song I created didn’t even save like it was supposed to. I do remember having an entire custom drum kit I edited just vanish one day. I still think my OS has just reached a point of corruption that can’t be fixed with a factory restore.

The MZ-2000 was very stable. Casio could have literally re-released that board with an updated sound chip and it would have sold. The MZ-2000 has drawbars with sliders, mic input with basic effects, full midi sequencer with proper style recording, AFTERTOUCH, great speakers, and an amazing synth engine that was very in-depth.

Sqk

The sounds where okayish..(piano above average)
But the keybed was unacceptable for me
Even at that price... but then i am spoiled..

According to Casio, its out of production for allmost a year now
Everything still for sale seems to be old storage..

To me and let me thank all who jumped in the discussion.....this Keyboard is a very interesting concept and if casio would just use this concept but in a better quality build, engine, keybed, and even charge $2000.00 US for it they could be a contender for MOTL....
but they refuse to upgrade for some strange reason model after model and non informed buyers continue to purchase so they make a profit..

As I see it, it doesn’t cost that much to introduce some new concepts, but it takes a lot of resources when you have to make a keyboard like PSR, where each sound and style should be very playable and convincing; we can imagine how different it must be to make, for example, a guitar sound or a saxophone. Sampling can seem an easy process at first, but then you have to make it sound natural throughout the whole keyboard range. Playing Yamaha you take it for granted, but on Roland Juno DS I notice that the main piano is sampled a bit different on one note, and it is a big deal. And everything is crucial when it comes to styles, with Yamaha we are taking it for granted as well, but in reality when a style is not good enough it starts to sound mechanical and repetitive and handles chord changing very poorly. I imagine, Yamaha goes back and forth a lot of times when they are making, for example, a sound of an electric guitar, they sample it, adjust, see that it doesn’t work right and start again until it’s done properly. When you play the keyboard you don’t want to feel that it just playbacks samples, you want to feel that you are playing an actual instrument.

The thing is that once you have all the technology to create, for example, Genos, you can then sell it by parts in your smaller products, right down to PSR-E series. But if you are just focused on entry-level stuff, you don’t really have any content to offer for a bigger price. So Casio cannot just decide and go into professional segment of arrangers.

Casio was just not prepared for the MZX line. A lot of new territory for them, and not enough time was spent on the OS development. The PX series uses essentially the same OS, but there is much more to the MZX version of that OS.

I would still recommend the CTX3000/5000 because it’s based on an OS Casio has been using for many years now. It’s menu driven, but they’ve had years developing it.

Sqk

I just can't bring myself to buy any casio at this time......
maybe one day in the future things will change.
I hope so we need more competition out there.

I am with you..
I have better hopes for medelli
And Behringer..

Behringer has become a big-time player in the music industry in a fairly short time. If they make an arranger I would expect it to be well done and reasonably priced, as are most of their products.

I still say models like the CTX line aren’t bad at all. Granted they all have that garbage keybed, but the OS is much more stable, and the CTX-5000 can’t be beat for the price.

Behringer has really upped their game. They are putting out some amazing gear right now for a great price.

Sqk

Everyone gets a shot....just like a restaurant if the food stinks
you never go back.. plus you tell your friends not to go back...
same with gear.

Behringer copies everything, so why not the arranger...

Altough, they don’t just copy, they copy and improve, adding new and usefull features