Casio news! 😀

ClothEaredNincompoop

They have a live "Casio KeyNote Live Event" on YouTube right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49pU9wdnR0

ClothEaredNincompoop

So, the new products are Casio CT-S500 and CT-S1000V 61 key keyboards.

The 1000V can sing. 😮

(Like e.g. a vocoder, talk box or an obviously synthetic choir. Think Yamaha's Vocaloid, but in a keyboard and not as standalone computer software.)

Pete14

You had to come here looking for -Casio- trouble, didn’t you?

I know where you’re going with this, and I’m not falling for it; ‘the 1000V can sing’, is simply an invitation for bashing guised as a pun for the ‘vocode’, etc…, but I’m not going to fall for it!

We don’t do Casio-bashing ‘round here, you must’ve confused us for that other place; where Casio is abused on a daily basis, “they don’t make hybrids; they make watches.” Ironically enough, they do make ‘hybrid watches’, too, but that’s a whole other point.

I’ve had it with you Casio haters (millennial-talk); Casio is here to stay, so get over it, and stop the senseless bashing!

ClothEaredNincompoop

Pete14 We don’t do Casio-bashing

In the live stream comments I said that the 1000V is a "future legendary vintage keyboard in 20 years or so".

Hardly bashing at all.

Ralphiano

That's right, Pete! If Casio wasn't around, all those pretenders like Kawai, Yamaha, and Roland would be like little ducklings who've lost their mother. They wouldn't know who to follow next!

ClothEaredNincompoop

Ralphiano all those pretenders like Kawai

I'm a snowflake Kawai fanpersonofunspecifiedgenderidentity and I'm offended.

I thought this was a Kawai safe space and was at least expecting a content warning. ("Trigger warning" is an offensive word.)

(That emoji above could actually be a useful addition to the official emoji collection. 😀)

ClothEaredNincompoop

Other new models are PX-S3100, CDP-S160 and CDP-S360.

We can bash those too…for too small changes for example(?) Like "They kept the flawed action!" or something. I haven't really even checked out yet what has actually changed.

ClothEaredNincompoop

There's also the CDP-S100 to CDP-S110 update.

"Polyphony has been increased, too, from 64 to 128 notes, and the piano tone has improved decay."
(https://www.musicradar.com/news/casio-cdp-s360-cdp-s110-digital-pianos)

The decay seemed to be an issue on the CDP-S100 and maybe the 150 too. The 350 seemed to have better pianos. (A different sound engine)

The CDP-S110 and 160 are then a bit better cheap, lightweight "travel piano" options than their predecessors if the decay isn't annoyingly short anymore.

CyberGene

Well, the CDP-S110 might be what I'm looking for after all 😀 I remember I liked the CDP-S100 keyboard more than the Fatar TP100/LR, so if it provides even semi-decent MIDI response, it can be used with my MacBook Air for jam sessions.

vagfilm

CasioGene...

CyberGene

🤣

Del Vento

ClothEaredNincompoop I thought this was a Kawai safe space and was at least expecting a content warning. (

Yes, and we are trying to cajole @KawaiJames to join, unsuccessfully so far, as discussed at https://pianoclack.com/forum/d/151-invite-others/115

burkey Conclusion: hybrid is meaningless, and Yamaha is the current winner :-p

Arguably from your own list either Kawai or Casio should be the winner, depending on the rules of the game, not Yamaha, sorry. Given the name of the thread, I vote for Casio, with the justification: in business, you need to earn money and doing it cheap while charging people more is best (provided they buy it….)

MrGr I have some hope that the optical sensors are more consistent than their contact rubber counterparts. But at 7k€+….. no way.

You should engage in the DIY which is going on in full swing then, see the last post of my series https://pianoclack.com/forum/d/276-build-your-own-hybrid-piano-step-three-the-electronics and don't forget to see the broad community engagement https://pianoclack.com/forum/d/289-scanning-speed-and-velocity-mapping-of-cybrid

I am interested in installing these sensors in a full grand action, but you may well use them in any other action you like. My youngest daughter (quit playing the piano and now plays the clarinet) has become very interested in this project and she would probably use it to make her own "instrument" which she has not decided yet what it should be 😆

In its easiest incarnation, I should release a DIY version soon, which will require very little from a hardware perspective (particularly no custom PCB ordering, which I know many people are not interested in doing)

EDIT: I'm becoming a one-trick-pony, that is sad, sorry about it, I'll try to diversify my contributions to the forum.

MrGr

Wait, doesn't Casio produce hybrids using Bechstein keyboards? They shortened the keys to the same length as the cheapest keyboard controllers though. But makes that them being non-hybrids?

ClothEaredNincompoop

MrGr Wait, doesn't Casio produce hybrids using Bechstein keyboards?

Key sticks rather than "keyboards" and I guess the plywood(?) below is the same "key bed" if that's the correct name for it.

The actual action parts of course are totally different.

QuasiUnaFantasia

MrGr But makes that them being non-hybrids?

I have a feeling we're going to need a thread dedicated to this topic: "Battlefield Hybrid". 😁

burkey

MrGr them being non-hybrids?

Hybrid definitions

Casio: fake plastic (un-folded) hammers = hybrid
Roland: regular folded action but with 26cm pivot length = hybrid
Yamaha: real acoustic action minus dampers and strings = hybrid
Kawai: real acoustic action minus strings = hybrid

Conclusion: hybrid is meaningless, and Yamaha is the current winner :-p

MrGr

QuasiUnaFantasia tbf I don't really care about hybrids that much. I find many of their "realism" features annoying (pedals impacting keys, let-off etc.), but I have some hope that the optical sensors are more consistent than their contact rubber counterparts. But at 7k€+….. no way.

I also wonder how Bechstein acoustics are generally perceived considering Bechstein lends its name to IMHO mediocre stuff like Casio's GP-310/510.

QuasiUnaFantasia

Amongst acoustics Bechstein is widely considered second to none. It tends to be seen as a member of an exclusive class of piano makers (Steinway and Bösendorfer are other members, and there are others also).

MrGr

Del Vento

Great stuff, very interesting. However, I'd prefer something that's based around making sure that those velocity measurements are precise and can be semi-automatically calibrated. I'm still thinking how one could do that in a reliable, precise but still cheap manner. If someone got an idea, file a patent application! (or better not 😇)

I would also be totally ok with contact rubber solutions - as long as there is a way to recalibrate and easily fix it.

EDIT: I'm becoming a one-trick-pony, that is sad, sorry about it, I'll try to diversify my contributions to the forum.

Better one- than no-trick pony 😎

burkey

Del Vento Arguably from your own list either Kawai or Casio should be the winner

Not if being the best instrument is the main criteria :-p

burkey

I.e. Why would anyone choose to vary the weight of the keys (that’s what a real damper does) if it is a choice (digital) instead of being necessary (acoustic)?!