Casio XW-P1 Digital Synthesizers Keyboards Controller
At A Glance
The XW-P1 is a 61 key performance synthesizer with Casio’s exclusive (HPSS) Hybrid Processing Sound Source. Providing screaming virtual analog monophonic leads and basses, drawbar organs, complex layers, stereo pianos, drums and more, the XW-P1 has the sounds and real-time control the performing musician needs.
6 Oscillator Monophonic Solo Synthesizer
HexLayer
Drawbar Organ Mode
Introduction to the new XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer from Casio by Mike Martin.
SYNTHESIZER
The XW-P1 is a 61 key performance synthesizer with Casio's exclusive (HPSS) Hybrid Processing Sound Source. Providing screaming virtual analog monophonic leads and basses, drawbar organs, complex layers, stereo pianos, drums and more, the XW-P1 has the sounds and real-time control the performing musician needs.
STEP SEQUENCER
Providing everything from pulsing dance grooves to animated synth textures and arpeggios, the Step Sequencer is the first of its kind. With nine tracks for drums, basses, synths and chordal parts, four controller tracks for adding panning, filter changes and other animation to existing parts and eight patterns make up each sequence; the user can build and mix their performance on the fly. Sequences can even transpose live from the keyboard, providing a completely interactive experience.
DRAWBAR ORGAN
In addition to the solo synth and Hexlayers, the XW-P1 performance synthesizer is armed with an arsenal of gig ready sounds like stereo pianos, vintage electric pianos, strings, brass, guitars, basses, drums and more. It also has a new drawbar organ mode. Utilizing the nine sliders on the XW-P1 you have full range control over each drawbar. The XW-P1 even has dedicated controls for key percussion and rotary speaker while also providing vibrato, distortion and more for the ultimate drawbar organ experience.
SOLO SYNTH
Utilizing Casio’s exclusive (HPSS) Hybrid Processing Sound Source, a six oscillator monophonic solo synth is just one of the amazing sound engine in the XW-P1. The solo synth has the power to deliver classic analog sounds and sounds with an aggressive edge unlike anything else. Two virtual analog style oscillators, two PCM based oscillators, a noise oscillator and an external oscillator via mic and line inputs can be combined to make up a single solo synth tone. Each oscillator has an independent filter, envelopes, independent key tracking, portamento, two LFO’s and access to master resonant filter. With impressive modulation and control capabilities at your fingertips, the solo synth is capable of a wide range of sounds and expression.
HEX LAYER
In addition to the solo synth, the XW-P1 also features HexLayer tones. A HexLayer is a single sound comprised of up to 6 components, allowing complex layers, splits and velocity switched sounds. The sliders on the XW-P1 can be used to mix sounds on the fly to create evolving pads and rich synth textures while key velocity can be used to create dynamic velocity switched orchestral sounds and more.
ARPEGGIATOR AND PHRASE SEQUENCER
The XW-P1 has powerful arpeggiators. In addition to typical arpeggio patterns, this arpeggiator can create polyphonic synth gated patterns, acoustic instrument emulations and is even fully programmable allowing you to create your own unique sounds. An additional phrase sequencer allows you to quickly capture any riff that you play on the keyboard and have it available on a front panel switch or triggered and transposed live from a range of notes on the keyboard. The combination of the Step Sequencer, Arpeggiator and Phrase Sequencer provides an endless array of sound possibilities.
CONTROL
The XW-P1 has 4 realtime controller knobs, pitch bend and modulation wheels, along with 9 sliders to provide control over internal sounds and external devices. Through standard MIDI ports and with a class-compliant USB port the keyboard can be used as a controller for other instruments, including computer software and iPad® based software applications. It also includes an audio input allowing you to monitor an MP3 player, computer or other device without the need for a mixer.
BATTERIES
While the XW-P1 comes with a power supply it can also run on batteries, providing a truly mobile music making experience. You can now create music virtually anywhere.
REVIEW
Casio’s XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer Receives Keyboard Magazine's Key Buy Award
Technical Specs
XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer
Number of Keys 61
Controllers Pitch Wheel; Yes
Modulation Wheel Yes
Assignable Controllers Controllers; 4 Knobs
Assignable Functions MIDI Messages (CC, RPN, NRPN, Mono After touch, Poly After touch, Pitch, Tempo)
Editing Controllers 9 Sliders
Display LCD; 72x31 Dot Matrix + Patterns, with Backlight and Contrast
Tone Generator Overview; Sound Generator Type; HPSS(Hybrid Processing Sound Source)
Polyphony 64
Number of Parts 16
Total Number of Tones (Preset/User) 620/310
PCM, Melody, PCM Drum, Drawbar Organ, Hex Layer, Solo Synthesizer
GM Compatible Level 1
Mixer Yes
Tuning A4=415.5Hz - 440.0Hz - 465.9Hz (0.1Hz-Step)
PCM Tones Preset/User Tones; 400/100
Tri-Element Stereo Piano Yes
Tones with User Wave N/A
Drum Kits (Preset/User) 20/10
Hex Layer Number of Tones (Preset/User); 50/50
Description A single tone with 6 components. Independent filter, pitch, envelope key zone, velocity range and effects mix for each layer
Drawbar Organ Number of Tones (Preset/User); 50/50
Description 9 Step Drawbar organ mode with 9 dedicated sliders, percussion control, key click and rotary speaker
Solo Synthesizer Preset/User Tones; 100/100
Maximum Polyphony 1
Oscillator Blocks 6 (Synth 1/2, PCM1/2, Ext Input, Noise)
Portamento Yes
Legato Yes
PWM Yes
External Input Yes
Pitch Shifter Yes
Noise Generator Yes
Non-Resonant Filter Yes (6)
Resonant Filter Yes (1)
Amplifier Yes
Oscillator Mixer Yes
LFO Yes (2)
Envelope Generators Pitch, Amp, Filter, LFO
Assignable Virtual Controllers 8
Effects System Reverb; Preset Types; 10
System Chorus Preset Types; 5
Limitations System Chorus, DSP and Solo Synthesizer are mutually exclusive
Master Effect EQ; Editable 4 Band EQ
DSP Number of DSP Sets (Preset/User); 100/100
PCM Tone Effect Categories Compressor, Distortion, Enhancer, Wah, Auto Pan, Tremolo, Rotary, Phaser, Chorus, Reflection, Tempo Sync Delay, Ring Modulator, LoFi, 2-Module Multi
Solo Synth DSP Tempo Sync Delay, Distortion, Ring Modulator, Chorus, Flanger, Pan
Algorithm Types 46(Normal Tone DSP) 6(Solo Synthesizer DSP)
DSP Lines 1
Audio Player Storage Type; SD Card
Number of Songs 999
Audio File Format 42kHz Stereo
Limitation Audio Playing, Musical Playing(SMF, Step Sequencer) are mutually exclusive.
Step Sequencer Number of Tracks; Mono x 8, Poly x 1, Control x 4
Number of Patterns / Step Sequence 8
Number of Step Sequencers (Preset/User) 100/100
Number of Chains (user) 100
Maximum Number of Steps 16
Key Play Yes
Other Note Gate, Note Swing per Track
Phrase Sequencer Number of Phrases; 100/100
Number of Tracks 1
Play Mode Loop, Hold, Key Play
Capacity 8KBytes/Pgrase, 128KBytes/100 User Phrases
Recordable Events Note On/Off, Controller Operations
Arpeggiator Other; Phrase measure and note quantize, overdub
Number of Patterns (Preset/User) 100/100
Data Types Variation, Step
Editing Function Variation; Parameter Edit
Step 16-Step Edit, Parameter Edit
Performance Number of Memories (Preset/User); 100/100
Parameter Categories Tone, Effect, Mixer, Controller, Sequence, Phrase, Arpeggio, MIDI
Recall Parameter Filter Yes
Number of Keyboard Zones 4
Multifunction Key Yes
Transpose Range; +/- 12
Octave Shift Range; +/- 3
Tempo Range; 30-255BPM
Tap Tempo Button/LED; Yes
MIDI Clock Transmit/Receive; Yes
Storage SDHC Card; Capacity; 2GB-32GB
