Does anyone know about the PSR E-473 Yet.

[casiokid]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF6FcS-Wkl8

[SciNote]

@PJ: Cant wait to hear your first impressions 

@SciNote:

And if you get a chance, please test out whether you can save knob changes to a registration. 

No need to test, you can. The manual says that clear and loud on page 140 and 141 as well as on page 170. You can save the parameter values that you tweaked with the knobs either in one of the four Setup slots or in one of the reg memory slots.

@Casiokid:

Am I right in thinking that although you can change Style Parts on the E473 you cannot adjust their individual volume ?

You're right indeed. The only thing you can do is activate or mute a style track you don't want to hear using the track buttons under the screen. On this website, though, you can find plenty of software software to help you tweak styles to your liking.

Vinciane

I'm looking on pages 140, 141, and 170 of the Casio CTS1000V manual, and I am seeing the same thing that I saw before.  When referring to the knobs, in both places in the manual, it states that what is saved is:

Knob Type (K1, K2, K3)
Knob Effect Part (UPPER1, UPPER2, and LOWER for each of the knobs: K1, K2, K3)
--- the text "for each of the knobs: K1, K2, K3" is omitted in the section on registrations
Knob K1-K2 Link

My understanding of all this is: Knob Type is simply what those knobs are assigned to control (filter cutoff, envelope, modulation, etc), but not the actual values of the parameters you set (similar to the knob-assign function on the PSR-E series).  Knob Effect Part is what part of the keyboard will be affected by the use of the knobs (similar to how the E473/EW425 can set what part of the keyboard is affected by DSP2).  And Knob K1-K2 Link is a program that, when you select a function for K1, the keyboard will automatically select a related function for K2 -- for example, I would imagine that if you have this Link feature on, then if you select filter cutoff for K1, then K2 will automatically be assigned filter resonance, regardless of what it was previously assigned.  What I believe they are describing here is that a registration can store whether you want this Link function on or off.

Please highlight what I might be missing, because while these functions of the knobs can be saved, I still see nothing showing that the actual values/parameters you set with these knobs -- at least for filter and envelope generator -- get saved.  I would not be surprised if it is just an omission in the manual, just like how Yamaha did not list style revoicings in the list of functions stored in registrations in that section of the manual.  I am also having trouble determining the full difference between a registration and a set-up -- I'm sure there are differences, but they seem similar.

As for the E473/EW425, I just realized something a bit disappointing, though not necessarily deal-breaking.  The live control knobs can not be set to change the envelope attack and release!  Now, to be clear, attack and release are still there for the main and dual voice, and it appears that they can be saved to a registration, but you now have to go into the function list to access these parameters, and then you have to adjust them separately for the main and dual voice.  Many times, you'd want different settings for the main and dual voice, anyway, but the ability to change those functions by the knobs during a live performance is a nice feature to have -- and it also helps more quickly dial in the sound you want if you are trying to synthesize a patch.

[pjd]

Hi Bob --

I mangled an oboe voice ("tone" in Casio-speak) and it stored/recalled things almost correctly. It stored and recalled the changed cut-off value. What's weird though, is it didn't seem to change the modulation setting (knob 3) when I pulled up another voice. A bug maybe?

Tried making my first split/layer (lower, upper 1 + upper 2). Accidentally overwrote my first try -- whoops! Changing the layer tone and the upper 2 tone seemed a little byzantine. Maybe I'll get used to it. Seems like it won't change the second layer voice unless split is OFF. Weird. Maybe another UI thing that needs refinement?

Actually played a little gospel piano -- which is not really my main instrument (organ). It was more pleasant to play piano on the CT than the MODX. (I detest playing piano on the MODX.)

All the best -- pj

[SciNote]

Good -- glad to see that it does save those filter settings, because that would be a serious shortcoming if it did not.  Not sure what is going on with it not changing the modulation setting when you called up a new sound.  Two things that come to mind...

1.  Is that something that can be "frozen"?  I'm not looking at the manual right now, but I saw that this keyboard can "freeze" numerouns parameters.

2.  Not likely, but maybe the default modulation of the new voice you called up is the same as what you previously set it to?  In that case, the modulation would not change when calling up the new voice -- but yes, that is a long shot.

[Keyboard Master]

Cool. oh and if Yamaha made the psr e473 where you could also change the style channel volume that would have been nice too.

[vbdx66]

Well... if you need this function you should maybe consider the PSR SX600. Don't forget that the E473 is an entry level keyboard. They added style revoicing to the new functions, which is already something great (I usually hate the default bass sound on the styles of the PSR E4xx so at least I can now choose another bass).

Regards,

Vinciane

[casiokid]

You can re-voice a style on the Korg EK-50 just like you can on the E473

[Keyboard Master]

Agree. At least the revoicing itself being able to do just that is a huge improvement imo.

[tomsixtwo]

I started writing first impressions and realized that it was too much for a PSR-focused forum. I posted first impressions here:

http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-first-impressions/

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your blog. sandsoftwaresound.net is one of my regular go-to places on the web. The selection of the topics and the balance between music, technology and nerdiness is second to none. Exactly my kind of thing.

With great interest I have read your latest contribution to the CT-S1000V, which is already online.

Keep up the good work!

Tom

[pjd]

Hi Tom --

Thanks for the kind words! If I don't write this stuff down, I forget it. 

Peace -- pj

[SciNote]

Paul, I saw your post on the other forum :-)

Maybe I should ask this there, but I'm really getting the feeling that they don't like too many questions.  They even had a limit to the number of posts I could place in a day -- and it was like 2!  We'll see how it goes.

Anyway, since I know you have one of these keyboards, I'm curious -- We established that, on the Casio CTS 500/1000V, with DSP on, one of the knobs can be set to be a slow/fast Leslie switch.  And I know you can hold the function of the knobs to DSP parameters for when you change sounds or do something else.  But can you mix the knobs with DSP and non DSP functions?  For example, could K1 be Leslie speed, and K2 be filter cutoff?  Or maybe K1 and K2 be filter cutoff and resonance, while K3 is Leslie speed?

Otherwise, I'm getting the feeling that these keyboards are like being inside your house, and right outside, there is a brilliant world filled with rainbows, unicorns, and puppy dogs -- but you can only see it all through a small peep-hole in your door!  I feel like that with the Casios -- all of these great features -- filter, programmable DSP, Leslie speed up and slow down, various style and registration controls -- but you can only get to it all through a few dedicated buttons and soft keys, and you have to keep switching between different menus for the soft keys to access the function you want.  Since you have the keyboard, what do you think?

[vbdx66]

Hi Bob, two points here:

1) I am very surprised that you were limited to two posts a day in the Casio Music Forums, I have never been aware if such a limitation. Like in our Forum here, they have a space where you can ask questions pertaining to the forum itself and usually these questions get thorough answers.

2) Yep. I am feeling exactly as you do about Casio keyboards. I was very excited when the CT-X3000 and 5000 appeared - soudwise they were great. I had the 3000 during a couple of weeks, too - great sounds, nice keybed, very complicated UI. I then had the PSR E463 for a couple of weeks but I had the feeling the sounds were a bit dated and I sent it back. I ended buying the CT-X800 which I still have.

The problem with these Casio's is that you have to program everything beforehand and store your favourite settings in registrations because the function you need are hidden into sub menus. This doesn't allow for much spontaneity.

It is too bad the PSR E473/EW425 got such a lousy launching campaign. I think that they probably deserve more love than what they're getting. If I were active in Yamaha's marketing department I would hurry a ***ier demonstration campaign with live artists etc. like Casio did for the CT-S500/1000V. Hope we will get that in the forthcoming weeks.

In the meantime, I am very curious to hear PJ's feedback about the CT-S1000V.

Regards,

Vinciane.

[pjd]

Good heavens, please don't wait on me.  Especially while the Olympics are on TV.

As to the knobs, switches and tiny window into (or out of) the world, the CT-S1000V is limited in that way. I was playing with Active DSP and rotary parameters when I came to the same conclusion -- it's either effect parameters via the knobs OR it's tone parameters via the knobs. That could be a deal-breaker for folks who want to access both kinds of parameters simultaneously.

Casio would have (should have?) used a two-level scheme -- assign knob to CC# and assign a parameter to CC#. If the CC# is the same, then the knob and parameter rendezvous.

The situation is similar to all those synth folks wanting a zillion front panel knobs and switches for control. If a customer can live within the limitations, then OK. It's definitely not for everybody.

The CT-S1000V approach is kinda modal. The simple front panel and small number of knobs/switches keeps their cost very low. (I suspect they are even re-using printed circuit boards across models.) It does mean a lot of button pressing and menu diving...

Hope to get back to music stuff tomorrow -- pj
 

[SciNote]

Paul, thanks for the update and clarification!  I had a feeling that it would be either tone control OR DSP but not a mixture.

Then again, the E473/EW425 are like that as well -- the knob assignments can be filter, reverb/chorus, OR DSP controls -- no way to individually assign one knob to, say, the filter cutoff, and the other knob to a DSP parameter.  However, it looks a lot easier to change the knob assignments on the Yamahas -- just push the knob assign button and an assignment number.  No need to go into menus and sub-menus.  One thing that I don't think is clear or stated in the Yamaha manual is whether repeated pushing of the knob assignment button will advance through the selections, such as on my E433.  I suspect not -- as the E433 does not have the ability to jump from one knob assignment template to another by hitting a number key.  You can only repeatedly push the assignment button until you get to the template you want.  It is a bummer that they removed the envelope generator from the knob assignment templates on the new models.

[Keyboard Master]

Cool. I was also curious if we can adjust the Reverb Paramaters like make the tail longer (Reverb Time). If not that;s ok.

[pjd]

I had a feeling that it would be either tone control OR DSP but not a mixture.

Hi --

The Lyric Tone parameters might be either/or, too. I need to try.

I was also curious if we can adjust the Reverb Parameters like make the tail longer (Reverb Time).

On the CT-S1000V, nope. The system effects are reverb, delay and chorus. It's only possible to choose the effect type, no access to the reverb parameters like time, high damp, etc. I think this is a serious oversight. At the very least, I like to look at the parameter values to sort out Room1 vs. Room2 vs. Room3... 

All the best -- pj