Casio PX-320: Redefining the PX-310

[BeowulfX]

Privia PX-320: a BETTER version of the Casio Privia PX-310...

http://www.casio-intl.com/emi/piano/privia/px320.html

The differences between the PX-320 and PX-310 are the following:

1) 128-note polyphony (PX-320) vs. 32-note polyphony (PX-310)
2) SD-card storage capability vs. no storage feature in PX-310
3) AIF sound source (PX-320) vs. ZPI sound source (PX-310)

And then again Casio re-invented the PX-110DK in the form of PX-120DK/LB

http://www.casio-intl.com/emi/piano/privia/px120dk.html

The differences are:

1) 128-note polyphony (PX-120DK/LB) vs. 32-note polyphony (PX-110DK)
2) AIF sound source (PX-120DK/LB) vs. ZPI sound source (PX-110DK)


Just posting for those looking for a decent digital stage piano without breaking the bank...hope this helps.

[BeowulfX]

Just an update...

It was recently reviewed by Keyboard Magazine here (click the link):

http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/c...x/jun-08/36201

But the reviewer forgot to use or missed one vital, essential feature: the registration memory feature of the PX-320. I should know about the registration memory...because I actually own a Casio Privia PX-320 (been using it since February 2008 actually) and I use this feature a lot.

In the review I linked above, the reviewer should have used the registration memory of the PX-320 to make "shifting" or changing bass sounds (i.e. acoustic bass) to electric bass sound much easier while on a keyboard-split mode with layered tones on the upper register of the keyboard.

To illustrate the use of the registration memory:

As an example, assuming we're using Bank #1 and Bank #2 registration memory banks (there are about 96 available memory banks ) of the PX-320. Given that we will also use the keyboard split-mode (to divide the keyboard to upper and lower registers with different instruments on the upper and lower parts)...It can be set up this way...

Bank # 1:

Upper register: Piano + strings (2 tones using "Layer" function)
Lower register: ACOUSTIC BASS

Bank #2:

Upper register: Piano + strings (2 tones layered same as above)
Lower register: ELECTRIC BASS

Now the application:

If I was playing one segment of a song using the settings in Bank #1 above AND want to change ONLY the bass instrument sound when the next segment of the song comes (while keeping the same layered tones on the upper register)...all I need to do is just press the button that corresponds to registration memory Bank #2....This would achieve the "shifting" or changing of bass instrument without the "hassles" of using a multi-step procedure that the author of the review article above mentioned and mistakenly did when he was trying out the PX-320.

Registration memory bank is an important feature that distinguishes the PX-320 (and its predecessor...the PX-310 as well as the PX-575 from the rest of the Privia series digital piano).

The registration memory bank can do the following:

1) store various keyboard/digital piano settings (e.g. brightness setting for the piano sound, keyboard-split point, reverb effects or chorus effects setting, accompaniment rhythm style)

2) store any of your favorite instrument sounds (both layered tones and non-layered tones)

3) can store keyboard-split instrument setup (e.g.: piano layered with strings on upper register, acoustic bass on the lower register etc.)

4) can make changing/shifting sounds from one instrument to another instrument patch easier and faster in the middle of a song or while playing music (becomes very handy when playing music live or while in a gig).

Just clarifying how the author of the article I linked above could have taken advantage of the registration memory which he forgot to mention

Overall, it was a positive review for the Privia PX-320 Hope this helps anyone considering the PX-320.

Regards.

[Jazzooo]

Hey, just wanted to say that it's fun to read an in depth instrument review here. I also share some of your enthusiasm for the Privia line--I own and gig with an older PXR575. The newer models are pretty great, although there are some significant oversights that drive me insane.

First of all, 26 pounds is way lighter than most weighted keyboards, it's true. But as a guy who lives in central Mexico, where the streets are cobblestone and load-ins can be two blocks away, I'm still waiting for someone to break the 20 pound barrier. It will happen--if M-Audio's new lighter keyboard didn't cause carpal tunnel just from playing a C scale (it's a miserable thing), I'd own that one.

Second, the built in organ sounds on the Privia line are unusable due to the sampled tremelo which cannot be defeated. What a ridiculous sample to include. I owned a 310 for a week and after one rehearsal I returned it due to this. No one is saying it has to be the best organ sample in the world for the money, but it should at least be straight and let you add and subtract vibrato/tremelo at will.

A few of the new Privia's didn't have midi ins and outs, or only had headphone outputs--serious limitations imo.

That said, big bang for the buck. I just opted for a non-weighted Yamaha NP30, only 12 pounds. I'm going to see if I can get used to playing it for a while, for those gigs where the stage is cramped and load-in is a hassle.

[groover]

I also have a PX-310, and while it's interesting to hear about the reg. memory features, I never use the internal sounds at all. I only use it as a MIDI controller. As Doug mentioned, it only has a headphone out, which is too noisy to run through an amp, but it makes a nice controller. I just wish it had an expression lever for soloing.

[BeowulfX]

@ Jazzoo:

I believe that the Privias that carry only headphone-outs are the lower models (particularly the PX-110 and the newer PX-120, of course even their older counterpart as well like the PX-100 etc. ) as well as the PX-575R.

But as far as the older PX-310 is concerned, as well as the PX-200 and their current "flagship" the PX-320, these 3 Privias carry dedicated LINE OUT (L & R) ports located at the back panel of the digital piano.

Check the technical specs of the PX-310 here (there's actually a LINE-OUT in addition to the headphone OUT):

http://www.casio.com/products/Musica...chnical_Specs/

It's a pity the PX-575R didn't have a LINE-OUT port other than the usual headphone-out port though. I'm expecting that Casio would probably release a better version of the PX-575R sometime next year or so as an addition to the recently released Privia PX-120 and PX-320. Probably it should have the well-needed 128-note polyphony and LINE-OUT ports as well.

If I'm not mistaken, the Privia PX-575R has a digital drawbar feature...which I find rather interesting. Have you explored or tried tinkering with it yet? Does it help in, at least, making some of the organ sounds "customisable" or "useable" if not "good'?

@ Groover:

Could it be that you and Jazoo were referring to the PX-110 and not the PX-310 regarding the lack of dedicated LINE-OUT port? Because I've actually tried and checked the PX-310 before I bought my PX-320 (when I was still comparing these two Privias prior to buying) and I'm quite sure the PX-310 had its dedicated LINE-OUT ports (in addition to the HEADPHONE-OUT port).

I also happen to use my PX-320 as a MIDI-controller in my simple home-studio set up ( consisting of a dual-core PC with 2 audio-MIDI interface devices installed: one Soundblaster Live 5.1 platinum soundcard and one M-Audio 2496 I/O audiocard, a simple 8-track mixer with usual reverb/chorus effect, Cakewalk Sonar audio-MIDI sequencing software and a couple of VSTi plug-in and some good soundfonts from a company known as Sonic Implant a couple of years back and a rather old JV-1080 sound module that hopefully I'd be replacing with a Motif sound module by the end of this year). I also use it in regular gigs during weekends (let's just say I'm a licensed "health professional" during weekdays and part-time gig-musician during weekends ...music and jamming is a form of "stress-reliever" for me too ).

As far as the recent Casio Privia MIDI-compatible models are concerned, I wish Casio would place a keyboard AFTERTOUCH feature (in their PRIVIA series and future keyboards) as part of their MIDI implementation/feature. Although I think music doesn't really suffer without this one feature that higher-end models from dedicated MIDI controllers from Roland and Yamaha have, it would be nice if Casio would include it in future incarnations of their MIDI-compatible keyboards and digital pianos.

Thanks for your input and opinion

[kurtdaniel]

If you consider action, sound quality (both instrument & audio) and don't mind the traditional cabinet design, the PX-320 is a clear winner for piano for beginners.