Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer (Used)
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This 61-key synthesizer has been optimized to be pleasing for both you and your audience.
Designed with the live setting in mind, the XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer gives you plenty of opportunity to create ear-pleasing sounds with its plethora of preset tones (like the Solo Synthesizer, Hex Layer, and Drawbar Organ), as well as numerous types of internal PCM and Synth waves. There are also multifunction keys that enable you to easily assign the most-desired DJ functions to the keys for simplified operation. The slim, lightweight XW-P1 can run on traditional batteries allow you the freedom to perform on stage, wherever it is and whenever you need to.
Solo Synth
The XW-P1 utilizes Casio's exclusive (HPSS) Hybrid Processing Sound Source, a six oscillator monophonic solo synth that is just one of its amazing sound engines. 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 LFOs 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.
HexLayer
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.
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.
Arpeggiator and Phrase Sequencer
In addition to typical arpeggio patterns, the XW-P1's 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.
Step Sequencer
Providing everything from pulsing dance grooves to animated synth textures and arpeggios, the XW-P1's 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.
Features
- 61 standard-size keys
- 2 types of touch response
- 6 oscillator monophonic solo synthesizer
- HexLayer: a single sound made up of 6 components for gig-ready splits and layers
- Drawbar Organ Mode with 9 sliders, adjustable rotary speaker, key click, vibrato and percussion
- 400 fully editable PCM based sounds like stereo pianos, vintage electric pianos, strings, guitars, drums and more
- 13-track step sequencer
- 16-step programmable Arpeggiator
- Pitch and modulation wheels
- Performance mode providing 4 internal or external instrument zones with instant recall of effects, Step Sequences, Arpeggiators and Phrases
- 4 realtime controller knobs
- Phrase sequencer to record and playback your riffs
- Stereo 1/8" line input to connect an MP3 player, laptop or tablet
- USB and MIDI ports
- 1/4" line outputs
- Included power supply
- Operates on 6 D batteries (not included)
Order this portable, highly playable keyboard synth today!
XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer Specifications:
- Dimesnsions: 948mm x 384mm x 124mm
- Weight: 5.4kg
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Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 9 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
67%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Portable (4)
- Easy to use (3)
Cons
Best Uses
- Electronic music (4)
- Accompaniment (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Experienced (3)
Reviews
Reviewed by 9 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-9
Pros
- Portable
- Responsive / Good Action
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
Good all-in-one. WIsh there were 2 pedal connectors.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Portable
- Realistic Sound
- Responsive / Good Action
- Touch Sensitive Keys
Cons
Best Uses
- Accompaniment
- Concerts
- Electronic Music
- MIDI
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
This is my first dive into Synths and I have to say that I really love this little tool. I have not dug as deep as it will go yet but as a tool that I use for 2 hour long Harp and Bowl worship sets, I don't think I would want to use anything else. I was not sure I was overjoyed at first because I was struggling a bit with the unfamiliar side of it but the more I use it, the more I love it and am so thankful that I chose this one. Transitions between songs and mood music to support others in antiphonal singing has really started to become almost effortless now that I am gaining familiarity. I am very happy with my choice.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Many Features
- Portable
- Realistic Sound
Cons
- Difficult to Use
- Poor Instructions
Best Uses
- Accompaniment
- Electronic Music
- In Studio
- School Bands
- Travel
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
Its a small keyboard with many feature like step sequencing, oscillators and phrase recording etc. etc. It has nice synth sound's not too good on ethic instruments but still worth for accompaniment. I will not go that far to say and compare which general people do with 4 times more expensive Yamaha, Korg or Roland well synth sournds are same from my side except instrument voice you have to work on them to get better sound. Working on this synth is hard as you can't really find what is what on very first look So, hard to learn. It has worked great for me in patterns of drums and synths which i have recorded. And its more over Casio has came back after 20 year's they have to move forward with better then this.
Pros
- Portable
Cons
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
- Electronic Music
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
Editing tones is a nightmare. My software takes care of all the sounds I need, I only buy hardware for the user interface. With the XWP1 I found myself menu diving way too much and getting frustrated, especially editing hex layers. I'm sure with the manual and tutorials I could get the hang of it but the whole point of hardware is for it to inspire you, lay down tracks. By the time I managed to get a good sound I was already over it. Granted I only demoed it at [@], but you can tell within minutes whether you click with an instrument or not. I didn't. The sounds are all there. The features are all there. But I don't want editing on my keyboard to feel like a chore.
Pros
- Easy to Use
Cons
- Poor Action
- Poor Instructions
- Unrealistic sound
Best Uses
- Accompaniment
- Electronic Music
- Learning
- MIDI
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
Purchased the Casio XW-PI to replace my old Roland Juno 1. Main use was for gigging with friends and it was the portability and reviews that led me to this instrument. Before I go forward I most often MIDI this with my Korg M-3 which is obviously a far superior keyboard but not so portable. Was a little disappointed with some of the sounds from the Casio. Not as realistic as I had hoped. But a lot of this likely comes from using the Korg which is just amazing with the sound it produces. The more I tinker with the Casio the more I see it as a decent accompaniment instrument not so much as a stand alone. I do also miss the bass patterns my Roland could generate as opposed to the Casio. I am however giving it time and learning daily and maybe with time will make it work. For the money still a decent value. I would say that if you are looking for a piano do not buy this. It is a true synthesizer and I find the piano sounds a bit tinny. And it does not obviously have weighted keys. Very lightweight and portable. That, and it's flexibility and ease of use are its best attributes. The manual also was a bit elementary. A lot of diagrams instead of text.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
I don't typically write reviews although I should because I read them when purchasing an item. I do however investigate and do research not relying solely on customer opinions. I always find it interesting when a product receives reviews ranging from "piece of junk" to "the best purchase I have ever made!"
To qualify my statements I have been playing keyboards in bands ranging from weekenders to full time road warrior for the past 30 years. I even had a Casio CZ101 in my setup in the mid 80's. Honestly I was skeptical regarding Casio's reemergence into the pro keyboard line. I was however encouraged due to Mike Martin's involvement as Mike has been with the "big names" in the past and adds credibility to the pro line products.
My purpose was for a "second" board to supplement my Korg SV1. I needed something for utility sounds such as synth, strings, some brass, pads etc. I use a Voce V5+ for my organ sounds and also wanted this board to serve as the keybed for the Voce.
After hooking up the XW I went through some of the internal patches. I was not immediately overwhelmed. After beginning to modify the sounds from the front panel I was beginning to hear what the hype was about. It is so very easy to manipulate the sounds and contour them to my liking. The real time control is a wonderful tool since I grew up with the Arp's and Moogs. I was able to morph the internal tones into some very usable meaty sounds. I was truly amazed at what a board at this price point will do! I haven't even delved into the arpeggiator or step sequencer yet! As I mentioned earlier I use a Voce V5+ and Ventilator for my Hammond sounds so the drawbar organ was not a priority. Again going through the presets it is passable and the Leslie sim is ok. I started to mess with the "drawbars" on the front panel and managed to get some pretty convincing (and usable) sounds. The piano is very usable as well. Overall if I had to get through a gig with just this board I could do it without a problem.
It's laughable reading comments comparing it to boards three and four times the cost. At this price point how can you expect a metal chassis and top of the line key bed? Yes it is made of high impact plastic, but it is feather light and feels durable. The key bed is very usable and as you get into the sounds coming out, you tend to focus more on the results. Be fair and compare this board with others in its price range…you don't get what you pay for….you get so much more.
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
I have been using the XP for about a month now and have yet to find fault or regret in my purchase. Sequencer is excelent, canned sounds are good , and reasonable control of all other aspects.
I find that I am using this board more than my MO6 which is right below it.
As always Mus. Friend has been a pleasure to deal with. I'm a happy camper.
Only because its plastic but all boards are.
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
The words "Game Changer" come to mind. Casio has come up with a an amazing feature set and created something truly unique. Is it perfect? No but it does so many things and makes sounds and features that nothing else I have can do. Don't waste your time looking at a MM6 or Juno. This thing is amazing. Highly recommended.
There is a ridiculous amount of stuff in this keyboard. Seriously for $500, the step sequencer alone is worth it. The sounds, the Solo Synth and Hex Layers are where this keyboard shines. The leads in the solo synth have quite a range, from vintage theramin and "luckyman" type leads, cool basses and some gigantic distorted solo leads it is pretty amazing. There are a tone of waveforms available and you can stack 5 oscillators at once plus the external source which I haven't used yet.
The Hex Layers are cool for pads. Some of the factory presets here are just ok, but with just a bit of tweaking and editing I've been able to get some outrageous sounds.
The pianos and EPs and other sounds are pretty solid too but thats not why I bought it.
It is really, really light. So far, I've had it on a few gigs, and its holding up just great. The keyboard has a fast feel. The pitch and modwheel are a bit small and "plasticy" but I'm getting used to the the placement and their feel.
Again it is $500! There is so much stuff in here I can't believe it.
Step Sequencer - Worth $500
Hex Layers - Amazing Pads, worth $500
Solo Synth - It has balls. Well Worth $500
iPad controller - It has a place to put one! You'd spend hundreds on a keyboard controller just get one of these.
Pianos and other sounds- Gig worthy Rompler too!
Comments about Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer:
When shopping for keyboards in early April (before the XW-P1 was in stock), I wasn't enamored by any of the options. Comparable synths from Roland and Korg just seemed to be missing something (programmable arpeggiator, software, combi flexibility), and I already have a Yamaha MO-6. While I was a little hesitant because this was Casio's first synth in a while, I read about it, tried one, and saw its potential. So far, I am very happy with my purchase.
This little guy packs a lot of pretty cool features. The UI on the XW-P1 is fantastic (despite only displaying a few lines of text on the screen). With the exception of EPs, I am very happy with the preset tones. Editing tones and combining tones (up to 4, and each can be transposed/octave shifted and assigned to any uninterrupted area of the keyboard) is super-easy, and the instructions included in the owner's manual do a good job of explaining those processes. While there isn't a "Favorites" list where you can save tones for quick selection, the keyboard will remember the last tone you were on for a particular category, and there aren't that many tones. I've only tinkered with the arpeggiator a little bit, but it's also very easy to program in (max)16-step arpeggios. I haven't played around with the sequencer yet, but it looks capable of doing simple work, nor have I played around too much with the Hex Layers.
My favorite feature is the drawbar organ. Not only are there a bunch of presets to start with, but then you can use the 8 sliders as drawbars to further shape your sound. The only thing I wish it had were better control over the speaker rotation speed. There's a button that selects fast/slow, and you can set the fast and slow speed, but you can't assign any of the knobs to control speed on a finer scale.
The jacks on the back include instrument in (no effects), mic in (effects), SD card slot for larger projects, USB-Midi and USB-data (for the editing software) as well as your standards.
The Casio XW-P1 is almost all plastic, and is certainly not as sturdy as a $2k+ keyboard, but it doesn't feel like it will break if I look at it wrong. I'm probably easier on my keyboards than some people, though, and it weighs about 11 lbs without batteries. The knobs and sliders have a little bit of resistance to their movement, and the keys also push back a little more than what I'm used to for spring action. I haven't tried beating on the screen, but the buttons feel like they can take some mild abuse (and they probably need to if you're going to use the arpeggiator and sequencer a lot). The black squre that takes up the upper-right corner of the keyboard is a rubbery surface and shelf obviously intended to be a place to put your tablet, but it works well for snacks and small mixer boards (for those with multi-keyboard setups).
For the price point, I feel Casio has offered a very attractive package. If you run too far in any direction, you'll push up against the limits of the machine, but if you want something that will enable you to edit tones, combis, and arpeggios super-quick, this is the keyboard you're looking for.
Displaying reviews 1-9
