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The Casio XW-G1 Groove Synthesizer represents a major comeback for Casio in the professional keyboard / synthesizer market. After twenty years without making a new pro synth, they have engineered one designed especially for the DJ and club performer. It boasts exclusive Hybrid Processing Sound Source (HPSS), iPad integration options that are sure to be popular, and a built-in step sequencer--and that's just scratching the surface.
The XW-G1 features a mode known as Solo Synth, a monophonic lead instrument with a six oscillator design, which can be controlled in real time via four knobs and nine sliders. Two virtual analog oscillators, two PCM oscillators, and a noise oscillator are at your fingertips. You've also got a sixth oscillator, which is external; mic and line inputs on the back of the instrument can be harnessed to function as the audio source for this sixth oscillator. Simply plug your iPod, iPhone, iPad or other device into this input, and it adds to your sound. Conveniently, there's even a dedicated spot on the right-hand side of the keyboard for placing external gear, large enough to accommodate your iPad. This keyboard gives you full control over real-time manipulation of the Solo Synth mode, as opposed to the partial control afforded by the XW-P1. For users who wish to do live looping for performance and remixing applications, with greater access to synthesizer control (as opposed to having a drawbar organ and acoustic patches), the XW-G1 is the way to go.
Your 9 sliders bring the different oscillators in and out of the sound, as well as offering control for other elements, such as the noise generator. The sliders truly give you a more interactive playing experience. The presets in Solo Synth mode offer everything from bright leads to ripping basses, with deeply editable sounds you can customize to your taste. Hundreds of waveforms give you ample choices; you can even access those from Casio's original CZ synthesizers. Enjoy powerful tools, such as reverse key scaling on pitch, enabling you to have sounds or oscillators running in different directions. There are also envelopes galore: Pitch envelopes for each oscillator, plus a master for merged sound. Each oscillator also has an independent filter, with numerous options for filter types, as well as independent key tracking, portamento, dual LFO's and access to a master resonant filter.
You'll find a stunning 300 fully editable PCM based sounds, including pianos, electric pianos, strings, guitars, basses and drums. We also feel pretty confident that you'll enjoy the performance mode that enables you to produce 4 sounds simultaneously: A Solo Synth for the first sound, with three other zones that can be populated by either internal or external sounds. What's more is that you get instant recall of effects, step sequences, arpeggiators and phrases.
The sample looper, similar to a live looping pedal, provides up to 19 seconds of sampling time. Store up to 10 user tones, each of which can contain up to 5 samples, in the sample player. These tones are saved in flash memory for recall at any time.
As if all this weren't enough, add a 13 track step sequencer, a 16 step programmable arpeggiator, pitch bend and modulation wheels, and a phrase sequencer for recording and playing back sounds, and you've got one amazing piece of musical genius on your hands.
Take advantage of the USB port for class compliant connection to Mac and Windows computers. The keyboard also has a MIDI port and 1/4" line outputs, in addition to the 1/4" mic and line inputs for the sixth oscillator and the 1/8" stereo mini-plug line input for connecting and monitoring an iPad or other device without a mixer. The XW-G1 comes with a power supply and can also run on 6 D batteries (not included).
| Keyboard Zones | Hybrid Processing Sound Source (HPSS) |
| Polyphony | 4 zone performance mode: Solo Synth plus 3 other zones for internal or external sounds |
| Oscillator | 6x oscillators: 2x virtual analog, 2x PCM, noise and external (for iPod, iPhone, iPad or other device) |
| Presets | Broad array of editable sounds from leads to basses |
| Arpeggiator |
16 step Fully programmable Produces conventional arpeggio patterns plus polyphonic synth gated patterns and acoustic instrument emulations |
| Sequencer |
13 Track Step Sequencer: 9 tracks for drums, basses, synths and chordal parts 4 controller tracks to add panning, filter changes and other animation 8 patterns comprise each sequence Phrase Sequencer for recording and playing back sounds |
| Controllers |
9 sliders 4 controller knobs |
| Sounds |
300 fully editable PCM based sounds Pianos, electric pianos, strings, guitars, basses and drums |
| Sample RAM | Flash memory can store up to 10 user tones, each of which can contain up to 5 samples |
| Outputs | 1/4" line |
| Inputs |
1/4" mic and line 1/8" stereo mini-plug line |
| Ports | USB, MIDI |
| Display | Yes |
| Power |
Included power supply Can also operate on 6x D batteries (not included) |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Weight | Not specified by manufacturer |