Casio Returns with the New XW-P1 and XW-G1 Synthesizers

It’s been over twenty years since Casio has made a synthesizer for the pro market, but at NAMM 2012 they announced the XW-P1 and XW-G1, two competitively-priced, yet very capable keyboards that have a lot to offer. Make no mistake, Casio is back, and they’re back in a big way. These instruments offer thick and juicy sounds, an innovative twist on drawbar manipulation, clever iPad integration options, a built-in step sequencer and truckloads more.

Both of the new keyboards feature a mode called Solo Synth. It’s a monophonic lead instrument with a six oscillator design and real-time controls (four knobs and nine sliders). You can get gritty with its two virtual analog oscillators, two PCM oscillators, and noise oscillator. The sixth oscillator is external. There are Mic and Line inputs on the rear of the instrument, which can be harnessed to act as the sound source for the sixth oscillator. Plug your iPod, iPhone, iPad or any noise making device into this input, and it becomes a voice in your monster sound. There’s a dedicated area on the right side of both keyboards for placing your external gear, and it’s large enough to accommodate an iPad. The synths also feature a USB port for class compliant connection to Mac and Windows computers.

The nine sliders bring the different oscillators in and out of the sound, and control other elements (like the noise generator). They really make for a more interactive playing experience. The presets in Solo Synth give you everything from bright leads to ripping basses. The sounds are deeply editable. There are hundreds of waveforms to choose from, filter types, and powerful tools like reverse key scaling on pitch (so you can have sounds or oscillators running in different directions). There are envelopes galore (pitch envelopes for each oscillator, and a master for the merged sound). There’s a lot you can say, but in a word, it’s just a huge sounding, yet very malleable instrument.

The XW-P1 gives you several different sound engines which were designed for the performing musician. Here you will find pianos, electric pianos, acoustic sounds mixed with synths, a powerful drawbar organ, etc. There are orchestral combination patches with velocity switch sounds (meaning that you can be playing a string instrument, and if you hit the keys with enough velocity, it will trigger strings, timpani and brass). And you have a performance mode that lets you do four sounds at once (a HexLayer, Solo Synth or drawbar organ with three other zones and either internal or external sounds). 

Exclusive to the XW-P1, the HexLayer is a dedicated polyphonic mode with six components that combine to make a single instrument. There are stacked sounds that you can easily turn into pads, or blend between the different elements with the nine sliders. You can dig into complex layering, splits and more velocity switched sounds. Also exclusive to the XW-P1 is the drawbar organ, which lets you control the key percussion sounds and rotary speaker effects. You can also add vibrato and distortion to get the organ sound you desire.

In place of the drawbar organ and the HexLayer, the XW-G1 offers a sample looper, similar to a live looping pedal in a keyboard format. This gives you up to 19 seconds of sampling time. You can also store up to 10 user tones (which can contain up to five samples each) in the sample player. These tones are stored in flash memory and can be recalled at any time. In addition, the XW-G1 offers access to more parameters for the real-time manipulation of the Solo Synth mode. For those looking to do live looping for performance and remixing purposes, with more access to synthesizer control (as opposed to having a drawbar organ and more meat-and-potatoes acoustic patches), the XW-G1 is the way to go.

Both models feature a 13 track step sequencer, a 16 step programmable arpeggiator, a four zone performance mode, four controller knobs, a phrase sequencer for recording and playing back sounds, a stereo mini-plug line input (for connecting an iPad or other devices), USB and MIDI ports, 1/4" line outputs, a power supply and the ability to run on six D batteries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The XW-P1 will be shipping in March, and the XW-G1 is expected in April.