Quad Clock Distributor × Pamela's Pro Work Out × Bin SEQ × Mimetic Digitalis / Modular Synth

video upload by MY FIRST SYNTH TOKYO

"ALM Busy Pamela's Pro Workout
Noise Engineering Bin Seq
Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitalis
4ms Quad Clock Distributor
Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter
JJ Jamming JJ Filter
Make Noise Mimeophon

Modular Synth"

Mutable Peaks & Pico Drums & Basimilus Iteritas Alter【BPM145 BEATS】 #eurorack #modularsynth

video upload by MY FIRST SYNTH TOKYO

"【Ingredients】
Sequencer&Quantizer
・Erica Synths Black Sequencer

LFO & Gate
・ALM Busy Pamela's New Workout

Oscillator
・Mutable Instruments Peaks
・Erica Synths Pico Drums
・Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter
・Michigan Synth Works Beehive(Plaits)

Envelope & Attenuverter
・Make Noise MATHS

VCA
・Intellijel μVCA

Delay & Reverb
・Endorphin.es Ghost
・Mutable Instruments Beads"

Sdkc Instruments Helical＆MakeNoise Wogglebug＆Endorphin.es Ghost & JJ Filter #modularsynth #eurorack

video upload by MY FIRST SYNTH TOKYO

synths on a train...

"【Ingredients】
Random Voltage
・Make Noise Richter Wogglebug

Oscillator
・Sdkc Instruments Helical

LFO
・ALM Busy Pamera's Pro Workout

LPG
・Intellijel 1U LPG

Filter
・Jamming JJ Filter

Multi FX
・Endorphin.es Ghost

If you subscribe to this channel, you can listen to the latest sound sources.

Thank you!

CREDIT：TAKE MOVE（SHINKANSEN"

Erica Synths Sample Drum & Jamming JJ Filter 【Eurorack "Airport" Jam】 #eurorack #modularsynth

video upload by MY FIRST SYNTH TOKYO

"【Ingredients】
Clock&Gate Sequencer＆Envelope
・ALM Busy Pamela's New Workout

Sequencer&Quantizer
・Erica Synths Black Sequencer

Oscillator
・Mutable Instruments Plaits
・Erica Synths Pico Drums
・Erica Synths Sample Drum
・Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter
・Acidlab M303

Envelope
・Pittsburgh Envelope

Filter
・Jamming JJ Filter

VCA
・Intellijel μVCA

Delay
・Endorphin.es Ghost"

Basimilus Iteritas Alter & Erica Synth Black Sequencer & Acidlab M303 【Modular Synth Noisy Beats】

video upload by MY FIRST SYNTH TOKYO

【Ingredients】
Clock&Gate Sequencer＆Envelope
・ALM Busy Pamela's New Workout

Sequencer&Quantizer
・Erica Synths Black Sequencer

Oscillator
・Mutable Instruments Plaits
・Erica Synths Pico Drums
・Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter
・Acidlab M303

Envelope
・Pittsburgh Envelope

Filter
・Mutable Instruments Ripples

VCA
・Intellijel μVCA

Delay
・Mutable Instruments Beads

Erica Synths Black Sequencer / Mutable Instruments Plaits & Ripples 【Arpeggio】#modularsynth

video upload by MY FIRST SYNTH TOKYO

【Ingredients】
Clock&Gate Sequencer＆Envelope
・ALM Busy Pamela's New Workout
Sequencer&Quantizer
・Erica Synths Black Sequencer
Oscillator
・Mutable Instruments Plaits
・Erica Synths Pico Drums
・Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter
・Acidlab M303
Envelope
・Pittsburgh Envelope
Filter
・Mutable Instruments Ripples
VCA
・Intellijel μVCA
Delay
・Mutable Instruments Beads

Big Synth News Coming From Behringer (& KORG's Hiroaki Nishijima)?

This one was spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

Per the description: "I am in beutiful Japan together with Luigi Scarano, our Synthesizer Innovation leader.

Stay tune from some big news - and i mean BIG news.

Uli"


Note who looks like KORG's Hiroaki Nishijima in the back left. I thought that might be Korg's Fumio Mieda on the right, but I'm not sure. You can find a pic and interview with Hiroaki Nishijima and Fumio Mieda here. Some of the other faces look familiar as well, especially the gentleman on the front left. If you can ID them, please comment.

Could this be the Behringer DS80 / CS80, a partnership with KORG, or other?

Behringer meeting with any representatives of another large scale synth company is a big deal. It will be interesting to find out what this is all about.

You can find an interview with Luigi Scarno here.

Update: Announcement below with a new pic, also in via Soviet Space Child. It looks like Hiroaki Nishijima is indeed joining Behringer.

“Synthesizer Icon Hiroaki Nishijima to Lead Behringer’s New Synthesizer Innovation Center in Japan

Behringer announced today that Hiroaki Nishijima, synthesizer icon and inventor of the famous Korg MS-20 Synthesizer, will lead Behringer’s new high-tech innovation center in its Tokyo headquarter.

Behringer’s vision is to build a large research and development center and invite many talented Japanese engineers to focus on flagship synthesizers, samplers and other innovative product designs.

About Hiroaki Nishijima

“Ever since I was a child, I was always excited to disassemble toys and explore how they work. My father and grandfather helped nurture that side of me by teaching me electronics and how to solder while attending third year of elementary school.

During that time, I got into music. I started playing with my brother’s classical guitar and eventually got lessons from an actual classical guitar teacher. I continued to play and improve until I noticed I was becoming better at it than my brother.

As my skills grew more diverse, so did my taste in music. Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Genesis, ELP and I Pooh became my inspirations. In junior high school, I bought an electric guitar and formed a band. That’s when I saw a synthesizer for the first time. It was amazing and I wanted one for myself, but it was just too expensive for a student like me.

When I entered university, I studied electronic engineering and played in a band. While that was going on, I’d also repair my friends’ amps and would design effects on the side. After graduation, I joined Korg to develop synthesizers like the MS-20 series, Sigma, KES and PME-40X series, Z3 and even Korg’s component modeling technology.

Over the past few years I have watched Behringer deliver high-quality synthesizers and pursue a very strong mission to deliver impressive instruments to musicians around the world. I reached out to Uli Behringer because I wanted to be part of his mission and help Behringer design world-class musical instruments. This is my dream, too.

These days, it’s difficult for current Japanese companies to create the types of synths that I used to develop. This is why I joined Behringer because my ambition to create professional analog synthesizers coincides with Uli Behringer’s love of musical instruments and with that I’m very excited to see what we can dream up.

I am currently looking for experienced embedded software leaders and engineers for our new Innovation center in Tokyo. Please can contact us at yuka.ishigami@musictribe.com.”

About Music Tribe

Uli Behringer, Founder of Behringer and Music Tribe commented: “I am extremely proud to have Nishijima San on our team. This man is a legendary synth icon with decades of experience.
Ever since I designed my own synthesizer in 1977, I have always been obsessed with synthesizers and today, Behringer is on a mission to bring back classic synthesizers as well as design completely new instruments and make them available at prices everyone can afford. We at Behringer believe that everyone should have access to the amazing synthesizers and sounds of the 70’s and 80’s.”

Uli continues: “We are currently recruiting experienced synthesizer engineers from all over the world to join us in our synthesizer mission. People interested can directly contact me at uli.behringer@musictribe.com.”

Synth Designer Tatsuya Takahashi Leaving his Role at KORG

The man who brought the boutique magic back to KORG will be transitioning from his role on February 17. In his message below, he mentions a few key points, one, it's been 10 years since he started at KORG, two, he will be switching to an advisory role for KORG, but will not being going to competitors, and three, he will be moving from Tokyo to Cologne to explore new endeavors. I may be wrong, but the way the following is written, it sounds like he will be switching from being a full time employee of KORG to an independent contractor for KORG.

Here is his message:

"THANK YOU!!!

It's been a good ten years at Korg!

A few years after starting at the office, Tada and I, over a cigarette break, started shooting ideas around for a battery powered pocket analog synth. The monotron was the humble beginnings of what became a mission to make synthesizers fun, exciting and accessible again. To give synthesizers back to the people. To make synthesizers less snobby. To open up creative opportunities. To get people interested in electronic sound and see some kind of light in creating their own sound using technology amidst a world that is inundated with it.

monotrons, monotribe, volcas, minilogue, monologue, some reissues, SQ-1, littleBits synth kit - we put out a lot of gear.

After a blur of 21 products we released over seven years, I look at the world of synthesizers and it's a pretty cool place. I see kids getting their first taste of synths with the volcas. I meet people who have their dormant synth passion rekindled by the minilogue. And it's not just Korg. The whole industry has set out to achieve this common goal.

The name volca comes from the German word Volk: 'the people' or 'crowd'. Like Volkswagen 'the people's car', the volcas are 'the people's synth'. I have fond memories of meeting Mike Banks and being told how the volcas reached poverty-stricken youths in Detroit. That manufacturers have to take responsibility for the social implications of putting out gear.

On the 17th of February I will be leaving my full time position at Korg and will sidestep to advisor. I will also be moving out of Tokyo to Cologne to explore new areas where sound and technology can have positive social implications. I won't be going to any of the competition, but rather will be shifting direction of my main line of work while at the same time guiding the now super team at Korg venture into the future.

I am hugely indebted to everyone in engineering (my super duper team will keep designing the best of the best), production (love you all in Vietnam we did this together!), sales (job well done), marketing (fun times making those movies), distribution / dealers (essential work the world over), media (you guys got the word out) and most of all the musicians out there who are creating music with our synths - without you our work is meaningless.

THANK YOU

it's been a ton of fun. more to come.

Tats"

Happy New Year! The Year in Synths 2013

Happy New Year Everyone!

What a busy year it has been in the world of synths.

This is going to be one doozy of a post, so bear with me. This post is a review of the year in synths for 2013. We begin with Tributes to Those We Lost This Year, followed by New Manufacturers & Makers, Older Manufacturers Added to the Site, New Gear Announcements, Top 10 Posts by Traffic,  My Standout Posts for the Year, and finally This Years' Synth Events. I did my best to keep things as short and concise as possible.

Let's begin with the hardest part of the post.

Tributes to Those We Lost This Year

RIP Bernard Parmegiani - Electronic & Acoustic Composer
Lou Reed RIP
RIP Dick Raaymakers aka Kid Baltan
RIP George Duke - DreamWeaver
RIP Ralph Dyck, Sept 28, 1941 – May 20, 2013
RIP Ray Manzarek

All missed and never to be forgotten. Take a moment to remember them.

------

New Manufacturers & Makers

Starting last January, I decided to keep a running list of every new manufacturer and maker introduced to the site during the year.  This is something I haven't done before and I thought it would be interesting to see how many there were in the year.   It's easy to focus on the big synth announcements throughout the year, but what about all the new makers and brands? I shouln't have to go considerably into the significance of new designers on the scene, so I'll just say two things regarding them.  One, the number of new makers is a direct reflection on the interest in our scene, and two, these are the creators of new gear which directly translate into new designs not previously available to us.  Think about that for a moment.  These are makers and designs that did not exist before.  They are part of our synth history.  So what is the total count of new synth designers for the year? A whopping 113. Think about that a bit. One hundred and thirteen new synth designers and brands this year alone.

Here they are (note a handful date back to 2012, but 2013 marked their momentum and availability):

CLICK FOR MORE »

RIP George Duke - DreamWeaver

The legendary George Duke has passed away. Pictured here is George with the Clavitar [image via Legacy Recordings]. It was his main instrument when performing live for much of his early career.  It was featured on the album cover "Dream On" released in 1982 (pictured below).

He was very active in the music and synth community and featured numerous times here on MATRIXSYNTH.  He was on the recent NAMM 2013 Panel discussion on MIDI.  He performed in the 2009 Bob Moog Foundation benefit "Waves of Inspiration: The Legacy of Moog" (featured here and here).  Below is an image with Michelle Moog-Koussa and the Bob Moog Foundation's comments on his passing.

via wikipedia: "George Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013)[2] was a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He had worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music. He first made a name for himself with the album The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. He was known primarily for thirty-odd solo albums as well as for his collaborations with other musicians, particularly Frank Zappa."

You'll find Goerge Duke's official website here: http://www.georgeduke.com.

He had just released a new album "DreamWeavers" dedicated to his late wife who passed away in July, 2012.

"ARTISTS ARE DREAMWEAVERS
We take tangible and intangible elements from the known world and combine them with elements from the spiritual world in order to reach deeper levels of understanding between the two. We spin undeveloped yarn of ideas into reality - it is the ultimate act of creating something from nothing in this world. In short, we are the storytellers and conduits of possibilities. The best of us are those that weave deeper levels of yarn thus giving the fabric more depth. That doesn't necessarily mean that more complexity is better for many times the simplest fabric conveys the strongest meaning. The important thing is intent, message, execution and honesty of design and in that I have always tried to hold my stead. Thus my musical fabric is diverse with multiple levels. That is the way of life and definitely the way I roll, so enjoy the ride … as Cannon used to say - 'Ahoom'.." click here for more.

Pictured: Michelle Moog-Koussa with George Duke via The Bob Moog Foundation on Facebook

"We are saddened by the sudden passing of jazz legend George Duke, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family. He was taken too soon. The world needs more people with the kind of big talent and big heart that George shared so generously.

The photo below of Michelle Moog-Koussa and George Duke was taken on November 6, 2009, at the Museum of Making Music during the exhibit "Waves of Inspiration: The Legacy of Moog". George performed a benefit concert that evening to an enraptured audience."

George Duke - Reach Out

Uploaded on Apr 14, 2009 JedYuseco01·361 videos

"Put your hands together for George Duke,Louis Johnson,Steve
Farrone and Paul Jackson and the GD Band for a seriously slammin'
set live in Tokyo in 1983. A fantastic journey back to a time when REAL musicians played REAL funk before studio created groups and overly choreographed boy bands took center stage."

George Duke Studio Tour 2013

Published on May 23, 2013

"Fusion, funk, and rock keyboard legend George Duke gives us a tour of his home studio, 'Le Gonks West.' Look for a major feature in Keyboard soon on his upcoming new album 'Dreamweaver.'"

George Duke - Shine On

Uploaded on Aug 3, 2009 smoothworld01·228 videos

"From album "DREAM ON" 1982.　

George Duke:Vocals,A.Piano,Fender Rhodes　
Byron Miller:Bass　
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler:Drums　
Michael Sembello:Guitar　

Jerry Hey,Gary Grant:Trumpet　
Bill Reichenbach:Trombone　
Larry Williams:Tenor Saxophone"

George Duke - DreamWeaver

Published on Jun 25, 2013 concordrecords·323 videos

"Order on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/DreamWeaver_amzn

OUT OF DEVASTATING PAIN COMES DREAMWEAVER FROM KEYBOARDIST/COMPOSER/ARRANGER/PRODUCER GEORGE DUKE

Out of devastating pain comes DreamWeaver, the new disc, which GRAMMY Award-winning keyboardist/composer/arranger/producer George Duke considers his "most honest album in several years." The making of DreamWeaver occurred after his wife, Corine, passed away. Struck with grief, he found it difficult to work during that period. "I didn't feel like creating any music, which was odd, because normally that's the easiest thing for me to do," he says, "Sometimes, I would walk into the studio and say, 'Nah. It's not going to happen.'"

Duke's mojo returned while on a Capital Cruise. During the first couple of days, he didn't play any music, but did check out some of the other bands. "By the third day, something happened," he remembers. After returning to his cabin around 4 a.m. from listening to music, inspiration ignited. "I went back on the deck and watched the sun come up. A couple of songs started coming to me; I got out my pen and paper, and started writing."

With the assistance of an illustrious cast of musicians that includes bassists Christian McBride and Stanley Clarke; singers Teena Marie, Lalah Hathaway, Rachelle Ferrell, and Jeffrey Osborne; guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr. and the late Jef Lee Johnson; among others, DreamWeaver, set for release July 16, 2013 on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, finds Duke emphasizing more instrumentals than in the past as well as concentrating more on his mastery on various synthesizers.

Like the bulk of Duke's discography, DreamWeaver accentuates eclecticism with 15 tracks that range from swinging jazz and sweat funk to gospel-inflected pop and sensual R&B ballads. As the title implies, Duke likens mixing all of the idioms to weaving a sonic fabric. He also compares that stylistic dynamism to life. "Everything is in transition -- from hot to cold, from life to death," he philosophizes, "I wanted to incorporate that kind of thing and include a lot of things that are a part of my life."

The disc begins and ends with allusions of nothingness, starting with the title track, a sparse etude, and finishes with "Happy Trails," a misty ballad that was at first just dedicated to Duke's wife, but later gained more emotional poignancy because of the sudden passing of Johnson, whose distinctive guitar work fades out the conclusion. In between, the disc unfolds with the evocative, mid-tempo modern jazz composition, "Stones of Orion," showcasing Duke's crystalline piano improvisations along with longtime collaborator Clarke on upright bass; the feisty 15-minute workout, "Burnt Sausage Jam," a track that Duke refurbished from his 2002 Facing the Music sessions with Johnson, McBride, and drummer Lil' John Roberts; the frisky gangster-leaning groover, "Round the Way Girl;" the feet-friendly burner, "Jazzmatazz;" and the heartfelt ballad, "Missing You," another direct tribute to Duke's wife."

You'll find a number of posts featuring George Duke here. RIP DreamWeaver. You were a true inspiration us all.

NAMM: Our First NAMM Teaser of the Year Comes from Casio

Click on the bottom two pics and zoom in. Some things to take from the images:

1. Four Assignable knobs

2. Two rows with LEVEL labels

3. First LEVEL Row: (my guess) SYNTH1, SYNTH2, PCM1, PCM2, ???, ???, ??? New Section with ASSIGN1, ASSIGN2?

4. Second LEVEL Row: (my guess) LAYER1, LAYER2, LAYER3, LAYER4, LAYER5, LAYER6, New Section with ASSIGN1, ASSIGN2?

5. Below the LEVEL sections appear to be numbers and/or letters? Maybe tempo settings?

6. There is another section to the right of the knob controller section with buttons.

7. Note what looks like a KORG MS20, laptop and mixer on the table of the concert image. The image along with "The Beginning of a New Era" implies a new audience and new market for Casio.

What do you think?

Update: the two bottom shots joined together and blown up a little:

If you are on a Mac and try to do a screen grab with Command Shift 4 and select the whole image, you will see it brighten up, and you can see some of the additional controls on the far right. I captured a MATRIXSYNTH ghost in there BTW. I really need to invest in Photoshop.

Update: and a new teaser pic spotted on ComputerMusicGuide

The XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer

Update 1.12.12:

"A Mono solo section with up to six oscillators: two virtual analog, two PCM, noise, and external audio. Poly section with wide variety of gig- ready sounds. Drawbar organ mode. Six-way HexTone multis. Nine-track step sequencer with dedicated drum track."

Rumored price for the Casio XW-P1 is $699.

via this HC thread, via Computer Music Guide.

 


Update 1/19/12: Details are in:

Click each pic for the super size shot.  Details on each section below.

STEP SEQUENCER

Providing everything from pulsing dance grooves to animated synth textures and arpeggios, the Step Sequencer in both the XW-P1 and XW-G1 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.

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.

SOLO SYNTH

Utilizing Casio’s exclusive (HPSS) Hybrid Processing Sound Source, a six oscillator monophonic solo synth is just one of the amazing sound engines in both the XW-P1 and XW-G1. 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 LFO’s 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.

ARPEGGIATOR AND PHRASE SEQUENCER

The XW-P1 and XW-G1 both have powerful Arpeggiators. In addition to typical arpeggio patterns, this 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 and XW-G1 have 4 real- time 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.

TECH SPECS
6 Oscillator Monophonic Solo Synthesizer (Both)
Sample Looper - Up to 19 Seconds of sampling time (XW-G1)
Sample Player - 10 user tones with up to 5 samples each can be stored in Flash Memory for instant recall (XW-G1)
HexLayer - A single sound made up of 6 components for gig ready splits and layers (XW-P1)
Drawbar Organ Mode with 9 sliders, adjustable rotary speaker, key click, vibrato and percussion (XW-P1)
Fully editable PCM based sounds like stereo pianos, vintage electric pianos, strings, guitars,
drums and more. (400 XW-P1) 300 (XW-G1)
13 Track Step Sequencer (Both)
16 step programmable Arpeggiator (Both)
Performance mode providing 4 internal or external instrument zones with instant recall of effects, Step Sequences, Arpeggiators and Phrases (Both)
4 real-time controller knobs (Both)
Phrase sequencer to record and playback your riffs (Both)
Stereo 1/8" line input to connect an MP3 player, laptop or tablet (Both)
USB and MIDI ports (Both)
1/4" Line Outputs (Both)
Included Power Supply (Both)
Can operate on 6 D batteries (Both)

http://casiomusicgear.com/home/index.html

Update 10:07 1/19/12: The Official Press Release with pricing:

"NEW YEAR, NEW ERA, NEW PROFESSIONAL SYNTHESIZERS INTRODUCED BY CASIO

Synthesizers built with Innovative and Interactive Features for Performing and Recording Musicians

ANAHEIM, CA, January 19, 2012 —Casio America, Inc. and its parent company Casio Computer, Ltd. today unveiled two new professional Synthesizers. Casio's roots were cultivated from the CZ-series synthesizers over 25 years ago. Recognizing that today’s professional musician wants more, Casio has re-entered the professional synthesizer market with two products which are the ideal tools for performing and recording artists. The XW-P1 is a 61 key performance synthesizer with Casio’s exclusive (HPSS) Hybrid Processing Sound Source. Providing screaming virtual analog monophonic leads and basses, drawbar organs, complex layers, stereo pianos, drums and more, the XW-P1 has the sounds and real-time control the performing musician needs. While the XW-G1 groove synthesizer is designed for the DJ and club performer providing an interactive step sequencer and a sample looper for digitally capturing performance patterns and external instruments. Both will be on display at the 2012 Winter NAMM Show, beginning today through January 22nd at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, booth # 5900, Hall B.

“The XW series are not just new keyboards, they represent a new direction for Casio in the musical instrument business” said Mike Martin, general manager of Casio’s Electronic Musical Instrument Division. “Casio’s formula of value and quality that has been the foundation of award winning instruments like Privia has been applied to a new product category, and the XW-P1 and XW-G1 are just the beginning.”

A six oscillator monophonic solo synth is just one of the amazing sound engines in both the XW-P1 and XW-G1. 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 LFO’s and access to master resonant filter.

“The solo synth has an incredibly deep and powerful design. Among countless others, the oscillators even have access to waveforms from Casio’s original CZ synthesizers. It can create a variety of classic analog sounds, but also has the power to deliver sounds with an aggressive edge” said Mike Martin. “Everyone is going to be surprised by the expressiveness and range of sounds the solo synth can create, but that is just one aspect of these products.”

In addition to the solo synth 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 providing nine steps for each drawbar, vibrato, percussion and rotary speaker control. Rounding out the XW-P1’s sound-set are HexLayer; a HexLayer is a single sound comprised of 6 components, allowing complex layers, splits and velocity switched sounds.

The XW-G1 groove synthesizer is geared for the club DJ and dance music performer. In addition to 420 built-in sounds, solo synth and PCM based sounds, the XW-G1 also has the ability to sample. A 19-second sample looper captures internal sounds as well as external instruments allowing the performer to create layers and overdub sounds on the fly. Sampled sounds can even be saved in Flash ROM so they remain in memory after the keyboard has been powered off.

Providing everything from pulsing dance grooves to animated synth textures and arpeggios, the Step Sequencer in both the XW-P1 and XW-G1 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.

Furthermore, both the XW-P1 and XW-G1 have 4 real-time 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.

The XW-P1 will be available in March 2012 for an MSRP of $699.00 and the XW-G1 will be available in April 2012 for an MSRP of $799.00.

For more information, visit www.casiomusicgear.com

XW-P1 Features
• 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.
• Step Sequencer with 9 instrument tracks and 4 controller tracks
• 16 step programmable Arpeggiator
• Phrase sequencer to record and playback your riffs
• Performance mode providing 4 internal or external instrument zones with instant recall of effects, Step Sequences, Arpeggiators and Phrases
• 4 real-time controller knobs
• Pitch and Modulation Wheels
• ¼” Mic and Line puts to process your voice or other instruments
• Stereo 1/8” line input to connect an MP3 player, laptop or tablet
• USB and MIDI ports
• ¼” Line Outputs
• Included Power Supply
• Can operate on 6 D batteries

XW-G1 Features
• 6 Oscillator Monophonic Solo Synthesizer
• Sample Looper – Up to 19 Seconds of sampling time
• Sample Player – 10 user tones with up to 5 samples each can be stored in Flash Memory for instant recall
• 300 fully editable PCM based sounds
• Step Sequencer with 9 instrument tracks and 4 controller tracks
• 16 step programmable Arpeggiator
• Phrase sequencer to record and playback your riffs
• Performance mode providing 4 internal or external instrument zones with instant recall of effects, Step Sequences, Arpeggiators and Phrases
• 4 real-time controller knobs
• Pitch and Modulation Wheels
• ¼” Mic and Line puts to process your voice or other instruments
• Stereo 1/8” line input to connect an MP3 player, laptop or tablet
• USB and MIDI ports
• ¼” Line Outputs
• Included Power Supply
• Can operate on 6 D batteries

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About Casio America, Inc.
Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions, established in 1957. Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc titles and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to fulfill its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution” through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit www.casiousa.com."