Casio XW-P1 + free Midi Designer app. Is it a REAL synth?

[@gregoryosullivan]

The XW-P1 mono synth is a fully featured synth and it can sound quite good for some types of sounds. A lot of the presets have baked in portamento which is annoying. The filter sounds a bit "nasty" which is okay for some types of sounds but it prevents it from being a great synth. The problem with the hex layer is no real time control of the filter. I won't part with my XW-P1 because it is a very versatile performance keyboard with those sequencers and being able to use the USB MIDI and 5 pin MIDI simultaneously independently.

[@creative-media]

Good point re the USB and DIN MIDI connections - I had to hunt around to find a suitable controller keyboard with both. I wished that the XW-P1's vertical sliders could also have been used over MIDI, but it seems only the four controller knobs would send out CC data.

[@gregoryosullivan]

@@creative-media In Organ mode the sliders send out the position of the drawbars via MIDI. Not that useful because I think it's not continuous, but stepped and no way to re-map without external software.

[@percussiveelements470]

probably best casio iv'e ever seen not high bar though @@gregoryosullivan

[@percussiveelements470]

i good usb/midi keyboards is cme chinese musical instruments (weird acronym) uf range i have a 7 great action usb connection midi out, most pre generalised midi languages (roland, yamaha, korg)i.e xg gs and others, also has expansion slot for extra midi interface@@creative-media

[@djpopcorn]

baked in portamento?? So it can't be turned off?? Are you sure?

[@AB-Tiba]

The link is breaking

[@hellsq]

Hello! In video's description you said that it is a free app - but there is a free basic version of Midi Designer and 9.99 for XW-Midi Designer app. Or you install free version and there is a free patches for XW-P1? I have XW-P1 for a long time and always wanted to extend my experience with it, but I always was an android user.

[@creative-media]

I don't have the synth any more, but I recall I was able to install a version of the MIDI Designer app that worked with the Casio synth for free. Presumably Casio had paid the app developers for it.

[@hellsq]

@@creative-media maybe, it became paid not so long ago, or you install it when there was some sort of giveavay days. Now, only basic version of MIDI Designer is free and XW Casio version costs 9.99$. I thinking, maybe there is some activation code or something in user manual or something, but there isnt. Also, for this application you can use lightning to USB-typeB cable, or lightning to MIDI IN device?

[@creative-media]

@@hellsq Here's the most recent link I can find for the free app. I hope you're still able to get it free for the Casio Xw synth. mididesigner.com/midi-designer-xw-updated/