Roger Hooper_Casio PX-560M Demo #1

I initially created this video for the Lifting Spirits Through Music Facebook page.
Music performed is © 2020 Roger Hooper Music.

[@mikem3080]

"Rebecca" at ~3:44 is beautiful and moving! Thanks for sharing.

[@novachord1]

Thank you very much, Mike!

[@pianotrends]

lifted my spirits

[@novachord1]

Piano Trends Thank you for posting this!!!

[@ARLINDOIGOR]

Excelente performance! 👏👏👏👏

[@novachord1]

Thank you very much; grateful!

[@leonardotedescoiglesias7497]

Wonderful!

[@novachord1]

Thank you, Leonardo!

[@skinnyTheCat]

Beautiful! Thanks! :) You really play gorgeous! Wow!

[@novachord1]

David Minicz Thank you very much; grateful!!!

[@dakoiaa]

Thank you, sir, for this wonderful execution!!! Kindly accept warmest congrats for all the feelings you bring through such a beautiful song.

[@novachord1]

Thank you very much; grateful!

[@dinobaptiste7140]

Hey Roger! Had some time to kill this evening and watched your video in full! Oh my.....your entire production here, almost 6 years since it’s release, puts the 560 back on the map! This has to be the best KZbin take of anything around featuring the Big Blue! I’m listening to it on my iPhone 12 in stereo and wow.....the strings firstly are so silky smooth and that Steinway sample has to be the best ever I’ve heard the piano directly recorded anywhere online. Every nuance captured and if one closes one’s eyes, you’re truly playing one the finest acoustic concert grand pianos.....I’m amazed to the extent that I can’t let go of my 560 now until something is released further along the road from our friends at Casio! Having looked further at the new stage pianos from Kawai, Roland and Yamaha, unless I lose one feature on the 560 in favour of another feature on any of the above boards, then I think I’ll be kicking my heels for a long time. Having those two parts on the right with bass on the left is something you have to pay for and there’s nothing on the market that will do this unless you pay big and even then it’ll take a lot to match what the 560 does for the price paid! Truly inspiring! 😎👍🏼🎹

[@novachord1]

Thank you, Dino! It really is a remarkable piano. I still feel like the piano “sings” when I play it; partly the quality of the sample, partly the way they voiced it and how it responds to the touch, partly the quality of the converters...plus it’s stellar action. Just makes you want to play. I appreciate your comments!!

[@JDSoundsets]

Lovely keys and playing Roger :)

[@novachord1]

Thanks, James; very grateful!!

[@hiview2]

Roger, your should be doing major feature films! Nicely executed. In your studio, what speakers do you find bring out the best qualities of the px-560mbe sound engine?

[@novachord1]

Thank you, Phil! I write music for documentary films, promos, political ads, and the occasional indie film short. Would love to do feature films! I’ve been using a pair of Yamaha HS-80 (now they are HS8; can’t remember the difference) and a KRK 10” subwoofer. The HS-80 pair are probably overkill in my room with the sub. Years ago a post house that one of my regular clients used to mix her films recommended I use a sub. At that time I was using Event 6.5 monitors, and was way overcompensating with the bass. I switched out the Events for the Yamahas and bought the KRK (dealer was out of Yamaha subs); mixes literally improved over night. Thanks again; grateful!

[@novachord1]

One thing that made a big difference for me was changing my audio interface. I recently got a “new” used iMac; late 2017. I had been using a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40; had it for about 10 years. I bought an SSL2+ for my new Mac. The recording quality is outstanding; the Casio sounded much better to me than with the old Focusrite. I think a new model Focusrite would achieve the same effect. They are outstanding products.

[@dryvur]

What is the "M" for? Is it different than the regular 560?

[@novachord1]

All the 560s have "560M" silk screened on them. The technical designation of the keyboard is PX-560MBK (probably on the order form for stores). I think the M might represent what Casio calls their Multi-Dimensional AiR Sound Source.

[@dryvur]

@@novachord1 thanks, Roger, for the explanation

[@dryvur]

@@novachord1 hey...by the way...would you buy the 560 or the Yamaha MODX? I'm undecided and I love both

[@novachord1]

@@dryvur I think it would depend on your needs. I work for Casio as a product trainer part time (independent contractor). I also own Korgs, Rolands, Novation, etc., and use them in my main occupation, which is media composer. The MODX is a really great synthesizer; I think the FM synth part has 8 operators, which is very powerful. I was drawn to the Casio piano years ago; bought a Privia model in 2009, seven years before I worked for them, and was in the process of looking at a newer model (PX-160) when I was hired by them. The piano action in the 560 is still my favorite (although I really like the newer PX-S series actions as well; don't have one of them). The pianist side of me feels like I can control the tone of the instrument with this action, compared to others I've owned over the years (started buying synths and electric pianos in the mid-70s). I also use the 560 to play the variety of VST piano instruments I own on my film jobs; the action has worked with the different brands of pianos I've owned in the software world very well. The Casio's piano tone also sounds very natural to me; I don't get that kind of "electronic fatigue" when I play it for extended periods, getting to the point that I wished I was playing "the real thing". This hasn't been true for many of the digital pianos I've played in the past. That said, I'd love owning a MODX; I'd use it primarily for all its synth colors and motion type sounds. I've found the 560's synths to be excellent and easy to program. Synths are an addictive kind of thing, though; they all sound different. Can never have too many tools! 😄

[@alobpreis]

From what I've seen, that M is for models that have rhythms. For example, the PX-160 doesn't have that M (but it does feature the AiR engine). And BTW the full model is PX-560MBE (BE for blue, BK is for black). And there is only one PX-560 model so far, so there's no possibility of any mistake.

[@matthewgaines10]

I wish I could make my 560 sound this good. That being said, the 560 is getting long in the tooth. Nice to see you're still getting good use of it. It would be interesting to see what it's replacement would look like in the future.

[@novachord1]

Thanks, Matthew. I played the 560 into a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 audio interface and mastered the audio in Cubase using Izotope Ozone. It has been out for 5 years now....I haven't heard of anything on the horizon replacing, yet.

[@matthewgaines10]

@@novachord1 Thanks for the info.