XW’s and ACID House
The capabilities of the XW-series specifically for House or ACID house are quite incredible and mostly untapped. With the recent craze for some re-issued products, here on our blog we’ll be showing you a number of things that the XW’s have been able to do all along, in their own unique and powerful way.
The first two core essential components in this genre are drums and bass. The TR-808, TR-909 and other drum machines sounds were often used. Both XW’s provide these kinds of sounds first place to look are the Synth Kit1 and Synth Kit2. TIP: On these kits, be sure to use the -octave switch to find an additional kick on note B1.
The XW-G1 does have the overall advantage when it comes to drum sounds. Not only does it have more built-in drums but you also have the opportunity to supplement those using its sample memory. Take a look at some of the sounds available for download at http://www.casiomusicforums.com
Next, the XW’s Solo Synth can provide the next core ingredient for the sound of the baseline. The oscillators in the XW’s provide a wide assortment of waveforms including some specifically from the TB-303. Since the XW’s architecture allows for 4 waveforms at once, you can blend these or switch between them live to create bass sounds far beyond the traditional. Tip: The secret to really getting the XW’s bass sound to squeal like the original TB-303 is the Distortion DSP effect. The TB-303 didn’t become famous because it sounded good in a traditional way, but because it sounded NASTY in a good way. The XW’s Distortion effect can be used to really bring these sounds to life.
Here is a quick example using the XW-P1.
In the next article, we’ll discuss the differences between the XW series and the advantages of the XW-G1 over the XW-P1 for this style of music.
MIDI Desinger XW is HERE!
It is finally here.
Casio XW: Solo Synth Controller is the official MIDI controller for the XW Solo Synth. This groundbreaking, six-oscillator, monophonic solo synth is an innovative, hybrid sound engine available in all Casio XW keyboards. Now, Total and direct control of the Solo Synth, both for live performance and sound creation, is just a touch away.
◎ Forget about edit menus! Over 500 controls access all Solo Synth parameters
◎ Live performance pages with XY controls for filtering and volume blending
◎ “Ganged controls” (supercontrols) allow for manipulating multiple parameters simultaneously
◎ Detail pages allow you to explore the world of possibilities offered by the XW’s six oscillators
◎ Global presets get you started: create your own presets and switch between them instantly
◎ Connect any way CoreMIDI can: use Wi-Fi or hardware such as the Line6 MIDI Mobilizer II, iRig, iConnect, and others
Want to customize further? Casio XW: Solo Synth Controller is built on MIDI Designer. Upgrade to MIDI Designer Pro to create your own pages, reorganize, and redesign to make your own XW layout. Then share it with the vibrant MIDI Designer Community.
Now available at the app store:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/midi-designer-xw-casio-xw/id723189543?mt=8
Live Looping on the XW synths!
Live Looping using a Casio XW-G1 and an iPad. The same thing is possible on either the XW-P1 or XW-G1 using the Step Sequencer and Phrase Recorder.
XW Facebook Users Group
XW-G1 owner Scott Hamlin has created a users group over on Facebook. It is a great resource where users are sharing their experiences with the XW-P1 and XW-G1. Have a question on how to do something? You’ll get a quick answer of here. Join in at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Casio.XW.Synths/
Minimoog Inspired Set
It is so easy to be inspired by the Minimoog. Such as classic design and sound that is still sought after today. While being a digital synthesizer, the XW-series can do a pretty remarkable job of mimicking those classic Moog sounds. The Minimoog had 3 oscillators plus a noise generator and although the XW has a 4th oscillator in its Solo Synth engine – all of these sounds were crafted with the original in mind. A set of 10 Leads and basses, the specialties of the Minimoog
Go to the downloads section at Casio Music Forums to download the set of 10 presets crafted by Casio’s Mike Martin. There are separate downloads for both the XW-P1 and XW-G1.
XW-G1 Multi-Funciton Keys Explained
The XW-G1 has another trick up it’s sleeve that is unique. It is called “Multi Function keys” and it is found in Performance mode. You may have run across this feature in some of the preset Performances. 
When you see the checkered box in the zone key range display, this shows that Multi-key is enabled in the top range of the keyboard. So what is Multi-key all about?
Multi-key allows you to assign events to keys, rather than just notes. With the XW-G1 this can be a Phrase, tempo change, controller changes, effects change or a switch to an entirely different Step Sequence. The possibilities here are nearly endless.
From Performance mode press edit and scroll down to find the Multi-key editor. Here you can choose what function is assigned to each key. If you use the Mult-function key to trigger a phrase, it can be assigned to any of the 16 MIDI channels, not just zones 1-4. So check out the factory performances that already use the Multi-function keys and come up with your own applications.
About the XW-G1
In 2012 so much attention was given to the XW-P1 that the XW-G1 was a little over looked. With the XW-P1 reaching the market first and being Casio’s first synthesizer in over 20 years it’s no wonder that the XW-P1 got so much attention. While the XW-G1 was at that same NAMM show, it wasn’t much more than a prototype at that time and began shipping several months after the XW-P1. So what makes the XW-G1 unique and if you’re look at both the XW-P1 and XW-G1 which is the right one for you?
- Sampler / Sample Loading. Probably the single most distinguishing thing about the XW-G1 is it’s sampler. The XW-G1 allows you to supplement it’s existing sound set with sampled sounds that are stored in flash memory. This means after you turn the XW-G1 off any samples you load in are still there the next time you turn it on. The XW-G1 can hold 50 user samples. It’s architecture makes it best for drum sounds but samples can also be used within the Solo Synth too.
- Solo Synth Control. The XW-G1 doesn’t have the drawbar organs and Hex Layer modes that the XW-P1 has. This means that the sliders on the left are dedicated to controlling the Solo Synth. While the XW-P1 only allows volume control over each oscillator, the XW-G1 provides access to nearly every parameter the Solo Synth has to offer. You can manipulate each oscillator individually or all at once. The capabilities for tweaking are quite remarkable. This video shows some of these capabilities:
- Sample Looper. In addition to being able to load in sampled sounds, the XW-G1 also has a sample looper. It will record what is happening live on the XW-G1 in addition to the audio inputs. The applications are remarkable. Since it syncs with the Step Sequencer it allows you to capture a groove, then dial in something else on top using the Step Sequencer and/or Solo Synth.
- Stock Drum Sounds. The XW-G1 has several drum kits that aren’t in the XW-P1 so even before you get to the sampler you have access to some aggressive electronic drums that are powerful and unique.
So which one is right for you? Both XW’s are great and they each have different strengths. The XW-P1 can do some great textured sounds with it’s Hex Layer mode, it can also do some drawbar organs which makes it well rounded as both a production and performance keyboard. If your focus however is on using the Step Sequencer, creating drum grooves and if you’re really into tweaking the monophonic Solo Synth for those ACID baselines and more the XW-G1 has the edge.
Of course if you still can’t decide, just get both.
XW-G1 Live Clinic
If you missed the LIVE clinic, don’t work it was recorded. Check out Mike Martin and the XW synths.
Live XW Clinic
Thursday July 25th at 7:00pm EST, Casio’s Mike Martin will host a live clinic on the XW-series. Have questions about the XW’s, just ask Mike directly. www.ustream.tv/casiomusicgear
New Limited Edition XW-P1
Casio debuted a new limited edition XW-P1 at SXSW today. The Crome Orange XW-P1 is really something to see. Only 200 available in the US. Check the story at Gizmodo
“One the Run” using the XW-P1
Last week, using Casio’s Privia Pro PX-5S Mike Martin did a simulation of Pink Floyd’s “On the Run”. This week, Mike recreated the famous sequence on the XW-P1 using the arpeggiator and the solo synth. This Performance can be downloaded over on the Casio Music Forums, where you can also participate in the discussion.
Casio Music Forums
There is now a site for users to help users. We’ll continue to do guides and tutorials here but this is likely a better place to get a question answered quickly. Mike Martin from Casio promises to check in on the forum from time to time and a answer some questions too. Hope to see you over there.
Hey, we’re back!
Sorry for the extended delay from the blog, but we’re back. We are working on a new tutorial on the way next week. Casio’s Mike Martin is filming a demonstration which shows some the advanced capabilities of the XW series. Combining both an XW-P1 and an XW-G1, Mike will use both step sequencers synchronized while simultaneously using multiple phrase sequencers, the arpeggiator and a gauntlet of custom sounds to perform a cover a trademark 80’s synth theme. What took tens of thousands of dollars to originally create, Mike has recreated using 2 XW synths.
The best part of that is the sounds along with video of Mike showing step by step how he created this entire masterpiece only using the XW synths will be available here. It’s an early Christmas present.
Tutorial: Step Sequencer Part 2
Casio’s Mike Martin takes us through more detail on the step sequencer in the XW-P1 and XW-G1.
Tutorial: Step Sequencer Video
Casio’s Mike Martin gives a quick lesson on the Step Sequencer on the XW-P1 and XW-G1.
XW-G1 Solo Synth Manipulation
Using the XW-G1’s Oscillator switch you can independently control each element in a Solo Synth patch separately. In this video you can check out the volume and pitch of each oscillator being manipulated along with the Total Filter during a simple step sequence.
XW-P1 vs XW-G1
So really, what is the difference between these two synths?
The most obvious difference is that the XW-G1 is a sampler. It allows you to load in 50 of your own sampled sounds and create sample loops live. Loading in new sampled sounds is particularly good for drums and since you can find samples of nearly any vintage drum machine for free on the web this opens a wealth of options.
The XW-G1 doesn’t have the Hex Layers or the Drawbar organ mode of the XW-P1, instead you gain significant control over the Solo Synth. You can adjust tuning, envelopes and filter of each oscillator independently or as a group using the sliders.
Which one is right for you? Well that depends, but we’ll try get some audio and video examples up here soon to make the decision easier.
XW Pattern Sequencer Tutorial
Casio’s Mike Martin demonstrates the pattern sequencer on a XW-P1. For those of you that have a XW-G1, don’t worry, it works exactly the same way.
XW SYNTH BLOG 