Casio MZ-X Series (MZ-X500 & MZ-X300): Arranger Keyboards for the serious musicians

Casio MZ-X Series (MZ-X500 & MZ-X300) arranger keyboards: These advanced arranger keyboards let you use (and create) sophisticated sounds and rhythms. Casio finally has keyboards (only a couple right now) which has specs to match the high end arrangers from Yamaha and Casio. These are arrange workstation keyboards (combines features of arranger and synth workstation); it comes with several synthesizer functions, a touch screen and more; you can use it to perform or to create music. 

Introduction to Casio MZ-X Keyboards

Casio is aggressively increasing its offerings in the keyboard instrument segment. For a long time, Casio was seen as a provider of budget music keyboards (mostly for beginners), but now it caters to all types of musicians, including experienced players.

Encouraged by the success of its range of digital pianos, Casio has now launched high-end arranger keyboards that can compete with the like of Yamaha and Korg.

The new MZ series is aimed at the more serious player such as studio/performing musicians, intermediate players who wish to hone their skills and perform, and so on.

You can call these as Casio’s premium keyboards; they are expensive than the Casio WK series of keyboards which catered to more of intermediate level players.

The top MZ-X mode cost close to thousand dollars, so you can see that its expensive (compared to its other electronic keyboards). But Casio has taken a cautious approach and introduced only a couple of models to see how it fares in the market. So it doesn’t have models yet that competes with the flagship synths and workstations from the likes of Korg, Roland, Yamaha. But it looks like Casio wants to be there some day.

Casio MZ-X500 Keyboard Arranger Workstation: Review

Casio MZ-X 500 keyboardKey features of Casio MZ-X500:

• Over 1,100 high-quality Tones covering a global variety of instruments. Hundreds of great-sounding Rhythms, representing several musical genres (including those from around the world.)
• Reproduces the Virtual Tonewheel Organ (rotary speaker simulated in detail).
• Tones can be modified using the 5.3-inch Color Touch Interface, real-time control knobs and sliders,
• 16-track MIDI recorder with mixing and editing features, USB audio recording. Selct a style, Connect a mic (add some vocal effects), record your performance and the final mix is ready for upload as WAV file.
• Record high-quality samples via the line and mic inputs, and assign them to the
• Powerful speakers (total 40 watts of power – 20W + 20W)

More Technical Specs:

• keys: 61 . Action: Synth action Key size: Full Aftertouch / Velocity: Velocity, 3 levels, off Key Type: Piano-style
• Number of sounds: 1100 . 20 different effects . Polyphony (max): 128 . Layers: Yes Split: Yes
  Color Touch Interface . Speakers: 20W + 20W
• Connectivity AUX input: Yes . MIDI Connectivity: I/O/T . Line output: L/MONO, R . Line input: L/MONO, R . Mic USB Connectivity: A to Device, B to Host Headphone jacks: 1 Pedal inputs: 1, 2 (expression w/st. jack) . Storage type: USB 32GB .

Casio MZ-X300 Keyboard Arranger Workstation: Review

Casio MZ-X 300 KeyboardKey features of Casio MZ-X300:

• Authentic piano, organ, string sounds, authentic styles representing several musical genres (Acoustic guitars include fret noise, harmonics, string slides and body slaps. Basses have smooth glissando from note to note)
• Virtual Tonewheel Organ, tone editing features, record and playback, sampling, connectivity options and other features are similar to that on the Casio MZ-X500

The Casio MZ-X300 has fewer sounds and styles, but retains most of the other features found on the Casio MZ-X500. The Casio MZ-X300 is also cheaper.

Closing Thoughts

Casio MZ-X keyboards feature with several features to jump start your creativity – includes a color touch interface, authentic sounds and rhythms. Even the sound quality is much better, thanks to the new MXi sound engine.

Casio MZ-X series keyboards will appeal to intermediate players and performers who’re looking for a budget keyboard.

Watch: Star Wars theme played on CASIO MZ-X500 keyboard

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