New Year, New Era, New Professional Synthesizers Introduced by Casio

ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 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
  
• 1/4" 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
  
• 1/4" 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
  
• 1/4" 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
  
• 1/4" Line Outputs
  
• Included Power Supply
  
• Can operate on 6 D batteries

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.

SOURCE Casio America, Inc.