Casio MZ-X500 High-Grade Music-Arranger Keyboard

Building upon the success of the MZ-2000, the Casio MZ-X500 is a high-grade music arranger keyboard with a 61-note velocity-sensitive keyboard and 128-note polyphony. The instrument offers an integrated 20W 2-way sound system, 16 velocity-sensitive multi-touch pads, a 5.3″ full-color LCD touchscreen, and an advanced sound engine with 1,100 tones, as well as a virtual 9-drawbar tone-wheel organ. The instrument offers a powerful MIDI sequencer with on-board accompaniment and rhythms covering a wide selection of genres. Additional patterns can be created utilizing the arpeggiator with 100 pattern presets and 100 user presets.

The instrument provides 256MB of internal memory for storing custom tones, rhythms, songs, and more. There are several effects available including reverb, chorus, delay, EQ, compression, limiting, phaser, flanger, tremolo, auto-pan, auto wah, distortion, pitch shifting, ring modulation, and more. The keyboard also includes the ability to record and playback audio files in 16-bit/44.1 kHz stereo resolution. The MZ-X500 ships with a power adapter and a music stand.

Design
Easy-Access Front Panel
A 3D cockpit design with the speaker and console facing the player has been adopted. This configuration establishes a natural 3D sound field, while at the same time facilitating performance with the pads and improving the visibility of the color touch LCD
Professional Sound Quality
High-Quality Sound Engine
Over 1,100 high-quality built-in tones support professional-level performances in virtually any musical genre
A compilation of Versatile Tones is also available to reproduce realistic guitar harmonics, bass glissando and other tonal variations characteristic of stringed-instrument fingering
A Tone Edit function supports intuitive sound production with simple knob operation. Users can draw on a selection of 20 effects to transform sounds dramatically
Virtual Tone-Wheel Organ
Casio’s refined digital technologies faithfully reproduce the old mechanical tone-wheel organ sounds that are popular among rock and jazz fans. Not only the peculiar tremors of the organ’s rotary speakers, but even its leakage noise, are accurately replicated
The developers’ devotion to duplicating the deep, heavy resonance of the traditional tone-wheel organ has generated a rich supply of flavorful sounds
Hex Layer and Synth
A built-in Hex Layer overlays up to six different tones to produce polyphonic sound that contributes to powerful musical expression
A Bass Synth function that generates monophonic sound and portamento reminiscent of traditional analog synthesizers is also built in
New Synth Bass Tones
Mono Mode
Smooth Portamento
PWM (Under Study)
Tone Editor
A Tone Edit function supports intuitive sound production with simple knob operation. Users can draw on a selection of 20 effects to transform sounds dramatically
Strengthen the accompaniment system
Expanding Variation, fills and Intros / Endings
Variations x 4 Fills x 4 Auto fill function Intros / Endings x 2 Sync Start / Sync Stop Break Fade in / Fade out
Chord Type: 37 types included tension chords

Powerful Rhythms
Large Collection of Rhythms
The traditional rhythms of Latin, European, Middle Eastern, Asian and other cultures around the world are incorporated along with such enduring favorites as rock, jazz and pop rhythms. Players can also set automatic accompaniment functions such as Auto Fill-in, Break, Intro/Ending and Synchro Start/Stop to produce their envisioned performances to perfection. The system’s ability to handle tension chords as well makes it easy for players to incorporate technical arrangements into their performances
Pattern Sequencer
The Pattern Sequencer permits users to set and save original back-up styles. Besides providing accompaniment for solo instrumental and vocal performances, it serves as a second member of the band to manage guitar, drum, string or other parts
Pattern Converter
The Pattern Converter converts SMF data to rhythm data in the MZ-X Series format that can then be imported freely into the keyboard

Multi-Pads
16 Multi-Pads
16 blue LED touch-response pads are incorporated to create new performance dimensions
Sampling
High-quality sampling is enabled at 44.1 kHz via the LINE IN or MIC IN terminal. Users can assign sounds to the pads as audio samples. Various percussion sounds have been sampled and built in as pad-tone presets, and the 16 touch-response pads can be used to add percussion arrangements to keyboard performances
Phrase
Players can use the touch-response pads to insert original preset phrases or any of the numerous built-in phrases suited to various musical genres into performances. When chords are specified in the Auto Accompaniment Mode, appropriate phrases are integrated naturally into the performance when the chords are played, deepening the music’s expressive power
An original CASIO articulation function permits modification of sound-production nuances during performances
Chord
Chord progressions can be preset for automatic accompaniment. Chords can also be assigned to the 16 pads according to a song’s progression. The ability to modify chords simply by pressing a pad lets players devote both hands to the melody or to ad lib freely
Synchro
The pad’s sound and accompaniment rhythm playback timing can be synchronized
Multi
Sampling, Phrase and Chord can be used simultaneously on the same pad set. Pad settings matching the selected tones are preset

Color LCD
Full-Color Touch LCD
The 5.3″ color touch LCD affords intuitive operation, making it surprisingly easy to call up impressive sounds and rhythms, and to adjust synth and effector parameters quickly and freely in real time. Users can leverage inspiration obtained through live shows and music production in their performances and compositions. The cockpit design has the operation buttons and display laid out in front of the performer. Substantial improvements in display visibility and pad and knob operability provide smooth, stress-free control
Speakers
Advanced Sound System
Originally developed 20 + 20W high-capacity speakers are incorporated in a 2-way bass-reflex system
A 4-band parametric equalizer enabling finely detailed sound adjustment allows users to achieve high-quality sound production whenever and wherever they perform
Other Features
Audio Recorder
A built-in Audio Recorder saves players’ performances to USB flash memory as audio data. A Center Cancel function is installed to enable players to cancel or suppress central sounds such as vocals or instrumental solos contained in an audio file
Format: WAV (16-bit/44.1 kHz, stereo)
User Expansion Memory
A large-capacity user memory enables players to save original tones and rhythms in the keyboard for use in later performances
MZ-X500: 256MB
Versatile Terminals
Line In, MIDI and other pedal terminals exhibit expandable expression enhancement. Externally input mic or audio-device effects can also be applied

In the Box
Casio MZ-X500 High-Grade Music-Arranger Keyboard
AC Adapter
Music Stand
1-Year Warranty