Groove On

You"ll need an app that specifically enables the MIDI Bluetooth connection (vs just audio over Bluetooth). Pure Piano will do it, but I usually use Korg"s 'Bluetooth MIDI Connect' app - it"s a free one-trick utility that works immediately, no fussing around.

Some other additions: - WU-BT10 Bluetooth Adapter is included with both models (attaches to USB A port) - USB audio/midi recording on both models (I"m assuming this is also thru the USB A port) - 3.5mm AUDIO-IN available on the PX-S3100 The Bluetooth Adapter supports audio-in, so for the PX-S1100 backing tracks could still work, but maybe not so great for VST latency/audio quality. Right now, it looks like if want to run VSTs thru the onboard speakers with better latency/audio quality, gonna have to pony up the extra ~US$200? for the PX-S3100 - which also gets you hundreds of extra tones, rhythms, audio f/x, pitch-bend wheel, 2 extra knobs, an LCD screen, assignable expression jack - and any color you want as long as it"s black. Casio seems to be targeting their entry level models at the more pure straight player, with the upper model for people with slightly more technical needs.

What are the differences between organs on the CT-S1? Jazz Organ (Hammond?) Velo. Organ Rock Organ Pipe Organ Amp Organ Reed Organ (Wurlitzer?) Gospel Organ F-Organ V-Organ Cathedral Organ

Try looking for gig bags that fit the XPS-10, I noticed the sizes can be pretty close.

I really like what Casio has been doing. They"re making some nice keyboards. It"s too bad they took out the AUDIO INPUT jack on the PX-S1100, that"s a useful feature, but otherwise, looking forward to getting my hands on it.

It is. Microsoft just turned it up to 11.

Looks like an update to the onboard sounds, speaker system and bluetooth adapter support. Similar styling/colors as the CT-S1/CT-S400. Product Page: https://music.casio.com/en/products/digital_pianos/privia/ [video:youtube]

Made a one-page CT-S1 quick guide for basic functions. Formatted for A4 or 8.5x11" paper.

Interview with the Casio CT-S1 design team. https://music.casio.com/en/products/casiotone/interview/

There"s no problem with UEFI, but if your old computer still uses BIOS there"s no guarantee you can switch over, and even if you can switch, there"s no guarantee you can run Win 11.

Same cable as In the photo, just different terminology (micro-usb, micro b connector, usb type b-micro etc.). There is also a micro b plug for USB-C but it looks completely different. The cable below is for USB 1.1/2.0.

USB-A to Micro-USB Cable the smaller micro-USB end plugs into the Casio CT-S1 For lightning iOS devices Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter *** Don't confuse micro-USB with mini-USB. Mini-USB

Windows 11 requirements are quite steep/strict. Many people will have to upgrade to new higher end hardware to run it (and thus buy a new copy of Windows). Problematic Windows 11 Requirements: 1. TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) 2. Secure Boot 3. UEFI (vs standard BIOS) 4. Hard Disk must use GPT (vs the more common MBR - Master Boot Record) 5. -- >> Only supports CPUs released in the last 3-4 years. [video:youtube]

iReal Pro has lots of chord lead sheets you can download for free or you can make your own in the app. Also has lots of options to create/share/export lead sheets as well as set lists.

You should always have a spare set of cajons, so if anybody asks they can say, yeah that guy"s got the some cajones.

You can also count me as one of the dumb MainStage users - so it will be interesting to see how you get the Novation to play nicely with MainStage or Gig Performer. Here's some videos of an older Novation SL working with MainStage. It looks like the older Novation also used "Pages". He was also able to incorporate the Novation automap software (though it may turn out the MainStage MIDI learn may be usable now). 1st video is an overview, the 2nd video has more of the technical details. Ultimate Apple MainStage Keyboard Rig http://jaminajar.com/my-ultimate-apple-mainstage-keyboard-rig/

Just received WU-BT10 Bluetooth Adapter as well. As expected, a slight bit of latency compared to the wired connection, but it"s acceptable for me, the difference is quite close. Close enough, that it"s something I feel, more than I am consciously aware of; and I"ve used Bluetooth MIDI connections where I am every conscious of the lag. For reference, all my audio software is running with a buffer size of 64. I was a little hesitant to order this, as it"s expensive compared the price of the CT-S1, but now that I have it, I"m very glad to have it. After I sold my Go Piano, I forgot how fun and useful it is to use Bluetooth MIDI with a portable keyboard. Interestingly my iPhone with Korg Module has the tightest latency over Bluetooth (better than my 1st gen. iPad), probably because the iPhone is the newest of my Apple devices. On my 2015 MacBook Air, Bluetooth MIDI worked fine with both Pianoteq and MainStage. I was also able to send Program Changes over Bluetooth to the CT-S1. As usual, iOS and MacOS did not immediately see the WU-BT10 in Bluetooth, I had to download Korg's "Bluetooth MIDI Connect" software which always sees it right away (and then iOS/MacOS finally see the light). I think it's because iOS/MacOS are also looking for the BT audio connection while Korg's software just looks for the BT MIDI connection. One oddball thing: In MacOS (Big Sur 11.4), the WU-BT10 name shows up as "04-21-44-ec-07-b9" The Korg app (on the same machine) shows it properly as 'WU-BT10 MIDI" In iOS, the WU-BT10 name shows up correctly in both apps. I've also ordered the WIDI Bluetooth devices which should ship around August/September, so I'll be able to compare BT MIDI devices to see if there's any significant difference in latency.

The MIDI implementation on the CT-S1 is decent. Some features are limited by the onboard hardware controls, but you can get more control with an external MIDI controller. In MainStage, I was able to create program change presets for all 61 tones and also make presets for custom splits/layers (see photos below). If anyone wants to provide online download space, you're free to share the MainStage presets file. Additionally, the CT-S1 responds to both the sustain and expression controls in MainStage, so it is possible to connect 2 or more pedals via an external MIDI controller. The hardware controls do not respond to MIDI (as far as I know), so you can only control the internal sound engine. One thing to note, the hardware controls stay active, so if you accidentally press them, they will override anything sent from MainStage and you'll have to re-select that option again in MainStage. Next project is to try this with an iOS app like Keystage, iMIDIPatchBay etc. 61 Presets (CT-S1) Splits on the CT-S1 Layers on the CT-S1

Did you use the Katanas with a keyboard? How did you like it?

It"s a cool little amp and Boss makes solid products, but it"s really designed for guitar and vocals. The Roland Cube EX and KC-220 are still a better choice for keyboard - with proper L/R inputs. I guess that"s how they dropped the price on the Boss by taking out the keyboard inputs

I prefer VI Hosts because the interface is streamlined for live performance. Show-stopping "accidents" are kept to a minimum and that's music to my ears. In contrast, there are a lot of settings unnecessarily exposed in DAWs that can be "accidentally" activated. Yes you can be careful, but accidents happen. Great for the studio, not so great on a live stage. But - it may also depend on the type of music you are performing. VI Hosts are built for the traditional live performing musician with set lists, patches and who actually play an instrument. But if you're doing modern electronic style music, Live Loops in Logic or the Session view in Ableton can be very effective; plus, your Novation SL mkiii is built with those DAW features in mind - so something to consider. I've done performances where I'm the traditional musician using MainStage with an instrument, accompanied by a DJ/performer using the Session view in Ableton - so (despite my preference) they can both work well on-stage. Personally I use MainStage because I like to stay native on MacOS and it integrates with Logic and all it's instruments; but I found MainStage the most difficult of the VI Hosts to setup. It's good-looking on top, but figuring out where everything is, can be frustrating, even at the beginning - there's lots of googling and trying to read the many times useless manual. In contrast, Gig Performer is much easier, I was able to get up and running almost immediately with almost no need for the manual. The one live performing VI host I'm curious about is OnSong. I notice it's used by many traditional / non-techie musicians, and I like the simplicity of the interface - worth looking at.

I'm able to send program changes to the S1 using MainStage, but I'm a bit fuzzy how it all works together. My Settings: - Local control on the S1 is OFF using [FUNCTION + F#2] - I"m using the program change and bank select codes from page 76 of the manual https://www.kraftmusic.com/media/ownersmanual/Casio_CT-S1_Users_Guide.pdf - In MainStage - I can set the current tone on the S1. - The hardware buttons on the S1 are also able to set the current tone. Notes: - If I turn ON local control, the tones set by the hardware buttons will be layered with the tones set by MainStage.. This is where I'm a bit fuzzy on how it works, it seems there are two independent layers at work here (local and external) and I'm not sure how exactly they interact with each other. When local control is ON - both tone layers are active and controlled independently by the local hardware and external MIDI controller. - There is a bit of latency with the tones set with external control (via MainStage) because the USB-MIDI is running out to MainStage and then back to the S1. I'll have to experiment a bit more to see if the external controller (MainStage) can change the tones at the 'local control" layer.

It's not boring - but I'm getting bored with Smooth by Santana, mainly because my small amateur band overplays it.

Some nice videos (for those who don't like to RTFM) [video:youtube] [video:youtube]

The CT-S1 music stand design makes a pretty good cable organizer / stress reliever. Probably needs a cable wrap to get it really clean, but not bad for straight out-of-the-box. Am thinking, if I'm not using the stand, wire from a clothes hanger could also do the job.