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Average Price: $492

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$500

$1501+

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High-end

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Description

Unleash your musical creativity with the Casio MZ-X500, a powerhouse arranger keyboard designed for both seasoned musicians and aspiring composers. This versatile instrument is a sonic playground, offering an impressive palette of 1,100 onboard sounds including drums, basses, guitars, and more. Whether you're composing new tracks or enhancing your live performances, the MZ-X500 provides a seamless flow of creative possibilities.

The heart of the MZ-X500 is its revolutionary sound engine, featuring instruments with multiple articulations such as harmonics, mutes, and glissandos, allowing you to add dynamic expression to your music. Dive into the richness of its Vintage Drawbar Organ System with real-time drawbar control, complete with drawbar leakage, enhanced rotary simulation, and dedicated percussion and rotary speaker switches for authentic organ tones.

Enhance your performance with its intuitive Rhythm Controller, offering a variety of intros, variations, fills, and endings to match your musical narrative. The MZ-X500 also supports pattern recording with the ability to store up to 100 user rhythms, ensuring your unique compositions are always ready to go. With 256MB of expansion memory, you can continue to evolve your sound library and SMF import capability for added flexibility.

The Casio MZ-X500 is more than just a keyboard; it's your complete musical workstation, ready to turn your musical ideas into reality.

Key Features:

  • 61-key arranger keyboard with 1,100 presets
  • Instruments with multiple articulations: harmonics, mutes, glissandos
  • Monophonic and HexLayer sounds
  • Vintage Drawbar Organ System with real-time control
  • Rhythm Controller with intros, variations, fills, and endings
  • Pattern Recording with 100 user rhythms
  • 256MB Expansion Memory
  • SMF import capability

Product specs

Brand Casio
Model MZ-X500 61-Key Workstation Keyboard
Finish Black
Year 2010s
Categories Workstation Keyboards
Analog / Digital Digital
Key Size Full Size
Keyboard Action Synth Action
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, USB MIDI
Number of Keys 61 Keys
Polyphony 128 Voices

FAQs

Is the Casio MZ-X500 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Casio MZ-X500 is well-suited for live performances with its 61 full-size keys, 128-note polyphony, and a variety of onboard sounds and rhythms, providing flexibility and depth for live settings.

What type of keyboard action does the Casio MZ-X500 have?

The Casio MZ-X500 features a synth action keyboard, which offers a lighter touch compared to weighted keys, making it ideal for fast playing and synthesizer techniques.

Does the Casio MZ-X500 support MIDI connectivity?

Yes, the Casio MZ-X500 supports MIDI connectivity with both MIDI Input and Output ports as well as USB MIDI, allowing seamless integration with other MIDI-compatible devices and software.

How many voices of polyphony does the Casio MZ-X500 offer?

The Casio MZ-X500 offers 128 voices of polyphony, allowing for complex arrangements and layered sounds without note dropouts.

Can the Casio MZ-X500 be used for music production?

Absolutely, the Casio MZ-X500 is a workstation keyboard equipped with a variety of sounds, rhythms, and MIDI capabilities, making it a versatile tool for music production and composition.

Kraft Music

Kraft Music

Casio MZ-X300 and MZ-X500 Arranger Keyboard Demo

Video thumbnail for Casio MZ-X300 and MZ-X500 Arranger Keyboard Demo by Kraft Music

Casio MZ-X300 and MZ-X500 Arranger Keyboard Demo

Kraft Music

Kraft Music

Video thumbnail for Casio MZ-X500 Arranger Keyboard Performance by Kraft Music

Casio MZ-X500 Arranger Keyboard Performance

Kraft Music

Kraft Music

Video thumbnail for CASIO MZ-X500 Keyboard Live Demo mit Ralph Maten // MUSIC STORE Hausmesse by MusicStoreTV

CASIO MZ-X500 Keyboard Live Demo mit Ralph Maten // MUSIC STORE Hausmesse

MusicStoreTV

MusicStoreTV

Video thumbnail for Casio MZ-X500 Music Arranger- Get to Know the Pads by Casio Music Gear

Casio MZ-X500 Music Arranger- Get to Know the Pads

Casio Music Gear

Casio Music Gear

Video thumbnail for CASIO | MZ-X 500 Introduction Movie by CASIO Music Global

CASIO | MZ-X 500 Introduction Movie

CASIO Music Global

CASIO Music Global

Video thumbnail for Sound overview CASIO MZ-X500; Übersicht Soundbeispiele by Ralph Maten

Sound overview CASIO MZ-X500; Übersicht Soundbeispiele

Ralph Maten

Ralph Maten

Video thumbnail for CASIO MZ-X500 (FACTORY SOUNDS) REVIEW by TIAGO MALLEN #casio #tecladista by Tiago Mallen

CASIO MZ-X500 (FACTORY SOUNDS) REVIEW by TIAGO MALLEN #casio #tecladista

Tiago Mallen

Tiago Mallen

Video thumbnail for Casio MZ-X500 Keyboard - 330 Rhythm Styles Part 1/6 by KeyboardKrazy49

Casio MZ-X500 Keyboard - 330 Rhythm Styles Part 1/6

KeyboardKrazy49

KeyboardKrazy49

Video thumbnail for Casio MZ-X500 Keyboard featuring Drawbar organ by Casio India

Casio MZ-X500 Keyboard featuring Drawbar organ

Casio India

Casio India

Video thumbnail for Casio MZ-X500 Keyboard comes with 16 Multi Pads by Casio India

Casio MZ-X500 Keyboard comes with 16 Multi Pads

Casio India

Casio India

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Casio MZ-X500.

Features and functionality

  • The MZ-X500 includes 16 velocity-sensitive pads, drawbar-style multilayered voices, custom ADSR envelopes, and aftertouch, offering versatility for live performances.

    Source
  • The MZ-X500 supports full MIDI ports, unlike the Yamaha PSR-S670, offering better connectivity for advanced setups.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Some users prefer Casio's piano sounds over Yamaha's, citing a more realistic tone when playing fortissimo, despite Yamaha's broader reputation for quality voices.

    Source
  • Casio's textured keys are highlighted as an advantage over Yamaha, helping prevent finger slipping during intense playing sessions.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The MZ-X500's drawbar organ features are praised for blues and classic rock styles, appealing to fans of artists like Ray Manzarek and Jon Lord.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • The MZ-X500 is noted for offering features typically found in higher-end models like Yamaha's Tyros line, making it a cost-effective choice for budget-conscious buyers.

    Source

Critic Reviews

REVIEW / Casio MZ-X500 & MZ-X300 Digital Keyboards / Dec 2019

azpianoreviews.com

The Casio MZ-X500 strikes a chord with tech-savvy musicians seeking an affordable yet feature-packed keyboard workstation. At $1,099, its standout features include a robust 40-watt speaker system, 16 backlit pads, an intuitive color touchscreen, and Hex Layer technology for rich sound layering. The authentic Hammond B3 organ emulation and expansive tone library elevate its musical versatility. While the unweighted keys may not satisfy traditional pianists, the MZ-X500 offers impressive sound quality and user-friendly controls. This makes it a top pick in its price range for those valuing creativity and fun over traditional piano feel.

positive

Casio MZ-X300 & MZ-X500 - Mixdown Magazine

mixdownmag.com.au

The Casio MZ-X500 impresses with its expansive sound library and robust editing capabilities, making it a standout in its price range. The keys offer a satisfying feel, and the built-in speakers can fill a sizable room, defying typical expectations. The touch screen is intuitive, and the sound quality is exceptional, with realistic, multi-layered samples across diverse categories. The MZ-X500's additional pads and hex layer functionality enhance its sound sculpting potential, appealing to those who crave depth and versatility. While the plastic build might deter some, its sturdiness is reassuring. Overall, it's a powerhouse for musicians who value customizability and rich sound.

positive

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Charly García uses Casio MZ-X500

Charly García

Singer, Guitarist

Serú Girán

...
Verified via Photo

Here we can see Charly setting up his two MZ-X500 for his new tour in a soundcheck.

See how Steve Weingart uses Casio MZ-X500

Steve Weingart

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Steve Lukather

...
Verified via YouTube

Dave Weckl, Steve Weingart, and Benjamin Shepherd perform Steve Weingart's "Village" at the 2018 Hollywood Drum Show in Los Angeles, California. Steve Weingart was using Casio MZ-X500 and Casio Privia Pro PX-5.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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