A good digital piano is certainly not a cheap investment. Thus, if you are looking to buy the PX360, it is best for you to first read up on this Casio PX360 review.
Here, you will find all the minor and major details that you need to know to make an informed decision. All elements are tackled in this review. As such, you will be able to examine playability, ease of use, quality, and much more.
Features at a Glance
Before looking at the features in-depth, here is a quick summary of the most important elements with this digital piano:
- 88-key digital piano
- 3″ Color Touch Interface
- Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard
- AiR (Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator)
- 550 high-quality sounds
- Rear-ported speakers
- 16-track recorder
- Duet mode
- Onboard digital effects
- MIDI capable
Simply by going through these features, it is clear that this digital piano is a versatile and impressive instrument. It is suitable for a wide range of pianists and can be used at home or in a larger space for performances.
It works well regardless of whether you simply want to practice, create new music, or entertain an audience. Thus, you will be hard-pressed to find a digital piano that can do quite as much as PX360, at least at this price point.
Keyboard Feel
As you will have noticed from the features, this model is equipped with a Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard. So, what does this mean for you? Well, in essence, it means that this keyboard is very pleasant to play on.
The Weighed Keys
To begin with, this is a weighted keyboard, where the weight is distributed gradually. As such, the keyboard is heavier in the lower register and lighter in the top. Due to this feature, playing this keyboard is quite similar to that of an acoustic piano.
However, the similarities with an acoustic piano don’t end here. The keys are incredibly responsive as well and while there is some pushback, the keys depress quickly and lightly when you need them to. What’s more, it has been modeled after a grand piano and has 127 times the resolution of most other keyboards.
The Texture
This feeling of authenticity continues with the feel of the keys themselves. The keys have ebony and ivory textures which really does make it feel as though you are playing a concert piano. However, there is another advantage to this as well. This texture prevents your fingers from slipping, sticking, or even getting caught on the edge of the keys. As such, you will find it easier to learn and complete harder passages of music.
The Sound System
The sound system in place on the PX360 is the Casio’s Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator, although it is often referred to as AiR Sound Source. It is what helps to give this digital piano a more authentic grand piano sound. This particular feature relies on Linear Morphing technology.
The technology is what allows for a smoother sound while simultaneously supporting dynamic transitions. In short, this allows the piano to go from very soft to very loud sounds seamlessly and effortlessly.
Now, in an acoustic piano, there are far more moving parts. To a certain degree, it is these elements that lend to some of the sounds that this instrument produces. The PX360 includes many components that do just this.
It starts with the Damper Resonance element. It recreates the action of the strings echoing against the piano soundboard whenever the damper pedal is pressed. Then, there is the String Resonance. This mimics the harmonic relationship between vibrating strings. As such, the notes are allowed to beautifully and authentically interact with one another.
You also get to enjoy the Hammer Response feature that provides control over the time it takes between depressing a key and hearing the sound. Finally, there is the Key Off Simulation that allows you to determine a note’s decay.
The Tones
When using a digital piano, the tones and the sound included in the instrument’s library are quite important. After all, they determine just how creative and versatile you can get with your songs. Now, with the PX360, you can select from 550 tones.
Built-In Tones
Now, these tones are created with the help from a considerable number of musical instruments. These include, but aren’t limited to, guitars, basses, drums, and strings. What’s more, you have 200 Rhythms to select from. This way, you can select any number of instruments to follow your playing. As a result, your options for musical styles are nearly endless.
Custom Features
So, what about if you don’t want to use the built-in Rhythms and Tones? Well, you don’t have to use them because this model is also equipped with a Rhythm Editor. Using this, you can save up to 10 customized rhythm settings with the help of drums, basslines, and various other accompaniments.
The PX360 also allows you to go one step further than this. You can create 50 Music Presets of your choosing. These can be made up of tones, rhythms, effects, and chord progressions. It is easier than ever before for you to come up with an entirely new sound of your choosing.
The Interface
The epicenter of the PX360 is dominated by the Color Touch Interface. One of the top benefits of this display is the screen size which amounts to around 5.3 inches. This allows the user to clearly see all the icons, settings, and more. In turn, you can function more efficiently.
This interface is actually quite intuitive to use and all the icons are instantly recognizable. Due to this, the learning curve involved in setting up the keyboard is relatively low. Even if you are a beginner with such matters, you will figure it out quickly enough.
Recording Features
If you are someone who is dedicated to composing their own music, then you will really enjoy what this digital piano has to offer you. With this instrument in your grasp, the recording isn’t just quick, it is also fuss-free. The PX360 has also been designed to be rather versatile in this aspect. It will be suitable for you whether you are recording an independent piece of music or recording music for a larger production.
If you are in a rush, then you can record music directly to a USB stick. Your music will then become instantly portable. In case you are hoping to put together a more complex feature, you have the built-in 16-track MIDI recorder. Here, you can record up to a 100 songs or 50,000 notes.
Even if you are just trying to get the grasp of recording using your digital piano, you will find this process relatively easy. This is because the interface has familiar and simple-to-understand controls. As such, you will figure out what you need to do in no time at all.
Performance Elements
Are you a performer? If so, this digital piano has quite a bit to offer you. To begin with, it can be considered relatively lightweight, particularly when compared to other models. As such, you shouldn’t have too much trouble hauling it around with you. Furthermore, it is a good fit for most keyboard stands that you will find in arenas.
Then there is the fact that the model has ¼” outputs, allowing it to connect to virtually all amplification sources. The MIDI I/O and ¼” inputs make it quite easy to set up multi-keyboard rigs. Thus, this works for all configurations.
This piano works well for all kinds of performances. For instance, if you are going solo, you can layer tunes to create a richer sound. In case you are teaming up with a band, all the different tones allow this keyboard to fit in well with virtually almost all other instruments.
If you are playing to a much smaller audience, then you may not need much more than your keyboard. The PX360 is equipped with a built-in speaker system. And, while it may not be the most powerful one around, it is actually pretty good. So, it works beautifully for a smaller area.
Teaching Components
The PX360 works well for beginners as well. This is due to the Duet mode. Here, the piano can be split up into two equal ranges. In turn, this makes it possible for a teacher and a student to sit side by side.
That’s not all, though, as the model also has something known as the Classroom Mode. So, when two people are playing music at the same time, the sound is split between separate audio outputs. As such, it is much easier to see how your playing is measuring up with a more experienced player.
If you are in an actual classroom or public setting and don’t want to disturb anyone else, the piano is equipped with a headphone jack. Simply plug a pair of headphones in and you can be left to your own devices.
In fact, if you are looking for digital pianos to set up a piano class, then this is the model that you should opt for. The above features, its overall playability, and its similarity to an acoustic piano make it an excellent teaching guide for students.
Digital Device Compatibility
When you are making music in the digital age, you aren’t just using your digital piano. Instead, you are also relying on your computer. Well, the good news for you is that the USB port on the PX360 is compatible with a wide variety of PCs – this includes Macs and other iOS devices.
That’s not all, though. When you connect the piano to these PCs, you don’t have to install any drivers at all. Instead, you can have access to your preferred music software without any additional downloads or installations. Naturally, this makes the process go a whole lot smoother.
Who Should Buy the PX360?
Perhaps the most important question is who the PX360 is best suited for. Well, the short answer would be beginners and those of intermediate experience. If you are just starting out on the piano, the Duet mode included in this model would naturally come in useful to you.
At the same time, this keyboard has been set up in a way that is quite user-friendly. This is especially true when you consider the interface. The intuitive settings mean that you will be able to navigate this device without any trouble at all.
Intermediate pianists who are focusing on creating and recording will find that this digital piano is quite helpful in this regard. Once again, it has all the necessary features without burdening the system with complicated elements.
While the PX360 capabilities are quite impressive, they may not measure up to what more experienced pianists might be expecting. Despite the great sound quality, pianists with a trained ear will require something a little more refined. What’s more, they will also need more advanced features when creating and recording music.
The Final Say
The final question is just how well does the Casio PX360 measure up? Well, this is certainly one of the better digital pianos on the market – at least for beginner and intermediate pianists. For this price point, you get quite a few features to play around with.
However, what really sets this digital piano apart from the rest is how well it is able to mimic an acoustic piano. In fact, it is quite close to a concert piano as well. For one thing, this makes it a lot easier for new students to transition from this digital piano to an acoustic one.
The main advantage, however, is the feel of the keys. It really does help you to become a more experienced player. Not to mention, it makes the playing process a great deal more pleasant as well. So, if you can’t afford an acoustic piano, this comes pretty close to providing you with an authentic playing experience.
The PX360 also makes plenty of allowances for creativity. From the number of tones available to the chance to create custom presets, the options are endless. As such, you can have lots of fun learning how to create and even layer new sounds.
This concludes the review of the Casio PX360. This model is definitely worth your investment and will make it easy for you to become a better pianist and music producer. It provides you with all the features that you need without complicating the music making process.
So, if you are truly eager to learn and experiment, you will be hard-pressed to find a digital piano that can offer up as many opportunities as this model can. If you do choose it, you can be quite certain that you will not regret your decision at all.