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TOKYO, August 9, 20122 — Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today the release of three new digital pianos—the Privia PX-850 and the CELVIANO AP-650M and AP-450. These advanced new instruments are equipped with Casio’s newly developed Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR* Sound Source, which reproduces the rich tones and lingering reverberations of real pianos. They also come with a digital simulator that reproduces the changes to the sound when the lid of a grand piano is open or closed.

The Privia PX-850 features a slim and stylish body only 299 mm from front to back, while the CELVIANO AP-650M and AP-450 are cabinet-style pianos with a refined appearance. Casio designed all three models with meticulous attention to overall sound and to the keyboard, both of which are fundamental to piano performance. These instruments use a newly developed sound source that reproduces a piano’s temporal changes in tone and string resonance using digital technologies. Moreover, Casio has fitted these models with new keyboards which are not only touch sensitive, but also offer precise control of attack timing. With these features, the Privia PX-850 and the CELVIANO AP-650M and AP-450 realize unprecedented expressive power for digital pianos.

Newly developed sound source recreates the nuanced tonal variations and lingering reverberations of a grand piano
All three new pianos feature Casio’s newly developed Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source, which reproduces the natural temporal changes in tone from the time the sound starts until it dies away, as well as the variations in volume and timbre corresponding to the power behind the keystrokes. Casio has also equipped these models with String Resonance, a simulator which recreates the distinct string resonances of all 88 keys of the keyboard. Deeply resonating tones can be sustained even longer when combined with Damper Resonance, which allows the player to enjoy playing beautifully resonating tones while employing the damper pedal. 

Lid Simulator reproduces the effect of opening the lid of a grand piano
The Privia PX-850 and the CELVIANO AP-650M and AP-450 are equipped with Casio’s Lid Simulator, a digital technology that reproduces the changes in a grand piano’s tone when its lid is open or closed, bringing the experience of playing a grand piano even closer. Moreover, these new digital pianos are designed with top boards that actually open.*

Casio’s new keyboard allows player to enjoy resonance and attack timing like a grand piano
Casio has equipped these new models with its Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, which models the different attack of the sound in the different registers of the keyboard in the same way that the variously sized hammers of a grand piano affect the attack of the notes in these registers. Also included is Casio’s Key Off Simulator, which allows the player to control the length of reverberation with the speed that the finger leaves a key.

Casio’s cutting-edge Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source is also available with other Casio digital pianos: the Privia PX-750, PX-350M, and PX-150, as well as the CELVIANO AP-250.

Main Features

• Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
Casio’s newly developed Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR* Sound Source reproduces the natural temporal changes in tone, as well as the changes in volume and timbre according to the force of the keystroke. Casio has expanded the capacity of the installed memory by employing advanced data compression technology to achieve a longer sampling duration and enhanced waveform data quality. This enables the Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source to seamlessly reproduce the natural changes in tone from the moment a note sounds, through its beautiful sustain, until it finally vanishes away, including changes in both volume and timbre. Even the length of the reverberation can be controlled like an acoustic piano by adjusting the force of the keystroke. All of this capability is backed up by the maximum polyphony of 256 notes in Casio’s premiere models—the PX-850, AP-650M, and AP-450.

* Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator

Reproduction of the naturally deep, rich tones of a grand piano
The player can let beautiful resonating tones linger by using Damper Resonance, a function that reproduces the resonant effect of a damper pedal. Casio’s premiere models—the PX-850, AP-650M, and AP-450—also feature String Resonance, which simulates the different reverberations of single notes and chords by reproducing the distinct string resonances of all 88 keys.

Lid Simulator (available only with the PX-850, AP-650M, and AP-450)
The tone of a grand piano changes depending on the degree that its lid is open or closed. This function precisely simulates these changes, allowing the player to select an effect that corresponds to the degree a grand piano lid would be open, to suit his or her preferences.

• Openable top board design (available only with the PX-850, AP-650M, and AP-450)
The physical top board on these digital pianos can be opened and closed,* allowing the player to have the experience of actually playing with the piano top board open

* The value set for the Lid Simulator does not change regardless of whether the top board is open or closed.

Casio’s Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II detects the force of keystrokes using three sensors per key, thereby reproducing the attack timing of a grand piano. This feature allows the same note to be played repeatedly without fully releasing the key, enabling exceptional playability. The keyboard is directly responsive to the weight of the piano hammers and uses no springs. Accordingly, the keys become progressively heavier in the lower register and lighter in the higher register, making the instrument as comfortable to play as a real grand piano.

Hammer Response system
In a grand piano, the size of the hammers varies depending on the key blocks, producing subtle differences in the attack of notes in different registers. Casio’s Hammer Response reproduces these differences for each register of the keyboard, and simulates all of the corresponding variations in attack depending on how forcefully the keys are struck.

Key Off Simulator (available only with the PX-850, AP-650M, and AP-450)
Casio’s Key Off Simulator changes the tone according to how fast the finger leaves a key, thereby reproducing the soft touch and beautiful reverberation of a grand piano.

Keys like real ebony and ivory
The black and white keys look and feel like real ebony and ivory to create a luxurious feel and texture as well as a smooth touch. The detailed crimp surface finish on the keys gives the sensation of a comfortable fingertip fit and ensures that they do not get slippery with perspiration.

• The Audio Recording function saves a piano performance on a USB flash drive (available only with the PX-850M, PX-350M AP-650M and AP-450)
• The Recording function records and saves a piano performance in the built-in memory device
• Duet Mode sets identical tonal ranges to the right and left of center on the keyboard so that two people can play within the same register
• The Layer Function enables two different tones to be layered in a performance preset
• The Keyboard Split Function enables different tones to be designated for the lower and higher blocks of the keyboard
• The Operation Lock function freezes the operations of buttons to prevent unintentional changes to settings
• A 60-tune Music Library is provided for listening enjoyment and lessons (not available with the PX-350M)
• 180 rhythms in internal memory provide auto-accompaniment (available only with the PX-350M and AP-650M)
• The Registration function enables users to save tones, rhythms, and other settings for immediate call-up (available only with the PX-350M and AP-650M)
• The pitch bend wheel smoothly changes the pitch of played notes (available only with the PX-350M)