Don't read the whole manual

I read it. I read the whole Casio Px-560m manual. Cover to cover. All 105 pages of it.

Was I procrastinating? Maybe... likely. But I did do it. I learned some cool things, and absolutely not what I needed to trouble shoot recording on this. I wanted to explore the built in technology in my keyboard in hopes that I would be able to document some of my practice sessions through it. It worked as intended, but I cannot share any of the data as of right now.

The built in MIDI recorder and Audio recorder are fantastic! But I think my user error has faulted my uploads. I cannot, for the life of me figure out how to transfer my files onto my USB.

Side note- in the day of online wifi sharing, are USB's dead? This is the first time I have used one in years, and send most large files via google docs links. Does anyone have a trusty USB they carry everywhere?

As for the Audio recording features separate from uploading them, these work great! You are able to layer tracks and play along with playback. I especially like the idea of being able to layer sound so well. This was discovered through my manual read as well as some experimentation. Other than this, I found very little other useful information past the basics.

The Instructions:

1. Buy a Casio-px560m stage keyboard. As far as I know, you can't buy these online (ie off of amazon) so check out your local music store or GearHunter (where I got mine, they might even write you a joke)

2. Plug it in and test it- if it turns on and makes sound you're doing great

3. Select the tone you want your first track to be in. I usually use the Grand Piano 1 sound.

4. Choose MIDI or Audio. Midi allows you to do more with your tracks but they are harder to export, Audio allows you to do the basics and export easier but requires a USB to be plugged in to work. (in my case it doesn't matter because I refuse to get off the struggle bus)

5. From here you hit the little circle button and start recording.

Easy, I recorded portions of each of my sessions throughout the week. and was able to listen back to areas I thought needed more work. Though the MIDI playback I was also able to analyze my tempo and any issues I may have had in that area.

So how does this keyboards built in recording stand up to the SAMR model?

Surprisingly pretty decent, although it's useability isn't the most user friendly.

At the lowest level (Substitution), this keyboard functions as a piano. All 88 weighted keys and the finishes make it feel like playing a traditional upright in many ways. The recording software is a more accurate recording of playing, and essentially replaces the need for outside audio recorders.

It can be used for Augmentation in its ability to produce playback and playback information. Instead of having to manually set a metronome for a base line, or remembering to turn off your recorder that you left somewhere it gives clean audio data. It also doesn't record background noise (no hubby playing Halo)

Although I haven't yet explored it, the ability to layer recordings of tracks is a significant modification to a traditional recording process in which several tracks would be recorded and then put together. I believe this could be a powerful tool for at home musicians looking to record multi-part tracks.

Although this technology does not blatantly replace anything that already exists, the applications for this could be a complete Redefinition of how audio can be transmitted for any activates. Applications that would work really well:

• Piano test recordings

• Exploration of how instruments work together

• Ability for teachers to play back student work and find areas to work on- more pointed feedback

• Ability for students to focus on pointed feedback and listen back on inconsistencies in tracks

• Ability for people to play over the same track at a different time (teaching applications)

I am not sure if this teachnology is by any means revolutionary, but it is a simple way to make practice a little bit easier to track.

As I used it this week, it was simply an augmentation of what I have done in the past, but even this small step better, I imagine I will continue to use it-- especially if I can figure out how to do it right.