Casio AP-550 Digital Piano

Overview

Introducing the Casio AP-550, a great example of musical innovation that redefines the digital piano experience. The AP-550 is the new mid-tier offering from Casio’s celebrated Celviano AP line. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, the Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keys in the Celviano Edition replicate the authentic touch of a grand piano, enhanced by spruce construction for a truly immersive playing feel. With 26 Tones at your fingertips, including a newly recorded Hamburg grand piano and a dynamic New York variant, the Casio AP-550 ensures a diverse and inspiring range of piano sounds to explore.

Not just a feast for the ears, the Casio AP-550 boasts an elegant cabinetry design, featuring a sliding soft-close key cover and a moveable top lid. The illuminated touch sensor controls add a touch of modern sophistication, disappearing seamlessly while you play. The Visual Information Bar goes beyond the ordinary, displaying metronome beats, key and pedal velocity, providing a comprehensive visual aid to enrich your playing experience. With layer, split, and duet mode capabilities, this digital piano adapts to your musical preferences and creativity.

The Casio AP-550 offers a plethora of cutting-edge features. The player is able to dive into the realm of expression with string and damper resonance, key-off simulation, and mechanical sounds that add depth and authenticity to your performance. Further customization is possible incorporating four hall simulations, chorus, brilliance, and preset DSP effects. The Instant RePlayer continuous recorder allows you to capture your creativity on the fly, while the MIDI and audio recorder with USB storage ensures seamless integration into your digital workflow. With the included WU-BT10 Bluetooth MIDI and audio adapter, alongside class-compliant USB-MIDI, connectivity has never been more versatile and easier to access.

The Casio AP-550 helps to elevate your piano playing to new heights, thanks to its revolutionary new touch-to-sound experience driven by the Celviano Edition Smart Hybrid Hammer Action keys. Renowned for their award-winning design, these keys establish an impressive connection between touch and sound, faithfully replicating the natural feel of an acoustic piano. Crafted using spruce and resin, each of the 88 keys offers a response that mirrors the unique hammer performance found in acoustic pianos.

The integration of fine-grained spruce not only enhances the durability and balance of the keys but also elevates their visual allure and organic feel. Improved damping materials ensure smooth and quiet key movement, creating undisturbed and inspiring performances.

The Casio AP-550 features a cutting-edge sound engine, powered by the Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR technology. This innovative engine forms the heart of the AP-550, delivering an unparalleled level of realism and depth to your musical experience. With 26 tones at your disposal, including a newly recorded 9-foot Hamburg concert grand piano tone, the Casio AP-550 ensures a diverse and dynamic range of sounds that capture the essence of iconic instruments.

The Casio AP-550 doesn’t just stop at traditional grand piano tones. Alongside the Hamburg grand, it introduces a distinct New York variant, allowing you to explore different tonal profiles. Dive into a new realm of authenticity with features like string and damper resonance control, key-off simulation, and mechanical sounds – enhancing the expressiveness of each note. The sound engine’s versatility extends beyond pianos, covering essential instruments such as electric pianos, organs, strings, and more, providing a comprehensive palette for creativity.

The AP-550 features complex and sophisticated sound-shaping capabilities. The inclusion of four hall simulations (including an NYC club, a Berlin concert hall, a British stadium and more), chorus, brilliance, and preset DSP effects enables you to tailor your sound environment to suit any musical genre or personal preference. With a powerful 40-watt, 4-speaker amplification system, complemented by two headphone outputs, the Casio AP-550 ensures that your musical journey is as dynamic in private practice as it is in shared performances.

·    USB connectivity with both A and B ports (including USB MIDI)

·    Bluetooth MIDI and Audio (using the included WU-BT10 adapter)

·    Dual headphone output

·    DC In jack for power adapter

The Casio AP-550 offers comprehensive connectivity, catering to most standard requirements of any musician. It is important to note however, that there are no line outputs featured on this piano. When coupled with the exclusive Music Space app designed for Casio keyboard users, the AP-550 transforms into a versatile hub for both performance and educational purposes. The app is user-friendly and visual, making it an appropriate platform for piano players of all ages.

Visual Information Bar

Positioned above the keys, the Visual Information Bar on the Casio Celviano AP-550 stands out as a revolutionary multifunctional new feature. Tailoring itself to the dynamics and nuances of your playing, this innovative bar serves a variety of purposes. It functions as a metronome with customizable pulsing beats, provides valuable assistance to teachers by displaying playing strength and pedal depth, and responds dynamically to Bluetooth audio, offering customizable visualizations. For those seeking an undisturbed playing experience, the bar can be easily disabled, allowing for distraction-free practice.

Instant RePlayer

The Casio Celviano AP-550, with its Instant RePlayer feature presents a musical time machine that captures impromptu moments of inspiration. By a mere press of a button, users can retrieve and replay the recent minutes of their performance, even without prior recording initiation. Serving as a convenient timeline, the Visual Information Bar facilitates effortless navigation, enabling users to revisit specific musical moments with simplicity. This innovative feature will be incredibly useful for players using their instrument for creative purposes, such as composition, arranging, or production.

Illuminated Touch Controls

Experience easy control and personalized adjustments through the illuminated touch sensor controls on the Casio Celviano AP-550. Easily navigate through tones and refine settings on the fly using the controls located on the left-hand panel. Once you begin playing, these controls discreetly vanish, creating an immersive and undistracted piano experience. Whenever you seek intuitive and accessible command over your musical experience, a gentle touch is all it takes to reactivate these controls.

The Casio Celviano AP-550 seamlessly blends technological innovation with an exquisite visual design, creating a piano that embodies both sophistication and cutting-edge capabilities. With a strong emphasis on delivering a truly authentic acoustic grand piano sound and feel, the instrument employs top-tier sampled instruments and offers extensive customization options to capture nuances, ensuring an unparalleled playing experience. Coupled with groundbreaking innovations and a meticulously crafted sound system, the Casio AP-550 provides an inspiring and immersive musical experience overall.

While it wasn’t until the introduction of the Celviano Grand Hybrid GP line that many digital piano enthusiasts started to view Casio as a top-tier digital piano candidate, the new AP series models are a clear indication that the company is looking to expand their professional-level offerings. Models like the AP-550 may occupy the mid-range price category, but it is certainly an instrument that offers professional calibre musical performance.

Specifications

Keyboard

Type: Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard CELVIANO Edition (Key material：hybrid of wood & resin)
Number of Keys::88
Touch Response:: 5 sensitivity levels, off

Engine: Multi Dimensional Morphing AiR
Maximum Polyphony: 256
Number of Tones: 26

Acoustic Simulator
・88-Key Digital Scaling
・Hammer Response (4 levels, tone, off)
・Key Off Response (3 levels, tone)
・String Resonance (4 levels, tone, off)
・Damper Resonance (4 levels, tone, off)
・Key Action Noise (4 levels, tone, off)
・Damper Noise (4 levels, tone, off)
・Lid Simulator (4 levels, tone)
・Key Off Simulator

Effects

・Sound Mode: Hall Simulator (4 types) / Reverb (8 types), Surround (2 levels), off
・Chorus (4 levels, tone)
・Brilliance
・DSP (Preset for some tones)

・Built-in Songs: 60 ・Lesson Function: Part ON/OFF (Part Select: right hand, left hand, both hands) ・Song Expansion (User Songs): 10 songs (max.) Up to approximately 320 KB/song ・Demo Songs: 2

Instant RePlayer: Data capacity: 270 sec.
MIDI Recorder: 2 tracks (1 system track ＋ 1 solo track), 1 song Real-time recording, playback
Audio Recorder: To USB memory: max. 99 songs, approximately 25 min/song

3 built-in pedals（included）：damper (continuously variable), soft (2 levels, off), sostenuto ・Half-Damper Pedal Operation: Yes

Size: 12cm x 2 + 3.5cm x 2
Speaker system: 2-channel/4-speaker
Amplifiers: 20W+20W (maximum output)

AC Adaptor: AD-E24250LW
Power Consumption: 20W

1,401 x 440 x 891 mm (w/o music stand)
Weight: 49.5kg
Colors: Black, Brown, White

・Wireless MIDI & AUDIO Adaptor (WU-BT10)
・Music Stand
・AC Adaptor (AD-E24250LW)
・Adjustable-height Piano Bench
・Headphone Hook

Yes

-2 octaves ~ 0 ~ +2 octaves

-12 semitones ~ 0 ~ +12 semitones

A4 =’ 415.5 Hz ~ 440.0 Hz ~ 465.9 Hz

Equal temperament + 16 variations

Off, 1 to 9 beats; tempo range: 20 to 255 Tempo Marking Setting, Tap Tempo

Yes

Yes (1 level)

App：CASIO MUSIC SPACE

Yes

Yes

Yes

・Visual Information Bar
・Touch button：6（Tone Select button：1）
・Slide-type keyboard cover
・Auto Power Off
・Auto Resume
・Operation Lock (ON / OFF / AUTO)

USB port: Yes (Type-A, Type-B)
Connector for 3-pedal unit: Yes

2 x Stereo standard phone jack (TRS phone)
Connection to App: Yes (CASIO MUSIC SPACE) with Piano Remote Controller

・Included：Wireless MIDI & AUDIO Adaptor (WU-BT10） ・Bluetooth Audio Profile：A2DP, Codec：SBC ・Bluetooth MIDI Profile: GATT (MIDI over Bluetooth® Low Energy)

Yes (Using the Wireless MIDI & Audio Adaptor or USB port B)

· Nocturne Op.9-2
· Fantaisie-Impromptu Op.66
· Étude Op.10-3 “Chanson de l’adieu”
· Étude Op.10-5 “Black Keys”
· Étude Op.10-12 “Revolutionary”
· Étude Op.25-9 “Butterflies”
· Prélude Op.28-7
· Valse Op.64-1 “Petit Chien”
· Valse Op.64-2
· Moments Musicaux 3
· Impromptu Op.90-2
· Marche Militaire 1 (Duet)
· Frühlingslied [Lieder Ohne Worte Heft 5] · Fröhlicher Landmann [Album für die Jugend] · Von fremden Ländern und Menschen [Kinderszenen] · Träumerei [Kinderszenen] · Tambourin
· Menuet BWV Anh.114 [Clavierbüchlein der Anna Magdalena Bach] · Inventio 1 BWV 772
· Inventio 8 BWV 779
· Inventio 13 BWV 784
· Praeludium 1 BWV 846 [Das Wohltemperierte Klavier 1] · Le Coucou
· Gavotte
· Sonatina Op.36-1 1st Mov.
· Sonatine Op.20-1 1st Mov.
· Sonate K.545 1st Mov.
· Sonate K.331 3rd Mov. “Turkish March”
· Rondo K.485
· Für Elise
· Marcia alla Turca
· Sonate Op.13 “Pathëtique” 1st Mov.
· Sonate Op.13 “Pathëtique” 2nd Mov.
· Sonate Op.13 “Pathëtique” 3rd Mov.
· Sonate Op.27-2 “Moonlight” 1st Mov.
· Rhapsodie 2
· Waltz Op.39-15 (Duet)
· Liebesträume 3
· Blumenlied
· La Prière d’une Vierge
· Csikos Post
· Humoresque Op.101-7
· Melodie [Lyrische Stücke Heft 2] · Sicilienne Op.78
· Berceuse [Dolly] (Duet)
· Arabesque 1
· La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin [Préludes] · Passepied [Suite bergamasque] · Gymnopédie 1
· Je Te Veux
· Salut d’Amour
· The Entertainer
· Maple Leaf Rag
· L’arabesque [25 Etüden Op.100] · La Styrienne [25 Etüden Op.100] · Ave Maria [25 Etüden Op.100] · Le retour [25 Etüden Op.100] · La chevaleresque [25 Etüden Op.100] · No.13 [Études de Mécanisme Op.849] · No.26 [Études de Mécanisme Op.849]