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I want to add more tones to my keyboard. Now how do these expansion boards work? Do I have to open up my keyboard and put in this chip thingy and it adds new sounds to the keyboard???

They also have sound modules which plug in, but those are too expensive I think.

What board do you have?

I didn't buy one yet. I plan on getting one. I just wanted to know some information about them, I know nothing about this topic of adding tones to a keyboard.

I have a CASIO PX-300 if it helps.

Many of the Korg, Yamaha and Roland Keyboards feature expansion slots where you can actually add sound via a PC card that is actually inserted into the keyboard. If I am not mistaken Korg does most of their expansion sounds via software that is loaded into the keyboard???

There are currently no expansion sounds available via card for your Casio.

Yamaha has the PLG series of expansion Cards
Roland has the SRX Wave Expansion Boards

Hope this proves to be helpful.

PPBC

There are esentially three kinds of expansion:

1) Those that contain new samples and voice programming (Example: Roland JV/SRX, Alesis QCards)

2) Aditional Tone Generator modules that include not only the samples and voices, but also complete synthesis engines. (Example: Yamaha PLG) I believe this capability is unique to Yamaha BUT don't get too excited by it, as it is VERY dated and has many limitations.

3) Some boards have sample RAM that can be loaded and voice programmed. Third part developers create voices and sample libraries that can be loaded into this sample ram via USB/PC Card/Smartmedia/Floppy. (Example: Yamaha Motif ES, Roland Fantom X)

It is my wish that the manufacturers add option 3 to all of their high end digital pianos. It seems a shame that one must purchase an entirely new board just to get an incrementally better voice library when all that would be needed is a new sample and voice programming. I have literally dozens of different piano samples/voices (from many different types {Steinway, Bosie, Yamaha, Fazioli} of accoustic instruments) that I load on my Motif yet all I can play on my CLP-170 is a single Yamaha CFIIIS sample set with a couple of voices programmed. :-(

Rodney

Wait, so I can't use expansion boards with my CASIO? Is the only way I can possibly have more tones for it is getting a sound module? Those are so expensive though I was simply planning on going to SamAsh to buy something to add more tones to my keyboard (I got bored with my piano sounds).... what more can you reccomend for me to add more sounds to my keyboard???

Have you tried tweaking the internal sounds?

Sorry I'm not familiar with the Casio keyboards and their sound editing or expansion capabilities.

An external tone generator is always an option and you can pick up some pretty good used gear for not much more than what it would cost to purchase expansion cards for a modern (expandable) keyboard/synth. Check eBay.

Rodney