Casio Casiotone, 61-Key Portable Keyboard (CT-S200BK)

Product Information

The CT-S400 is a big change from the previous models. The first three iterations of the modern Casiotone line added more and more features and sounds to the same body. The CT-S400 is a total redesign, body and all. Tempted by a Casiotone? Or want to explore the rest of our keyboards? Follow the links below to explore our full range. It’s a bit bigger and heavier, and the handle is gone – so this keyboard has lost some of the mobility of the earlier Casiotones. Dance Music Mode has also been taken off.

There is no longer a suite of songs though, the S500 having its bank cut down to only one demo song. So, to return to our previous question, who is the CT-S1000V designed for? Despite its vocal synthesis capabilities, this still looks and feels like a home keyboard, but we think it’ll be quirky enough to find a place in a few studios, too. Touch-responsive keys are important for playing piano pieces, whilst a pitch bend wheel is great for synth-style lead parts. If performing is a priority for you, then the CT-S300 is a good choice. The famous VL-Tone VL-1 (1981) [2] [3] uses a method of sound synthesis based on the Walsh function. The functionality of the CT-S400 is enormous, making this an excellent instrument for somebody looking for a serious keyboard.Similarly, the widespread success of the first Casiotone keyboards is responsible for propelling Casio further into the musical instrument business, where they went on to cement themselves as one of the major players for electronic keyboards and digital pianos. This is a ground-breaking technology, which revolutionises the process of adding vocals to music. You only have to write your lyrics into Casio’s LyricCreator app, and then you can perform them on the keyboard – choosing from 100 different lyric tones! Harness the power of classic talkboxes and vocoders, or even create choral parts. Find out more about Casio Vocal Synthesis here. This instrument offers something truly unique, giving it wide appeal. Hobbyists and pros alike will find a use for the CT-S1000V. Those looking for an entry-level model will enjoy the CT-S100, CT-S200, CT-S300, and CT-S1. Buyers will need to decide whether features such as touch response or pedal connections are vital for them before making a choice though. Not to be forgotten is the integrated handle featured in the first three Casiotones – a real game-changer for portability.

It utilised “vowel-consonant” synthesis – a form of subtractive synthesis using filter patterns based on human speech tones. To select one of the 29 pre-set voices, you simply pressed the tone select button and then any of the white keys on the keyboard. This uncomplicated layout made the Casiotone extremely simple to navigate. Roland's take on the portable keyboard concept features 61 keys, more than 500 sounds, onboard Bluetooth and a Loop Mix feature. As suggested by the sudden jump from 500 to 1000, this keyboard takes a significant step forward from its predecessor. The Casiotone range largely appealed to amateurs and hobbyists, but some models have achieved cult status among composers and producers. One such keyboard is the Casiotone MT-40, famous for birthing the Sleng Teng riddim.In 1979, Casio announced their intention to enter the electronic musical instrument business, and the following year they released the Casiotone 201. This was a polyphonic synthesiserwith 49 full-sized keys and eight-note polyphony.

This instrument will appeal to performers and producers alike, with a suite of tools allowing for truly creative music-making. Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. Following directly on, the CT-S200 is like a beefed-up CT-S100. It offers all of the functionality of the CT-S100, with lots of useful extras. The CT-S1 is a return to what Casio intended to create with the very first Casiotone keyboard: a simple instrument which looks as good as it sounds.Keyboards such as the CT-202 ( c. 1981) use vowel-Consonant synthesis. The later model of this family, the MT-65, is one of the more well known and sought after models, as it also contains auto-accompaniment drum beats and bass lines. The fact that all Casiotone keyboards have USB connections means they can all be used as MIDI controllers. The CT-S300 and CT-S1 stand out as good choices for those seeking a keyboard to use mainly as a controller for their DAWdue to their touch-sensitive keys. The easily-carried CT-S300 would be good for somebody seeking a portable, laptop-based setup; whilst the refined styling of the CT-S1 would look excellent in a home studioenvironment. The 201 was supposed to be an instrument for everybody. Affordable and easy to use, Casio’s intention was to create a keyboardthat anyone would be able to learn with. Compared to other polyphonic synths at the time, the Casiotone was uniquely lightweight and inexpensive. Sure, it didn’t sound as iconic as a Prophet-5 – but that isn’t remotely what it was trying to do. After the release of the Casio SK-1 in 1985, gradually PCM sample-based tone generators became dominant in Casio's keyboards line. After the 1990s, most Casio keyboards utilized PCM tone generator or its variants.