Casio VL-1
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The VL-1 was the first instrument of
It has 29 calculator-button keys (G to B), a three-position octave switch, one programmable and five preset sounds, ten built-in rhythm patterns, an eight-character
The VL-1 was followed by the VL-10, a very similar machine in a smaller unit, and the VL-5, a
RadioShack sold a rebranded version of the VL-1 called the Realistic Concertmate 200.[4]
Sound
Its sounds were mostly composed of filtered squarewaves with varied pulse-widths. Its
Features
The VL-1 featured a small
Voices
Piano, Fantasy, Violin, Flute, Guitar, Guitar(II), English Horn, and Electro sound (I, II and III) are available in ADSR Mode. Piano, Fantasy, Violin, Flute and Guitar (I) have direct access, and Guitar (II), English Horn, Electro sound (I, II and III) only can be used with ADSR button.
The sounds (*) do not have direct access through a button, but they are part of the ADSR variables, so there are 5 more sounds in reality, although they can only be used through the synthesizer and must be entered through a code. So it would look like this: Piano, Fantasy, Violin, Flute, Guitar (I) are available at the same time, and any of the mentioned sounds or Guitar (II), English Horn, Electronic sound (I), (II) and ( III) can only be obtained by means of a code and occupy one at a time on the ADSR button.
ADSR
The VL-1 was programmed by entering a number into the calculator section's memory, then switching back to keyboard mode.
It worked like this (the number is the value for each):
Example (90099914)
- 9 Waveform
- 0 Attack
- 0 Decay
- 9 Sustain level
- 9 Sustain time
- 9 Release time
- 1 Vibrato
- 4 Tremolo
Notable uses and appearances
- The VL-1 acquired enduring notability in 1982, when the German band Trio used it in one of their songs, the "faux-Kraftwerk tune", "Da Da Da".[5] They used the Rock-1 rhythm preset and the Piano voice.
- The Human League used the VL-1 for "Get Carter", a song on their album Dare.[6]
- In 1995, "parsimonious" French singer/songwriter Dominique A used a minimum of instruments, including the VL-1 (called the "VL Tone" in the French press).[7][8]
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87930-855-1.
- ^ a b c d Mark Vail, The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument, page 277, Oxford University Press
- ^ Impact of MIDI on electroacoustic art music, Issue 102, page 26, Stanford University
- ^ "Realistic Concertmate 200 | Sound Programming". soundprogramming.net. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ Paphides, Pete (2009-08-01). "The world according to Frankmusik: The world as listed by the new star of British pop". The Times. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Adams, Cameron (2009-11-07). "Nostalgia never hurts". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ^ Renaud, Alain (1995-11-11). "A 27 ans, Dominique A est en passe de devenir un label". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ^ Mortaigne, Veronique (1995-05-18). "Dominique A, le dépouillement élégant". Le Monde (in French).