Casiotone
Casiotone was a series of home
The first Casiotone keyboards used a
Families
The original Casiotone keyboards came in three distinct families, separated by the method of synthesis. [citation needed]
- The famous VL-Tone .
- 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.
- Some other keyboards (such as the MT-35 and MT-45) use a combination of two different binary weighted numbers (1 and 64). The larger weight bit provides the fundamental, and the smaller weight bit provides the harmonic complexity.
The later, more professional range of keyboards, the CZ series (1984–1986), used phase distortion synthesis, which is mathematically almost identical to Yamaha's frequency modulation synthesis, although implemented slightly differently in order to avoid patent infringement.
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.
Some early 1980s models in the PT series of keyboards, such as the PT-30, PT-50, PT-80 and PT-82, were not marketed under the Casiotone name. The name was revived again later for models such as the PT-87 (which is basically the same as the PT-82) which was again sold as Casiotone.
ROM packs
Some models sold from 1983 onwards included a cartridge bay to accept Casio ROM Packs which contained sheet music in a digital format. The keyboards could play the notes automatically, or (with the exception of the PT-50
-
Casio PT-80
-
Casiotone MT-820
-
Casio DH-800 Digital Horn
Users
The low cost and abundance of Casiotone keyboards made them fairly common fixtures in garage rock bands. Musicians and bands known to use Casiotone keyboards include Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip, TG Miller of Black Camaro, Dan Deacon, Lettie, Maurizio Arcieri of Krisma, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Turnstyle, Trio, Ozma, Hedluv, and Chiara Lee of Father Murphy.[citation needed]
Relaunch
In 2019, Casio relaunched the series with three new Casiotone keyboards.[6]
See also
- List of Casio keyboards
- Casio CZ synthesizer
- Casio SD Synthesizers
References
- ^ "Casiotone Series | Casio Music Gear". www.casiomusicgear.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-136-12214-9.
1981 Casio VL-Tone. Rhythm, drums, chords and monophonic synthesizer in a low-cost "overgrown calculator". / Electronic music for the masses!
- ^ a b "History". Casio Computer Co., Ltd. (in Japanese).
1981 VL-1 %5BElectronic keyboard with calculator and music sequencer%5D
- ^ Casio PT-50 Unlike the later ROM Pack keyboards, there are no LEDs above the keys.
- ^ List of Casio ROM Packs
- ^ Casio Unveils Revamped Casiotone Series At Summer NAMM 2019[1]