With the disappearance of the xw line, I was hoping Casio would really put out a yc61 or nord electro type of keyboard for us folks without 2k to spend. Some of the organ Mello and string machine sounds in these units are great!
Amazing comparison Jeremy! The Casio CT-S1 is a wonderful, affordable keyboard for beginners who would like to play classical Piano peices with ultra-rich, AiX powered tones, and which looks like an upright/digital piano, whereas the CT-S400 is meant for players who do not want to sacrifice on the number of tones (600) and would love to play their favorite songs with accompaniment rhythms (200). While features such as arpeggiators, harmonizers, 160 built-in songs, etc. are found on the CT-S400 to improve the musician's playing, the CT-S1 comes with effects that can improvize the tone quality.
CT S1 is also great for someone who usually plays piano and wants an ultra-portable practice instrument to travel with. I don’t want a thousand sounds, I just want a really light piano substitute. For non-weighted keys, they are surprisingly piano-like. I can’t play plasticey keyboard keys.
Yes, I knew that would be a problem. While using registrations, how are we to throw in drum fills on the fly? Try to flip flop between two different screens in the heat of the moment? How about ending the song, more screen flipping? Just adds to the confusion of playing. They should have dedicated buttons for the rhythm functions. I can see this as being an issue for some. Like for live performances.
Im Early today :D Jeremy i just wanted to say thank you to you. I was really confused weather to buy the E463 ot E373 or to just try and use my E263 as a midi somehow. Ur reviews helped me buy and i bought the E463. I do not regret my purchase. Thank you so much and keep making these videos
This is Great, being that the Casio Sk5 sampler was my 1st keyboard back in the day I think think would be a nice standalone keyboard for live jam sessions or studio recording without connecting to a computer becuz sometimes you just wanna detach from all the digital recording session I am going to purchase this for my home studio for those keyboard church players to jam to and I will get some great samples for my library I think its just good to have Casio has been around for awhile sometimes you just want a plain old vintage sound
Hey Jeremy! I watched nearly 30-40 of your videos lol! Thanks for the explanations! Which has better keys and grand piano sound? CT-S1 or CT-X 5000 Or are they same?
Hi Jeremy, I am from California. thanks for your very informative review as always which I came to depend on it. After I saw review on Yamaha DGX670, and actually played it in store, I purchased DGX670 recently after selling some of my old arranger keyboards. I am very happy with DGX670 except its weight so it will stay in the house. I now purchased CT-S410 after I saw it at store and tried. I also saw and tried CT-S1. After much consideration and few of your reviews, I decided on CT-S410. I am again very happy with it. It’s super portable yet uncompromising quality in tones and functions. I also use it as midi controller. Thank you always for your such high quality review. -Yoshi
One of these or the Yamaha PSR 373 for an absolute beginner? I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the piano yet. I bought the CTS 300 but it’s going back to the store soon for another piano as the keys feel awful and sometimes don’t seems to play sounds. I had tried the PRS 373 in the store but the feel of the keys felt similar to the CTS 300 at the time… that’s strange right? Maybe it was a very used model?
as for me that is starting to learn playing the piano/keyboard i’m going with the casio ct-s1. first i’ve wanted to get an offbeat one on amazon which was 100€ cheaper. but as i started watching reviews of the casiotone ct-s1 i’ve fallen in love with it! as a beginner i do not need over 61 tones and options! i recommend it as it’s also very portable!
Hello there sir! I got my cts1 already and tried to test the speakers through audio input but i was kind of disappointed with how it sounded. The bass parts are "cracky" although its really loud. I had no problem with the sound as im playing it tho. I guess my issue is a factory defect or is this really how it sounds when used as alternative output "speakers"
The CT-S1 looks more like a portable luxury item than a principle musical instrument to me. As someone said, it has lifestyle appeal. For the same price you can buy either more functionality (hobbyist arranger keyboard) or a better action, for playing piano music. If it suits your application, that's wonderful, but it will not prepare you for piano playing, and there are better keyboards for songwriting, at the same pricepoint.
If you gig live four times a week the lighter the better.All the other keyboards are for at home users who can just download dozens of quality VSTs and multi track,effects plug ins and drums
Hi Mike, Sounds like you know your gear. I'm looking for a portable keyboard with semi decent sounds. Would prefer decent action but I won't be gigging with it. What other models should I check out?
Terrific feature comparison on these new Keyboards. It's baffling on some of the design decisions Casio makes. The lower polyphony on the CT-s400, the one that you can split & layer voices? If the CT-s1 had more tones (I need Brass & Reed), and split capability I would have purchased it. Love the colors and those vintage tones. In the end, I purchased the CT-s400. It's still a feature rich keyboard, portable, and fun! I patiently await it's arrival, hopefully next month. Thanks Jeremy for going over these keyboards, really helps with buying decisions. PS...Off subject, in 1983 while I was working downtown Manhattan, I spent my remaining lunch hour looking at stereo equipment at J & R Music. They had two Casio Keyboards on display. A CT-405 and a CT-7000. I went nuts playing around with the CT-7000. Wife purchased one for me at Christmas, and my Keyboard journey began. The CT-s400 will be my 2nd Casio, 37 years later.
They really do need someone guiding the ship a bit more. They're a very capable company but some of the decisions are questionable. How they haven't done a CZ reissue yet is beyond me 😉
Man I'm _really_ struggling to pick between these two right now... I love the simplicity of the CT-S1, and I think it looks so much nicer and more "classy" (plus you said it sounds a bit better). I don't really care a ton about having a million different tones or rhythms since I would be using it as a midi controller for other tones and I can/will use my pc or phone for any accompaniment. The ONLY thing that makes me want the 400 is having a pitch bend wheel, which 99% of the time I won't use, but once in a while it would be really nice to have when I'm using it as a midi controller into my PC. It feels like I'm giving up a lot just to have the pitch wheel, but also feels like I'll really regret not having it on the very rare occasion that I want it... This will be my only keyboard for the foreseeable future, and my first one, if that possibly changes any recommendations. I'm a long time guitar player, who has always had an interest in piano and dabbles with midi instruments and synths with FL studio etc. How much better would you say the CT-S1 sounds? Would it be super noticeable to a noob?
@@tarafarmer6242 I went with the CT-S1. So far I really like it! It does sound nice. I've only had it for about a week now. Not having a screen is a bit of a functionality drawback because I do have to refer to the manual for to change certain settings, but I just saved a handful of screenshots of the settings usually I adjust from the pdf to my phone so that I can get to them quick and easy. Plus I'm sure after a while I'll won't be changing things nearly as much as I settle on what I like and save a couple custom tones, and I'll memorize the few others. Not having a pitch wheel may be annoying on the very rare occasion that I'd use it in the future, however it feels like it will probably be a long time before I'm capable enough at playing to even do that in real time anyway lol. So if I end up writing midi instruments with it for now, I can just bend the midi note manually after the fact if I needed to. I might have moved on to a nicer more expensive keyboard by the time I need it and can really utilize it anyway. I'm not too worried about that for now.
I actually kinda see the CT-S400 as a type of combination between the Casiotone CT-S1 and Yamaha PSR E-373. The CT-S400 has 600 tones and 48 note polyphony much like the Yamaha PSR E-373 but also has the "bigger looking" Piano keys like the CT-S1, The CT-S400 has LCD screen like Yamaha PSR-E373 unlike CT-S1. But Casio CT-S400 does have AIX soundship like other Casiotones.
Hmm....My POV is that S1 is for a To-Go musician who has friends to jam with (like Ac.guitar, Cajon, Vocalist, etc.) in a small acoustic session or something (But not powerful enough to match with those being used on a bigger stage). S400 is more like a hobbyist-level workstation for making a track or entertaining people at home. I feel that S1 sounds are significally better than S400 in rich and thickness of each instrumental sound. It would be nice if Casio releases a 73-key (or 76-key) S1 version. That will even make its market clearer. I'd even buy one for a grab-n-go trip (due to my RD-88 cannot fit in a sedan, but I no longer feel like any 61-key things will be enough for me)
Excellent (as always!). I have both of these keyboards and love them! For my needs, they both deliver extremely well. Obviously, if you want more voices, you'll go with the 400. If you are more interested in choice in colors and more polyphony, you'd want the 1. However, to my ears, there is also a difference in sound. The volume of the 1 seems to be a little louder, but the overall tone of the 400 is more mellow and feels better on my ears. This difference isn't as noticeable with headphones, so I'm guessing it has to do with the speakers on my two keyboards. Nonetheless, both instruments are remarkable, and at this price point? Yeah - they are both huge contenders!
One thing I’d like to add about the CT-S1; even though is has limited voices compared to the CT-S400, it has voices that aren’t on the 400…voices that people love :)
This is one thing that influenced me to go with the CT-S1. I don't need hundreds of voices I'm never going to use. Just give me a dozen or so that I'm going to love.
Thanks, as always, for the great review Jeremy! I purchased both of these, based on wanting to compare on my own after watching this video. I ended up selecting the CT-S400, due to my personal preferences. Here were my takeaways.. I'd be curious if you agree? 1. CT-S400 UI and features are much easier to inherently understand. While I like the simplicity of CT-S1, it's a little harder to find tones without the manual in front of you. 2. CT-S1 definitely feels / appears more more elegant and streamlined. 3. In my experience.. I felt that the CT-S1 keys were harder to push down, making it feel closer to an actual piano than the CT-S400. Both are semi-weighted, but the S1's seemed slightly more weighted. 4. Sound between the two, in terms of tones and quality of speakers.. near identical for me. I could not distinguish if either had superiority in this case.
Thank you so much for this amazing review! I was looking for such a comparison in my native language, but I couldn't find it. I accidentally found your review. Subtitles helped me. Please tell me if the difference between the CT-S1 and CT-S400 polyphony is very noticeable? I want to buy a ct-s400 because I liked the SPLIT and the features, but the polyphony is worse. From Russia with love! P.s. what do you think about Casio Lk-s250?
The CT-S1 is so limited compared to the CT-S400. It might work for some who don't want much variety, but it comes across a much cheaper keyboard. There's not even a display screen or a pitch wheel.
Thanks for the review. It helped to clarify the differences. I ended up getting the Casio CT-S1 because I prefer to have my rhythm accompaniments and additional sounds on my iPad (iReal Pro, Lumbeat Drum Machines, Korg Module and Sampletank). It was also interesting that the market for each keyboard varies so much across regions.
Thank you Jeremy! Q; Can you please tell me how you feel the difference in action between the Yamaha p121 and Casio CT-S1? I need a 'piano like' action keyboard that is portable. I'm leaning towards the CT-S1 (that is much more portable bc size and weight) also helps me save up for a Stationary piano solution in the future. How would you say their action compares?
Hey jeremy, am going to start learning how to play keyboard and am a bit confused if i should buy CTX700 or CTK3500 any help pls because they both range somewhat similar. Your help would be really appreciated🥺
Hi Jeremy....Questions for you. I know the CT-S1 has unique tones, and also shares some standard tones with the CT-S400. Since you have had hands on both the CT-S1 and the CT-S400, is the default Stage Piano tone identical in both keyboards? I'm still waiting for the CT-S400 I ordered. Any word or rumors on a Yamaha PSR-E473?
I haven't heard anything about the E473. With the acute global chip supply, I won't keep my hopes high. The defauly stage piano sample is exactly the same. However, there is some EQ-ing done on the CT-S1
@@JeremySee Hi Jeremy...You the man in the know. I keep forgetting about chip supply. In the USA it's worker supply as well, Prices are rising simply because of supply and demand, and products are selling at premium prices. I hope Covid cases are down in your country. We are experiencing a resurgence with the Covid variants, and the unvaccinated (I don't get it either). Thanks for the info on the Stage Piano Sample. It's one of the few I need, I think it's excellent. Take Care!
I can listen to you explaining ANYTHING all day. You name it, keyboards, music, Pokemon, how to cook a steak, your favorite color, Muslim holidays, Jay-Z, the weather, Super Saiyan Mario, anything.
I've been debating whether to get a CT-S1, since my Roland Go-Keys broke. But I'm still thinking about it. It all comes down to the sound quality/voices for me.
Hi Jeremy, would you shoot a video how to use 2 keyboards to get a big "church organ" setup? like a PSR-e 463? where you can sort of program the organ sound
No matter what a "richer sound" you want to create in a keyboard with just preset sounds is (and not synthesizers where you can create a sound from the scratch), I would propose the method below that I like to believe that works for me (I'm maybe just fooling my self though 😂, but you could try with your arranger keyboard) : a) Combine two similar sounds(voices) for the right hand. In your case, two pipe organ sounds.(Not necessarily at the same volume) b) If the keyboard like the SX series allows, add a third sound to the right hand voice. c) If the keyboard allows,add a pipe organ sound to the left hand voice. d) If the keyboards allows, add "Harmony" to one of the right hand voices. The Psr S/SX Harmony type of "Octave" goes with whatever you play.It adds one octave note each time to your playing, which of course is always in harmony with your playing d) If the keyboards allows, use any available effect for a fuller sound A "hit and miss" procedure until you find what it fits well to your combination of voices,your playing and the song/composition. e) Use as many fingers as you can of your right hand to play the "melody" line. Any melody can be played with just one finger of the right hand or it can be played with 1 to 5 fingers for each measure(piano playing). If I'm not mistaken, the PSR E series doesn't have midi in and midi out, so you cannot "connect" two keyboards. Nice video once again, Jeremy🙂
Hi Jeremy...CTS-1 or CTS-500? I'm not fooled by the arranger functions, and hundreds of synth sounds, only need good piano and organ sounds. But the proper line out of the CTS500 make me think it's a more professional instrument. Is that true with regards of the tones too?
It's very simple. If you think a keyboard needs a pitch wheel like a fish needs a bicycle, get the CT-S1. If you don't, get the CT-S400. Both have the same almost semi-weighted keyboard action and the same AiX tone engine. The CT-S400 has arranger capabilities. The CT-S1 is for players and students who want acoustic piano emulation above all. Both instruments can be used as a MIDI workstation.
Is there in the year 2024 any instrument on the worldwide market, which has 61 fully-weighted keys? not 76, not 88, but 61 FULLY-weighted or hammer-graded?
I have been learning forever, letting my Casio 625 collect dust for years, but now I want to start over and upgrade. I was spoiled by the loudness or volume able to achieve with 625. Is one louder than other CT1 louder than ct 400 same or less? Does that Bluetooth dogle allow the keyboard to play through external speakers, in my case Bose 600 speaker?
Man I just bought the 400 almost got the 300 and I’m really hoping I’m impressed with my first keyboard . It sounds really nice but I’ve never played .
Hi. Thx for your videos They are really very helpful. Just a question about a detail: On the net, when looking at pictures, I have sometimes the feeling that the screen light is blue, sometimes that it is green, sometimes that it is purple. Can someone tell me which color it is? Thx, regards, Olivier
I bought the CT-S410 today.... hopefully will get it delivered in 3-5 days. I wanted to know if there is any difference in feature between the models CT-S400 vs CT-S410 ?
You don't really need any of the extras on the CTS 400. Much of what is there is a available in other places today..if you are a beginner the CT is a great keyboard and if you already play it sounds better than my Roland that cost 2x as much.
Thanks a lot Jeremy for the review. I bought the so sexy Red Casio CT-S1 ❤️😊 And I'm very satisfied. I just wish it had a small screen. Other than that, those who are looking for a charismatic and easily portable piano can definitely choose the Casio CT-S1.
