My New Obsession with Old Casio Keyboards 

Keen on Keys got me, too! Dude has a great, calming voice, shows you how to fix, and clean up synths, then makes a Killer jam! I've already bought like 3 old little synths, and have a couple in auction lmfao! Run them through some effects and they sound amazing!

You don't need to buy non-rechargeable C and D batteries for your keyboards. Just buy the spacers and put AA rechargeables into them. C and D cells have same voltage as AA; they just have larger capacity. So the AA in the spacer may not last as long, but they can be recharged. I use mostly Sanyo/Panasonic Eneloop rechargeables.

You have talent, but the main reason I'm subscribed to your channel is because of your passion, and that's what inspire me the most to make beats. Other channels about gear might be more informative, technical, etc... but yours is colorful (literally and metaphorically) and motivates people.

Totally get that feeling with the studio. Music is about fun (just playing around) and great stuff comes as a byproduct. I’ve separated my studio now into two different places... first is the jamming area with NO computer and just a load of standalone MIDI gear into a multitrack and the other is just MacBook Pro and a controller! Guess where I spend most of my time!

Haven't even started the vid, instant subscribe. Thank you! In LOVE with "crap keys", everything from the beats to the tones, to the surprising weird stuff they can do. Casio was really on to something.

The old Casio keyboard virus got me too. PT30 and MT65

I love how Casios sit in a mix with other keyboards. They tend to occupy a frequency range or timbre not represented by other synthesis. They always cut right through. I've had a lot of them over the years. I still have my CZ-1000. Never letting it go. Some of the strangest zippiest sounds I've ever heard in my price range.

You should definitely try some of the older Yamahas like the PSS-50, 140, 290 and up...

Great video! My first synth was a VL-1,in 1981. More recently I picked up a Casio HT700, which has amazing sound. It's an analogue/digital hybrid. I paid £16!!

I can't even remember the model of Casio that I bought when I built my first studio. It was black and had two speakers that were like speakers you would find in the car. I let my producer friends influence me and laugh at my Casio so I got rid of it and then hid my Yamaha DJX from them as I could build whole tracks on the DJX and I wasn't going to have them judge my tracks on the fact that I was using a cheap Yamaha. I wish I could remember what Casio I had though

Just picked Up a VL-1 from a House Clearance for fucking free! Thats the reason why im Here. Im totally in Love with it.

I just copped the Casio RZ-1, their only drum machine. It’s an instant industrial machine and though some complain about the very short 8 bit sampling, I think it’s perfect for keeping you focused on rhythm :-)

I love old casio digital Pianos. I'm just learning about cheap synthesizers.

just got my first one, sk-1 for 20 bucks at thrift store just needed one transistor. it's great ! very many creative possibilities

Still have my 1st ever keyboard, Casio PT-1 since more than 35 years, then bought a PT-100 (gave it to a cousin). In 1991 bought MT-540, that too is still with me.

You can use D battery empty case (sorry I'm french maybe it is not the right word) where you can insert regular AA or AAA batteries in it. Very handy.

I just bought a used sk8 and found your video. I love this sk8 and all the obsolete keyboards a lot of people had in the 80's/90's, this is my first keyboard so here I go! thanks for your video

I bought a CZ5000 from a local music shop for $400 a few years back. You may have overpaid for the little 101 but they are basically the same. Mine just has a sequencer that I don’t know how to use. But yeah, I love the sound of the CZ synths!!

I love old Casio keyboards. My friend and I, when we were getting started making music in high school, co-opted my sister's Casio keyboard. Mostly just for drums, but we used it for melodic ideas sometimes too. It was cheesy, but it's what we had, and it worked. Later, I had an SK-5 and SK-1 that I dinked around with for fun. The SK-1 is surprisingly decent sounding. I ended up using it for a theme song I wrote for my friend's podcast.

Oh... Great...You have an amazing collection. Oh, how I envy you!!! Now, I am obsessed too... How to get out!!! Thank you for your show!!!

It's like you're telling my life story. The only difference is, I wasn't inspired by anybody. I swear these keyboards have some weird magnetic power of their own. I got one thinking I would circuit bend it and a year later have a dozen that I love like babies

I got a VL-1 back in the day when they were under $40

Now I regret giving my old mint condition SK-1 to my nephew. Haha. I guess I could “borrow “ it back? Teenage me played the hell out of that thing along with the obligatory tape recorder. Miss the 80s.

I’ve developed an unhealthy obsession with my 9 old Casios. But I really am on the same head level with you. Which is nice

I feel the same way about my Yamaha PSR/PSS from the early 90s, I've repaired PSS-780 and 790 myself it's quite fun fixing old stuff. Also I like the vector synth mixer on the 790 it simple but fun

Casios are pretty cool, from the classic VL-1 in 1979, VL-5 and of course the CZ series are pretty pro too, and still not very expensive! The SK1 is a really good lofi monster, nice collection!

The CT-S400 has combined all the very best bells and whistles (literally) of every vintage Casiotone. 600 voices, and 200 rhythms and crazy features which for the price is a steal

Just recently got myself a Casio CZ-5000. So that's a nice coincident. Although, this is probably more about the smaller keyboards :)

I have a Casio CT 510 from 1987, made in Japan.

When i saw the miniature and clicked, i was ready to say "get a cz sister", i love my cz1000, one of my favort too, once you got the way thay are programed regarding envelope settings. they are so cool and underrated, and i had big names expensive synths... ct 401's are cool too but if in the us they get expensive, here in france you get them for 100euros. the sk is really cool i agree aswell... reggae digital era synths : mt40, cz100 (101), dx100 (27 cheaper same synth but bigger keyboard, people ar just dumb)... i could repair those vl1..

The casiotone 1000p is very interresting too!

Is the casiotone MT68 any good? It was my first keyboard in 1983 my parents got it at Kmart for me for Christmas. When I left for college my mother kept it and she still has it. Im just wondering if somebody who appreciates these old keyboards would even want this one.

Welcome to the obsession, ever since I was a kid I've loved old Casio keyboards. Specifically the MT and SA series are my favourites.

The mt65 . Is awesome. Also the csm1. EMU s orbit has a few CZwaveforms.strings and bass. Doesn't have the 8stage envelopes but it's more flexible and easier to integrate into old school midi set ups.

I feel you with the G.A.S.. I have an extensive collection of vintage E-MU modules. Which even caused debt acquiring them many years ago. I have since preached awareness of the gift & curse of having lots of gear. I luv your channel btw... Keep em coming. Peace...Netm8kr

Thanks for the clip! I get where you are coming from with the intrigue. Just found my first Casio LK-100 by the garbage in my apartment last week. to my surprise, everything works and I have a power supply on the way. fooling around with it in conjunction with my Yamaha MODX8 and DAW setup. the percussion is one of the coolest aspects for sure!

Literally just picked up a CZ-101 yesterday for $140! Crazy how you post this vid the very next day. I think I made a good call!

I got a CTK-2090 and a CA-110 at a goodwill (with a stand, no adaptors) for $33 total. There are a few goodwill's in my city and the small town where I go to visit my dad, so I stop in once in awhile and beeline to the electronics section where sometimes an old keyboard or good headphones can be found for cheap. I started playing on a 90's era Yamaha PSR way back, so I'm partial to Yamaha, but old Casio keyboards definitely have the old-school, lo-fi sound on lock.

I have a MT-45 that's great, with a lot of smooth atmospheric sounds and a MT-400V that's a beast. I swear you can make some Tame Impala-like sounds just by screwing with the filter control.

I’ve bought quite a few Casios because of this video… it was the gateway drug

Look out for a Casio CTK-2000 or CTK-3000. More of a full size keyboard, but those models reintroduced sampling, and the ability to store samples. Plus they’re USB, so you can use them with a computer and DAW. I picked up a 2000 at my local Value Village for $25 a few months ago, hooked it up to Cubasis. Has 400 presets, though over MIDI it’s more of a GM module. Also, for those of you looking for the CZ-101 sound but don’t want to pay big bucks, Plug-in Boutique does a plug-in called Virtual CZ. You can even load in sysex from a CZ synth.

2 years later, Casio’s are starting to increase price. After watching this video I began searching for keyboards. I stumbled upon a Yamaha PSS - 270 on eBay. I negotiated the price and I was able to grab it for $33 including tax and free shipping.

As a bonified "Casio Junkie" myself, I enjoyed this video immensely. I've been a fan/user of Casio pro products since the late 80s, when they were making the best keyboards on the market. At that time, though, I couldn't afford the really GOOD stuff; FZ-1, VZ-1, or their equivalent rack mounts. Now I have several! I invite you to look into those keyboards. Many times when playing a job I've had keyboardists come to the stage to ask what I was using to get my piano sound (the electronic piano). They were shocked to learn it was the VZ-1, or the VZ-10M, depending on the setup I was using at that time. I think you'll be very surprised when you hear those instruments. The FZ is their sample keyboard. It loads sounds via floppy discs. AMAZING piano, chorus, strings, and so on. Please do yourself a favor and look into them.

For those D-size cells, it's usually easiest to get a pack of D-size adapters so you can use your rechargeable AA cells. Eneloop makes some nice adapters (and probably the best AA rechargeables too). Or another option is to use one 32650-sized li-ion cell and two blanks (empty shell with a wire inside). For a 6 D-cell device, you'd probably need 2 actual cells and 4 blanks. These may be harder to obtain though, since 32650 isn't a very popular size and most of the li-ion cells people sell online are fake. It would also work to just put some padding around a more popular 18650 cell like a Sanyo 35E or LG MJ1, to make it wide enough to fit. Or a smaller amount of padding around a 26650 cell like a Shockli black 5500mAh model. It just needs to keep the ratio of 1 cell and 2 blanks, since li-ion is 3X the voltage of a common AA or D cell... so it's the equivalent of three D cells in series.

I'm with you, I got a Casio from my friend for 40 Bucks, and I've been hunting them down ever since!

Oh, wow! I remember buying my Casio SK-1. It must have been somewhere in the late 80s. I had so freakin' much fun with it! The most fun thing I did with this was constantly sampling the famous Sarrarr sample from the Fairlight CMI. Having a $100 keyboard recreating the sounds of a $30.000 one was the best deal I ever had! :-D

Got my Casio sk-1 when I was 8 in 1988. And I fell in love...

I was about to say, can’t bring up old Casio’s without mentioning Flobama!! Dude put us on lol

FLASHBAAAAACK. I DID MY FIRST DEMOS WITH THE CZ230s....10 years before my first Record Deal!!!!!!

Great collection! I got some thanks to the french band Phoenix😅 they have a huge collection of these too

Casio MT-60 is a beauty

I have 6 vintage casio now 😅, 2pcs VL-1, PT-20, SA-1, CK-10, MT-800

Yeah, I’m Casio lover to!😅❤🎉

I'm also obsessed with Casio Keyboards I was really into music when I was younger and recently dug out all my old gear, I never knew all my gear was trash but I have a Casio, a Yamaha Digital Drum, a Squire Strat, an acoustic Ibanez and a Tascam Portastudio

I collect these CASIO keyboards too. Subscribed.

My obsession as been Caustic 3 mobile for Android for the pass year and a half, I got $10.000 worth of studio equipment, plus every program and vst they're is, but ever since I found Caustic 3 mobile for my phone a year and a half ago, I'm been obsessed with it, because it's a complete workstation app with synths and samplers, like the subsynth, the padsynth, a modular synth, a fmsynth, the sawsynth plus the kssynth but also the baseline which it's like the tb-303 , it also got a drum machine, and my favorite the PCM Synth which is and a sampler plus a SF2/SFZ soundfonts files instrument, all that in Caustic 3 mobile and its reliable and it work with my cheap phone which I have with me every time and anywhere, and not just that, u can export the complete mix track at 16,24 or 32 bit depth, I mean the industry standard is 16 bit what else can anybody asked for, the points is that is pretty much a complete workstation for your phone, and u can do a complete beat project professionally just in your phone and a good pair of headphones, I'm still mastering the app and training my ears, when it comes to mixing and mastering with headphones because you already know it's not the same mixing n mastering with headphones, but with time and dedication u can accomplish with it whatever you want accomplish, and my goal it's to show that to world through my beats, and that u can produce professional high quality music in your phone without the need of anything else, and I guess that's my obsession with Caustic 3 mobile, I mean its a real obsession.... Anyway I wish you nothing but the best in life and that u get accomplish everything that you want to accomplish in life!!! By the way sorry for my English its my second language, Spanish is my first, peace ✌️

I need help finding a keyboard. I work with medically handicapped kids and kids with autism. Lots of neurodivergence. Music touches people so much. But explaining to my kids how to follow the lights on a keyboard is hard. When I was a kid I had a little keyboard that had lights in the keys to follow to play a song. I think it was a casio maybe. The difference is that keyboard would light one key and wait for you to play it before lighting the next key. I imagine that it went out of style because there wasn't a real indication of how long to play the note, except for the demo song that you could just play. The other neat thing was that keyboard didn't play any other notes except the one that lit up. The great thing about this is that my kids tend to just jam all the keys and don't follow lights that just dance along looking pretty. I wold love to find this keyboard and buy it if possible. Can anyone help me find what model it was and where I could look. It might not have been casio....

Great video. Brought back fond memories of my CASIO synth days. My third keyboard I ever owned was the CASIO SK1. Got one new in 1988. I now keep it in a glass case in my studio. Great memories with that little synth. If old CASIOS are your new obsession, there is nothing wrong with that. Keep up the good work.

Just bought a MT 52 for £20 it’s fantastic.

I got a CA 100 and somehow whenever im bored i find myself on my bed playing a flute piano split preset to a samba beat 5 minutes later.🤣 Also whenever i have an idea for a song i grab the CA and come up with an whole arrangment. The quik access to smooth sounds without loading anything up is probably my favorite thing about old Casio Keyboards.

Following your trail I looked up a bunch of these old Casios, and listened to lots of great sound demo videos from people like Keen on Keys, and others. I love the chill sound of the MT-70, so I set up some alerts; found one for a good price a few days later - it just arrived! Thanks for the heads up on all these lovely old keyboards, I can't wait to dig in and eventually show my kids how to play it.

I have the Yamaha PSS 170, pss-7, PSS 570, pss 30 and pss 80 And the casio Sa-21, mt-500, pt-1 and the sa 9 Plus the infamous B Meowsic (cat keyboard)

I managed to score an old Casio CT-6000 a few years ago for au$100 from an owner who looked after it pretty well. It was a high end home model released in 85, so it's at least one year younger than me and probably still in better condition. It does have a pretty basic phase distortion synth board, but you can hear it failing so I will be attempting to repair that once my work space is ready. The standard casio sounds and features all seem to work and it has stereo line outs and midi support so it's still useful even without a working synth board. Also this thing is heavy... I believe it was designed by former ww2 tank engineers because it is built like, and weighs as much as, a tank. Surprisingly good keyboard for a home studio if you find a working one cheap, have the space and are able to carry it.

I love old Casios!! Been collecting them for 20 years :)

Just bought a Hot Pink pt1 for 32$!

I know the addiction. I now have two SK-1s, a Yamaha PSR-36 (MIDI BABY!), another Yamaha PSR cheap one, and just got a DX-7 I need to restore.

So I found a cheap working vl1 but I'm super new to this. What else would I need to start making my own sounds?

Somebody please tell me why I can't find info or manual for a Casio CPS 50 I have.

I think the VL 1is where The OP 1 got their idea from. Cause they look a like. Plus i remember in 1981 i use to see black dudes selling the VL1 on almost every street corner in Midtown Manhattan. Which you will see in the movie cult classic, Brother from Another Planet. It's nice to have but, The VL 1 don't have a sequencer like the Yamaha QY 70. I do have a a SK1 also. and the only sound patch i like is Human Voice, and that's it.

Kind of makes me miss my old CTK-671.

Loved this episode! CASIO forever !!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome. I love to see other people geeking out on casios like me. Firstly, the CZ-230s is fully programmable via midi sysex. Any thing you can program on your 101 can be loaded onto the 230s. For recommendations I would def recommend an HT-700. Programmable with a real analog and resonant filter. I just picked one up for 70 bucks. They too are getting harder to find but totally worth it. I would also recommend the PT-20 and PT-30. Similar sounds to the PT-1 and VL but with chord buttons and a sequencer for both chords and melody. Very cool. And lastly, get an MT-240. It's a preset synth but can be controlled via midi. And the sounds can be layered. Casio's are super fun, and I gig with my CZ-1000 regularly.

I've discovered your channel recently aaaand you're awesome, for real! The way you are and think plus the music you do...your energy is just amazing. Keep it up!

You're really lucky to find a white VL 1, most I've seen have become cream from exposure.. 😊😊

Thanks for the great ideas! First, I decided that I wanted to learn synth and you compelled me to get a Behringer Oddysey. Secondly, your passion for lo-fi vintage synths compelled me to look online and I found a Yamaha PC100 that looks like it was played a couple of times and then stored in a closet for 38 years! I ended up paying $25 because no one would buy it! The play cards appear unused! Again, thanks for the great ideas!

Yooo! whats good Jade? I really like your channel and I admit I forget about it once in a while... so many loud-ass (people and video graphics) on youtube! Just wanted to say.... Casio obsession? Oh, yeah...it got bad, like, FAST for me. It started from borrowing my friends Realistic Concertmate 500. which is the re-brand of the SK-1. Everything you've heard is true. The sampler is SO SICK for that lo-fi-ness.... I had to give it back though. So since then I picked up: -SK-5 (almost as good and holds more samples...has some weird ass patches including "dog" and "surf") -Mt-220 -This has 4 drum pads and then it has 4 extra outs that apparently go to other drum patches? They are 3.5mm outs and I discovered when I put a jack in the port, it would trigger the sample indicated! It's like, pre-circuit-bent lol -PK-1 ...litttle and weird... reminds me of Zelda -then I have a later model like 440 or something of Realistic amd its boring. I feel like I have to get an SK-1 but they go for 200 and more of. Reverb...but after that, I'm pretty much good. I would love a chance to play on the CZ-1 with the actual synthesizer but I'll never buy one. Oh, one last thing. My buddy has this weird ass Realistic Synth...you'd swear looking at it that it was a Moog Prodigy....and it turns out it IS! Moog at some point must have done a deal with Radioshack in one of their "power to the people" maneuvers..It's CRAZY its a real Moog...it even says (by Moog) on the bottom! Keep doin' what you do! I do really enjoy your videos!

Ohhhhh maaan, I thought you were going to say the 'S' in CZ-230S stands for 'sampling'. A speaker is good to have too, though :)

Awesome so glad I found your channel. The casio MT100 has always had a special place in my heart. Reminds me of childhood. I recently been getting back into my obsession with vintage keyboards. I have 4 keyboards so far. I recently bought that casiotone 701. It's bulky, but I love the beats on it. I've been having fun with it. 5 years ago I found a yamaha Portasound vss 100. That ones one of my faves. Lately I've had my eye on a casio Ct 6000, or a 6500.

Distro kid is actually very good. Easy and cheap as chips.

Your personality is attractive. I like your approach to making music too

I started with a Casiotone MT 100(graphic eq).. I would love to see Casio try a full scale workstation in the spirit on the Medeli AKX 10... Any takers??

Hi do you have a video which shows the proper way to set up a Casio CZ 101? Thank you 🌹❤️

How goes the search, the journey.. the fun? .... My Casio journey.. began, again about 10 years ago (but 1985 I got my 1st ever keyboard.. in 4th-5th grade... Hooked ever since!) Had to get my first and 2cnd keyboards ever... Casio MT-520.. Casio HT-700... That's how it started..... Lol.... Added the Casio dp-1 drum pads and ss-1 sticks as accessories for my MT-520.... Then the SK-1, Sk-5, Sk-100,Sk- 200, Sk-2100.... And the Casio pt280 (the only sampling pt) Which led to the Yamaha VSS-30 (friggin AMAZE.. was the Sk-1 comp in 1985.. and wow!)... I also live with the MT-100.. vl tone.. Casio KX-101... Yamaha pss-680 (which if back in 1988 I chose the $500 HT-700 over ..pss-680 also was $500 in 1988... So, of course had to see what I missed and it is way cool also... Lol) it's a easy rabbit hole to dive into... Chances are if you don't have already, you will be looking for some of those I mentioned ... It's so much fun!!!!

for me i love the vltone-1, sa-1, ht-700 and the rapman i just need to find the rapman and i will have what i need

Have a CT 310…love it, bad it’s sad and breaking.

Great video! You’d probably get a better stereo image out of your monitors if you put them at less of an inward angle, this will enable you to get a closer image and sound to what the designers had in mind.

I love the old Casio keyboards too! Got a CZ-101 a while ago and now I am looking for SK-1/5 and MT-40.

My very first setup was a Yamaha RX8, a CZ 230s, and a Tascam 4-track

Look for an HT-700 or one of its full size cousins. Fully programmable, MIDI, wave shaping not as sophisticated as the CZ-101, but adds a paraphonic resonant analog filter(!), built in speakers, a really cool stereo analog chorus, and (I think) the same drums as the CZ-230S, but iirc you can program your own patterns. Also has line outs, although they are RCA.

you need a HT6000, I had the 3000 with ram card and had to sell it to pay a bill, but it was brilliant, luckily managed to get a HT700 so back on course, ish ha ha

Nice to see the old models, i felt in love with the new model ctx 5000, may be also a model to remember in a couple of years... Greetings from Germany 👍like casio

My very first synthesizer was a Casio "CZ-3000".🎹🎧💫😵👌😎👍

Are there any old cheap casios with attack and release or sustain buttons?

First video I saw of you: It´s not about the gear, now: Addiction to Casio gear... hahahahahaha I know the pain... the pains feels good.

Saved up for a few months and got a CZ-1 in January, it might be my favorite synth

I had a cheap lil' Casio from Radio Shack when I was a kid and I still remember some of the silly demo songs it could play. I have no idea which one it was, but it would be amazing to hear those again. I remember it had a sound it would play each time you pressed a preset button and it was this very loud CRUNCH.

Do you have a PT-50 or PT-82/87? I'd recommend one of those.

Check out the JVC KB 500 / 300 , u gonna love them 🙃

The Casio LK-42 was my very first keyboard. While the sound engine is far inferior to other keyboard brands like Yamaha or Roland, I still cant help but love those old samples and there is so much childhood nostalgia attached to it. It's almost gotten to the point where there's a little bit of synestheisa with me associating numbers with instruments. For me, the number 14 means "Church Organ" and the number 38 means "Choir Aahs" It's funny, but on my yamaha keyboard the Choir patch is 46 and I'm like "no it should be 38" lol

The CK-500 looks extremely radical