Casio VL-mod

December 7, 2014 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Casio VL-mod 

The clip is only a patch demonstration. I used some MFOS to modify this VL-1.

Go to the tumblr to see the audio-voltage signal path.

Synthesis 101 with the PX-5S and XW-P1

August 24, 2014 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Synthesis 101 with the PX-5S and XW-P1 

Utilizing the XW-P1 and Priva PX-5S, Casio’s Mike Martin teaches the basics of Oscillators, Filters, Envelopes, LFOs and more in this live Ustream event.
http://www.casiomusicgear.com
http://www.casiomusicforums.com

Casio’s two new inexpensive digital sampling keyboards – CTK-2090 and LK-175V

August 18, 2014 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Casio’s two new inexpensive digital sampling keyboards – CTK-2090 and LK-175V 

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Casio America has introduced two inexpensive digital sampling keyboards, the CTK-2090, and the LK-175V. They will be sold exclusively at Target.

According to Casio, build on the legacy of the SK-1, an inexpensive 8-bit sampler from nearly 30 years ago, that offered the ability to synthesize sounds from waveforms, envelopes, vibrato, portamento, rhythms, and sampling.

Both keyboards have two sampling modes: short and full.

  • Short Sampling Mode allows users to create up to five sounds 0.4 seconds in length.
  • Full Sampling Mode allows users to create one two-second sound. With a built-in sampling microphone, users can also sample their voice and other ambient sounds to create a variety of sampled tones and effects for later use.

Both the CTK-2090 and LK-175V are outfitted with Casio’s Step-up Lesson System, which lets beginners learn 152 built-in songs, phase-by-phase, at their own individual pace. With the LK-175V, users can practice with the help of the lighted 61-Key Piano Style Touch-Response keyboard.

Additional features include a 92mm X 40mm LCD display, 150 built-in rhythms, 400 built-in tones, 110 built-in songs, USB port, and more. Each model also comes with a music stand, song book and X stand.

The CTK-2090 for $169.99 and the LK-175V for $199.99 will be sold at Target locations nationwide, beginning in September.

Moon Beam Synth/Sampler inspired a classic Casio

January 21, 2014 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Moon Beam Synth/Sampler inspired a classic Casio 

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Inspired in part by the Casio Sk-1’s lo-fi sonics/sampling and Sequential Circuit’s Pro-One synth, the Moon Beam also adds features only possible in the touch screen world: bend keys independantly!!! You can of coarse also bend all voices in sync using the touch pad. Also, for those of you Baroque sticklers… you can switch to Well-Tempored mode!

The Moon Beam Synth/Sampler gives you:
-Unique key independant pitch bending
-2 sample/oscillator layers for each voice… or split them to top and bottom keyboards.
-Effects (Delay/Reverb, Filter, Tremelo, Vibrato, Vinyl Noise, Distortion)
-Easy sampling for each audio source
-Easy editing of audio sample start/loop points
-4 octave keyboard + 2 pitch ribbons
-1 assignable effects touch pad

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More info here >>

Ice Cave Free Ableton Instrument

January 13, 2014 · Posted in Uncategorized · 1 Comment 

This Free Ableton Live collection was created with a Casio SK-1, Teenage Engineering OP-1, Ice Cave Samples, Forest, Fire, Earth and Water Samples. There is a percussion rack, a synthesizer, and convolution reverbs.

Get the CasiOP-1 Ice Cave Synth here: http://bit.ly/freesynth99

Get the Forest Fall Micro Drums and Reverbs here: http://bit.ly/forestfall

Visit his site for more stuff like this, including Live Instrument downloads, tutorials and music! http://www.afrodjmac.com

Casio XW-P1 with GSi Burn

December 11, 2013 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Casio XW-P1 with GSi Burn 

We took a very quick test using the Casio XW-P1 with the Burn from GSi.

Circuit bent Casio PT-50

December 10, 2013 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Circuit bent Casio PT-50 

Hand built framework and additional panel design for the modifications.

This was the only Casio keyboard with ROM-Pack slot but no key lighting; instead it can load the ROM-Pack musics into an internal sequencer, and with the optional Casio TA-1 module it can even save them on audio cassettes. Even a RAM-Pack cartridge Casio RA-1 was made for this thing to save sequencer data – I never saw any other Casio keyboard designed for using it.

Despite this keyboard looks almost like a twin of the Casio PT-30, there are many small differences. 3 of the 8 preset sounds are changed, the chords and bass timbre is different and also the rhythm set is completely different and includes fill-in. Even the LCD has different segments and shows e.g. a “J” for major chords. Also the sequencer of this thing was changed and is horribly awkward like with Casio MT-70, because it apparently neither can record note lengths in realtime nor melody and chord together, thus everything has to be entered in different modes step by step. But by the general similarities I only explain here the differences to the PT-30.

Main features:

  • 8 OBS preset sounds {piano, harpsichord, organ, violin, flute, clarinet, trumpet, celesta}.
  • 16 preset rhythms {rock, rock’n’roll, disco, 16 beat, samba, latin rock, bossa-nova, beguine, tango, march, waltz, rock waltz, slow rock, ballad, swing 2beat, swing 4beat} made of analogue percussion + bass & piano accompaniment (contains no arpeggio).
  • tempo +/- buttons (19 steps, counts 1..20)
  • different editable sequencer (no realtime recording, terribly awkward!)
  • transpose buttons (12 semitone steps)
  • different LCD display shows pressed keys and chords (only important for the sequencer)
  • ROM-/ RAM- Pack slot (but no key lighting/ melody guide feature)
  • demo button (plays musics from the inserted ROM-Pack when present)
  • multi-chip hardware:
    • CPU= “NEC D1868G 004, 8314EK, Japan” (80 pin SMD)
    • 2x SRAM= “HD  B, 61914, 3D, 23” (44 pin SMD)

Casio CT-101 analog synth for Ableton Live

November 24, 2013 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Casio CT-101 analog synth for Ableton Live 

This is a free Ableton Live Pack consisting of 2 instrument racks created from samples of the Casio CT-101 vintage synthesizer.

Download Link: http://bit.ly/freesynth96

casio_ct101_lg

The CasioTone 101 (CT-101) is a VERY basic analog synth from Casio circa 1981. The keyboard has 49 full-size keys and is finished in satin black painted metal, has wooden end-cheeks and a wood grain finish underneath the front of the keys. It gives your studio a good analog/vintage feel. Most sounds are very basic and fairly unusable. However, its organ tones are pretty good as well as its ‘Cosmic Tone’ patch, which uses two oscillators tuned an octave apart, and as the keys are held down, the sound drops an octave as oscillator 1 fades up, and oscillator 2 fades down.

Calc-U-Synth VR for Reaktor – emulation of the Casio VL-Tone calculator/synthesizer

October 25, 2013 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on Calc-U-Synth VR for Reaktor – emulation of the Casio VL-Tone calculator/synthesizer 

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Icebreaker Audio has released Calc-U-Synth VR for Reaktor, an emulation of the classic Casio VL-Tone calculator/synthesizer combo from the ’80s.

Precise measurements of the VL-Tone’s volume envelope, vibrato, and tremolo were then gathered in order to faithfully emulate the whole instrument in Reaktor.

This library was designed in order to present the full capabilities of the VL-Tone’s programmable features in a more convenient interface, while retaining the character of the original instrument.

Calc-U-Synth VR features

  • Full emulation of the Casio VL-Tone’s programmable synth engine.
  • Built-in tempo-sync delay effect.
  • Speaker emulation with room simulation.
  • Additional “Bend” controls: Glitch and Filter.
  • Key-Click noise control.

The Calc-U-Synth VR for Reaktor is available to purchase for £4.50 GBP / $7 USD.

Icebreaker Audio has also announced a bundle sale, offering all its bundles at a 50% discount until November 30th, 2013.

More info here >>

VL-1 Micro Jam – Royalty Free Electonica

August 30, 2013 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comments Off on VL-1 Micro Jam – Royalty Free Electonica 

This track was created using a Step Sister, a Casio VL-1, Ibanez DM500 delay and an Inkel MX880E Mixer, details below:

Using the DM500 and the inkel mixer i was able to create a wide delay effect by running the DM500’s normal and inverted outputs into the mixer separately and hard panning and EQing them. Interestingly this technique isn’t mono compatible though so if you’re listening on a phone or tablet you won’t hear any of the delay due to phase cancellation trickery :O Another quicky this one as i’ve been too busy to do my weekly upload so i’m trying to catchup!

Right, so here’s the idea. Trying to write, upload and give away a fresh piece of music on a roughly weekly basis. Will i be able to keep it up? Will i run out of ideas? Can i be bothered? How shoddy will they be? Does anybody care? God knows. But that’s the point.

Basically the idea is to flex my musical muscles a bit. I have collected quite a bit of gear over the years and not much of it is getting used as much as i’d like, so this is my attempt to justify all those purchases whilst practising improving and getting ideas down fast as an antidote to procrastination. “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” as Picasso once said.

Royalty free for you to use for whatever under the creative commons license. Just rip the audio out of the video for now, i’ll get these tracks uploaded to a dropbox account when i get my act together. Let me know if you use it, i’d be stoked.

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