WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Casio launches CT-S1-76 , a compact, clean aesthetics, freedom to enjoy superb acoustics and refined tones.

Released in 2021, Casio’s 61-note Casiotone CT-S1 was immediately recognised as one of the best keyboards for beginners, and it remains so today. Rather than release a direct successor, then, Casio has launched a sister product, the 76-note CT-S1-76.

The obvious benefit here is that the greater number of keys gives you scope to play a wider repertoire of pieces, but that’s not the only advantage that the CT-S1-76 has over its smaller sibling. There’s also a more powerful dual 6.5W speaker system – the CT-S1 has a dual 2.5W setup – that includes Casio’s Horizontal Bass-Reflex System. This is said to improve the sound of the lower end frequencies.

Enhanced Bluetooth functionality, meanwhile, means that the CT-S1-76’s functionality can be controlled via the Casio Music Space app. This could actually be pretty useful; the number of controls on the keyboard itself has been kept to a minimum, so app control means that you won’t need to worry about making multiple button/key presses when you want to access the deeper functionality. This isn’t an option on the CT-S1.

Where the two keyboards do share common ground is in their soundset, which is powered by Casio’s AiX Sound Source technology. You get the expected acoustic/electric piano and organ tones, plus a selection of ‘advanced’ tones that replicate vintage instruments, and some classics from the Casio archives. There are 61 sounds in total.

Though the word ‘Casiotone’ typically summons up images of compact keyboards, so the CT-S1-76 feels like it slightly goes against the grain. However, despite its extended range of keys, it remains relatively svelte and light, measuring just 1,140mm long and 258mm deep. The weight has been kept down to 5.3kg, which Casio says makes this the lightest 76-note keyboard with built-in speakers that you can buy.

The CT-S1-76 is price at just £349. The CT-S1-76 is available in black and white colour options, and can be powered by the supplied AC adapter or eight AA batteries. You even get a stand for your sheet music, tablet or smartphone.

Find out more on the Casio website.

 

Host Ziv Eliraz – In his latest loopop video – takes an in-depth look at the Moog Labyrinth synthesizer, the fifth synthesizer in the company’s line of monophonic synths in Eurorack/standalone format.

Eliraz digs into the sequencer first, demonstrating how you can control the level of randomness and also the scale of sequences. He also demonstrates how you can do this in live performance, interactively generating new sequences and then, if you like, locking them in.

Next, he dives into the Labyrinth’s synth voice, explaining how it’s unique among Moog’s synthesizers and how its features contribute the its unique sound.

Finally, Eliraz shares his take on the pros and cons of the Moog Labyrinth. “There’s not much to compare this to,” he notes, adding that you’d spend a lot more trying to build similar functionality using individual Eurorack modules, software options wouldn’t provide the Labyrinth’s hands on control.

He also notes that the “Labyrinth sounds completely different from any other Moog.”

Topics covered:

0:00 Intro

1:40 Overview

5:20 MIDI

6:00 In the box

6:15 Sequencers

7:30 Flipping bits

8:10 Corrupt

8:45 Bit shift

9:05 CV Range

10:20 Save & recall

10:55 Qtz Scale

12:10 Chain seq

13:50 Advance

14:10 Combos

14:40 Oscillators

15:25 TZFM

16:20 Mixer & mods

17:20 Folder

18:20 Filter

19:15 Routing, blend

21:15 Envelopes

22:15 EG trig mix

22:55 IDEAS, PATCHES

23:05 Duophony – drums

25:20 Duophony – melodies

25:50 Square wave?

26:30 Pulse wave?

26:50 PWM?!

27:50 Fold tip

28:15 Tuning

28:50 Modes, scales

30:30 Looping AD env

31:10 Osc sync

32:15 Polymeters

32:35 Polyrhythms

33:15 Drone mode

33:30 Pros & cons

36:30 Sounds & sequencers

What do you think of the new Labyrinth synthesizer? Watch the video and share your thoughts in the comments!

 

 

 

 

If you’ve found that your musical performances don’t involve enough onanistic pantomime, you may want to check out the Sonica, a ‘slightly phallic’ electronic instrument.

German synthesist Hainbach – In his latest video – takes a look at the Sonica, shares his thoughts on it, and demonstrates how it can be used musically.

“This feels very, very nice to hold,” notes Hainbach. “The wood is absolutely fantastic to touch!”

Watch the video, and share your thoughts on the Sonica in the comments.

Video Summary:

“Franklin Eventoff, an American tinkerer and musician invented the force sensing resistor in 1977. This allowed for touch control of voltage, which he used to create instruments.

It found first commercial musical use in the Mattel Musical Thing, a cheap toy synth. Frustrated with the experience, Eventoff went on to create the much more refined Sonica. The Sonica is a lovingly crafted boutique instrument with an oscillator by famed Serge Tcherepnin, the creator of the Serge synthesizer. Only about 650 where made, and they are collector’s items.

The technology of the force sensing resistor proved hugely successful and lives on in cars, robotics and instruments like the AKAI MPC and the Otamatone.”