Casio SX-C1 Debuts At NAMM Show
2026 NAMM Show: Casio SX-C1 Sampler has been spotted on the NAMM Show floor. The fun-looking handheld device is attracting plenty of attention on the show floor.
Casio is making waves with another fun-looking sampler – could it be another budget classic?
With its D-pad and creamy grey case, there’s definitely a bit of a Game Boy vibe going on, and the old-school number styling on the 16 pads is another retro nod. Current specs – which we’re guessing are subject to change – include 16-bit/48kHz sampling (from the built-in mic, line input or transferred via the USB-C port) a sequencer, and hopefully some effects. A built-in speaker is the agenda, too, and power can come from either three AAA batteries or via USB.
As things stand, you’ll be able to save up to 10 banks of 16 samples, and there will be 64GB of internal memory. Some of this will be filled with presets, some of which are expected to be sounds from Casio’s archives. There’s a dinky 1.3-inch OLED display that’s flanked by the aforementioned D-pad and four buttons, and a slightly unusual looking configuration of sliders and rotary dials below. How intuitive this setup will be for editing and programming remains to be seen.
For now, though, let’s enjoy the fact that, with a fair wind, this fun-looking handheld sampler is going to exist. We should say that a release hasn’t yet been officially confirmed, but the fact that Casio is creating some buzz around the product by showing it at a trade show suggests that it’s serious about taking this device into production.
In these days of smartphones and apps such as Koala Sampler, there’s an argument that products such as this aren’t really necessary anymore, but if the workflow is good and it has some decent performance features, we reckon Casio could be onto something.
