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Casio SK-1

 

 

 

Casio Sk-1

audio demo Country: Japan
Weight: 1,1 Kg
Dimensions: n/a
audio demo trend price : 80€
manual schematics demo video comments

Casio Sk-1
Sampling Keyboard (1985)

 

Cult portable (46 x 15 cm) low-fidelity 8-bits sampler from the mid-eighties with rhythm patterns, sequencers and rudimentary envelope system.

The sk1 is the most popular model from the series and still widely used for the particular sampling sound.

sampling keyboard
casio sk1

info MINI KEYBOARD 32 minikeys with no velocity.
Main panel features 1 slider volume, 2 selectors, 28 buttons, 1W speaker (8 cm) and a cheap internal microphone.

Rear
panel terminal connectors:
- main signal out 1,5mm
- microphone input (jack)
- line signal input 1,5mm
- master tune trimmer (range: +/- 30 cents).


ac Power supply
is a 7,5 V external PSU -)+ polarity or battery powered (5 X 1,5V AAA size). Autopower off after 7 minutes.

 

 

edit VOICE main core based on MSM6283 manages 4 voices polyphony and 3 kinds of syntheses:
- sampling process
- additive synthesis.
- PCM play


MSM6283

 

edit SAMPLING internal engine records at 8 bits resolution, 9,35 kHz frequency for about 1,4 second sampling time; once recorded the samples is transposed to the whole keyboard. Only automatic record mode with signal threshold and not much else except a LOOP function.


sampling





edit ADDITIVE
push the special SYNTHESIZING button.
To create a sound, just press one of the key corresponding a to sinewave harmonic (16', 8', 5 1/3', 4', 2 2/3', 2', 1 3/5', 1 1/3' and 1'). Like a organ drawbars it is also possible to set the harmonics intensity levels in a 1-14 scale range.
edit additive sinewaves

additive sinewave
corresponding audio file is in the demo section below

 



edit
WAVETABLE internal 256 Kb ROM (PD23C246EAC-011) contains 8 presets:piano, trumpet, human voice, pipe organ, jazz organ, brass, flute and synth drums.
DRUM the drum section kit cannot be played by keyboard, instead it features 11 preset pattern rhythms with FILL-IN function: disco, rock, march, samba, bossanova, rhumba, 4 beats, swing, slow rock and waltz.



hand

 

editPERFORMANCE:
- single finger chord mode
- portamento mode
- 2 solo modes
- chord mode (presets: M, m, m7, M7, M7+, m7+, dim, M5+, M6, m6 and m7/5).


casio sk1 spec



edit
ENVELOPE 13 type-presets EG ready to go for all syntheses.
Each preset features different settings of Attack, Sustain and Release combination.

 

edit LFO simple pitch modulation with fixed frequency rate, which is pretty slow.


edit SEQUENCER an internal 3 tracks engine records in up to 400 events.
- 2 recording modes: real time or step by step.
- 2 sequencer modes: 1 melodic line + 2 mono (MULTI MEMORY MODE) or 4 melodic lines.


recorder


edit MEMORY:
- 8 preset sounds
- 11 drum patterns
- 1 sample slot
- 1 additive slot
- 400 steps sequencer
TECH: memory is volatile.

 


edit MODIFICATION
there are 2 common SK1 modifications :
- third-part Midi interface
- Circuit bending bent points are activated by levers or by matrix- If you like stretched glitches sounds this could be a nice job for your machine! check out vid Sk1 CIRCUIT BENT below:


sk1 circuit bending

 

 

edit RELATED FAMILY:

Concertmate 500

Concertmate 500 The sk1 has been also rebranded by Radio Shack Realistic and Tandy VIDEO

Casio Sk1 rare (ugly) pink version - also a quite rare version is the PT280
casio sk2 Casio Sk2 extremely cut-down version VIDEO
casio sk10 Casio Sk10 another cutdown, but cute portable Sk1 VIDEO
casio sk5 Casio Sk5 better sample handling but PCM drums also slightly variant Sk8 (oriental version Sk8A) and weird Sk60 . No too mention the holy grail double keyboard DM100. VIDEO
casio sk2100 Casio Sk100, sk200, sk2100 bigger series with normal keys and more features. No more "toys" but still low-fi VIDEO


 

effet VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some free and commercial samples set:

  name price demo
Waveshapper Seaweed factory FREE
Sk1 sample pack
n/a
free casio sk1 samples Waveformless FREE
Drum sample pack
n/a



 

demo AUDIO DEMO

demo factory demo
demo original crash 44 kHz then SK1 sampled
demo additive sinewaves
demo sampling a spectrum ZX speech
demo sampling chill pad
demo arranger pattern
demo piano PCM with all 13 EGs
demo LFO vibrato ON /OFF
demo Roland Sh101 bass,played with portamento
demo first 8 beats loop original than Sk1 samples




video VIDEO CLIP SELECTION

video1 video2 video3
Demo 1 Demo2 Demo3

 

Casio Sk-1 sampling

 

casio sk1 thumb

 

 

manual
CASIO SK1 MANUAL

 


manual
SCHEMATICS / SERVICE MANUAL

 

casio sk1 spec

 

casio sk1
edit original brochure

 

gadget sk1
editeditgeek!

 


Another cool lowfi sampler? with even more functions!

Casio Sk-1 FOR SALE

READ ALL ABOUT THE
YAMAHA VSS-30

 


Casio Sk-1 FOR SALE

Casio Sk-1 FOR SALE
CHECK OUT EBAY OFFERS


 

casio sk1 spec

 

 

 

 

 

pic3 circuit sampling interface


manual

-cheap
-low fi
-drums


manual

-limited
-volatile memory
- sample edit

comment
FOR LOFI GEEKS



REVIEW : "Cult Low-fi sampler! gives textures and soul to sterile samples at 96 kHz!" "

 


COMMENTS

 

 

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Casio Sk1 4 out of 5 based on 7 ratings. price €100