Casiotone was a series of homeelectronic keyboards made byCasio in the early 1980s. Casio promoted the Casiotone 201 (CT-201) as "the first electronic keyboard with full-size keys that anyone could afford".[1] The name "Casiotone" disappeared from Casio's keyboard catalog when more accurate synthesis technologies became prevalent, but the brand was reused for new models launched in 2019.
The first Casiotone keyboards used asound synthesis technique known asvowel-consonant synthesis to approximate the sounds of other instruments (albeit not very accurately). Most Casiotone keyboards were small, with miniature keys designed for children's fingers, and were not intended for use by professional musicians; they usually contained a rhythm generator, with several user-selectable rhythm patterns, and often the means to automatically play accompaniments.
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The original Casiotone keyboards came in three distinct families, separated by the method of synthesis.[citation needed]
The later, more professional range of keyboards, theCZ series (1984–1986), usedphase distortion synthesis, which is mathematically almost identical toYamaha'sfrequency modulation synthesis, although implemented slightly differently in order to avoid patent infringement.
After the release of theCasio SK-1 in 1985, gradually PCM sample-based tone generators became dominant in Casio's keyboards line. After the 1990s, most Casio keyboards utilized PCM tone generator or its variants.
Some early 1980s models in the PT series of keyboards, such as the PT-30, PT-50, PT-80 and PT-82, were not marketed under the Casiotone name. The name was revived again later for models such as the PT-87 (which is basically the same as the PT-82) which was again sold as Casiotone.
Some models sold from 1983 onwards included a cartridge bay to accept Casio ROM Packs which contained sheet music in a digital format. The keyboards could play the notes automatically, or (with the exception of the PT-50[4]) illuminateLEDs above each key to teach the user how to play the song. Most keyboards came with one ROM Pack as standard, but a large number of additional packs, covering a wide range of musical genres, were available to purchase separately.[5] The last ROM Pack model was the CT-840, which came out in 1990.
The low cost and abundance of Casiotone keyboards made them fairly common fixtures ingarage rock bands. Musicians and bands known to use Casiotone keyboards includeAlexis Taylor ofHot Chip,TG Miller ofBlack Camaro,Dan Deacon,Lettie,Maurizio Arcieri ofKrisma,Kevin Parker ofTame Impala,Turnstyle,Trio,Ozma,Hedluv, and Chiara Lee ofFather Murphy.[citation needed]
In 2019, Casio relaunched the series with three new Casiotone keyboards.[6]
1981 Casio VL-Tone. Rhythm, drums, chords and monophonic synthesizer in a low-cost "overgrown calculator". / Electronic music for the masses!
1981 VL-1 %5BElectronic keyboard with calculator and music sequencer%5D
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