Synthesizers

[gambali]

Just ordered a Kawai K1m. Thought you'd be interested.

[engraven]

Apr 28, 2022 14:51:04 GMT -5 mahrgdidj said:

Apr 27, 2022 11:58:45 GMT -5 bartizanier said:

I just noticed Chanterelle's latest album is made with a cheap Casio, and I've heard them lauded before in the community. Anybody have opinions on which are the best models for DS, or at the cheap price point is it just worth using whatever comes available?

I think the Casio CZ models are the ones that come up the most in DS circles. I’m partial to the Casiotone MT series myself (play an MT-70) but those sounds aren’t generally what you hear on other DS records. I’d say look on your local Craigslist or some other auction site for whatever comes up cheap, then watch some YouTube videos to see if you like the tones. There’s something rewarding about working with the limits of cheap hardware.

CZ is definitely the "premium" Casio line -- and they are definitely capable of doing more interesting things than just plucky melodies (there's a CZ-101 all over an Apoxupon album I will be releasing later this year; I mainly use it for phase-shifting pads and atmospheric effects). I have an MT as well, that I have not actually used on any recordings, but it's great for breaking out quickly to work on melodies (MTs are not really capable of doing much more than plucky melodies haha; in fact, they are actually better known for their rhythm presets, like the infamous "MT40 Riddim" that was copied-and-pasted into like every 80s dancehall reggae track). Most of the music from the first Lost Tales was actually written on the MT, but I ended up using a Korg M1 to record everything.

[mahrgdidj]

Jul 20, 2022 10:55:47 GMT -5 engraven said:

Apr 28, 2022 14:51:04 GMT -5 mahrgdidj said:

I think the Casio CZ models are the ones that come up the most in DS circles. I’m partial to the Casiotone MT series myself (play an MT-70) but those sounds aren’t generally what you hear on other DS records. I’d say look on your local Craigslist or some other auction site for whatever comes up cheap, then watch some YouTube videos to see if you like the tones. There’s something rewarding about working with the limits of cheap hardware.

CZ is definitely the "premium" Casio line -- and they are definitely capable of doing more interesting things than just plucky melodies (there's a CZ-101 all over an Apoxupon album I will be releasing later this year; I mainly use it for phase-shifting pads and atmospheric effects). I have an MT as well, that I have not actually used on any recordings, but it's great for breaking out quickly to work on melodies (MTs are not really capable of doing much more than plucky melodies haha; in fact, they are actually better known for their rhythm presets, like the infamous "MT40 Riddim" that was copied-and-pasted into like every 80s dancehall reggae track). Most of the music from the first Lost Tales was actually written on the MT, but I ended up using a Korg M1 to record everything.

Patiently waiting for Apoxupon’s Sleng Teng cover.

[engraven]

Jul 21, 2022 4:28:26 GMT -5 mahrgdidj said:

Jul 20, 2022 10:55:47 GMT -5 engraven said:

CZ is definitely the "premium" Casio line -- and they are definitely capable of doing more interesting things than just plucky melodies (there's a CZ-101 all over an Apoxupon album I will be releasing later this year; I mainly use it for phase-shifting pads and atmospheric effects). I have an MT as well, that I have not actually used on any recordings, but it's great for breaking out quickly to work on melodies (MTs are not really capable of doing much more than plucky melodies haha; in fact, they are actually better known for their rhythm presets, like the infamous "MT40 Riddim" that was copied-and-pasted into like every 80s dancehall reggae track). Most of the music from the first Lost Tales was actually written on the MT, but I ended up using a Korg M1 to record everything.

Patiently waiting for Apoxupon’s Sleng Teng cover.

 lol

I got so caught up in de riddim that I forgot to even answer the question bartizanier asked ...

It's worth using any old cheap Casio as long as you enjoy the tones. Don't expect the cheap ones to be good for much more than plucky lil melodies and simple chords. If you want something with the Casio sound that has some true synthesizing capabilities, the CZ line is the way to go, with the CZ-101 being the logical option for our context.