Casio Digital Keyboards

Casio WK 210 Review

2009-12-06T02:29:00.000-08:00

The Casio WK-210 Keyboard

The Casio WK 210 is the successor to the excellent Casio WK-110 digital keyboard. It basically improves on the WK-110's design in every way. From better key action to more polyphony and sounds, all for only $225. What's not to like?

Additional Features Not Found On The WK-110

What's different about the WK-210 is that it is loaded with more digital effects and an arpeggiator. The new digital reverb effects are quite rare on such a low-priced keyboard - it's nice to see such high end features begin to trickle down the product line.

The arpeggiator is great. For those of you who aren't sure what that means, it basically plays a series of notes (an arpeggio) when you press a single key. Arpeggios are pretty difficult to play, and this makes it a lot easier. Especially for someone just starting out!

In addition it has improved speakers, a larger sequencing bank, and better connectivity!

The WK-210 is a great addition to Casio's product line, and I highly recommend it.

The Different Types of Casio Keyboards

2009-05-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

When shopping for a new Casio Digital Keyboard the variety of types available are mind boggling. To help you make an informed decision I have written this guide outlining the various categories of Casio Keyboards.

Casio Mini Keyboards

Casio Mini Keyboards are intended for children. These keyboards feature smaller keys (usually 37 of them), a decent number of tones and sounds (around 100) and a few songs. The Casio SA-75 is currently the only mini keyboard available.

Casio Lighted Keyboards

Casio's lighted keyboards are wonderful for older children and beginners. None of the offerings are touch responsive, but the lighted keys enable quick and easy learning of new songs. Plus lighted keys just look cool!

Casio Portable Keyboards

Casio has a full line of portable keyboards with either 61 or 76 keys. There is great choice available amongst the portable keyboards with a variety of options. Depending on how much you cash you're willing to part with you can get touch response, MIDI, and more!

Casio Workstation Keyboards

Casio's two workstation keyboards are intended for amateur musicians and advanced players. They offer a variety of complex features for the advanced user. The Casio WK-3800 even has modulation wheels for real time sound effects!

Casio Privia Keyboards

Casio's Privia Digital Pianos are keyboards for the piano player. Sized like your average digital keyboard, these instruments feature hammer weighted keys and hyper realistic piano sound, but lack the tons of tones available on a regular digital keyboard.

Check out this guide for more information on complicated digital keyboard features.

Digital Keyboard Reviews: Casio CTK-2000

2009-05-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

The Casio CTK-2000 Digital Keyboard

At around $130 MSRP, this Casio Digital Keyboard is priced toward the budget end. Still, you get quite a few features for the price! It includes 61 keys with 48-note polyphony! That's an impressive polyphony count for only having 61 keys.

Casio CTK-2000 Features

61 Standard-size keys
400 High-Quality Tones with Casio's New AHL Sound Source
48-Note Polyphony
10 Reverbs
150 Rhythms (Including 55 Ethnic Rhythms & 20 for piano play)
3-Step Lesson System
110 Songs
Type B USB Port
Standard Stereo Output Jack
Stereo Mini Input Jack

The Casio CTK-2000 Digital Keyboard Review - Final Analysis

For 130 bucks this is a decent computer. From Casio's description it lacks MIDI capability which is a definite detriment, but that USB port is promising. It's lack of touch responsive keys is also a turn off, especially for serious pianists.

Digital Keyboard Reviews: Casio LK-210 Lighted Keyboard

2009-05-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

The Casio LK-210 Lighted Keyboard

The Casio LK-210 Lighted Keyboard is a moderately priced keyboard that's great for beginners. My younger brother regularly rocks out to some Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude on his, and it sounds great. He learned it, of course, through the LK-210's lighted keys and three-step learning program.

Casio LK-210 Features

Anyways, it's time to get to the nitty gritty of this Casio LK-210 review. The 61 key LK-210 features 264 tones, 120 rhythms, and 100 songs. It also includes a USB port for computer connectivity and an SD card port for additional data. Additionally, it has 32-note polyphony and a microphone jack.

This digital keyboard lacks, however, touch responsive keys - rendering it unsuitable for anyone but beginners. Without on the fly volume control like an acoustic piano, I reckon you're gonna have some difficulty playing with passion and expression.

Casio LK-210 Review - Final Analysis

The Casio LK-210 is a fine digital keyboard mainly directed towards beginning players and children. The lighted keys are an invaluable lesson tool and are highly appealing to kids, but to the experienced keyboardists they are rather gimmicky. Plus the lack of touch responsive keys is a major detriment to anyone looking to play some serious piano pieces. If you're looking for a nice digital keyboard to get started then the Casio LK-210 might be for you!

Digital Keyboard Reviews: Casio WK-110 Portable Keyboard

2009-05-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for the WK 210 review go here.

The Casio WK-110 Keyboard

The Casio WK-110 Digital Keyboard is a nice entry-level 76 key keyboard for beginning keyboardists and more advanced players looking for an inexpensive, yet quality keyboard to jam with.

Casio WK-110 Features

This digital keyboard comes packed with features that were previously only found on much more expensive instruments. Most notable is the touch responsive keys. This feature allows the player to manipulate volume through the pressure exerted on the keys. Harder you press the louder the sound!

In addition, the keyboard comes with 515 sounds and 120 rhythms! With this many sounds, including a variety of synths and orchestral instruments, your music will never get stale. 32 note polyphony enables the playing of even the most complex pieces.

For the beginner, the WK-110 includes a 3-Step Lesson program to walk you through the included 100 songs.

Ports included:

Type B USB (for MIDI control)
Sustain/Assignable Jack
Stereo Out

Casio WK-110 Review - Final Analysis

Overall, the Casio WK-110 is a great digital keyboard for beginning and intermediate keyboardists. My main qualm with this keyboard is the lack of standard MIDI ports. Instead you must rely on a USB cable, which is a finicky solution at best. Most music equipment has MIDI ports, not USB, so you must relay the MIDI signal through a computer first.

Another detriment is not the keyboards fault, but rather Casio's. You see, the Casio WK-110 comes with a bundled CD that contains the USB-MIDI drivers, but this CD is only compatible with Windows. You will need to download a special Yamaha drivers to get it to work.

Check out this guide for more information on how to get your Casio WK-110 working with Mac OS X.

^ Casio WK-110 Review Top of Page ^

About Casio Digital Keyboards

2009-05-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Casio Digital Keyboards come in a variety of sizes, forms, and functions. From the most basic SA-75 mini keyboard to the powerful WK-3800 workstation to the hammer weighted Privia Digital Pianos, Casio has it all!

This digital keyboard blog is here to guide you through the process of choosing the Casio keyboard that's right for you by providing product reviews, tips, and suggestions!