Casio CA-100

1oo presets. Some sound better than others. I like the brass on this thing, but the organ and piano voices are no good. It has some silly synth type voices but they are not pitch specific. The drums are interesting, but very limited and mostly bad.

4 note polyphony, but you can switch to thinner mode with 8 notes poly. The keyboard feels alright. Some patches have chorusing in 4-voice mode. Some patches have delay or reverb too. No expansion. No midi. No sequencer but the demo is great. Sounds alot like Men at Work.

NOt realistic, but it is really good for synth-brass and some string sounds. Works good for corny 80s type stuff. No advanced features. Just sounds.

It's feels pretty sturdy. I probably wouldn't gig with but just because it isn't that good. If it were good I would gig with it without a backup. The power jack is loose but it is very easily fixed with some tape.

n/a

It's pretty good. If it were stolen I probably wouldn't get a new one, but I might miss it. I like having it around as an extra deck, but it's not that great.

Because ther is no display screen, it does not seem feasible to ascertain the software version.
The 100 preset voices are somewhat thin, especially when you choose the 8 note polyphony mode, instead of the richer 4 voice layered/phased mode. I noticed that when listening through stereo headphones, the mix sounds as if the PCM tones are being routed through a stereo output.
Neither the 100 voice patches nor the 100 percussion patterns are editable.
100 various instrumental tones.
100 various percussion patterns.
I didn't get a manual, however the instrument is so basic, instructions are unnecessary.

Depending on layering or not, the instrument will play 4 or eight voices. The keyboard has no velocity or aftertouch, however, considering the price, I thought the action was not bad.
The non editable effects include reverb, sustain, vibrato and a neat repeat or echo effect.
There is no MIDI implementation. The only connections are for an audio output and a 9 volt DC input.

A couple of presets, particularly the brass and flute weren't bad. Other presets, such as mandolin, are set to automatically repluck each note quickly, resembling an actual instrument being played. The 100 preset drum/percussion patterns are surprisingly versitile and support Rock, Classical, Dance, Funk, Disco and more, although with an elementary rather thin accompaniment. Again, the effects are not programmable. For the price you can find these gadgets at (I paid $5) you can't go wrong. No velocity or aftertouch.

I'm not sure just how old this instrument is, but everthing still works. I would not use it on a gig at all, except perhaps for a third keyboard that I might use for the pretty good analog sound on the tune "Jump". To carry an extra keyboard for one song doesn't sound prudent!

I've never dealt with Casio, nor have I had any problems with this keyboard.

It's certainly worth the money I paid. If I lost it, I'd buy another one if I could find it at the same price. I've been playing keyboards for over 35 years and have owned a Wurlitzer organ, two Wurlitzer electric pianos (an original beige unit and a newer black plastic model) a Hammond A1 (built in 1936), Fender Rhodes electric piano, Korg poly 61, Yamaha DX7 FDII with E!, Arp Odessy, Sequencial Circuits Pro 1 & a Cat, Ensoniq SQ2 etc. etc! I like to be able to set the very lightweight keyboard on my lap, plug in a set of headphones, find a suitable beat and practice my chops. Of course I wish that this keyboard had a lot of other functions, but I have other keyboards for live gigs, studio work. I just love this thing as a practice "toy". One neat feature of this inexpensive keyboard is the multiple chord functionality. For example, after a rhythm (percussion preset) is selected, you can play the lower 2 octaves by either a "one finger" method, or you can actually voice the chords and that the instrument will interpret and include your changes within the structure of your preset percussion. It'll recognize your finger positions and play maj, min, 7ths, 6ths, 9ths, diminished and augmented chords. If you're used to left handed chording, there is no learning curve!

No software version (what does this mean????)

The presets are very synth-like. This is actually my first keyboard that I ever owned (well, actually I got it from a cousin who didn't have space for it). Patches? I don't think so, unless you have the ability to solder. Then you could add a mod chip...
My cousin lost the manual, so I don't have one.

I actually like to use this keyboard in conjunction with my MIDI keyboard. How? By connecting it to the MIC input on the MIDI side. It's great for recording to your computer via line in, and sampling the effects, or using it as a drum loop machine.

Polyphony: up to seven (7) tones
Built-in effects: Airplane, insect (how does Casio know how an insect sounds?), motorcycle, etc.
No expansion
No midi

Instruments are fake
It's good for music like that of Jan Hammer's style, or even the style of Vangelis (you know, Chariots of Fire)
On-board effects are okay.
Static
No velocity or aftertouch

It's dependable if you are a serious synthesizer freak. Other than that, it's not extremely dependable.
I would not use it on a gig.

I have never dealt with the company. I did upgrade to a nice RadioShack MD-992 MIDI keyboard, and it seems I've been using that more so than the CA-100. I did do a light modification. Instead of a red power LED, I put in a green one.

There is an easter egg available in this keyboard:

If you enter the effect you wish to use, touch the Tone Bank once more, and noodle around. Then, you'll discover that there are really 200 tones instead of 100!

The instrument doesn't have any software or patches, it's just a pure basic keyboard. It's 100% easy to use, even a monkey without eyes could play it. Preset sounds suck =(

About poliphony: It has 4 note poliphony, you can change the texture of a sound and raise the poliphony from 4 notes to 8 by pressing a button. No pitch bend, no aftertouch, no velocity, 4 octaves, just a toy. I'm a progressive metal musician, and it's a torture play with this, but I live in a country (Argentina, i'm sure u don't know where it is, hahaha. who cares?)where people earn $300 average per month so buying a korg or a good roland keyboard it's a dream.
It doesn't work with cards, no expansion capabilities, no MIDI (i think it was built in the 80's, where aliens in another galaxy only had MIDI)

I think this keyboard would work well in a rock band whit poor keyboard sound, just strings behind the music.

I wouldn't use it on a gig, just in home to play basic stuff.

Customer Suport?? Hahahaha! i found this keyboard in my aunt's house in a wardoble when I was 6 or 7 years old.

If it were stolen i would buy something more Keyboard like a yamaha psr 500, but my casio ca100 has a sentimental value and I love it!! I played the casio 4 months i think when I was 6 or 7 years old, and I've been playing it now (10 year later) for 1 year.
I wish it have more features, more things like pitch bend, or velocity and aftertouch.
In making music it's a great tool, It's not a workstation but, it's ok. I get frustated because I can't play classical stuff (4 octaves, no transposition available).

This keyboard is very easy to use. It is a completely digital polyphonic keyboard with 100 presets (NO patch editing capabilities-you're stuck with the presets). It sounds exactly what a ten year old digital synthesiser would sound like.

No MIDI. It is designed with 3 oscillators that can pump out triangle, sine, and square. It has some reverb and delay that are stuck to the presets - you can not add or subtract them from the sound. It has a poly/mono phonic switch, so you can have 200 sound instead of 100. It also has an on-board drum synth (selectable tempo with 2 different drum kits) with 100 preset beats, all with their own indivisual fill-ins.

like i said earlier, it is a digital synth made by casio ten years ago. It has some good old school sounds, but that is it.

It is very simple and reliable, but you wouldn't ever have to rely on it.

This keyboard is something you would sample for its old school sounds and then pawn/smash it. It is worthless professionally, but for learning the keyboard or piano for cheap, it is perfect.

No software to be used on this. No sequencing capabilities, no MIDI, no pitch bend, nothing, nada. Just a basic toy. Was sold in Walmart, Target, K-Mart 10-12 yrs. ago for around $100 or so. The ones they sell NOW are of better quality, IMHO. More features, sounds, etc. But this being a toy, just fun to play. Lots of Old school sounds. Fun Sound FX. Easy to use. To plunk around.

Has 61 keys. I'm not a keyboardist; guitar/bass for me. Did 2 yrs of HS piano class when I was in HS back in the early to mid 80's. To learn to play Van Halen keybd songs, new wave stuff, and the like. And have kept my LIMITED chops up, to an extent. Can figure out what keybd parts I want when recording, etc. That's my extent of playing. Have owned a Yamaha PS-6 and will buy a used one again; a DX-21 that is a step or 2 below a DX-7. Had no K/B until I found this one. It has 100 preset sounds, all the basic preset sounds from piano to organ to synth, etc. Built in Drum Machine and sounds, etc. PPL know these K/B's and their setup. Easy to use. No need for a manual really. Does have some "Reverb" effect on it that resembles more of a "hollowness" quality to it than anything else. But still it's ok.

"What type of music does it work well for?" How about "Novice expressiveness?"

I didn't buy it to get a recording contract, so can't really say. Don't care about it's reliability b/c I bought it @ Goodwill for $9.99 with a Casio stand included. Flaws include: Does not work with "AA" batteries (?) but using an Adapter works. However, does not shut off at all when plugged in; even switching to the "OFF" position (?). WTF? Wouldn't gig with it; HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why bother? Just get a newer Casio K/B, or a brand new one at Walmart.

"Overall rating?" I bought it purely for fun. I don't care if it breaks on me. I'll buy an adapter to convert the 1/8" Walkman jack to accomodate a 1/4" jack so I can plug into my Tascam 4 track recorder to record cheesy synth sounds. Etc. It's just a fun little unit, but don't take it seriously.

Well Guess What I Bought Mine In A Garage Sale Also $20.00 And Has Been A Very Good Piece Of Entertainment For Me And For Friends
Im Just So Greatfull That I Didnt Pay New Price For It
I Completly Agree With This Other Statment Somone Else Left
SEEYA!!!

Bought it at a garage sale. It's been fun, and works fine for what I need it for- helps me make music, in a very basic way. I decided to turn in this review to say this: there are thousands of these things out there. Get one. They make great beaters- you won't care if you leave it out in the rain, or leave it behind. Can you say that about your classic MOOG?

Submitted by Anonymous at 05/17/2000 16:13

All The Sound Effects Were Great

GOOD

GOOD

DIDNT NEED IT

VERY PLEASED WITH CASIO PRODUCTS

The Casio CA-100 does not have very good keyboard action. It does not have MIDI or expansion capabilities or sequencers. As for effects, it has Airplane, Ambulance, Insect, Emergency Alarm, Lazer Beam, Cosmic Sound, Telephone, Car Horn, Computer Sound, and a Motorcycle.

It does not respond to hard and soft touches. Most of the instruments sound fake. It works well for many types of music. It doesn't react to velocity and aftertouch.

No.

It is a hunk of Junk.

This is an addendum to my previous review. I happened to run one of the drum tracks thru my Digitech RP-7 (Guitar multi-effects processor) and it made a world of difference. Reverb from the RP-7 made the drums sound almost real, and a quick delay from the RP-7 madeit sound like the drummer was double kicking the bass drum. I submit this so that others can try processing their cheap synths thru effects.

Software, what software, it's all in ROMs inside the synth. The presets sound decent, but there are some cool ones, the Airplane setting sounds like the synth on Van-Halen's jump until the plane starts changing gears and slowly rising in pitch. Patches! HA! if you know how to solder, you can get more patches, and no it does not have a manual, did I also say this does not have a working AC adaptor jack.

As I am the literal Anti-Keyboardist, all I know is it has 61 really reasy to push keys. It has 100 sounds, some with as many as 3 variations. No built in effects (I use my guitars pedal board). Expansion, Dream on, ain't happening without a soldering iron and a good knowledge of sophisticated electronics. What the heck is a sequencer. Oh yeah, it has a 100 beat drum machine that actually sounds very decent.

Most of the instruments are pretty realistic. I use this for progressive rock (ala. Beck meets Buckethead meets Dream Theatre). It reacts well. Did I mention this thing is powerful, you can overdrive an amplifier with this thing.

As long as I dont use the AC adaptor, I am ok. Otherwise I plug the thing in and see smoke coming out of the top from a burning Diode or Resistor or something. I just run it off of 7 AA batteries and it's just fine.

They suck. It took them 3 weeks to Xerox me a copy of the Casio DG-10 Didgital guitar owners manual. And still 3 weeks later I had to make a ton of phone calls to find out they got bought out by some big corporation and lost the schematics to all their older products.

If it were stolen I would go to a pawn shop and get another one. Hell they go for $12.00 at most flea markets. I have been playing keyboard for 12 years and I suck still, mainley because It took me until guitar lessons to learn theory. I wish it had a 1/4 output jack so I would not need adaptors to go into my amp.

Simple to use, 'cause it's just a semi-toy keyboard. Full size keys fit your hand.
Edit patches??!? What a novel idea! Never happen with this thing! The 100 "Sound Tone Banks" and 100 "Pattern Beat Banks" are stictly what-you-see-is-what-you-get. I gave it a 10 cause it's simple, and simple equals easy to use.

Now, here is where this thing falls down. In fact, I'm a little embarrased to be reviewing this thing here. What do you expect from a guitar player? I use this thing as at-home acompanyment, nothing else. Action is like pushing buttons in an elevator, no expansion, no MIDI. and What's a sequencer? Damnit, Jim, I'm a guitarist, not a ...

Another area this thing never even THOUGHT of addressing. sound is pretty good, though, considering.

Reliable as a rock, but who would gig with this thing? Maybe as a backup's backup...

Who knows? Who cares? It's almost a toy.

Bought it at a garage sale. It's been fun, and works fine for what I need it for- helps me make music, in a very basic way. I decided to turn in this review to say this: there are thousands of these things out there. Get one. They make great beaters- you won't care if you leave it out in the rain, or leave it behind. Can you say that about your classic MOOG?