http://www.casio.com/products/Musical_Instruments/Workstation/WK-500/



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-08-2009).]

Most likely..I will buy one tomorrow...It was a toss up between the new Casio or an old PSR3000...at least the keys feel better on the Casio...and there are 76 of them...

Maybe I will buy both..

An ideal beginner's keyboard, Donny...Casio makes great instruments.

No "on bass" chording would be the deal breaker for me...but most entry level instruments don't have it....strangely enough, even Casio's higher end arrangers don't have it either.

Also no dedicated MIDI ports (just USB midi)), but most instruments in this price range don't have them.

Clearly not an instrument for a OMB pro, but certainly an inexpensive way to get a 76 note keyboard for use with a PC...also ideal for piano students, and those who don't mind the aforementioned limitations.

Ian

Fran might have a use for it....but its ain't for me at all.......still a good bang for the buck.Still many will enjoy it as it has 76 keys

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-08-2009).]

Definitely a good bang for the buck, Donny, and for those who don't need On Bass chording, and MIDI, it would be a lot of fun, for sure.

I don't use my computer for recording(just to make CDs), nor do I use VSTs...I keep things pretty simple...I love playing "live", and my audio recordings are done on the instrument and then downloaded.

Ian

I've played this model. Decent sounding board overall. Good features for the budding player. Casio did drop some things that appealed to more seasoned players though. As with many low end boards now (as Ian also pointed out) there's a lack of standard midi jacks and it's just USB. All around though it's not a bad board to just have laying around.

Gotta disagree with Fran though..., although Yamaha's not my top choice in arrangers I'd def take the PSR-3000 over this. Even if the key feel is better on the Casio.., the 3000 gives you so much more that's it's not even fair to list the differences.

Seems they dropped the IDES or whatiscalled that enabled you to make new tones and rhythms on the pc (from scratch or deriver from smf) and load them up to the keyboard.

Also it doesn't seem to have the DSP and the loads of effects the WK line had/has, doesn't have a mod wheel, and it doesn't have the "ZPI" sound source...it has the "new" AHL instead, and no sound demos.

Also they never seem to make any 4 variation styles, or sell a keyboard that has them, like they did on MZ-2000, which probably was an "one time only" rebadged/licenced Technics.

Curiously, they state that the CTK-2000 http://www.casio-europe.com/euro/emi/standard/ctk2000/ has the ON BASS function, and it belongs to the same family as the one pictured. (says so in this brochure http://www.casio-europe.com/euro/files/emi/Casio_PlugIn.pdf )

Always thought that Casio are the Hyundai of musical instruments...

[This message has been edited by trident (edited 02-09-2009).]

This will sell like hotcakes!!
price is the key for the uneducated.
Costco, Sam's & Best Buy will blow these out by the hundreds.

Good catch, Trident....and great news, as well...nice to see them finally put this feature on their new instrument...I remember the only one that ever had this feature was the MZ-2000, which as you mentioned, was rumored to be a badge-engineered Technics.

The CTK-2000 is definitely worth a look.

Ian

or for those that can't (or for any reason won't) pay more... I've been there.