More Musings on the Casio PT1 « Muscleyarm’s WebNog

More Musings on the Casio PT1

July 16, 2008 at 5:59 am | In Uncategorized | 5 Comments
Tags: Casio PT1, get a life, thirty-something nostalgia

Ever the nostalgic fool, once I get stuck on memory lane, I subsequently beat that memory into the ground until I am interested no longer. The Casio PT1 is one such case. I’ve been researching this relic from my youth extensively on the internet and have found the soundtrack of my nine year old life.

With all the lush and realistic-sounding keyboards out there (thank you sis for the huge Yamaha, but It’s simply too complicated and big for my life!), why do my little ears perk up whenever I hear the primitive bells and whistles of the Casio PT1? Is it because their midi tones are the exact sounds used in video games like Tetris, and probably all of the Atari catalogue? Or is it because it makes Flight of the Bumblebee sound so sophisticated (bitch)?

On the back of the keyboard you could insert a small screw driver (or anything else that was slightly elongated and wedge-shaped) into a hole, thus changing the pitch and tone to the octave you desired.

And when the batteries (where they AA, C, or D sized?) ran low, the resulting sounds where much like a ceramic plate thrown on a brick patio.

Casio PT1. Hot Pink. Love of my life.

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I had one when I was 7 – 8. Mine was white. Didn’t last long though. See, I was “playing” it in my bedroom with my best friend at the time who was singing along faux pop metal style (“WTF?” I hear you say) which gave me the urge to do something “wild” to compete with his pseudo-kinderfag posturing…so I threw it in the, er, general direction of his face (not that I was trying to hit him, mind you). Needless to say he jumped to one side and it hit the wall right beside him with an excessive amount of force. After that it stayed semi-playable for a few more weeks (in a warbly, crackly sort of way) before dying completely, refusing to get better even after having new batteries put in.
Those were the days! :D

Comment by Robert — September 6, 2008 #

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I picked up one of these on eBay for $30, shipping included. They take 4 AA’s. Does anyone happen to know what the ‘one key play’ buttons do?

Comment by Ryan — September 27, 2008 #

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I’m not sure what the “one key play” button does. Maybe it does some chords or something?

Comment by muscleyarm — September 27, 2008 #

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as I recall that means whichever key you push, it is the right one.

Comment by sleeper78 — September 29, 2008 #

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When you record something then put it in to play mode, the one key play buttons just play the notes back… so you can do it in whatever rhythm you like. Most early casio’s had this. It’s quite nice.

Comment by casio catharsis — December 27, 2008 #

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