r/cheapkeys 1d ago

Casio CT/MT keyboards are fantastic for Dungeon Synth (IMO)

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18 Upvotes

Got a CT-636 this weekend, to add to my CT-380 (mainly as backup). Lovely sounds, looking forward to using it. The CT and MT series have some jewels amongst them.

I have big beefy synthesizers too, but these Casios win everytime for this genre of music :P


r/cheapkeys 1d ago

Looking for Casio SK-60 Samples

4 Upvotes

I would love to get samples for the following SK-60 patches and can't seem to find them anywhere. If anyone would be willing to record or send them over that would be amazing!

  1. ahh (choir) 46. ooh (choir) 51. la (children)

r/cheapkeys 3d ago

Title: PSS-A50 batteries drained after very little use. Is USB power better?

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I've had my Yamaha PSS-A50 for about five months and have only used it 6–7 times for short 20–30 minute sessions.

The batteries stayed in the keyboard, and now they're completely drained. I was surprised because I barely used it. Is this normal? Does the PSS-A50 slowly drain the batteries even when it's off? Has anyone else experienced this?

Would you recommend using AA batteries (and removing them between uses) or just powering it with a USB adapter or power bank instead?

Thanks!


r/cheapkeys 4d ago

Ok, I have a problem with old keyboards

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27 Upvotes

Today's goodwill find, a casiotone ct-380 in good condition for $8.28


r/cheapkeys 3d ago

Experiment with Hex cor + Reverb + Drum machine

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0 Upvotes

Video by Dariyush Haidutski


r/cheapkeys 4d ago

Cheap key setup

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36 Upvotes

Yamaha psr-12 ($10) pss-130 ($4), Casio ctk-511 ($15)


r/cheapkeys 6d ago

The Tiny MIDI Keyboard That Finally Made My iPad Beatmaking Setup Work

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0 Upvotes

r/cheapkeys 7d ago

Recreated an old riff I had on microcassette with the Realistic Concertmate 300

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54 Upvotes

I love re-discovering forgotten "gems" like this :)


r/cheapkeys 7d ago

Omnichord Virtual Open Mic this Saturday, all are welcome!

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2 Upvotes

r/cheapkeys 8d ago

Casio CT-S300

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13 Upvotes

I'm about to buy casio ct-s300 but i wanted get some opinions before buying because this is a big purchase for me, at 2nd photo there's the keyboard i used for about a year as a beginner, and my problems with that are;

No polyphony, i can't play 2 keys at once, when i do it just gives the wrong sound

No key velocity, don't think i need to explain that one

No MIDI, i want to be able to connect it to my pc or mobile phone and use it at fl studio or something like that and make loops, make it sound like other instruments etc.

No mobility, i want to be able to toss it in a bag and play with my friends outside, that requires a keyboard with battery option, it's really big and heavy and i know that ct-s300 is a big one too, especially on a motorcycle because i can't afford a car and that makes the size real problem, i don't have any issues with weight tho, it can be even 20kg that won't affect me but size will affect, but i can't find something smaller that fits my need in that price range, though i'm okay with 49 and 37 key options

and lastly i can go up to 200$ as the budget but any less is better


r/cheapkeys 8d ago

Teaching Keyboard

1 Upvotes

I want to get my boys 9 & 5 a keyboard that will also teach them to play. Except I have one condition, there should be absolutely no ipad involved. I feel I saw decades ago, keyboards that had lights that would light up on the keys you needed to play. Do these still exist or have they improved since? Something like lighting up the keys first, then moving to numbered keys then finally the actual note letters would be great if anything can do that. Also it needs to be fairly cheap as they may not be interest in it long term.

Sorry but it's hard searching for keyboards without a load of mechanical pc keyboards coming up.


r/cheapkeys 13d ago

Casio CT-S1 review needed

4 Upvotes

So I wanted to get into playing the piano. Is the ct-s1 the best piano I can get in that price range? I want a piano which just does the piano well. Dont need other instruments inside it or whatever. Just need a recommendation for a simple piano with good keys and stuff


r/cheapkeys 15d ago

Yamaha PSS580

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38 Upvotes

Hey yall. I have this trusty pss580 that i enjoy playing with very much. The sound of this thing is just unique.

The only thing that‘s a bit annoying, is that the midi out is always just garbled. Sometimes what I play on the keyboard appears at the midi out, but mostly it‘s just random notes even without me touching any keys or pressing play. Midi in works fine. I was just wondering, is this normal for these units? I mean they were pretty cheap, so maybe that‘s what they did.
If not, did someone maybe have the same issue and knows how to fix it?


r/cheapkeys 14d ago

Does this Yamaha L3C stand fit the 80s PSRs?

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5 Upvotes

I've been having a blast with my PSR-41 and my PSR-22, but I keep wishing I had the original stands for them. I went poking around and saw that Yamaha currently sells this L3C stand that looks extremely similar to the ones from the 80s, but I just want to verify that it's compatible before I waste my money.

Have any of you successfully used this stand with any of the 80s keyboards?


r/cheapkeys 16d ago

Added a 3.5mm output to my Yamaha PSS-130 and made a short track using only this synth

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47 Upvotes

r/cheapkeys 17d ago

Issue with old synth

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7 Upvotes

I bought this old synth the other day, and it’s SO out of tune, c key sounds at f, is there a way I can tune it?


r/cheapkeys 18d ago

Casio SA-8 + Hex Haus lag + Hex Haus row

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20 Upvotes

r/cheapkeys 18d ago

Another round with the Casio SA-2

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21 Upvotes

I love how the "Piano" setting can sound with reverb—it punches way above the toy keyboard league. Having such a tiny keyboard at hand is a blessing because it allows me to create short song sketches while sitting on the couch and noodling with it.


r/cheapkeys 18d ago

The keyboard for my son opinions

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2 Upvotes

r/cheapkeys 18d ago

Yamaha PSS 480 repair? AKA the adventures of an electronics repair dilettante

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1 Upvotes

r/cheapkeys 22d ago

How can you jam in 5/4 with PSS-380 and a PS1? Yes

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72 Upvotes

Bit of trickery to fit the Take Five groove over the PS1 fixed 4/4 grid. Yamaha FM keyboard PSS-380 for the custom solo sound.


r/cheapkeys 23d ago

Any news, rumors on a new Yamaha PSS keyboards?

10 Upvotes

It is already 7 years since last Yamaha PSS released (F30, A50, E30). A lot of new PSR released already, but no new PSS. Even Casio updated SA some time ago.

Are there any news or signs that new PSS keyboards will be released soon?


r/cheapkeys 25d ago

Recently blessed w/ some prized Tablehooters (Casio MT-400v w/ BFC-1 and VA-10)!!

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57 Upvotes

So, I got really lucky and came across someone selling in great condition for a good price the Casio MT-400v along with the rare completely unused still in its box with manual BFC-1 breath controller which allows you to control the filter using your breath. First of all, I searched all up and down the internet and couldn't find one documented case or user experience of anyone using this controller with the MT-400v. So, it was a complete mystery regarding how it actually behaved with the 400v. I am pleased/relieved to say that it works awesomely! It behaves really well with the 400v's filter, and there is a lot of cool things you can do with it, and it even works for controlling not just the tone, but the rhythm, bass and chord, and noise (however, only one of those things at a time depending on which setting you have it to. Since there is no documented user experiences, I plan to document more in depth its behavior, including uploading some videos of using it in the various modes.

If this wasn't enough, the guy who sold it to me was super nice and when I told him I liked old Casio's a lot, he showed me several others he had planned to sell and said he would cut me a good deal on them. He brings them out, a PT-7, SK-1... and then unexpectedly — lo and behold, he sets a VA-10 in front of me in perfect condition with the manual and tells me if he would give it to me for $25 if I bought it today. I couldn't believe it! So, I walked out the door beaming with a pair of legendary hooters in my hands, excited like a teenage who had just touched his first pair 👀 🎉 .

I'm currently running the VA-10's microphone input through as an effects send for my 400v using the L6max and I totally get why they are so coveted. The VA-10 can do some crazy things when routing other things through it or feed backing it into itself!

I'll take this opportunity to show off my prized tablehooter collection I've gathered so far throughout this year. All scored locally for good prices with time, patiences, luck, and perseverance. I have found these things incredibly musically inspiring to just sit down with each one, using their charm and limitations to my advantage to build a song from each one.

What is your favorite tablehooter?


r/cheapkeys 26d ago

No name, no logo. had 2 separate thrift store stickers. Got it for $6.

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106 Upvotes

Built-in demo using its own instruments. Did a reverse image search and found out it was called the Hing Hon EK-001. A square wave keyboard released in 1988(?) with 2 voice polyphony. It was once a popular toy to mod. Unfortunately for this one, the master volume is inconsistent, and the headphone jack hard clips any audio.


r/cheapkeys 28d ago

$40 at the thrift store

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160 Upvotes