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Average Price: $225
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$601+
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Description
Unleash your creativity with the Casio SK-5, a classic gem in the world of portable keyboards that has captured the hearts of musicians and enthusiasts alike. Originally launched in the late 1980s, this compact keyboard is renowned for its ability to combine simplicity with engaging features. The SK-5 is equipped with 32 mini-sized keys, making it incredibly accessible for both budding musicians and seasoned players looking for a nostalgic touch.
One of the standout features of the SK-5 is its onboard sampling capability, which allows you to record short sounds and play them back with ease. This feature, combined with its 8-note polyphony, offers endless possibilities for experimentation and creativity. With 13 built-in sounds ranging from piano to organ, and 10 drum patterns, the SK-5 provides a versatile platform for composing and performing.
The Casio SK-5 also includes a built-in speaker, ensuring you can enjoy your music wherever you go without the need for external amplification. Its lightweight and portable design make it perfect for musicians on the move, while its intuitive layout ensures that you can jump right into making music without a steep learning curve.
Whether you're revisiting the sounds of your youth or exploring the unique capabilities of vintage gear, the Casio SK-5 offers a charming and practical solution for any musician's toolkit.
Key Features:
- 32 mini-sized keys
- Onboard sampling capability
- 8-note polyphony
- 13 built-in sounds and 10 drum patterns
- Built-in speaker for portable play
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Intuitive controls for seamless use
Product specs
| Brand | Casio |
| Model | SK-5 Sampling Keyboard |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1980s |
| Categories | Portable Keyboards, Samplers |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| Key Size | Mini |
| Keyboard Action | Synth Action |
| Number of Keys | 32 Keys |
| Number of Pads | 8 Pads |
| Polyphony | 4 Voices |
FAQs
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How do you sample sounds on the Casio SK-5?
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To sample on the Casio SK-5, select one of the four sample buttons and press either sample button 1 or 3 for long sampling. Ensure the keyboard is in "play" mode for sampling.
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How many keys does the Casio SK-5 have and what size are they?
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The Casio SK-5 features 32 mini keys with a synth action, making it compact and portable for easy playability.
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What is the polyphony capability of the Casio SK-5?
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The Casio SK-5 has a polyphony of 4 voices, allowing you to play up to four notes simultaneously.
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Can the Casio SK-5 store multiple samples at once?
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Yes, the Casio SK-5 can store up to four short low-resolution samples, providing flexibility in sound experimentation.
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Are the pads on the Casio SK-5 velocity-sensitive?
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No, the 8 pads on the Casio SK-5 are not velocity-sensitive, which means they respond the same regardless of how hard they are pressed.
Videos
Cubilas
Casio SK 5 Demonstration avi
Reviews
PROS
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Can hold samples with power off, enhancing usability
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Simple to use compared to older samplers
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Fun and playful for casual sampling
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Modifiable for interesting lo-fi sounds
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Unique 8-bit sound appeals to niche musicians
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Handy recording function for creative layering
CONS
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Limited to short sample lengths
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Cannot save patches when powered down
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Not suitable for professional studio quality work
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Initially considered a toy, potentially undermining its credibility
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Casio SK-5.
Value and pricing
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Owners note that the Casio SK-5's collector value fluctuates with trends, recently seeing a decline in price, making it less viable for profit-driven resale.
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Setup and maintenance
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Replacing the SK-5's keybed and battery cover can cost approximately $25 each, potentially outweighing the resale value if retro demand is low.
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User experience
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Some owners express disappointment in the sound quality, describing it as more of a novelty or conversation piece rather than a serious instrument.
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Use cases and applications
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Despite its limitations, the Casio SK-5 serves as a nostalgic piece or collectible, particularly appealing to those interested in retro aesthetics or electronic music history.
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Features and functionality
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The SK-5 includes unique sounds like Surf Sound and Dog barks, differing from the SK-1's Human Voice and Synth Drums.
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The SK-5 and SK-8 support longer sample times and can handle four different samples simultaneously, enhancing their sampling capabilities compared to other models.
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The SK-10 lacks envelope shapes, portamento, and offers fewer sounds (6 instead of 8) and rhythms (6 instead of 11) compared to the SK-1.
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Comparisons
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SK-5's PCM sounds like laser gun and lion roar differentiate it from the SK-1's analog "ping pong drums."
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While the SK-5 has additional features, some users find the Yamaha VSS offers superior sound due to its FM synthesis.
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The SK-200 is considered superior in the SK line due to its line input, four sample slots, and built-in sequencer, offering more advanced features.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 10 Ratings
384
Fun in its own way
This keyboard is of course, a low end keyboard not to mention it is from the late '80's. It was introduced into the world as being the 'second cheapest sampler' only beat by the earlier model, the SK-1. Most musicians saw it as a toy, initially, but after a number of artists used it in their own professional compositions, it was raised up from that status. Now, these keyboards are a fun addition to any setup due to the low-fi 8bit sound that is often sought after. Also includes a handy recording function for layering!
TL;DR Its old and has low sound quality, but this instrument is a hella good time
beautiful, cheap, moddable to all ends.
The keyboard was a beauty when I first got it, though it especially shines (in an amazingly lofi way) after being modded and circuit bent a bit. Playing with the pitch of the percussion, modifying recorded samples in weird ways and such. Definitely more than just the toy keyboard my parents thought it was when they were cleaning out the garage and were about to throw it out.
186
Pretty good sampler to play around with
It’s a kids toy so don’t expect studio quality stuff out of this by any means but it’s a fun sampler to play around with. It can’t save patches when turned off though which is kind of annoying.
Artist usage
Add artist
In this collection of images from King Gizzard's instagram, you can see Stu attending to his keyboard stack with an SK-5 on the second level of the keyboard stand.
Sean from Autechre said in an interview with Sound on Sound, "the first stuff we had was a [Roland TR] 606, a [Casio] SK1 and SK5..."
Nick posted a video on Instagram playing a Roland System-1 synthesizer along with a Casio SK-5 on 6/22/2021.
Featured in this June 14, 2021 Amoeba “What’s In My Bag [Home Edition]” interview.
I actually got really obsessed with this keyboards. They’re called, like, sample keyboards. You can literally sing in the on-board mic. [records sample of himself singing a note] Now, you can like, play that sample. [plays sample on keyboard] And this is, like, the sound of Sigur Rós that they used a lot on the untitled album [shows his copy of ( )].
In the YouTube video "Glass Animals - Gooey, Your Love (Déjà Vu) & Heat Waves (Stripped Back) | FIFA 21 World Premiere" at 0:17 seconds, you can see the Casio SK-5 vintage sampler keyboard in the background.
In a live performance video of "Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress," David Bryant of Godspeed You! Black Emperor is seen using the Casio SK-5 keyboard.
At 3:11, Laurent is playing the Casio SK-5 with another keyboard. He remarks how he played both Keyboards at the same time as a joke and it inspired him to write something similar in Lisztomania.
The Sk-5 can be seen at 3:59 in the "3 Feet High and Rising" press kit video. Prince Paul also mentions using it with De La Soul in this interview: https://medium.com/micro-chop/make-those-records-you-make-prince-paul-reacalls-the-making-of-de-la-soul-is-dead-d72af2ddeaf6 From that interview:
Gino: I’m amazed that you guys were utilizing an SK-5. I know that’s a very limited sampler. Did you just use the external mic device to sample?
Prince Paul: I honestly don’t remember. I still have that sampler, but it’s in my attic. I think there was a mic input and it also had mic built in on top of it that you could speak into. I think we just plugged into the mic input and sped samples up. Obviously the sound was kind of jacked up, but nobody was concerned about quality back then. We were just impressed by the novelty of sampling. Everyone was like, “Ooh, I can take a piece of something and play it on a keyboard.”
in this X/twitter post by merge records you can see this keyboard which was used on mikes album I hate jazz
Hot Sugar is shown using a Casio SK-5 in a photo posted on their official Facebook page.
In an interview on the making of "De La Soul is Dead", Prince Paul comments on the equipment used for the album:
"Gino: I know in talking to you for an earlier interview that you guys were using an Akai S-900, an Emu SP-12, and a Casio SK-5 on 3 Feet High and Rising. Did you use the same equipment for De La Soul is Dead?
Prince Paul: Yeah, we used all of the same stuff. We were at the same studio, Calliope. I think we mixed the album at Island Media in New York. We basically used the same format.
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Gino: I’m amazed that you guys were utilizing an SK-5. I know that’s a very limited sampler. Did you just use the external mic device to sample?
Prince Paul: I honestly don’t remember. I still have that sampler, but it’s in my attic. I think there was a mic input and it also had mic built in on top of it that you could speak into. I think we just plugged into the mic input and sped samples up. Obviously the sound was kind of jacked up, but nobody was concerned about quality back then. We were just impressed by the novelty of sampling. Everyone was like, 'Ooh, I can take a piece of something and play it on a keyboard.'"
Album Usage
The Casio SK-5 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Casio SK-5, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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