Casio SK-5

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$225.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (10)

1 Critic Review

3 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Casio SK-5

9 wishlisted

38 saved

Page last updated Jun 27, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 27, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (4)

$225.00 3 available Used

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Average Price: $225

Standard/Professional

$100

$601+

Price Tier

In the Portable & Arranger Keyboards category, Casio SK-5 is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Standard

High-end

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Description

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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

How do you sample sounds on the Casio SK-5?: 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.
How many keys does the Casio SK-5 have and what size are they?: The Casio SK-5 features 32 mini keys with a synth action, making it compact and portable for easy playability.
What is the polyphony capability of the Casio SK-5?: The Casio SK-5 has a polyphony of 4 voices, allowing you to play up to four notes simultaneously.
Can the Casio SK-5 store multiple samples at once?: Yes, the Casio SK-5 can store up to four short low-resolution samples, providing flexibility in sound experimentation.
Are the pads on the Casio SK-5 velocity-sensitive?: 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

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Cubilas

Casio SK 5 Demonstration avi

Cubilas

Casio SK-5 Early sampling keyboard

Gearfacts

The Casio SK-5 is a piece of *bleep*

Lazy Posy

Casio Sk-5 Mini Sampling Keyboard (1985) - The Art of Making Noise

J B Tech Deck

Casio SK-5 Sampling Digital Keyboard Synthesizer Review - Vintage Electric Keyboard

theotherchannel

Reviews

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PROS

Can hold samples with power off, enhancing usability
Simple to use compared to older samplers
Fun and playful for casual sampling
Modifiable for interesting lo-fi sounds
Unique 8-bit sound appeals to niche musicians
Handy recording function for creative layering

CONS

Limited to short sample lengths
Cannot save patches when powered down
Not suitable for professional studio quality work
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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Mods and upgrades

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Modifying the SK-5 for external output instead of relying on onboard speakers is straightforward, facilitating integration with external gear like FX pedals and amps.
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Critic Reviews

Casio SK-5 review | Synthvibrations

wordpress.com

The Casio SK-5, initially seen as a mere toy, has secured its place in music history due to its unique lo-fi sound and circuit-bending potential. While the sampler's technical specs are limited with low bitrates and minimal memory, its charm lies in its simplicity and affordability, making it a staple for experimental artists and circuit benders. Despite its rudimentary features, such as a basic sequencer and envelope editing, the SK-5 has been embraced by influential musicians like Bjork and Nine Inch Nails for its distinctive audio character. However, it’s not without its flaws, including poor sound quality by professional standards and limited functionality. Overall, the SK-5 is a quirky piece of gear for those seeking a nostalgic or experimental sound, but it won't replace a professional sampler.

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Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 10 Ratings

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allanlegemaate

384

over 10 years ago

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

Roles:

Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Jazz Alternative rock

bushreagannotadoppel

106

over 8 years ago

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.

Roles:

Music Producer Audio Engineer

Genres:

Electronic Electronica Experimental

cillitbanggang

186

about 5 years ago

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.

Roles:

Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic

Artist usage

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Pharmakon

Singer, Composer

Verified via Resident Advisor

When I started, I inherited from my stepdad an old Casio SK-5, which is this little toy miniature keyboard—and it is a toy. It has straight-up lion samples on it. There's a roar, there's a laser sound. But you can sample things with it. You can only take 1.5 seconds of sample, and when you turn the sampler off you lose it, but all the early Pharmakon stuff was just me making different vocal sounds into that, looping it and playing it on a keyboard, looping that and making a new sample, and then doing stuff over the top of it and adding vocals.

Flatsound

Singer, Music Producer

Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post, Flatsound mentions creating a song using a Casio SK-5, identifiable by its distinctive buttons.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

Composer

Verified via Photo

In this image he is holding a suitcase with two Casio keyboards inside one of them is the SK-5 (Top)

Paul Woolford

Music Producer, DJ

Verified via Resident Advisor

May 28, 2019, Resident Advisor:

I'd want a stab from an Eric B. & Rakim record or a vocal from the Bomb The Bass album. I'd try and sample breakbeats but there wasn't enough sample time on the SK-5 to get the full loop in. But you quickly realise that if you play a lower note on the keyboard the sample plays lower and slower, and if you hit a higher note it pitches up and speeds up. As a kid I always wanted to speed everything up.