![]() ![]() With the help of deejay Wayne Smith, Davey created a demo version of Under Mi Sleng Teng. Nonetheless, Davey set about exploring his new Casiotone keyboard, scouring its feature bank for a new sound. Davey had explicitly requested a YamahaDX7 (a professional-quality FM synthesiser), so was somewhat disappointed when Haye unveiled the considerably cheaper and less powerful MT-40. His friend and fellow musician George Buddy Haye had just returned from touring in the USA and had promised to bring back a synthesiser for Davey. In 1984, a young Jamaican musician named Noel Davey was presented with a Casiotone MT-40. One such keyboard is the Casiotone MT-40, famous for birthing the Sleng Teng riddim. The Casiotone range largely appealed to amateurs and hobbyists, but some models have achieved cult status among composers and producers. Many of their additions have since become hallmarks of the modern keyboard – such as automated rhythm and bass parts. The success of the first Casiotone keyboard prompted Casio to continue the line, adding even more features to their products. Casio had discovered a gap in the market: consumer-grade electronic musical instruments. The Casiotone 201 proved immensely popular and opened up the world of electronic music to a much wider demographic than ever before. Sure, it didn’t sound as iconic as a Prophet-5 – but that isn’t remotely what it was trying to do. Compared to other polyphonic synths at the time, the Casiotone was uniquely lightweight and inexpensive. Affordable and easy to use, Casio’s intention was to create a keyboardthat anyone would be able to learn with. The 201 was supposed to be an instrument for everybody. This uncomplicated layout made the Casiotone extremely simple to navigate. To select one of the 29 pre-set voices, you simply pressed the tone select button and then any of the white keys on the keyboard. It utilised “vowel-consonant” synthesis – a form of subtractive synthesis using filter patterns based on human speech tones. This was a polyphonic synthesiserwith 49 full-sized keys and eight-note polyphony. In 1979, Casio announced their intention to enter the electronic musical instrument business, and the following year they released the Casiotone 201. However, besides a couple of sound-producing gizmos and toys, they’d never built anything even approaching a musical instrument. Established in Tokyo, they had experienced success from the ‘50s onwards with their ground-breaking electronic calculator designs. Pre-1980, Casiowere known primarily as a computing company. Combining slick looks, cutting edge sounds, and – crucially – affordable prices: Casio created a formula that now defines the modern Casiotone keyboard. ![]() In 1980, Casio released the first Casiotone and – in doing so – revolutionised the world of consumer keyboards. ![]()
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