Fingerlab has introduced SK-51 – a new iOS app, inspired by the Casio SK-1 and SK-5 80’s sampling keyboards:
“As some of us at Fingerlab compose their first songs with it when they were kids in the eighties, we wanted to bring back to you this particular feeling from the past, so we created the SK-51.
We recorded all the instruments and drums notes, one by one with a professional audio quality (16bit/44KHz), we recreated the sampling features, and we transcribed all the demo drums patterns.
We also added the sounds from the Casio VL-Tone, a keyboard older than the SK-1 but nevertheless famous.”
The app is a free download, with an In-App purchase to unlock additional features.
Free version features:
- 3 instruments (Flute I, Piano I, Trumpet)
- 7 drums kit
- 4 sampling slot
- 3 demo drums patterns
- Full Mixer
- Midi support
- AudioBus & Inter-App Audio support
- Ableton Live support
IAP Full version features:
- 19 instruments (including Brass Ensemble, Vibraphone, Chorus and many more…)
- 7 drums kit
- 21 demo drums patterns
- 3 FX: Phaser, Delay & Reverb
- Live Recording
Pricing and Availability
Fingerlab SK-51 is available now as a free download, with an $2.99 In-App purchase to unlock additional features.
…except that it doesn’t sound lo-fi or vintage at all
When I got started in electronic music, it was a lo fi affair, with the SK-5 as my “workstation. That and an SK-1, a bunch of toys, and some cassette recorders produced some pretty cool results. Had I seen an iPad with Gadget and other apps back then (1996) I would have lost my mind. Regarding the SK-5… it was great but lacked the portamento and synthetic drum sounds that the SK-1 had.
Coolish but what about AU Support?
That’s coming in 3-4 months.
Was very disappointing to find that the sample rate isn’t the same as the SK-1. Why bother? Also no way to choose what sample bank is playable on the keys, just the most recently recorded one.
Just tap on the Sample 1 – Sample 4 button or white text. The text will become underlined and that sample is selected to be played on the keyboard.
Or did I misunderstand your comment?