In his latest video, synthesist Hainbach takes a look at the classic toy sampling keyboard, the Casio SK-1.
The SK-1 was introduced in 1985, has onboard sampling and can capture up to 1.4 seconds of 8-bit sound.
As ever, Hainbach takes the instrument into interesting territory, mangling the SK-1’s sound to create lo-fi soundscapes.
Here’s what he has to say about it:
“The Casio SK-1 was my very first electronic music instrument that allowed for some degree of experimentation. Its crunchy 8BIT sound got me hooked in a way that shaped my entire music career. 25 years later and with a bunch of SK-1 inspired instruments incoming on Kickstarter, I wanted to revisit this beautifully crappy sampler.”
Check out the video and share your thoughts in the comments. And, if you’ve played the SK-1, let us know what you think of it!
I’ve seen people on youtube that also achieve great sounds from very simple keyboards by using guitarpedals. For example with a reverb-shimmering.
This is even cheaper with 7,99 euro for Fluss.
I loosely “hated” the limited sampling time, but it took that to get to the Mirage (with its shoe boxes full of floppies) and the Mirage, Emaxes, etc. to pave the way for huge libraries on thumb drives. There’s a definite place for crunchy, but I’m glad its just an option now.
Reverb shimmering should be outlawed.
People who demand that things should be outlawed should be outlawed!
Got one that I no longer use and it’s collecting dust. PM me if you are interested in having one.
Are you giving it away for free?
Yes… you just pay for the S&H and it’s yours brother 😉
I got an SK-1 for Christmas when I was 9 or 10, and I still have it, and use it. It’s fun! I’m excited to listen to Hainbach’s album.
Me too – had so much fun with it as a kid and still have it!
Yes. I still have my original (from some time in my 1980s childhood. I have a second that I bought just a few years ago at a flea market for $10 (with original packaging!). We used to have too much fun sampling ourselves burping then replaying on the lowest keys.