CASIO

keyboard with warm timbres, drumpads & versatile accompaniment

MT-520, Keyboard Arranger from Casio. Write a user review. Avg used price: $70. Product presentation. Get the best deals for casio mt-520 at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items!

This keyboard was the direct predecessor of the Casio MT-520. It has quite warm semi- analogue sound, sample based percussion and 4 rubber drumpads for 'Super Drums' accompaniment.

Most features and the sound engine correspond to the MT-520, but in opposite to this it has even 20 semi- OBS preset sounds and 4 chord variations, but only 4 drumpads those each can be switched among 3 preset sounds. (Alternatively 4 external pads can be connected through 2 stereo jacks.) The accompaniment sounds warmer than with MT-520.

Important: Very annoying is that the 4 Super Drums tracks of the rhythm section here can not be muted but only switched among each 4 variants, which severely limits its usability. Thus do not pay too much for the Casio MT-500 if you intend to use it as a drum machine. On eBay people tend to pay crazy prices for this thing while the MT-520 goes much cheaper and is apparently still considered a toy, despite in practise its rhythm section far superior; it also has more drumpad inputs and intro/ ending feature, those all lack on the MT-500.

The original German retail price of the MT-500 in a German Conrad catalogue from 1988 was 799DM (about 400€). Due to the many similarities I only describe here the differences to the Casio MT-520.

different main features:

• 20 semi- OBS preset sounds {piano, vibraphone, flute, human voice, bells, jazz organ 1, harpsichord, double reed, synth. sound 1, elec. guitar elec. piano, violin, panpipe, pipe organ, glockenspiel, jazz organ 2, clavichord, synth. reed, synth. sound 2, synth. guitar} (selected through 10 locking OBS buttons + bank switch button)
• 12 semi- OBS preset rhythms {rock, disco, pops 1, swing, samba, march slow rock, 16 beat, pops 2, reggae, bossa nova, waltz} (selected through 6 locking OBS buttons + bank switch button)
• no rhythm intro/ ending feature
• 4 'Super Drums' rhythm variation slide switches {bass drum/ bass, snare drum/ rim shot/ tom, cymbal/ high hat, hand clap/ agogo/ bongo} (each 4 variations, no mute)
• 4 accompaniment variations slide switch
• stepless tempo slider
• 4 rubber drumpads switchable to each 3 sounds (very responsive):
• bass drum, hand clap, cymbal
• snare drum, rim shot, agogo
• open high hat, synth. hi tom, hi bongo
• closed high hat, synth. lo tom, low bongo
• no sequencer
• slightly different percussion samples & less intense stereo chorus. Some timbres are more squarewave- like (by different filters?). Accompaniment is warmer, duller and has some sustain.
• complex multi- chip hardware:
• accompaniment CPU?= 'NEC D930G 022, 86...(?), Japan' (80 pin SMD)
• sample rhythm IC?= 'NEC D934G, 8606KK, Japan' (80 pin SMD)
• main voice sound IC= 'NEC D931C 011, 8530KY, Japan' (42 pin DIL, same like Casio CT-410V)
• ROM?= 'NEC D23C64EC 026, 8605E7, Japan' (28 pin DIL)
• RAM?= 'HN613256P, 6A3, CM4, Japan' (28 pin DIL)
• 3x IC 'NEC C4570C, 549AP, Japan' (8 pin DIL)
• 2x IC 'NEC C4570C, 550AA, Japan' (8 pin DIL)
• IC 'NEC C4558C, 551C, Japan' (8 pin DIL)
• IC 'LC3514A, L20 5M8' (18 pin DIL)
• IC '2064, 611' (16 pin SMD)
• stereo chorus IC?= 'MN3102, 5.7' (8 pin DIL)
• IC 'MN3207, 56' (8 pin DIL)
• hybrid 'HD216AP' (20 pin)
• only 2 drumpad jacks (3.5mm stereo jacks, for each 2 pads)

modifications:

• polarity protection diode added, power supply jack polarity corrected.

notes:

In comparison to Casio MT-520 the case of the MT-500 has no stair step at the lower speaker rim. The electronics is a very complex multi- chip hardware on 2 large PCBs with many discrete components.

The sound engine of the preset sounds resembles the MT-520, but the stereo chorus effect is narrower and most sounds contain less reverb. Many timbres also sound more squarewave- like - likely by different filters. I will describe the preset sounds in comparison to MT-520 if present. The 'piano' here sounds a bit more synthetic than on MT-520 and has no sustain, thus notes stop immediately after key release. The 'elec. piano' has a mild attack, a dose of chorus and long sustain; its timbre resembles more a sitar than the MT-520 version. 'vibraphone' is more percussive, brighter and octave higher than on MT-520, which makes it more realistic. 'violin' otherwise sounds vs. MT-520 an octave higher, duller (less realistic) and has some reverb. 'flute' is vs. MT-520 an octave higher, more squarewave- like and has no reverb; thus is it more a wooden recorder flute than a metal flute. 'panpipe' is duller, 1 octave lower and has reverb. 'human voice' is like MT-520 with longer sustain. The 'jazz organ 1' resembles 'jazz organ' on MT-520 but sounds more Hammond- like with less buzzy bass range; it also resembles here a sung 'ah'. 'jazz organ 2' is duller, a bit thinner and has reverb. 'pipe organ' resembles MT-520 but has more percussive attack. 'bells' is a squarewave musicbox timbre with 3Hz vibrato and a dose of chorus; 'glockenspiel' sounds 1 octave lower with sonorous multipulse bass range. 'harpsichord' has much reverb and a 3Hz chorus vibrato that makes it badly unrealistic; 'clavichord' is duller with shorter reverb (but MT-520 'funky clavi' still sounds more powerful and 1 octave lower). 'double reed' sounds rather like a french horn with chorus vibrato and much reverb. 'synth. reed' is a variant that sounds thinner and thus more like a trumpet or tenor saxophone. (Unlike expected, both have no similarities with a reed organ.) 'synth. sound 2' resembles a slightly dull sitar with sustain; 1 is similar but grows duller and thicker during attack like layered with a short pipe organ tone with sustain. The 'elec. guitar' sounds duller than MT-520 and has reverb, while 'synth. guitar' has a very dry and harsh buzzing timbre that resembles the MT-520 'funky clavi' but sounds thinner, has chorus vibrato and reverb. Unlike MT-520, the MT-500 employs real locking semi- OBS preset sound buttons, those make it easier to see the selected sound but make them harder to trill them for live play tricks. (Like with Casio CT-410V they have no technical reasons since the electronics memorizes the last pushed button anyway.)

The rhythms employ quite similar woody sample percussion like Casio CZ-230S (that seems to be based on the Casio RZ-1 drum computer); e.g. the 'handclap' has the same unusual mechanical typewriter timbre, but the sound set has also differences; e.g. the snare is duller and the bongos have different pitch (likely by changed sample playback frequency). The MT-500 percussion samples are different from MT-520; the individual sounds have changed pitches (some lower, some higher) and also the sample resolution may be slightly lower because e.g. the cymbal sounds thinner and the snare duller. Unlike MT-520 the accompaniment sounds include short sustain and sound warmer, duller and less dry, which gives the bass voice more pressure. (The bass reminds to Casio MT-800.) The automatic accompaniment algorithm is programmed simpler than with MT-520; it does not recognize played chords and play different patterns for them but only inserts the up to 4 notes of pressed keys into a given pattern (a bit like the archaic Antonelli Star 2379). Thus the played chord is never split into melody lines of alternating notes but only chopped as a staccato. But the benefit of it is that you can not only play any disharmonic non- chords (the MT-520 still could do them) but also rapidly trill multiple accompaniment keys faster than the pattern plays. And in spite of the simple algorithm the available patterns are still reasonably complex (partly contain arpeggios, walking bass lines etc.) and you can manually switch between 4 accompaniment variations per rhythm. Instead of intro and ending there is only a fill-in pattern (with accompaniment) for each rhythm.

Casio Keyboard Mt 520 Hp

Very annoying is that the individual percussion tracks of the 'Super Drums' can not be muted individually. Touching any drumpad mutes the rhythm until any key in chord section is pressed; the 'bass drum pattern' switch determined whether the base drum of the rhythm stays audible or mutes also. (Unlike MT-520 the 'casio chord' switch doesn't disturb running rhythms here.) Each of the 4 drumpads can be quickly switched to 3 different percussion samples; despite this way 12 sounds in total can be played, the 8 fixed OBS drumpads of the MT-520 are more fun to play.

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CASIO

keyboard with warm timbres, drumpads & greatly versatile accompaniment

This Casio keyboard has lovely warm semi- analogue sound, sample based percussion and 8 rubber drumpads. Its special feature is the quite versatile 'Super Drums' accompaniment with individually mutable tracks, and there are even individual inputs for 8 external drumpads.

The 12 semi- OBS preset sounds and chords employ Casio's classic 'Consonant Vowel' synthesis engine (see Casio CT-410V), which mixes 2 multipulse squarewaves with independent volume envelopes and can make nicely warm and sonorous sounds. The 12 semi- OBS preset rhythms are made from woody knocking medium resolution samples (same percussion like with Casio CZ-230S); the rhythms consist of 4 separate tracks, those each have a slide switch for 3 variations and mute, which permits a lot of realtime variations. Also the warm sounding accompaniments have each 3 variations and intro, fill-in and ending and accept beyond establishment chords also wild disharmonic note combinations. The patterns remind to Casio CT-410V; some variations are nicely complex arranged and partly contain arpeggio. The sensitive rubber drumpads mute a running rhythm for a bar; the base drum pad even stops it entirely until a fill-in is started, which can be disturbing. Unusual is that there are even 4 stereo plug jacks to connect 8 external drumpads. There is also a primitive record/ playback sequencer (ignores drumpad sounds). The original German retail price of the Casio MT-520 was 449DM (about 225€, price tag on box).

main features:

• 49 midsize keys (well responding)
• 2 built-in 11cm speakers (of reasonable quality, stereo)
• main voice polyphony up to 8 notes (only 4 with accompaniment)
• 12 semi- OBS preset sounds {piano, vibraphone, jazz organ, violin, trumpet, funky clavi elec. piano, elec. guitar, pipe organ, human voice, flute, synth. sound} (selected through 6 OBS buttons + bank switch button)
• 12 semi- OBS preset rhythms {rock 1, pops, disco, swing, samba, march rock 2, reggae, 16 beat, slow rock, bossa nova, waltz} (selected through 6 OBS buttons + bank switch button)
• master volume slider
• separate rhythm & accompaniment volume sliders
• single finger & fingered accompaniments (manual chord with rhythm off)
• intro/ fill-in & ending buttons
• 4 'Super Drums' rhythm variation slide switches {bass drum, snare drum/ rim shot, hand clap/ bongo, cymbal/ high hat} (each 3 variations and mute)
• 3 accompaniment variations slide switch
• tempo +/- buttons (66 steps?)
• 8 rubber drumpads {rim shot, hand clap, hi bongo, low bongo, cymbal, snare drum, bass drum, high hat} (very responsive)
• main & chord voice timbres based on 2 mixed multipulse squarewave(?) tones with different digital envelopes, those are differently filtered through capacitors.
• percussion sound made from 8 bit medium resolution samples.
• stereo chorus rotary speaker/ leslie simulator (based on a combination of panning and pitch shifting)
• complex multi- chip hardware:
• CPU= 'HD61702A03, 7A 33' (100 pin SMD)
• sample rhythm IC?= 'NEC D449C -3, 8635X9201, Japan' (24 pin DIL)
• percussion sample ROM?= 'OKI M6294-02, 712015, Japan' (28 pin DIL)
• ROM?='NEC D23C64EC 029, 8652E7, Japan' (28 pin DIL)
• IC 'JRC 4558DD, 6198' (8 pin DIL)
• 2x IC 'BA4558, 612598' (8 pin DIL)
• simple sequencer (record & playback of main & chord voice, no edit)
• auto power-off (after 6 minutes)
• tuning knob
• jacks for AC- adapter, headphone, sound output, 4 drumpad jacks (3.5mm stereo jacks, for each 2 pads)

8 drumpads can be connected.

The pcb much is smaller than with MT-500.

There are unused solder holes for an additional IC.

modifications:

• polarity protection diode added, power supply jack polarity corrected.

notes:

The case shape of this instrument resembles much the sample based Casio MT-540 and was likely one of the predecessors. The drumpad jacks could be either connected with each a Casio DP-1 dual drumpad unit or a Casio SS-1 Sound Sticks electronic drum stick. The obscure Sound Sticks were cabled drum sticks, those vibration sensor sends a signal by hitting any surface; a button on top of each stick selects between the 2 contacts in each jack to switch between both sounds. The MT-520 contains a fairly complex hardware with much analogue stuff, but the PCB is small compared with its predecessor Casio MT-500. The sound quality is similarly impressive like with Casio MT-800, although the bass of the accompaniment sounds colder. (The MT-500 has warmer accompaniment.) The CPU 'HD61702A03' seems to be a close relative of the 'HD61702A02' in

Casio Keyboard Songs

Casio PT-100.

The preset sounds are based on filtered multipulse squarewave and thus don't sound perfectly realistic, but they have a nicely warm analogue timbre and sound quite noble. (I am not sure if only advanced filters are used or if possibly even additional waveforms are involved for some timbres, because the bass range sounds smoother, warmer and less buzzy than with most other squarewave- based Casio keyboards.) The preset sounds all apparently employs a similar stereo chorus like with Casio CT-410V, although this one can not be controlled by the player and is always set to a slow 2Hz mode. The 'piano' sounds fairly real regarding the technology. The 'vibraphone' has a somewhat flute- like ethereal timbre with a dose of chorus and weak 4Hz tremolo; the bass range is fairly dull. The 'jazz organ' is a Hammond organ imitation with mildly percussive attack and sounds a little squawky (but not as much as with the digital Casio SA-series keyboards), but generally quite soft and not creaky. The 'violin' has a slow attack and sounds quite realistic, although high notes are a little thin. The 'trumpet' sounds thin and hollow with delayed vibrato; the sonorous bass range rather resembles a bassoon or oboe. The 'funky clavi.' is a sort of bassy harpsichord with nicely buzzy bass range and no sustain. Also 'elec. piano' resembles a harpsichord, but sounds thinner, has a fast fluttering tremolo and sustain. 'elec. guitar' is similar but thinner (more sitar- like) with longer sustain. 'pipe organ' is the known sonorous multipulse timbre with slow attack and short sustain that attempts to simulate a metal pipe organ rank, but this one sounds a bit too bright and thin. 'human voice' rather resembles a wooden or very muffled metal pipe organ rank with short sustain; it may be a 'vox humana' rank, but has very little similarity with a human voice although it sounds nicely warm. 'flute' sounds like a softly blown metal flute with fluttering tremolo and mild reverb; the bass range sounds woody. 'synth. sound' is a harsh and massive electronic metal pipe organ timbre with percussive attack, fast fluttering tremolo and short sustain; the timbre also resembles a harpsichord and trumpet - only high notes play too soft in relation to its loud and thin buzzing bass range. Unlike other that old Casio keyboards there is neither a sustain switch nor other sound controls. The semi- OBS preset sound buttons respond fairly fast; pressing them retriggers the notes of held keys with the selected preset sound, which can be used for live play tricks.

The percussion has a woody knocking style; the samples sound almost identical with Casio SK-8 and also the rhythms sound very similar; some of these (samba, reggae) sound quite oriental. With the 'Super Drums' slider each of the 4 tracks in a rhythm can be switched to 3 variations or muted. Starting with all tracks muted, you can build up a gunk structure, which is nice for tekkno- like meditative musics. The semi- OBS preset rhythm buttons respond quite fast during rhythm and thus can be also used for live play tricks. The accompaniment has 3 switchable variations and with standard chords many patterns are similarly complex like with Casio MT-540, but unlike MT-540 this one fortunately also accepts non- chords and the fingered accompaniment changes depending on how many keys are pressed. Some variations feature arpeggios, walking bass lines and other complex ornaments. Unfortunately a running accompaniment can not be muted without disturbing the rhythm, because the 'casio chord' switch always makes the rhythm stutter when moved.

There is also a simple record/ playback sequencer that records any played notes with chords/ accompaniment, but it can not be edited and records no drumpad hits.

A smaller Casio MT-520 variant with only 4 drumpads was released as Casio MT-220 and without drumpads as Casio MT-205 (both without rhythm tracks mute). The same hardware class was also used in Casio MT-110 (with neither Super Drums nor drumpads) and in the rare ROM-Pack keyboard Casio CT-805 (49 fullsize keys with key lighting, mono, neither drumpads nor Super Drums, microphone jack, case style like Casio MT-28). A fullsize version of the MT-520 was released as Casio CT-510 (with additional pedal jack (for bass drum??)). The direct predecessor of the MT-520 was the Casio MT-500, which had only 4 drumpads (each switchable to 3 sounds) but even 20 preset sounds; the MT-500 is also a nice keyboard but has other nasty flaws, thus do not believe false claims that it would be better. A smaller Super Drums keyboard with semi- analogue percussion (but no drumpads) was the Casio MT-52. Another midsize drumpad keyboard was the Casio MT-640 (based on MT-540 hardware, 6 rubber drumpads, 4 effect pads, bigger speakers all seen on eBay).

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