Chas

I already had those in my earlier post! 😉 @electricninja - good call on the HZ 600. Though it was pretty much just an HT3000 minus rhythms and accompaniment (but with extra user patch storage), it could be seen more as a pure "synth" compared with the rest of the HT range. Casio were likely trying to align it with their other "Z" model synths (CZ, VZ, FZ etc.) that were available around the same time. Also, thinking again about the MZ2000. It was released around the turn of the Millennium, hence the number 2000. The "M" could also be from the word "Millennium", and though it was more of an arranger (actually with a very powerful synth section among its arranger festures), the "Z" might have been linking it to older "Z" series of pro Casio instruments and synthesizers. Hence - (M)illennium Synthesi(Z)er (2000) = "MZ2000"

The VA-10 is one of those Casios that seemed to be totally unique in their model range. To my knowledge, there's no other Casio model that has the same digital effects feature set. It seems that every so often Casio would release a model that was so left field of everything they normally did (think CT6000, CTK1000, MZ2000 etc.) that you had to wonder if it was a top secret super advanced abandoned project that slipped out through the back door! As for the VA-10, they do come up for sale occasionally, though they're far from common.. They're also expensive because collectors have cottoned on to how unique,. weird and wonderful they are. But you can still pick them up for approx. $150, sometimes even less, if you keep your eyes on the usual online selling sites. You might get even more lucky on Facebook Market Place/ Craigslist/ Gumtree if someone is clearing out a house and doesn't know what it is. Same applies to Thrift Stores/ Charity shops. I would say that they are well worth having because of their uniqueness and LoFi digital effects character. Much like the SK samplers crunch up the sound in a unique way, the VA-10's effects do a similar thing to any sound fed through it. In this modern era of ultra processed and super clean digital effects and recording, there's something delightfully appealing about a LoFi effects machine that imparts its own character on the sound.

My Casio VL-1 and MT-65 going through a Casio AS-20 keyboard amp, playing a couple of rounds of Space's 1977 synth disco classic, "Magic Fly"! youtu.be/PvqhMX-G7hk

Are you running it on batteries or an AC adapter? If you're running it on batteries, try a fresh set. These models that can also run on battery power are likely have an APO (Auto Power Off) feature, and that might possibly be the issue. Might also be a sticking power switch. Maybe it was unused for some time and just needs to have some regular power cycles to shake off the cobwebs, so to speak?

Just found this older video of the VA-10. You CAN use it as a standalone effects unit!

As Brad said, most keyboard models with audio in don't allow the audio to access the onboard effects. They're mostly for simultaneously playing along to a backing track and having everything come through the onboard speakers. The XW-P1 and G1 models are exceptions to this as you CAN put the "Instrument In" though its onboard DSP effects, though you would need to set up the 6th oscillator with the effects you want to use. However, I think you need to actually play a key to trigger the sound as the "instrument in" feature is utilized as an "oscillator" for use by the XW itself, not as an external effect (someone more knowledgeable might need to confirm if this is the case). The XW-PD1 can also manipulate external sounds via its DSP effects, though I think you have to trigger the effects using one of the pads/ slider every time you want to use one of them (unless there is a hold feature?) Another much older and rare model is the 90's VA-10. It has a whole bunch of LoFi digital effects that can be applied to the microphone input, though again, I think you need to play the keyboard to trigger the sounds and effects. There's an excellent video of the VA-10 by Keen on Keys that has just recently been published if you fancy a look:

Audio In would likely expect a stronger signal than Instrument In (Line Level). In that case, the guitar's Line Level signal would sound very quiet unless you amplify it before feeding it into the Audio In. What is your objective for plugging a guitar into a keyboard?

Casio XW-P1 and G1. You can use the Instrument Input as the 6th oscillator and also process this input with the onboard DSPs and the Filter. The XW-PD1, though it's a groovebox rather than a keyboard, has both mic and line inputs that can be fed into and manipulated by the PD1's DSPs.

CCT impulse buys, repairs, refurbs and reviews a vintage 1985 Casio AS-20 keyboard amplifier, and then tests it with a CZ101, MT-65 and VL-1. This little amp is more capable than it looks!

@SyeSouthern - the TR808 is one of the most famous and most iconic drum machines ever made. If you Google search "famous tr808 songs" you'll find a ton of information about the biggest artists and tracks that used it. From the introduction of the TR808 in 1980 until well into the 90s, many iconic Hip Hop, Synthpop, EDM, House, Electro, Techno and Dance music tracks would have used one of the big four drum machines of that era - Roland TR808, Roland TR909, Linn LM1/ Linndrum or Oberheim DMX. There were others, though Roland. Linn and Oberheim were the dominant force as far as drum machines go. When it comes to licensing sounds, much depends on how the sound was generated. The TR808 is entirely analogue and generates its sounds via electronic circuitry. As the sounds do not exist as recordings that are played back from within the 808, they aren't covered under copyright laws. Additionally, the individual sounds of the 808 are infinitely variable by the user, and it simply wouldn't be possible or viable to copyright every single variation. The Linn and Oberheim drum machines use digital one shot samples, and as these samples exist as digital recordings stored and played back from within these machines, they're covered by copyright laws. Thus you wouldn't need to get a license for 808 type sounds, but if the copyright still exists for the Linn or Oberheim drums samples, then for those you probably would. Just to complicate matters further, the TR909 has a handful of sample sounds in its sound set, so some of the iconic 909 sounds are covered by copyright whereas most of them aren't! Here's an article listing some of the famous 808 sounds: https://www.musicradar.com/news/roland-tr808-synth-icons-best-tracks

If the CZ5000 has the same battery back up as the CZ3000, then you'll find a battery hatch on the underside of the keyboard that takes 3 x AA batteries. I'm pretty sure that only the CZ-1 has an internal (button cell) battery.

May the 4th be with you, and may your Casios be with you... Always!

@CYBERYOGI =CO=Windler - thank you for researching this! I did actually get an SA-81 myself, and though it improved on some aspects of the SA-76, it wasn't as a big a jump in features as I was hoping for. I was also disappointed to find that some of my favourite Tones and Rhythms from the SA-76 were not carried over, instead they were replaced by Tones and Rhythms that weren't as pleasing/ useful to me. I was also hoping that Casio would have added USB MIDI as that would have really opened up its usefulness, but alas, they didn't. Interesting that you found that it had a firmware update mode that would require connection to a computer, as I read from someone else that the hardware does actually have (USB most likely) MIDI capability. But for whatever reason, Casio decided to leave it off. Though the SA-80/ 81 is still a handy little keyboard, I feel that Casio could have put a bit more effort into updating and modernizing the much older SA-76 and make it more useful today. The SA-76 I found inspiring for such a small and extremely affordable keyboard, the SA-81 less so as I felt it could have/ should have been so much more.

@Cris - I've had a go at identifying some of the components of the board. I'm going by what limited knowledge I have of some of these Casio keyboards, so please only take this as a guide. Outlined in BLUE is the D775G LSI - this is where the tones are generated. This LSI is shared with a number of other Casio/ Casiotone keyboards. Outline in GREEN - I'm pretty sure this is the rhythm generator LSI. The MT40 has very unique rhythms, so this LSI might be unique to the MT40/ 41 only. Outlined in RED - This is the analogue drum circuit. You can even see marked on the circuit board areas for specific drum sounds i.e. (SD) "Snare Drum", (BD) "Bass Drum", (HH) "High Hat" etc. There are also three variable resistors marked (SD), (BD) and BD. These likely are used for drum pitch and envelope attack or decay. Outlined in DARK RED - this is the tuning section. Outlined in CYAN/ LIGHT BLUE - VR1 variable resistor - I *think* this is used to adjust the master clock speed as it's near the main LSIs. I can't see an oscillator nearby. Outlined in PURPLE - that blue component looks similar to the reset capacitor in Casio's musical calculators. Or it might be an oscillator. I do not know for sure. It's right next to a 4558DD Op Amp IC, but I do not know exactly what that blue component is, nor the function of the area of the board. If it's to do with timing / clock speed generation, or reset, it might be an area that needs looking at. Either way, this might help you hone in on where the problem lies. Hopefully @CYBERYOGI =CO=Windler, who is far more knowledgeable than I am regarding electronics and Casio circuits, can shed more light on these components and help you find the fault.