Jean Michel-Jarre, Popcorn & More on the Casio VL Tone

VL Tone Casio - Rendez Vous 4 - Jean Michel Jarre / Riva

YouTube Uploaded by Stereokromatik on Dec 23, 2011
All sounds VL Tone.
"Test VL Tone Casio
Vintage"

Popcorn - Casio VL - Tone / Riva

YouTube Uploaded by Stereokromatik on Dec 24, 2011
Drums FL Studio, all else VL Tone
"Popcorn - Casio VL - Tone"

VL Tone Casio / Riva

Uploaded by Stereokromatik on Dec 23, 2011

"Pequeno improviso com o Casio VL Tone vsti"

Casio VL-Tone improvisation by Raymond Castile

Published on Aug 25, 2017 raycastile

"My very first electronic instrument was a Casio VL-Tone (or Casio VL-1, both names are on the instrument). I was just a little kid and already in love with Vangelis, Wendy Carlos, John Carpenter and other synth players. So my parents bought me this little toy synth, either for my birthday or Christmas. I played with that thing night and day. I made avant-garde tape recordings, thinking I was Vangelis recording Beaubourg. That was the only electronic instrument I had until I turned 16, when my grandmother bought me an organ.

The Casio VL-Tone in this video is the very same one from my childhood. I dug it up last night to see if it still works. Yes it does. I plugged it into my mixer, added some effects, and was surprised at how good it sounded. So tonight I recorded this.

The only two instruments are the Roland Juno 60 providing the arpeggio and the Casio VL-Tone providing the lead. I've got some Lexicon and Valhalla effects to fill out the sound and add some texture.

I doubt I will use the VL-Tone again for a recording like this, but it was fun to do this time."

Casio Tone VL-5 with Casio MS-1 Bar Code Scanner

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated. VL5.mov

Uploaded on May 7, 2010 Richard Payne·26 videos
Video was linked in the auction below for demo purposes.

via this auction

"Casio VL-Tone Super Rare Mini Electronic Musical Instrument VL-5. Condition: Excellent working condition. Battery cover is included with some minor blemishes as seen in the pictures. The LCD has slight burning. This is an ultra rare VL Tone. Includes the equally rare Casio MS-1 Bar Code Scanner. This quite rare keyboard was the polyphonic successor of the famous Casio VL-Tone 1. It has 10 simple preset sounds. The rhythms are more complex to select than the VL-Tone 1. By an optical barcode reader pen (Casio MS-1) songs can be scanned from special barcode song books into the internal sequencer memory. The sequencer is monophonic, and you can manually play to it..."

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Concertmate-200 Keyboard Synthesizer - Casio VL-1

via this auction

"This nice Realistic C-200 Keyboard is actually a Casio VL-Tone 1 clone specifically built for Radio Shack stores!

The Concertmate-200 is a monophonic VL-Tone 1 (VL-1) synthesizer with built-in calculator. The "M+" calculator memory also stores the timbre, ADSR, vibrato and tremolo setting for the synthesizer, and the short 29 buttons mini- keyboard could be transposed by a switch to low, mid and high pitch range. (In Germany the VL-1 became very famous by the pop group Trio's song "Da Da Da", which features the "rock" rhythm and piano sound of this tiny white keyboard.) The VL-1 was the first genuine "Volks- Synthesizer" and came out even earlier than the well known Yamaha DX-7. It was first released as the Casio VL-Tone 1, and later as the Realistic Concertmate-200.

Overview

29 Button Micro-Keys
Monophonic Main Voice
5 Preset Sounds : piano, fantasy, violin, flute, guitar (selected by slide switch with a small delay)
10 Analog Rhythms : march, waltz, 4-beat, swing, rock-1, rock-2, bossa-nova, samba, rhumba, beguine
24 Preset Patterns (8 Drum Rhythms / 8 Accompaniments / 8 Funny Arrangements)
Volume Slider Control
Tempo Slider Control
3 Octave Transpose Switch
Full-Function Built-in Calculator
ADSR synthesizer (uses calculator memory as sound parameter register)
LCD (displays calculator stuff and e.g. note values)
Demo Button (plays German folk song)
Tuning Trimmer (located case bottom)
Simple Sequencer (100 Notes, Editor Insert & Delete with Battery Backed-Up)
2 "One Key Play" Buttons (play and change note duration)
Built-in Amp-Speaker System
Jacks for AC Adapter & Line/Headphone Out
Operates on Batteries or Optional (not included) AC Adapter

Special Note

The Realistic C-200 Portable Electronic Keyboard is part of the Casio VL-Tone 1 synthesis series.

The C-200 is a monophonic sound generator based on multi-pulse square-wave tones with different digital envelopes. The digital envelopes with audible zipper noise are linear, and the analog rhythms consist of 3 (high, low, snare) sounds made from square-wave and shift register noise.

The C-200 Synthesizer has a fun variety of fantastic voice tones to modify and drum rhythms to play to."

Game Boy + VL-Tone + Modular

Game Boy + VL-Tone + Modular from Icebreaker Audio on Vimeo.

A mid-mourning experiment, connecting a Nintendo Game Boy (running Nanoloop) and a Casio VL-Tone to an analogue modular system. Digital+Analogue Joy.

The recording is 100% live, with some basic mastering.

Playing around to get some ideas for the Save Icebreaker Audio Campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-icebreaker-audio

Full technical spec:
Recorded and Mastered in Sonar via Audio Kontrol 1
Game Boy bought at Berlin flea market running Nanoloop
Game Boy stereo signal split and routed into Diode Filter+Waveshaper, and a Spring Reverb.
Casio VL-Tone mixed into the VCA, VCF, and external input of the A-111-5 (Dark Energy Module)

CASIO VL-TONE w/ Original Box & Materials

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"1980 CASIO VL-Tone Hand Held Synthesizer & Calculator Musical Instrument

Amazing Condition, Appears Seldom Used (if at all) ~ Super Clean!

Offer Includes: Casio VL-Tone Instrument, Operation Manual, Melody Booklet, Vinyl Protective Case and Original Box. Added BONUS ~ Hard-to-Find Original CASIO VL-TONE Song Book

NO Cord

FULLY FUNCTIONAL ~ Super Fun"

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Casio VL-TONE VL-5 with Rhythm & Bar Code Reader, Original Box & Extras

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Up for sale a very rare and still boxed Casio VL-Tone VL-5 polyphonic mini keyboard with blip rhythm & barcode reader
You are unlikely to see another one of these in "as new" condition in Australia for quite a while.
All original parts are included:
- Casio VL-Tone VL-5 Keyboard (tested and working)
- MS1 barcode reader (tested and working)
- instruction manual
- bar code score book with 10 tunes ready to scan or play
- soft case (still in unopened wrapper)
- guarantee papers and other notices
- original box with polystyrene supports

All in excellent condition (some folding marks on paper booklets, but that's it!) and it WORKS PERFECTLY!

Main Features:

-37 button keys
-built-in small speaker (thin sounding, mounted in a resonance pot)
-polyphony 4 notes (2 notes during sequencer playback)
-10 preset sounds {flute, bagpipe, clarinet, violin, trumpet, pipe organ, harpsichord, piano, pretty, funny}
-"tone memory" 4 step switch to assign 4 of the preset sounds for quick access
-8 preset rhythms {waltz, march, rock, swing, samba, rhumba, slow rock, metronome}
-sustain button
-volume and "rhythm/ melody balance" sliders
tempo slider
-LCD (displays numbers of preset sound & rhythm and sequencer note numbers)
-semi- analogue sound generator. The digital envelopes (with audible zipper noise) are linear
-percussion consist of shift register noise for snare/ hihat and for the drums squarewave blips those have 3 pitches and 2 lengths. One sound is a long blip layered with noise. All percussion employ digital decay envelopes.
-complex multi- chip hardware:
CPU1= "NEC D910G 011, K2106K" (80 pin SMD),
CPU2= "HD43191A07, 2A 25" (80 pin SMD),
SRAM?= "NEC A19046-140, D444C, Japan" (20 pin DIL), 2x IC "LB1100, 1M3" (20 pin DIL), IC "LB1100, 1M4" (20 pin DIL)
-simple monophonic sequencer (240 notes, editor (insert & delete, rhythm start point), "one key play" to change note duration)
-jacks for AC- adapter, headphone, line out & barcode pen"

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Rare Casio VL-10 Keyboard Synthesizer VL-Tone

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"The smallest keyboard instrument ever made! 29 keys (buttons), 3 different sounds, and 10 drum rhythms. Plus, it's a calculator!

The Casio VL-10 VL-Tone synthesizer is one of those bizarre frankensynths of the 80′s, part calculator, part synthesizer, part drum machine. This keyboard is one of the smallest if not the smallest fully working synthesizers every created.

This particular unit is in perfect working condition. There is a little dent in the metal on the underside, but otherwise it's in great shape. (Yes, metal. Not plastic like the VL-1.)

There is an excellent video of the VL-10 here:


Uploaded on Feb 18, 2010 happyprometheus·16 videos
"A smaller version of the famous Casio Tone VL-1 sythesizer. Produced in 1980s"

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Retro-Toys: Casio VL-Tone VL-1

YouTube Uploaded by retrosound72 on Apr 20, 2011

"retro toy keyboard demo by RetroSound

Casio VL-Tone VL-1

The VL-Tone from the year 1980 combined a calculator, synthesizer and a sequencer. price: 150 $
the sound based of filtered squarewaves with varied pulse-widths include a simple programmable synthesizer and ADSR envelope settings.

more info:
www.retrosound.de"

REALISTIC Concertmate 200 - Rebranded Casio VL1 VL-Tone

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

"Genuine NEW REALISTIC Concertmate 200 Portable Electronic Mini Keyboard Synthesizer (clone of the Casio VL-Tone VL-1 rebranded for sale in Radio Shack stores) which comes in the factory box with the protective case (but no manual) as pictured in the actual photos. Radio Shack licensed and re-branded the CASIO VL-Tone with its proprietary name under the REALISTIC brand. This mini synthesizer is best known for its use in Trio’s song “Da Da Da”, which uses the “Rock 1” preset for its rhythm track. How is it new, you ask? Because it simply sat around in my storage for years without being taken out for use. I took it out to test it prior to listing though, to make sure it powers on and works. There is not a scratch or crack on it anywhere. It combines a calculator, synthesizer and sequencer. Released around 1980, the VL-1 originally sold for about $150. Specifications: Polyphony – Monophonic; Oscillators - 1 VCO; LFO - Vibrato, Tremolo; Arpeg/Seq - Sequencer: 100 notes, 1 pattern. Rhythm Machine: March, Waltz, Swing, Rock, Samba, Beguine, Bossa Nova; Keyboard - 29 tiny keys (with 3-position octave switch); Memory - 1 user patch, 5 preset sounds, 10 built-in rhythm patterns. Works on 4 AA batteries (or an optional AC Adapter)..."

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【DEMO】YAMAHA Dream Synthesizer

Published on Apr 15, 2014 musictrackjp·238 videos

Yamaha KX49, AN1x, FS1r and Motif XS Rack layered.

"We propose this synthesizer structured by AWM2(Sampling),AN（Virtual Analog) and FM/FS Synthesis System by YAMAHA.

It will be Great, isn't it ?

DEMO by Katsunori UJIIE.
Facebook: Like me please!
https://www.facebook.com/musictrack.jp"

The Yamaha EX5 and EX5r rack came close only missing the Formant component of the FS1R.

"AWM is Yamaha's original system for effectively using sampled waveforms in synthesizers and tone generators. The strength of AWM synthesis lies not only in its extraordinary ability to "shape" and control the sound of the samples with a comprehensive system of envelope generators, filters, key scaling parameters, modulation, and more. AWM voices can have from 1 to 4 AWM elements. Each AWM element can use a preset wave or a sampled waveform. The ability to combine AWM elements means that you can, for example, combine separate samples for the attack and sustain portions of an instrument's sound, with independent control over each.

Yamaha AN Synthesis (Analog Physical Modeling) offers all the benefits of traditional analog synthesis with the stability, reproducability, and precise control of digital technology. It is capable of accurately reproducing the sound of classic analog synthesizers without patch cables, setting charts, or the frustrating instability that was the bane of the analog age. A standard (Poly) AN voice can have 1 AN element and from 1 to 3 AWM elements. Classic analog synth type sounds can be created with the single AN element alone. AWM elements can be added as necessary to "modernize" the sound.

FDSP adds a sophisticated note-dependent effect processor to the basic AWM synthesis system. In contrast to a stand effect stage, the FDSP synthesis stage uses individual note and velocity data to control effect parameters, thus making it possible to simulate the characteristics of a number of real-world musical components, as well as produce totally new effects. FDSP can produce totally new sounds that are responsive and "alive". FDSP voices have from 1 to 4 AWM elements with an FDSP stage between the elements and the main effect stage. The FDSP stage can be applied to any or all of the AWM elements used, as required.

Yamaha's Virtual Acoustic ("VL") Synthesis tone generation system applies sophisticated computer based "physical modeling" technology to musical sound synthesis, accurately simulating the very complex vibrations, resonances, reflections and other acoustic phenomena that occur in a real wind or string instrument. VL voices can have 1 VL element and from 1 to 3 AWM elements. The VL element can be used alone to emphasize the full realism and expressive power of the VL tone generator, or with added AWM elements for thicker textures.

The EX5 allows the AN and FDSP tone generator systems to be combined in "AN + FDSP" voices which can have 1 AN element and from 1 to 3 FDSP elements. The FDSP stage can be applied to any or all of the AWM elements used, as required."

The EX5 also features sophisticated sampling capability. Samples can be used in AWM voice elements or mapped to and played via individual keys of the keyboard using the Key Map mode. It is also possible to sample internal sounds created in the EX5. The Sample mode has all the features you'd expect from a professional sampler and is compatible with WAV, AIFF and AKAI formats. Sampled waveforms can be saved to floppy disk or to an external storage device via the optional ASIB1 SCSI Interface.

The features don't stop there. Six Controller Knobs can be assigned to a wide range of parameters for extraordinary real-time control capability along with the Pitch wheel, two Mod wheels, assignable Ribbon Controller and Scene memory buttons. Two types of full featured built-in Sequencers are on-board. A 16-Track Song Sequencer has real-time play effects and "groove" quantization. An 8-Track Pattern Sequencer has most of the functions and features of the 16-track song sequencer, but is more suited to the production of drum tracks, dance grooves, or other frequently used phrases. There's also a great 4-track Arpeggiator with 50 preset and user patterns.

Top-quality digital effects processors of two types are onboard. The "System" effects includes two separate effect units: Reverb and Chorus. Independent reverb and chorus settings can be made for each voice in the Voice mode, and for each performance setup in the Performance mode. Two "Insertion" effects provide up to 79 additional effects like chorus, distortion and overdrive, amp simulation, auto wah, equalization, delay, reverb, and other effects.

Use the 16-part Performance mode to create elaborate sequences, layer sounds and so on. Different parts can be assigned to different areas of the keyboard, there are up to 16 zones. The EX Key Map mode allows you to assign individual samples, patterns, or pattern tracks to different keys of the keyboard. These can then be played or triggered from the keyboard or an external sequencer or other MIDI controller. Every knob and controller on the keyboard sends and receives MIDI data in real-time."

REALISTIC CONCERTMATE 200 ELECTRONIC SYNTHESIZER KEYBOARD CALCULATOR

Is that a Casio VL-tone? - music by ThePollyRhythmz!

Uploaded on Mar 8, 2010 The PollyRhythmz!

"Is that a Casio VL-tone? - music by ThePollyRhythmz!"

SN 8225953 via this auction

Some one grab this one before I do. I was tempted but I already have a Casio VL-Tone. This is the Realistic branded version.

Note the video above is from 2010 and not the one listed for sale.

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Casio VL-Tone Makes Greg Curvey Feel Like A Kid Again

YouTube via gearwire
"Nowadays, the Casio VL-Tone may be desired more for its kitsch value than anything else, but as Greg Curvey from Luck of Eden Hall tells us, this little guy offered some practical performance options when it first made the scene. It also cannot be denied that the VL-Tone sounds like nothing else -- especially those wicked fat beats.
See more on Gearwire.com."

Circuit Bent Excel-O-Tone Casio Addition Edition by freeform delusion

Published on Apr 26, 2015 freeform delusion

"EXCEL-O-TONE Casio Addition Edition by freeform delusion

I modified this cheap VL Tone clone with some nice bends and I've added a Casio calculator to make it even more like the VL Tone! This is very nice!"

freeform-delusion on eBay

Casio VL-Tone

via this auction

"Comes With Original Box/Manuals

The Casio VL-Tone was produced in 1981 and this is the VL-1 first model. It is a electronic musical instrument that Casio developed combining the calculator with the LCD display and a keyboard with Synth.

The VL-1 features a LCD display capable of displaying 8 characters. It is primarily used for the calculator function, but also displays notes played. As well as this, it also has changeable tone and balance, basic tempo settings and a real-time monophonic music sequencer, which can play back up to 99 notes. There are also 10 preloaded rhythms, which included waltz, samba, swing, bossa nova, march, 4-beat, rock 1,rock 2, rhumba and beguine and one programmable sound, named ADSR."

1982 Casio VL-Tone VL-5

via this auction

click the image for lager shots. Not the best, but you don't see these often. Not many details: "Casio VL-Tone, model VL-5 electronic keyboard synthesizer with the Casio MS-1 bar code reader and the case."

Anyone know more about these? Open ended on purpose of course. Whatever you know, feel free to share.

Update via sizone in the comments: "I have one of those. I got it because it was cheaper than a vl-1. It's basically a 5 (maybe 4) note polyphonic vl-1. The presets and rhythms are slightly different. Absent are the calculator and programable voice features. Present is a 1/4'' output jack. IMHO it sounds a bit better than it's predecessor and unlike the vl-1 it doesn't go out of tune. The barcode reader can be used to input preprinted songs into the playback memory, a feature I'm sure you will find utterly useless. It's a good instrument for playing Kraftwerk covers with."

Update via BirdFLU in the comments: "I was disappointed to find out you CAN NOT use the barcode reader to scan any barcode. I dreamed of using it to scan cereal boxes or soup cans to see what hidden melodies they might have, but it wasn't to be."

Red Casio PT-82 w/ Original Box

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via this auction

"This keyboard from 1986 has many similarities with the Casio , but includes a "melody guide" key lighting feature for music teaching (not the keys itself light up but a row of small LEDs above them) and a ROM- Pack music cartridge slot. Unfortunately this instrument is missing the great built-in synthesizer, sequencer and 3 octave switch of the VL-Tone.
Although the music playback from the ROM- Pack includes wonderful polyphonic accompaniments, the player can play own musics only monophonic with thin and dull sounding blip rhythms. A bit unusual is that this white keyboard has brightly coloured orange and red buttons and red lines while Casio normally preferred pastel colours. Also a red case version of the PT-82 was made. In 1987 it was re-released in grey as .

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Casio VL-1 (1979) / Ambient - Drone Version

Published on Jan 10, 2019 Fahmi M.

"Ambient / drone sound experiment used only Casio VL-1 (1979, first commercial digital synthesizer) as sound source.
.
The VL-1 was the first instrument of Casio's VL-Tone product line, and is sometimes referred to as the VL-Tone. It combined a calculator, a monophonic synthesizer, and sequencer."

You might be wondering how he got the VL-1 to sound like this. The answer is reverb & "PaulStretch", and "extreme sound stretching algorithm" from Paul Nasca aka Nasca Octavian.

"This algorithm is designed to stretch the sound by a very large amount while preserving the subjective quality. For example using this algorithm it is possible to stretch 5 minutes of sound to 1 hour. The best results are on orchestral/choir audio inputs."

Casio VL-1 Processed to Modular Patch

Published on Apr 20, 2019 Fahmi M.

"Improv session / live jam used custom sound of VL-1 with VCV Rack.

Info:
The VL-1 was the first instrument of Casio's VL-Tone product line, and is sometimes referred to as the VL-Tone. It combined a calculator, a monophonic synthesizer, and sequencer. Released in June 1979, it was the first commercial digital synthesizer.

It has 29 calculator-button keys (G to B), a three-position octave switch, one programmable and five preset sounds, ten built-in rhythm patterns, an eight-character LCD, a 100-note sequencer, and a multi-function calculator mode. The VL-1 is notable for its kitsch value among electronic musicians due to its cheap construction and its unrealistic, uniquely low-fidelity sounds.

Its sounds were mostly composed of filtered squarewaves with varied pulse-widths. Its piano, violin, flute and guitar timbres were nearly unrecognizable abstractions of real instruments. It also featured a "fantasy" voice, and a programmable synthesizer which provided for choice of both oscillator waveform and ADSR envelope. It had a range of two and a half octaves. (Wikipedia)

VCV Rack now lets you run an entire simulated Eurorack on your computer – or interface with hardware modular. And you can get started without spending a cent, with add-on modules available by the day for free or inexpensively. Ted Pallas has been working with VCV since the beginning, and gives us a complete hands-on guide.

There’s always a reason people fall in love with modular music set-ups. For some, it’s having a consistent, tactile interface. For others, it’s about the way open-ended architectures let the user, rather than a manufacturer, determine the system’s limits. For me, the main attraction to modulars is access to tools that can run free from a rigid musical timeline, but still play a sequence. It means they let me dial in interesting poly-rhythmic parts without stress. (CDM)

More sounds:
ideologikal.bandcamp.com"

Circuit bent Casio VL tone 12 Bends

YouTube via circitfied
"This is my latest creation.

It is a Casio VL tone with 12 circuit bends. All are on toggle switches and potentiometers.

There are two pots on the circuit board that have been removed so that they can be controlled externally, these fine tune the pitch or tone.

all of the extra circuitry is mounted on plastic mini trunking as its well cheap and doesn't look that bad, i think it looks better than taking out the speaker.

also mounted a 1/4" socket on the side so it can be plugged into recording desks more easily without the use of noisy adaptors. this creates enough noise already."