Casio is in the process of upgrading their popular CTK line of portable keyboards to the new CT-X line. CT-X models feature Casio's brand new AiX sound source technology for exceptional sound quality, along with Digital Signal Processor (DSP) effects to combine algorithms for the ultimate performance in each instrument sound.
These keyboards also have a registration function that allows users to save different keyboard setups, including tones and rhythms, so they can switch setups without needing to re-configure their settings every time.
Because these keyboards are new to the market as of 2018, and include the advanced features, functions, and connectivity that are most in demand, they aren't yet easy to find.
Is the Casio CT-X really a substantial improvement over the CTK line? And how does the CT-X700 stack up?
Let’s find out!Quick Overview of the Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard
The Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard is simply loaded with features. It has 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys, 600 built-in instrument tones, 195 built-in rhythms, 100 types of arpeggio, 310 music presets, and an onboard library of 160 songs. It also gives players the ability to add their own songs and rhythms, create their own presets, and record and playback their own performances.
An ample array of audio in- and out-puts, along with MIDI standard and USB connectivity, open up a world of accessories, apps, and computer capabilities to go along with this keyboard. It has all the stats and features that beginning and intermediate keyboard players are looking for, in a compact and portable package.
Even better, the AiX sound engine produces fantastic instrument voices with excellent memory handling, with better audio performance and higher quality sound samples than almost any keyboard in this price range. The new Casio CTX line is designed to meet the needs and wants of today's piano students and aspiring musicians, and the CTX700 is an excellent example.Summary of the Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard's Features and Specs
Keys
61 full-size keys
Built-in
Polyphony
48 max levels of polyphony
Functions
Power
Can be powered with AC cord or 6AA batteries
Touch Sensitive Keys
3 levels of touch sensitivity, or turn touch sensitivity off
Presets
Songs
Jacks and Ports
Who is the Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard Most Suitable For?
The Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard is an excellent choice for a committed beginner. It has onboard learning and lesson capabilities, and keyboard functions to make it easy to learn the piano, and can also be used with a wide range of piano education apps. The sheer number of features, and the need to refer to the manual to configure many of the options and settings, make it a less suitable choice for young children, or people who just want to mess around with a keyboard.
The Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard is particularly good for committed beginners because these capabilities, features, and customization options are rich enough to continue to engage intermediate and even advanced keyboard players. It has the musical capacity to remain a valuable instrument for years of learning, rather than being a keyboard that a beginner will quickly “graduate” from.
It's also a great choice for more advanced keyboard players who need a more lightweight, portable instrument. The ability to customize settings, songs, and rhythms, and quickly store and retrieve presets, along with audio output capabilities, make this a good choice for small gigs and rehearsals, composing or experimenting on the road, or even from the couch.What’s Included with the Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard?
The Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard comes with the necessary power supply.
Overview of the Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard's Features
Design
It has 61 full size, touch-sensitive keys that help players learn the hand positions necessary to play on a full-size 88 key or acoustic piano keyboard. Touch sensitivity reacts to the speed and pressure as you play, increasing the volume accordingly. These keys aren't weighted, however, so the fingers won't develop the same strength or technique necessary to transition smoothly to an acoustic piano.
Keyboard layer functions
Keyboard layer functions allow you to play two instrument tones simultaneously with each key, while keyboard split functions allow you to play two different instrument voices with each hand.
With all these options and settings, it can be a bit frustrating to need to frequently refer to the manual to explore and experiment with different options, but the ability to choose from one-touch presets, and store your own settings into registration memory will ease that process and make it faster over time.
Education
The Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard has a number of features to help beginners learn to play the piano. The Casio Step-up lesson system teaches songs phrase-by-phrase, chord-by-chord, or hand-by-hand, at your own pace, depending on how you prefer to practice.
Sound
The AiX sound engine and DSP processing provides excellent instrument tones and voices not just in the piano instruments, but enhances the sound of strings, brass, wind instruments, and even effects, for excellent sound quality and appealing tones across all the capabilities of the keyboard.
Functions
The Casio CTX700 61-Key Portable Keyboard has a rich library of instrument voices, built-in rhythms, music and accompaniment styles. It also has a broad range of reverb, chorus, harmony, and other effects for customizing the instrument sound.
Features
GM level 1 MIDI format and USB capacity are a great advantage in this keyboard. It allows you to pair the keyboard with tablets and devices, augmenting your ability to learn, record, mix, and share music online.
The ability to add and store your own custom rhythms and songs, and record and playback your own songs on the keyboard, help with both learning and with performance.Pros & Cons of the Casio CTX700 61-Key
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An Alternative Product to Consider
From the similarity between the devices, one might suspect that the Casio CTX line is aimed to compete with the popular Yamaha PSR line of keyboards. The Casio CT-X700 is extremely similar to the Yamaha PSR-E363. Both keyboards have:
The Yamaha PSR-E363 has a few advantages over the Casio CT-X700:
And the Casio CT-X700 has some clear advantages over the Yamaha PSR-E363:
However, the Casio CT-X700 simply has more capacity than the Yamaha PSR-E363:
While the Yamaha AWM sound engine is very good for a beginner piano, there is no doubt that the Casio AiX sound engine is an improvement. Ultimately, the Casio CT-X700 simply sounds better than the Yamaha, and has more features, for the same price.
While it is still hard to find, it may also be worth looking at a Casio CT-X800. It has all the features of the CT-X700, along with a little more memory, improved two-way USB connectivity, and a pitch bend wheel for just a slightly higher purchase price.Conclusion
Casio's CTX line is precisely aimed at the features, functions, and capabilities that beginner and intermediate musicians are looking for in a portable keyboard. The Casio CTX700 has the great sound, robust construction, rich feature set, and expansion capabilities to be the only keyboard you need for years to come.
It also has the advanced digital features that acoustic pianos don't have, including a wide selection of tones, rhythms, polyphony, and even simple volume controls to make it easy to live with. Recording and playback, transpose, and split keyboard functions offer a range of possibilities and capabilities that invite learning and exploration, as well as affording unique opportunities for growth and expression.
Most keyboards offer a fraction of the features at more than double the cost. This powerful, versatile, handsome digital console keyboard simply cannot be beat in its price range, and is a fantastic choice for piano lovers everywhere.