Casio MT 540/CT460

The MT540 is a mini-keyed stereo "tone bank" 4 octave keyboard which judging by its heritage uses PCM [Pulse Code Modulation] sound sources.

The manual indicates that it suffices also for the CT460.

SOUNDS

There are 16 preset sounds which can be layered (used in combination),leading to the idea of "210" sound presets.There are also percussion and bass presets and two sound effect presets which duplicate the sounds on the "sound effect" push buttons,which also act as MIDI parameter buttons when in that mode.

The effects can be faded in and out and held as a background to playing another sound.

RHYTHMS

There are 20 rhythms covering the major requirements.The drum sounds are not brilliant although there are approximately 50 of them which can be used either from the keyboard or via MIDI.

The 540 responds to the first 4 MIDI channels and therefore is incompatible with those keyboards sending data on either Ch10 or 16,but what it does do have the capacity to make Ch4 the timing clock channel,so this will synchronise the rhythms to any clock source.

Since the drums on any channel are rendered by a program change – in theory all 4 channels can be given over to drum sounds.

It’s own rhythm machine has synchro start and fill-ins and endings. The chord modes of which there are 2 are well-programmed and clear and though somewhat "tin-pot orchestra" are viable. Chord mode 1 auto-vamps the chords and 2 allows the player to vamp them manually

MEMORY

The 540 sports a memory for recording a song – this will include the rhythm when not in any of the chord modes – but the rhythm is lost in favour of the lower chord sound if any of them are selected.The memory is not active when MIDI is selected.

The manual says that there are 1250 notes recorded and this includes any preset changes or operations of the other buttons which count as half notes.

There is one demo tune on board

MIDI

There is MIDI in and out but not thru. Only 4 channels are available (1,2,3,4) which 4 being selectable as the external clock source to synchronise the rhythm. Sustain is responded to and program change,but not pitch bend or modulation.

The overall volume is mixed via sliders with the sound effects and lower chord tones/rhythm meaning you can make your own mix before the sound reaches the output via the 3.5 stereo jack.

Power source is via –centre power jack or batteries.

Good points: Overall the 540 is a nice little machine,considering you get MIDI control over a percussion source and 4 channel response is quite amazing for such a small unit. The overall sound is crisp and clear and fulfills CASIO’s usual standard of production. The sound bank concept is perhaps overplayed in terms of presets – I would rather have 210 separate sounds,though picking the same sound twice means you can get simple chorus effects. The stereo field is not overly used – but better use of it is made here than some Yamaha units. The bell sound especially bounces from left to right in continued echoes. When any of the sound effects are chosen as a preset,many of them are presented up and down the keyboard meaning you can play more than one at once,using sound bank means two play on one key-wierd.

Niggles: The sound is a bit "tin pot" as with all this range by today’s standards,but nigh on all the presets are viable,the drum sounds are perhaps a weak point.being locked to 4 MIDI channels is a hindrance,but the overall make-up of the facility means there is usually some way to get it to sound with any controller. Pitch bend is missed under MIDI control,but overall there is nothing so bad that you’d wish to complain.