A song I made using a Casio HT 700 - "Pearl Drops": Stereo Ninja Music

[@throwachair]

lovely, old tech, fresh sounds.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks. The Casio HT-700 is a wonderful little synthesiser.

[@GrocerGames]

Awesome track. I used to have a HT-700 but upgraded to a HT-6000. Great synth but there was something special about the HT-700 that makes me regret ever selling it.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

+tgnetz Thank you for the comment. I really appreciate it :D. What do you think about the HT-6000?

[@GrocerGames]

I think it is underrated. I have created a variety of sounds that I have not been able to get out of older analog synths and newer digital or analog modeling synths. Even other synths from that era like the FM or PD synths just can't seem to create the sounds the HT does. Generally I have used it for accentuating pieces. While I may use other keyboards for the lead or bass, I like to try to create a full palette of sound and the HT-6000 fills the gaps nicely. I also find it strange how it has some stupid PCM rhythms and programming. I never quite got the hang of sequencing on those old synths. But, I do greatly miss the HT-700. I think it was quicker to get some nice sounds out of it and while the HT-6000 has a lot to offer the HT-700 had some really nice textures that I have yet to duplicate.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

+tgnetz Hi. Sounds like the HT-6000 is a very good synth. I do agree with the fact that HT line of synths were underrated. I've heard that some musicians saw the HT line of keyboards as toy or department store keyboards because of their mini keys and built in speakers. I've made many songs with my HT-700 and I found that the sounds that you can create with it suits any genre. I've also heard many demos of the HT-6000 and I found them quite impressive. I don't generally use the built in drum sequencer for the rhythm. Instead I just recorded or "sampled" the individual drum sounds from the keyboard and loaded them into a sampler as I found it easier to sequence and a bit more flexible. Good luck with your musical compositions and have a happy holiday :D.

[@CasioChaosTheory]

@tgnetz - I came to the same conclusion regarding the HT700 and HT6000. Even though the HT6000 has many more features and is considerably more powerful, somehow the HT700 sounds "sweeter" and more analogue-like. They both use Casio's "Spectrum Dynamics" synthesis, with the HT6000 having 4 oscillators ("Lines" in Casio speak) compared with the HT700's single oscillator, plus the HT6000 is true polyphonic with its filters whereas the HT700 is paraphonic having only a single filter for the main voice. The 6000 also has ring modulation and velocity sensitive keys, the only HT model to have these features. One day I plan on programming the same patch into my 700 and 6000, and ensure that all extra features of the 6000 are switched off so that the 6000 only uses the same parameters that the 700 does. Then I will A/ B them to see if they really do sound different. Regardless, all HT's are hidden quirky gems and well worth having if you find one for a good price.

[@GrocerGames]

@@CasioChaosTheory Funny. I just came across this comment and I was literally looking at the 700 on eBay and debating getting it or trying something new, like the new Yamaha PSS or some oddball synth. Looking back at my songs, I think the 6000 does have great sounds but maybe since it is more complex, it is easier to get quick and unique sounds out of its little brother. My current setup was the CZ-1 for some bass and rhythm, the 1000 P to have some nice rounded organ sounds or to start off with it's arpeggiator, and the HT-6000 for some added sound. Plus I use it as a MIDI controller for some of my other synths.

[@bestrickie2]

Hey these are stunning Casios and you have composed a great piece of music so well done. I have a few keyboards such as the stunning Tyros 5.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

+bestrickie2 Hi. Thanks for the feedback :). I had a go on a Yamaha Tyros several years back in a music shop. It was quite a nice keyboard and I have seen some impressive videos on KZbin showing what can be done on it. I've made a playlist on my channel showing all the songs I've made with the Casio HT-700 titled "Casio HT-700 - Songs I've made" if you are interested in listening to them. Thanks for commenting :D

[@betex_]

Very nice!

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks

[@templarseries]

Cool track: so much extracted from that instrument. Superb

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

+templarseries Thanks :)

[@bloodyhell302]

I really love both of Casio's HT and CZ line and I wished they had come up with a more versatile HT/CZ hybrid with actual LFO modulation of the VCF (and wave phases). I'm on hard times now and have to pick which of my treasures to sell. I think I rather hang on to my HT700 and 6000 and rid of my Seiko synth instead.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

+Patrick Faulkner I remember having a go on a Casio CZ 1000 several years ago. I don't have it any more as it was lent to me by my music teacher. It was the first synth I ever played on. Unfortunately I didn't know that much about synthesisers back then so I couldn't hear the synths full potential :(. I think the reason why the HT-700's VCF cannot be modulated by the LFO is because the keyboard's LFO is digital, where as the VCF is analog. It could have been possible for Casio to include a high quality Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) to produce a smooth analog waveform from the LFO, but I suspect that it would have increased the price of the keyboard dramatically. I do think that the Casio HT-700 is capable of modulating the phase of it's waveforms. I remember playing around with a phase plugin and managed to replicate waveform 09 on the HT-700 by quickly changing the phase of the HT-700's square wave. Thanks for commenting :)

[@bloodyhell302]

Stereo Ninja Music Oh, I was referring to the CZ regarding the LFO modulation of wave phases, but as for the HT series, man would that have been an amazing synth, had they implemented the capability of programming your own SD waves. The SD waves appear (to me at least) to be kind of an additive pulse matrix mashup where individual harmonic parts are blended together similar to the Seiko DS synths. By the way I really like what you do with those cheapo beasts of yours. Keep up the good work!

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

+Patrick Faulkner Thanks :)

[@nolan_shaga]

killer tune man

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks

[@MarioSteFx]

Cool :) I like the pad, and acid sound, noise fx are superb too.. Wonderfull :)

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

+stefan3141592 Thank you. I've made more tracks with this synth which I have put in a playlist titled "Casio HT-700 songs I've made" if you are interested. You can find it on my channel under the "Playlist" section. Thanks for commenting :D

[@oddioblinker]

Man this sounds cool

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks

[@blurchy]

Nice one great keyboards these.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks. Yes I agree. The Casio HT-700 is a really underrated synth :)

[@yerzmyeychiptune]

Casio-core rulez big time. ;) Good work.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks :D

[@CasioChaosTheory]

Great track showcasing what the little HT700 is capable of! I'm assuming that you did all the filter sweeping manually and in real time during recording? I love my HT's, but do wish that they had CC and SYSEX capability.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Hello. Thanks for the feedback. It's much appreciated, and you were right in that I did controll the filter sweep manually. I agree that it would be nice if the keyboard had sysex and MIDI CC as it would save alot of time writing down the parameters manually. I suspect that the lack of sysex and CC was due to to the MIDI standard being relatively new the time the keyboard was released.

[@molowytch]

awesome song!!!... good times of Giorgio Moroder!!!...

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks for the comment :)

[@quetzalnonamida355]

Hi I need help please to save my sounds, in the internal memory.

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Press the blue *Mode* button and then rotate the *Tempo/Entry* dial untill the number on the display reads 90. Press the blue *Data* button, the internal led should turn on and the display should read 1, then press the voice button that you want to save it to. The display should now go back to displaying the bpm for the auto accompaniment. Hope this helps

[@DBRNMUSIC]

My ht700 is broken due to a failure with the power supply. Good to see this work. Indeed i do not recognize all the sounds. Do you have the extension/ ram card?

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thanks for the feedback. I don't own a RAM Card for this synth so I keep the keyboard connected to a power supply so that it keeps the custom voices. I write down the ones I like in a spreadsheet.

[@TracknJoy]

Not bad, It's just remind the track of water level in Donkey Kong Country on Super Nes

[@StereoNinjaMusic]

Thank you for your comment. I haven't played Donkey Kong Country, so I don't know what it's music sounds like. I will have check it out someday. 🙂