What is this synth...

[Dniss]

I was watching Roger Waters show The Wall in Berlin and I saw this guy playing a keyboard that you hold like a guitar. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

It has a strap you put around your neck and you walk around playing with your right hand. It's basically some kind of portable keyboard. I noticed the name Casio on it.

I've tried finding something like it all day over the net, either midi controller or the Casio one; googled this thing left and right without any luck.

Can anyone provide me with a link, or brand and model number?

Much obliged,
Dniss

[krazy78]

Roland has made something like that, there is one in the 2002 product cataloge.
ROLAND AX-7 midi keyboard controller .

[tritex4]

It's the Casio AZ-1, played by Thomas Dolby in the video.

[Dniss]

Ahhhhhhhh thanks a bunch guys!

Man those are all old synth though.

So it's called a performance keyboard. Good to know. There must be some kind of replacement these days. I haven't located any but those info should be alot of help.

[tritex4]

"The AZ-1 is a 41-note velocity and aftertouch sensitive performance remote keyboard MIDI controller".
You can find it "used" from time to time on Ebay.
Casio may not have a replacement, but there are other companies that sell their own versions of it.

[Dniss]

May I ask you which company? All the ones I've looked up are not mfg those anymore.

Tx

[Kontrol49]

Roland were the only real active company that still made "Keytar" controllors,the most recent as someone has already mentioned is the AX7,but this is now out of production.There's never really been a mass interest in them,except maybe in the 80s when they were more fashionable

Your best bet is to try Ebay,they do come up now and then,but there Quite rare,along with some of the older models that were availible.

I have the AX-1 model which I've had from new in 1994 the AX-1 came in Either Red or Black,I don't think they were sold in vast numbers so hence why the secondhand market is not over flowing with them and Most owners (Myself included) would never sell them.,even though they maybe don't use them an awful lot.They don't actually contain any sounds they're just Midi controllors.

There have been many models over the years but you'll find the AX-1 or the AX-7 are the more commonly sold on ebay(If they do come up)

There are some other models which are a lot older,but may come up on ebay sometime but not so often,usually you'll find the Yamaha KX5 now and again.


ROLAND AX-1 (1992-Came as Red or black models)



ROLAND AXIS (Mid 80s)Predecessor of the AX-1


KORG RK100(MEGA RARE)



YAMAHA KX-5 This is a custom model used by Jean Michel Jarre(Mid 80s)


LYNC LN4 UBER RARE Only used by Jan Hammer AFAIK(Mid 80s)



Roland AX7 (most recent made model,although out of production now)





Your more than Likely to Find the Roland AX-1/AX-7 come up on ebay,as there the most common Keytars,although they are far and few between,as they weren't made in mega numbers

I did a search on ebay,for keytars but the only decent find at this moment in time is this one


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lync-LN-1000-MIDI ... dZViewItem

[Dniss]

I wanted this as a toy. But used ones are too expensive. I guess I'll pass or wait till they start making them again, if ever.

Tx guys.

[adamitron]

i'm glad someone finally called them by there real name. keytars.

[Milter]

Also there are some very cool analog synths (no MIDI). I have the Roland SH-101, pictured here (NO it's not me in the picture ):

I run it throgh the sampler on my triton extreme, to add effects.

Don't miss the legendare MOOG Liberation, although I think IF you ever find it on Ebay, you'll end up paying a million

Tjeck out what this baby can do, whend handled correctly! I've posted this before, but you can never get enough!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs4XgnDN ... re=related