My private music teacher at age 13 had a room full of these. At home i had a Yamaha 2 operator fm keyboard. The Casio always felt sweet in comparison. This was my window into analogue synth sounds. Lovely stuff. Thanks
My mum had one of these when I was a kid. Sadly, she passed away back in 2001 at te age of 40 but when my dad started clearing out stuff a few years ago before he sold the house - I grabbed it. It's missing a few of the sliders but the last time I used it, it still worked. I miss the sound from old keyboards like this.
Thank you for sharing that. The power of older items like this is that they can evoke nostalgia. I remember a friend having a similar one when I was much younger, the sound takes me back to the early 2000s and hanging out in this friend's basement.
I just got one of these in white (MT-65) and it rocks. Also after doing some research on it I discovered that the MT-65 & 68 have the same internal hardware as the MT-400v, which has a full synth/filter control section that includes attack, decay, etc. So, theoretically you should be able to open up your MT-68 and wire in some full synth controls. I know you can do the inverse to the MT-400v (adding in the missing arpeggiator from the MT-68) at least. Just gotta get my hands on a service manual for each first to see exactly how the filter circuit works
This was my 1st keyboard at age 10. I started teaching myself to play by ear, and how chords work, on that keyboard. It is a toy, in the best sense -- it brings out your sense of play. It can be a convenient tool to pull up a quick beat to sketch your ideas, if that's how you want to use it. And yeah, that mandolin... 😬
I am betting one can make use of an effect like that instrument. The attack/decay and other values can be adjusted, I believe. Now, if the timing between the notes can be adjusted, either digitally or in some analog fashion ... wow ... :)
This board is extremely inspiring to me! I love to use it as a sketch pad for composing a new tune. The tones are nice and simple and because of that they do not distract from the actual song. Also, the waveforms are very stout and still keep their character when fx are applied. I find a lot of higher end/newer synths don't. Cool review! Hope to see more of "toy" reviews on your channel. They do not deserve to be lost in time.
Thank you! It really is fun. Running it through reverb and delay gets you some spicy sounds. I'm out of toy keyboards, but I've got some cheap, old drum machines to talk about, so there'll be more "toy instrument" videos in the future.
I had an old Casio, that was sort of similar to this one, and have to say that I rather enjoyed your rag time part - plus the "cat" outro ... It's all real good ! :) Ah, memories ...
used to run the arpeggiator & auto bass thru lots of distortion and delays in a noise goth band... and lemme tell yeah... it sounded super gnarly and HUGE.
I had one of these and learned so much from spending hours mucking about on it. It was brilliant. Incidentally, I remain convinced that Jean Michel Jarre had one of these. Select electric guitar with delayed vibrato, a (I think) beguine beat without arpeggio, play about with the settings and you are 95% of the way to "magnetic fields part 5"
... or even Oxygene ! I've heard someone on YT playing that, on a keyboard that looked remarkably like this one, and their rendition was pretty darn nice sounding. :)
Your advice at 5:00 is spot on. I just got one today at a local swap meet for $25. Missing a knob or two and I can only play one drum groove but it's still awesome
@@JoshIsMakingMusic Thx! Also a recent discovery is that it came with no screws. kinda fell apart when I lifted it with batteries installed 😅Still works!
Nothing looks more like a toy than the PO's! and they are awesome, good vid Josh, and your right about shop local.. I once saw a Roland Promars on a local facbeook selling page for £20 [approx $27] yep.. I missed out!, cool tune at the end man.
Thank you! And you're right about the PO's, I think Teenage Engineering excels at making toylike devices, like the Pocket Operators and OP-1. Shame about the Promars, but there'll be other deals! :)
The MT-68 was one of the first keyboards I had. I did a lot of stuff with it, and tried all sorts of things with it. You could make the arpeggio do some weird stuff with limited finger chords, for example. And being able to add reverb and change the attack gave you slightly more possibilities. And some of the drum beats were actually pretty decent.
i found one of these for $5 at a thrift store years ago and haven't been able to put it down since! it's appeared on almost everything i've ever recorded and i routinely find myself in situations where i'd rather use it over a "nicer" instrument. with casio reviving the casiotone line i strongly suggest that they reissue the mt-68 exactly as it was 40 years ago, it would be a total hit!
Honestly, if they reissued the MT-68 exactly the same but with MIDI and able to run on AA batteries, I'd buy that in a heartbeat. It's such a fun sound that you can't find in modern, more professional instruments.
@@JoshIsMakingMusic I actually always thought that Casio keys have a lot of ambient potential, if you pair it with some weird delay/reverb. From astral background blips and arpeggios to slow pads. That "special" sound can add some crispiness to structure, you know. It's just that I don't have much space here to expand so recklessly
Great review/demo and perfect amount of humour, I'm hooked. Looked this up after I dug it out of storage, it's been hiding for maybe two decades but there are so many memories of messing with this thing as a kid. Didn't know how good I had it!
ALL HAIL THE MT-68! I use this all the time, and have even started using the batteries so I can busk or take it round fires and jam with it. Check out how I incorporate it into some of my tunes on my channel!
Excellent review! I have an MT68 and also an MT65 (same as the 68, except in a white case) and they are surprisingly good and inspirational little keyboards. One of these days I'll finish recording a couple of songs that I wrote using them. Really enjoyed your song BTW, the overall sound of it reminded me a lot of The Cure's "Close to me", which in the original "Wardrobe falling over the cliff" promo video even featured a little Casio keyboard being played!
Great demo and I love the song! And the mandolin tone might be fun to use in a duet with a real mandolin. I know there is at least one serious composer who uses an old Casio for composing.
Thank you! These old synthesizers really inspire goofy pop songs in me. I've actually set a goal for myself to write a song using that mandolin sound, because it's so bizarre.
I was very surprised at the depth of the sound shaping possibilities of this thing. Originally,I bought my MT68 with the intention of doing some circuit mods and tinkering. Years later, I’m still perfectly happy playing it as-is - sometimes adding some pedal effects. I posted a spacey improv jam w this and a Hologram Microcosm back when I first got mine ruclips.net/video/BQFcZ0PzQHc/видео.htmlsi=i6et306fFueOJCg1
I got one of these from a neighbor that was moving and getting rid of old stuff, I went there to buy vinyl and came out with a FREE Casio MT-68, sure it had no power adapter but I quickly found one for it. Did you know that you can power this keyboard with batteries that last quite a long while?
I am wanting a keyboard that has... A mixer/audio interface/ microphone support with phantom power. Im thinking surely this must exist? It seems so obvious.. maybe i want to plug my guitar into it aswell. Would be a bonus if i can plug 2 microphones in it. What do you suggest??
oh my, oh my! i've just came here about to searching for my childdest memoir - which that i can not even well remember of the model of this specifically joyfull keyboard. i really glad i stumbled here. t h a n k y o u for this amazing video which pleased my bubble childhood. squeeze-neck hugs from brazil. cheers-tears. (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ (& o' course, that song you created was the funniest thing i've heard today. one more thank you for this!)
So glad you enjoyed the video and song! I could feel the hugs from here! It's such a lovely keyboard. The character of these old Casio synths is incredibly charming.
I'm not sure about the "toy" description. 8 bit keys put it right at the top end of Amateur. Little keyboards like the MT68 weren't cheap. Mine cost me well over a weeks wages after I graduated and started a full time job. The full size version; the CT405 was even more expensive. As for the DX7, my then landlord whose job was (and still is) being a musician couldn't afford one when they came out and bought a DX9 instead. Of course prices quickly came down. My next keyboard was a Yamaha YS100, while his was a DX5.
I love how you always inspire me to play on whatever instrument I have, not to just pine after whatever people think is "best."
My private music teacher at age 13 had a room full of these. At home i had a Yamaha 2 operator fm keyboard. The Casio always felt sweet in comparison. This was my window into analogue synth sounds. Lovely stuff. Thanks
My mum had one of these when I was a kid. Sadly, she passed away back in 2001 at te age of 40 but when my dad started clearing out stuff a few years ago before he sold the house - I grabbed it. It's missing a few of the sliders but the last time I used it, it still worked. I miss the sound from old keyboards like this.
Thank you for sharing that. The power of older items like this is that they can evoke nostalgia. I remember a friend having a similar one when I was much younger, the sound takes me back to the early 2000s and hanging out in this friend's basement.
I just got one of these in white (MT-65) and it rocks.
Also after doing some research on it I discovered that the MT-65 & 68 have the same internal hardware as the MT-400v, which has a full synth/filter control section that includes attack, decay, etc.
So, theoretically you should be able to open up your MT-68 and wire in some full synth controls. I know you can do the inverse to the MT-400v (adding in the missing arpeggiator from the MT-68) at least.
Just gotta get my hands on a service manual for each first to see exactly how the filter circuit works
Oh man. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for an MT-400v.
This is so true Everyone hear when I played this little Keyboard was amazed of the sounds it played and produced
That was a such a great song. Had me grinning from the first cat to the last.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
@@JoshIsMakingMusic- Did you write that cat one yourself?
@@kumbah2006 I did!
This was my 1st keyboard at age 10. I started teaching myself to play by ear, and how chords work, on that keyboard.
It is a toy, in the best sense -- it brings out your sense of play. It can be a convenient tool to pull up a quick beat to sketch your ideas, if that's how you want to use it.
And yeah, that mandolin... 😬
it is more than a toy! It is so fun to play! I love my MT-65!
I am betting one can make use of an effect like that instrument.
The attack/decay and other values can be adjusted, I believe.
Now, if the timing between the notes can be adjusted, either digitally
or in some analog fashion ... wow ... :)
This board is extremely inspiring to me! I love to use it as a sketch pad for composing a new tune. The tones are nice and simple and because of that they do not distract from the actual song.
Also, the waveforms are very stout and still keep their character when fx are applied. I find a lot of higher end/newer synths don't.
Cool review! Hope to see more of "toy" reviews on your channel. They do not deserve to be lost in time.
Thank you! It really is fun. Running it through reverb and delay gets you some spicy sounds. I'm out of toy keyboards, but I've got some cheap, old drum machines to talk about, so there'll be more "toy instrument" videos in the future.
Everything sounds great when possessing skills like you.
I had an old Casio, that was sort of similar to this one, and have to say that I rather enjoyed your rag time part - plus the "cat" outro ... It's all real good ! :)
Ah, memories ...
used to run the arpeggiator & auto bass thru lots of distortion and delays in a noise goth band... and lemme tell yeah... it sounded super gnarly and HUGE.
I had one of these and learned so much from spending hours mucking about on it. It was brilliant. Incidentally, I remain convinced that Jean Michel Jarre had one of these. Select electric guitar with delayed vibrato, a (I think) beguine beat without arpeggio, play about with the settings and you are 95% of the way to "magnetic fields part 5"
Honestly, I'd be more shocked to learn that there's a synth that Jean Michel Jarre DIDN'T own.
... or even Oxygene !
I've heard someone on YT playing that, on a keyboard that looked remarkably
like this one, and their rendition was pretty darn nice sounding. :)
It was my first Piano Keyboard. It was wonderfull
Good review and the song at the end it's the icing on the cake, I enjoyed it.
Thank you!
Your advice at 5:00 is spot on. I just got one today at a local swap meet for $25. Missing a knob or two and I can only play one drum groove but it's still awesome
Heck yeah, that's a great pickup. Sounds like you got an MT-68 with some history behind it.
@@JoshIsMakingMusic Thx! Also a recent discovery is that it came with no screws. kinda fell apart when I lifted it with batteries installed 😅Still works!
Great review, I loved the song at the end! This keyboard is definitely as good as you say it is, one of the best casio keyboards ever made I'd say.
Nothing looks more like a toy than the PO's! and they are awesome, good vid Josh, and your right about shop local.. I once saw a Roland Promars on a local facbeook selling page for £20 [approx $27] yep.. I missed out!, cool tune at the end man.
Thank you! And you're right about the PO's, I think Teenage Engineering excels at making toylike devices, like the Pocket Operators and OP-1. Shame about the Promars, but there'll be other deals! :)
The MT-68 was one of the first keyboards I had. I did a lot of stuff with it, and tried all sorts of things with it. You could make the arpeggio do some weird stuff with limited finger chords, for example. And being able to add reverb and change the attack gave you slightly more possibilities. And some of the drum beats were actually pretty decent.
Awesome keyboard, I wrote my first tune on an MT68 back in 1985 😬
Nice! It's amazing how charming and timeless sounds like that can be.
i found one of these for $5 at a thrift store years ago and haven't been able to put it down since! it's appeared on almost everything i've ever recorded and i routinely find myself in situations where i'd rather use it over a "nicer" instrument. with casio reviving the casiotone line i strongly suggest that they reissue the mt-68 exactly as it was 40 years ago, it would be a total hit!
Honestly, if they reissued the MT-68 exactly the same but with MIDI and able to run on AA batteries, I'd buy that in a heartbeat. It's such a fun sound that you can't find in modern, more professional instruments.
At last!
I must say, your arguments sounds absolutely convincing, and don't interfere with gear I love, so yeah- it is the best synth. I agree
*I'll just ignore auto accompaniment here*
Welcome to the Casio Cult. I knew you'd be excited that I finally released the Casio vid!
@@JoshIsMakingMusic I actually always thought that Casio keys have a lot of ambient potential, if you pair it with some weird delay/reverb. From astral background blips and arpeggios to slow pads. That "special" sound can add some crispiness to structure, you know. It's just that I don't have much space here to expand so recklessly
This was my first keyboard I got in the early '80s and I loved it. I wish there was a VST version of it for me to reminisce with!!!
the tune and music is giving me the feeling of 90's .
Just want to say, you're an incredible creator & it's inspiring to see a video of this caliber
I’ve got one of these, it was used as the intro on uk comedy sketch show in the 80s set in an antiques shop
Great review/demo and perfect amount of humour, I'm hooked. Looked this up after I dug it out of storage, it's been hiding for maybe two decades but there are so many memories of messing with this thing as a kid. Didn't know how good I had it!
ALL HAIL THE MT-68! I use this all the time, and have even started using the batteries so I can busk or take it round fires and jam with it. Check out how I incorporate it into some of my tunes on my channel!
Jan 2023: Yes! Shop local. Exactly - Just saw one of these locally, why I'm here. Thanks.
I’ve just seen one on Facebook for £60. I’m going to buy it tomorrow
Since I have one, I will agree that it's the best thing ever.
It isn't, but I'll agree.
Now, if I could find spare knobs...
I just missed out on one of those at an auction, I wish I saw your review before I set my final bid! Crying now
Loved the ending jam! Great video
Very nice video and song. I just got myself a Casio MT-45, which my old band used to use. It's such a fun instrument.
Excellent review! I have an MT68 and also an MT65 (same as the 68, except in a white case) and they are surprisingly good and inspirational little keyboards. One of these days I'll finish recording a couple of songs that I wrote using them. Really enjoyed your song BTW, the overall sound of it reminded me a lot of The Cure's "Close to me", which in the original "Wardrobe falling over the cliff" promo video even featured a little Casio keyboard being played!
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's amazing how fun and lovely a cheaper keyboard like that can be.
I’ll never part with mine. This thing is endless with its cool.
Great demo and I love the song! And the mandolin tone might be fun to use in a duet with a real mandolin. I know there is at least one serious composer who uses an old Casio for composing.
Thank you! These old synthesizers really inspire goofy pop songs in me. I've actually set a goal for myself to write a song using that mandolin sound, because it's so bizarre.
I was very surprised at the depth of the sound shaping possibilities of this thing. Originally,I bought my MT68 with the intention of doing some circuit mods and tinkering. Years later, I’m still perfectly happy playing it as-is - sometimes adding some pedal effects. I posted a spacey improv jam w this and a Hologram Microcosm back when I first got mine ruclips.net/video/BQFcZ0PzQHc/видео.htmlsi=i6et306fFueOJCg1
Awesome vid man. You got a new sub.
Thank you so much! 😁
Man, your track was really good!!
Thank you!
Great video Sir loved it. This was my very first keyboard I made music on back in the mid 80s. Oops I'm telling my age lol.
What kind of cable/adapter are you using to get such a clean output?
My name is also Josh and I also love the mt-68. Just sayin.
Great Joshes think alike.
Many of the old former soviet songs have been made with this keyboard
I want my old one back 😪
I got one of these from a neighbor that was moving and getting rid of old stuff, I went there to buy vinyl and came out with a FREE Casio MT-68, sure it had no power adapter but I quickly found one for it. Did you know that you can power this keyboard with batteries that last quite a long while?
Great song bro 🫶
Lol nice song at the end.
Fantastic
Cute song 🥳🐈⬛
Thank you! :)
Can you imagine someone getting up in front of an audience with one of these.
I am wanting a keyboard that has... A mixer/audio interface/ microphone support with phantom power.
Im thinking surely this must exist? It seems so obvious.. maybe i want to plug my guitar into it aswell. Would be a bonus if i can plug 2 microphones in it.
What do you suggest??
My cat loved the song
Nice Casio!
oh my, oh my! i've just came here about to searching for my childdest memoir - which that i can not even well remember of the model of this specifically joyfull keyboard. i really glad i stumbled here.
t h a n k y o u for this amazing video which pleased my bubble childhood.
squeeze-neck hugs from brazil. cheers-tears. (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
(& o' course, that song you created was the funniest thing i've heard today. one more thank you for this!)
So glad you enjoyed the video and song! I could feel the hugs from here! It's such a lovely keyboard. The character of these old Casio synths is incredibly charming.
Ah yea I always wanted my synth to play hotline bling. Great drums though
Is this a good Casiotone for the Painfully Alone?
Cool keyboard!
Where did you get this keyboard at? ❤ I plan on buying it
It's been a few years, but I think I got it on either Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
I'm not sure about the "toy" description. 8 bit keys put it right at the top end of Amateur. Little keyboards like the MT68 weren't cheap. Mine cost me well over a weeks wages after I graduated and started a full time job. The full size version; the CT405 was even more expensive. As for the DX7, my then landlord whose job was (and still is) being a musician couldn't afford one when they came out and bought a DX9 instead.
Of course prices quickly came down. My next keyboard was a Yamaha YS100, while his was a DX5.
@1:52 Pachelbel? Did you follow me here???
It's a classic and look smart and not like a toy.
Please use the keyboard to make the song that played at the end of the office season 6 episode 16 the bossa nova thing
... wait
That song lol My cat is being irritating while watching your vid.
Lol, my cat's the same when I'm not focused fully on him.
ruclips.net/video/QMyEGJNv6j4/видео.html the arpeggio from your vid on 4.11 in a really olld Greek song from the 80s quite famous here.
Something about the composition at the end made me think of Barcelona ruclips.net/video/0srBXV9ZRIM/видео.html 🤩
I find joy turning tricks down in the toilets at the train station!
Ct7000 tho
Sounds terrible. 😂
This is 100% dungeon synth sounds
Perfect board for dungeon doots.