Casio VL-1
The Casio VL-1 (also known as Casio VL-Tone ) was the first synthesizer from the Japanese company Casio from the VL series. This very inexpensive instrument (recommended price in Germany 149 DM ) was manufactured from 1981 to 1984. One of the four Kashio brothers who founded Casio in 1946 developed the very inexpensive LSI chip that was used to generate music. At the urging of the management of the Casio company, the lack of functionality of the chip was compensated for by a built-in pocket calculator .
The device is considered a cult instrument because it produces particularly simple tones. For this reason, the instrument is still used today by well-known artists, including Human League , Stevie Wonder , Robbie Williams, and especially Trio . The recognition value of the basic sound plays a special role.
sound
The Casio VL-1 had five permanently programmed instruments:
The sounds are abstractions of real instruments. An ADSR envelope is also integrated.
All sounds can be played over a total of 4 octaves (+ a major third) using a slider. The push-button keyboard itself comprises two octaves + a major third (29 keys). Since the Casio VL-1 only has a single sound modulator, only single tones can be generated ( monophony ), but not multiple sounds such as chords ( polyphony ).
rhythm
The Casio VL-1 has ten permanently programmed rhythms.
- March
- Waltz
- 4 beat
- swing
- Rock-1
- Rock-2
- Bossanova
- samba
- Rhumba
- Beguine
Sequencer
The memory of the built-in sequencer holds 100 notes, which can be entered either in real time or step by step. Subsequent corrections can be made to the tempo as well as to the pitch and the selected sound. It is also possible to insert notes at a later date. Playback takes place as Auto Play or by pressing one or both of the large blue sound buttons ( One Key Play ). For real-time recording, one of the built-in rhythms can also be played as a timing aid. The tempo, like the rhythm, can be varied afterwards.
calculator
The pocket calculator mode allows simple functions of a conventional pocket calculator with a maximum of eight-digit numbers. Operation is via the keyboard.
Using the Casio VL-1
The German band Trio in particular made the Casio VL-1 popular in 1982 when the band used it in the world hit " Da da da ". The rhythm of this song can be achieved by playing the “Rock-1” preset on the Casio VL-1. Other musicians also used the instrument, such as Robbie Williams in Rudebox , The Fall in The Man Whose Head Expanded , Human League in Get Carter, and Fergie in Clumsy . The VL-1 can also be seen in Werner Nekes ' film Johnny Flash (1987). Since the large Technics organ was too expensive for the main character , she bought the VL-1.
