Just launched are no less than three new keyboards from Casio, who continue to release new products in their bid for world domination. Two of the newcomers; the CT-610 and the PT-50 are developments of earlier models (the MT-602 and the PT-30 respectively), but the MT-800 is a brand new line. We persuaded Casio to part with one for a couple of days, for us to give it a good going-over.

Like all previous Casios, except the VL range, the MT-800 is a fully polyphonic type, the major difference being that the built-in speakers are gone. Fear not, though, speakers are still provided but now they are separately mounted in proper little enclosures designed for the job and they clip onto the back of the main keyboard in a raised stereo position. The fact that they're detachable means that transporting is easier and safer, and, with the addition of longer mini-jack leads, they can be positioned at will to face your audience when performing. The improvement in sound quality that results from these two 4-watt speakers is really a revelation of how good the basic Casio sounds can be through a better listening system.

The sounds of the keyboard are further enhanced by two effects which the MT-800 (and the CT-610) provides. Firstly Sustain, which gets rid of that dead-giveaway organ release (the sound cutting off instantly when a key is released). Instead, the sounds die gently away, which can add more authenticity and in some cases give the effect of a large acoustic chamber echoing back. While one continues playing the effect is excellent, but the very final release is a bit too abrupt for most uses.

The other effect is Stereo Chorus, which introduces a 'moving' quality to the sound, adding depth and character.

The preset sounds themselves come in two banks, accessed by six switches with a select switch for moving between banks (two similar sounds being on each preset switch). Overall the twelve sounds are pretty good and all are very usable.

Starting from the left, we have the Pianos. The Acoustic Piano is really quite good. Especially if used with Sustain and spread chords, it can sound quite authentic, more so than many old 'professional' electric pianos. However, the Electric Piano is nowhere near as good which is surprising, as electric pianos are easier to imitate with electronics. Individual notes are not too bad, with a passable imitation of the characteristic attack and high harmonic content, but chords make it sound like a cross between a harpsichord and an organ. Sustain can help both these sounds, but Chorus just makes them sound too organ-like.

"OVERALL THE TWELVE SOUNDS ARE PRETTY GOOD AND ALL ARE VERY USABLE..."

The Harpsichord sound suffers from the same problems, unless the keys are arpeggiated and then held to the end of their releases (again, this is too abrupt right at the end of the cycle), but the Celesta sound coupled with it is a completely different matter. It has a real 'hammered' quality which accentuates the acoustic effect. With Stereo Chorus and Sustain I managed a very convincing version of the 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' — my roots must be showing! (Back to the Grecian 2000, Paul — Ed.)

Next came the button marked 'Electric Guitar', which I always dread because they never sound accurate. This one didn't either, but if you ignore the name it's a very usable sound, percussive with delay vibrato — but nothing like a guitar envelope. Its partner on this switch, ambiguously labelled 'Funny', was better (perhaps because the name doesn't lead one to expect much?). Comparisons are difficult, but it is a very percussive sound with a vaguely Oriental feel.

Back to the real corkers with Pipe Organ, a very big, full sound. Slap on the Sustain and Chorus and it's real Toccata-and-Fugue-in-the-cathedral stuff! Through the hi-fi it sounded huge, but even on its own speakers it was remarkable. Pressing the Select switch gives you Violin on this button; fairly usable if a bit brassy, but the delay vibrato helps enormously. With Sustain and Chorus it makes a passable string ensemble sound, quite full if a little strident.

The Trumpet was better though; very rich and, again with Sustain and Chorus, gave a very meaty 'Fanfare for the Common Man'. But Clarinet was better still (without effects), again having very acoustic overtones. Didn't work at all as an ensemble sound, though.

"AS USUAL, THE TOMS ARE THE WEAK POINT OF THE RHYTHM BOX"

But the best was yet to come. When I switched to Flute, I was astounded. Even without Sustain and Chorus it sounds good, but with them it's a real triumph, full-bodied and haunting with even a hint of breath (intentioned, I trust, not just noisy circuits!). Played polyphonically it even had those harmonic emphases you get with flute ensembles. The accompanying Synth Flute was similar but a bit harsher, and whilst not so pretty on its own might cut through a full mix better.

On to the rhythms now, of which there are twelve, covering the usual Rhumba, Tango, Waltz, Rock and Disco patterns. Generally speaking, the actual percussive sounds are very good. The Bass Drum has a nice top end and comes through well on the instrument's own speakers, but through a bigger system via the line out the sound is very solid. The Snare is nice and crisp and you can even hear the actual snare rattle. The Hi-Hat sounds quite authentic when 'closed', but when 'open' it's too hissy, like unfiltered white noise. The Claves are very lifelike, but they have never been my favourite percussion instrument. Fortunately for me, their use is restricted to the Latin-American rhythms.

As usual, it's the Toms which are the weak point of the rhythm box. The Low Tom isn't too bad, but the higher ones are unrecognisable, being overtuned (there is too much pitch in the sound) and 'popping' unrealistically.

The Casiochord section works in conjunction with the rhythms. When switched to 'on' it allows four possible chords. Playing any note gives the major chord of which the note is the tonic, two notes gives the minor chord of the lower one, three gives the 7th chord (again, of the lowest note) and four the minor 7th. The bass patterns (tonics and 5ths) and chords vary with the rhythms, but sound continuously if played without the rhythm patterns.

"THE COMPOSITIONAL AID FEATURE IS THE ONE WHICH WILL MOST INTEREST SERIOUS MUSICIANS"

The 'Fingered' option allows you to play more complex chords, but takes a little getting used to. One note just sounds as the tonic bass note. A second note usually doesn't sound, unless it's above the bottom octave (in which case it takes precedence, but sounding an octave lower) or the two notes form a diminished 5th, when the 7th note above the lower one is added. When three or more notes are played, the system works at its best. It calculates the chord containing the notes and plays a root version. Some combinations (those with notes too close together) are not possible, and just the root note is played in the bass. It always treats a 7th as minor unless the major 3rd is played. Unfortunately, the chords are not played in the fingered inversions, but the machine chooses the root note and plays that as the bass note. This means that 6ths and 2nds aren't possible (the former are always played as 7th) and you can't structure bass-lines. But these are the criticisms of the classical perfectionist (which I think I am) and this system is ideal for the beginner and perfectly adequate for most accompaniment purposes.

But we still haven't talked about the most interesting feature of the MT-800 — the ROM and RAM packs which slot into the automatic section in the top left-hand end of the instrument. The ROM pack (Read Only Memory) stores twelve tunes with accompaniment which can be played back using the keyboard voicings preset. But there is more to it than this. Once a tune has been selected pressing the Melody Guide button causes a series of LEDs — one above each note, red for white notes, green for black notes — to show you how to play the tune while the accompaniment backs you. An LED will flash above the first note of the melody; when the LED stops flashing and stays on, it's time to play that note, while another flashing LED indicates the next note in the sequence and so on. The system can be a bit tricky to follow at first, but one soon gets used to it — and for beginners, the accompaniment will wait until each note is played, so it doesn't run away with you. When you feel confident enough, pressing the Memory Start button instead will still give you the lights, but now the accompaniment doesn't wait (unless you play nothing for two bars). Another option is to press first Cancel and then Melody Guide Start, and in this mode the LEDs no longer light but if you falter, the accompaniment will still wait for you to catch up. The final stage is reached by pressing Play when only Chord is lit. Now there are no lights to guide you, and the accompaniment marches mercilessly on. Only to be attempted in front of your granny when you've got the tune completely mastered!

Besides this learner's introduction to melody playing (which teaches you such tunes as Sunshine of My Life and Yesterday Once More, at least on the ROM cartridge I saw), the MT-800 actually allows you to records your own chords, tunes and rhythm backings. For those of you (or should I say us?!) who can't manage all three at once, melody and chords can be programmed individually. Record the tune first then work on the harmonic accompaniment, or record a chord sequence and then improvise over it (using 'Repeat') until you find the tune you want. Chords can even be recorded in step time by pressing Memory Start twice and then using 'One Key Play' to fill in the spaces. The MT-800 will hold one piece at a time, but compositions or arrangements can be easily stored and quickly recovered using RAM (Random Access Memory) packs in a similar way to some sequencers with cassette interfaces, but without the fuss of compatibility or connecting lead problems. The fact that the storage packs actually fit into the instrument is a great idea which only Casio and Yamaha seem to have picked up on so far (other manufacturers, take note!).

This compositional aid feature is the one which will most interest serious musicians, but the other features will provide hours of fun and education for beginners, amateurs and their friends. The arrangements of the tunes on the ROM pack are a bit Radio 2-ish, but remember this keyboard is aimed at a wide market. For the more serious performer, the sounds are getting better all the time and the recording feature is ideal for composing. Me, I just love that flute sound! Overall it seems like pretty reasonable value for money.

CASIO MT-800 (RRP £295 inc. VAT)

For more information, contact Casio Electronics Co Ltd, (Contact Details).