The CT-S500 is powered by Casio’s advanced AiX Sound Source. Developed specifically for instruments focused on sound, it is capable of generating a wide range of high-quality and highly expressive tones. The CT-S500 additionally offers a set of ADVANCED TONES, designed for maximum expressive creativity. Also built-in is a collection of CASIO CLASSIC TONES, hand-picked from our long line of classic Casio keyboards. Thanks to Casio’s Active DSP, effect parameters can be assigned to control knobs and tweaked in real time, adding greater dynamism and expression to your performance. The built-in speakers are designed around Casio’s own advanced Horizontal Bass-Reflex System, which delivers powerful low-end sound belying the keyboard’s compact dimensions.
Effects
The CT-S500 features a range of on-board effects, from compressor and phaser to distortion and wah to further sculpt your sound. Choose from 100 types of DSP effects for each of the four available effect chains, and assign effect parameters to the physical knobs to dynamically control the sound in real time. When it comes to system-wide effects, the CT-S500 offers reverb, chorus and delay. And because two independent effect chains can be applied to two separate tones, you can switch back and forth seamlessly. Even when layering two sounds or splitting the keyboard, you can still apply separate effect chains to each tone. When using the auto accompaniment feature, you can apply different effects to the lead (melody) part and the accompaniment part.
Connections
The CT-S500 plays nice with other gear, too, offering a range of connection options. The line out jacks let you easily connect to a PA system, keyboard amp, or other equipment for live performances, recording sessions or other setting, and the built-in speakers can be muted if required. Connect other MIDI-compatible equipment and use the CT-S500 as a MIDI sound source or as a MIDI controller. You can even use the CT-S500 as a Bluetooth® speaker with your smartphone or tablet. Use in conjunction with Casio’s dedicated app for practice, muting melody lines or accompaniment, changing pitch or tempo, or simply playing along when learning by ear.
Sound
Switch on the surround sound function and experience the power and vibration of the music, or the volume-sync EQ that automatically adjusts the tone in relation to the volume for a full sound even at low volumes.
Sampling
Don’t be limited by the built-in tones: the CT-S500 can also sample sounds from your smart device as either pitched tones or drum sounds. When used as a pitched tone, the sample can be used to play melodies and other musical lines. When used in a drum set, the samples can be used to replace individual drum sounds. Pitched tones can use samples up to about 10 seconds long, while drum set samples can use samples up to about 3 seconds long. Get creative by dropping in different kinds of sounds—your own voice or your pet’s, ambient sounds, or anything at all. Combine them with the Active DSP effects for some truly original musical explorations.
