Here’s a complete review of Casio CTK7200 61-Key Keyboard, which replaces the outgoing Casio CTK7000. The The CTK-7200 is your opportunity to buy an advanced keyboard that is loaded with features, at a more reasonable price. Its great for serious beginners and intermediate keyboard players who want to try their hands at music sequencing. [easyazon_link identifier=”B00GXNPU0I” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Skip to Casio CTK7200 on Amazon[/easyazon_link].
Casio CTK-7200 61-key Arranger: Highlights
- Top model in the CTK series
- Several creative tools for the experienced musician
- Drawbars give you real-time tweakability
- Several top-quality Digital Effects, for a more polished musical production
Casio CTK-7200: Pros & Cons
- PROS: Loaded with features, great value for money, built-in sequencer, Hammond Sound, Draw Bars, Great Features, Affordable Price
- CONS: No weighted keys, only 61 Keys, lots of plastic, learning curve (but its still a great learning tool to get started), not really a true pro-keyboard
Who Is It For?
- Amateur and professional musicians
- For gigs and studio use
Can you buy this as a starter arranger?
Why not? (although those with a few months of playing experience will appreciate it more)
Its not a very expensive keyboard!
And you will love the sounds and the features, including the recording features.
Casio CTK-7200: Review
The CTK-7200 is a powerful keyboard, with several pro-features that will allow you to create, edit and play your compositions at home, in the studio or on the stage. Its basically a portable workstation that offers several advanced music production capabilities, at a price that you cannot resist. It has features of an arranger synth, with 820 fully editable sounds, 50 drawbar organs, 150 arpeggiator types, wide variety of styles, pro features like several sliders, built-in sequencer, tone editor, control over the mix, and much more. You just need to see it with an open mind, and not get biased (just because its a Casio).
Better Keys
Vast improvement on the key bed settings; no more annoying click noise of the keys. The keys are not weighted though (in case you’re a piano player). The keyboard is much more beautiful to look at, the layout of the various switches, buttons and drawbars is good.
Better Features
The octave shift is another good function that allows you to play several songs that otherwise would not be possible on a 61-key keyboard.
You can sing or play a guitar or even connect the output of your another keyboard by connecting it to the ‘INST In” jack of this keyboard; they will sound great through the CTK 7000’s speakers.
Cool Organ Sounds
Always wanted a grand piano, a Fender Rhodes electric piano, and a Hammond B-3 organ sound in one inexpensive keyboard? You get it here, and much more!
Use it with a Roland or a Nord to make a two manual organ. This keyboard has great editing capabilities to get the hammond sounds that we all love. The electric piano sounds are fantastic (even better than the Roland Ep sounds). Not a graded hammer action though, but the keys are a lot better than some of the earlier versions from Casio.
Value for Money
Not exactly for the beginner as it doesn’t come with any built-in piano learning system, and even price-wise a learner might find several cheaper options. But even if you’re a novice or intermediate player, you need to keep the manual nearby as finding your way around can be a bit daunting at first (if this is your first advanced board).
With 16 tracks & comprehensive editing features, this is more of a workstation for the serious musician. Just don’t let the price of this board fool you.
Casio CTK-7200: Demo / Video Review
Competition Check
Some other keyboards that you may consider:
- Casio wk7600: similar to CTK-7200 but comes with 76 keys.
- Casio CTK-6200: If you want an cheaper model will pro features
- Yamaha PSR e453 Keyboard: Similar (in price range and features) keyboard from Yamaha
Casio CTK-7200: Features / Specs
Here are more features of the Casio CTK7200 61-Key Keyboard:
- Audio recording/playback: 5 files maximum (Approximately 13 minutes of recording per file)
- Mixer: 32 channels + EXT IN (INST IN, MIC IN), 9-slider operation
- Numerous digital effects, top class arpeggiators, various Auto Accompaniment modes (CASIO Chord, Fingered 1, Fingered 2 (6th off), Fingered 3 (on bass), Full Range Chord)
- Pattern sequencer: real-time recording, step recording, quantize, Easy Edit, Event Editor, part parameters (100 user rhythms)
- 820 tones, 260 preset rhythms, 17 track sequencer, 32 channel mixer, as well as audio recording capabilities.
- World class tones organized by category. An extensive set of DSP effects are available to enhance these tones
- 50 draw bar organ tones
- Rotary speaker simulation provides the distinctive acoustic effect of drawbar organ speakers
- 260 preset rhythms cover a wide range of musical genres, from rock to jazz, Latin and more
- Built-in effects include reverb (10 types), chorus (5 types), and DSP (100 preset DSPs)
- You can also select from different frequency characteristics, such as ‘Bright’ for a lively sound emphasizing the treble range and ‘Powerful’ with a stress on volume
- Ability to save music as an audio file on an SDHC card
- Nine sliders for better control over the features
Casio CTK-7200: Buying Links & Pricing
The Casio ctk-7200 is an excellent keyboard with several advanced features that will let you create, edit and play your compositions at home, in the studio or on the stage. Thanks to Casio for giving us all the sounds we know and love for an unbelievable price.
Buying Links
- Buy Casio CTK-7200 on zZounds
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00GXNPU0I” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″]Buy Casio ctk7200 on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
Casio CTK-7200 comes with extensive features (for a portable keyboard) at an inexpensive price.
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KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
The Casio ctk 7200 has an amazing sound selection, has touch sensitive keys. I teach keyboard to students. I would have preferred the speakers to be louder. It will work fine for you when you are playing along, but for me I wish it was louder (for the class).
The Yamaha keyboards have better tones, and are easier to use, but only a bit, whereas this one is a lot cheaper. So if cost is an issue I would say chose this one and you can’t go wrong with a Casio, the build quality is good.
I’m not a keyboard player but I really like this keyboard (not-weighted keys). I bought it to provide backing for my guitar playing but I’m having so much fun with it (arpeggiator, sequencer, recorder) my guitar is being neglected. So many things I haven’t even tried yet. Great sounds, great feel, a winner for Casio. I play it through a 40 watt Roland amp & it provides plenty of great piano tone & rhythmic volume for our little group. It allows me to be more creative.