Circuit Bending

Casio SK-200

The SK-200 is quasi the "flagship" among the Casio SK samplers. It offers a heap of functions and can save up to 4 samples (3.2 sec sampling time in total). Due to a complex multichip architechture, two accompaniment patterns, including drums, bass and chords, can also be programmed. The architecture is very open, thus allowing versatile tampering.

The SK-200 sounds very eighties-like with PCM drums and electro bass. The chords can be chosen from the melody presets and the samples can be played along with the beat in a fixed rhythm figure. With in total 4 separately adjustable volume controls occur many interesting possibilities.

I've implemented the following modifications, so far:

• Mute switch for chords and bass
• 8 switch matrix for "special effects"
• 1 freeze button and 1 memory reset button

Sound example