Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature

by Casio

Product Features

• Easy-to-play keyboard 61-key portable keyboard with wide range of tones, rhythms and learning capabilities
• 400 high-quality tones, 150 rhythms and auto accompaniments for Latin music
• Voice Pad allows you to play sampled sounds; connect CD or MP3 player for practicing along with favorite songs
• USB port and General MIDI support allows connection with a computer or another GM-compatible device
• Powered by 6 AA batteries or AC adapter (not included)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 44 x 8 x 18 inches ; 8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B002KWE2QY
• Item model number: CAS CTK2100
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #4 in Musical Instruments > Keyboards > Electronic Keyboards > Portable Keyboards

Product Description

A great choice for both piano beginners and intermediates, the portable Casio CTK-2100 personal keyboard offers 61 piano-style touch keys and step-by-step lessons that help just about anyone learn to play. Offering a wide range of features and functions, the CTK-2100 keyboard includes 400 tones and 150 rhythms, sampling function, an audio-in jack that lets you play along with your favorite songs, USB port for connecting to a PC, and AHL audio technology for reproducing amazingly real grand piano and acoustic musical instrument sounds. It's powered by 6 AA batteries. (AC adapter not included)

Key Features AHL sound source (Acoustic & Highly-compressed Large-waveform): All built-in tones, including piano and acoustic instrument tones, now sound better than ever before! 48-tone maximum polyphony provides plenty of margin to minimize the chance of notes being dropped when tones are layered and when playing with Auto Accompaniment. Piano-style keyboard: An easy-to-play keyboard with an appearance resembling that of an acoustic piano. Digital effects: Use effects to add reverb for more depth and breadth in your music. Step Up Lesson: Pieces are divided into short, easy-to-master phrases making it easy for just about anyone to learn to play. After you master a phrase you advance to the next one. With this new lesson function, you keep building up your collection of mastered phrases and soon you are able to play the entire song. Scoring system: Your lesson score appears on the display screen. Voice fingering guide: If the keyboard senses you are having problems, it will help you by calling out finger numbers in a simulated human voice. Metronome for lesson support Sampling function: Sample a sound and you can play it on the keyboard! You can create sound effects for a party or other events, or use sounds to compose music (1 sound; 1-second sampling time). The potential for fun is virtually unlimited! Audio-in jack: Connect a digital audio player, CD player, or other audio device and you can play along with music played through the keyboard's speakers. Wide selection of tones (400 high-quality tones) supports play of songs from various genres. 150 rhythms and auto accompaniments for Latin music and other styles from around the world. In addition to Bossa Nova, Samba, and other basic rhythms, you also get Cumbia, Reggaeton, Calypso, and more USB port for computer connection General MIDI (GM Level 1) support allows connection with a computer or another GM-compatible device Specifications Keyboard: 61 standard-size keys Touch Response: 2 types, Off Key Light System: Up to 4 keys can be lit at the same time Maximum Polyphony: 48 notes (24 for certain tones) Effects: 10 types Reverb: 1 to 10, Off Metronome: beats per measure -- 0,2 to 6; tempo range -- 30 to 255 Step Up Lesson: Lessons: 4 (Listen, Watch, Remember, Auto) Lesson Part: L, R, LR Functions: Repeat, Voice Fingering Guide, Note Guide. Music Challenge: 20 notes Auto Accompaniment: Rhythm Patterns -- 150; One Touch Presets -- 150 Musical Information Function: Tone, Rhythm, Song Bank, numbers and names; staff notation, fingering, pedal operation, tempo, measure and beat number, chord name, etc. USB port: Yes Sustain jack: Standard jack (sustain, sostenuto, soft, rhythm start/stop) Phones/Output jack: Stereo standard jack Output Impedance: 200 Ohm, Output Voltage: 4.8 V (RMS) MAX Audio In jack: Stereo mini jack Input Impedance: 40 kOhm, Input Sensitivity: 200 mV Mic In jack: Standard jack Batteries: 6 AA batteries

The 61-key Casio CTK-2100 portable keyboard makes it easy to learn to play the piano (see larger version of keyboard plus a detail of the keyboard controls.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

195 of 196 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entry level keyboard for children, July 4, 2010

By 

Bookworm (Carmel, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature (Electronics)

I'm a piano teacher, specializing in teaching very young beginners. I sympathize with parents who ask me if they really have to invest in a traditional piano for a 5- or 6-year-old who might not really like the instrument after a few lessons. So I am willing to teach on an electronic keyboard, and for several years, I've recommended the CTK-700, which for around $100 at Target or Walmart offered full-size keys and a reasonable "touch".

I do warn parents that a beginner will NOT advance as quickly on a keyboard as they do on an acoustic piano, and I encourage parents to find even a terrible upright as soon as possible if their children maintains interest in the instrument. However, remember that traditional pianos require tuning twice yearly, and around $200 moving fee when you buy or sell...if you are the average parent struggling to make ends meet, I can understand the reluctance to make this kind of investment on top of weekly piano lessons.

To my knowledge, Casio doesn't make the CTK-700 anymore. Apparently the 2100 is the replacement. I find that the touch is not quite as good as the 700, the keys are a little too "springy" for my taste; when you pressed a key on the 700 there was a slight resistance that was better for my students.

However, for the price, this is a good keyboard. It's relatively durable (I've seen it fall from a stand all the way to the floor--some keys were pushed out of place, but could be pushed back and the keyboard functioned as before with no lasting problems). There is a headphone jack, which might be helpful in a family with small children. The default grand piano sound is acceptable and kids have fun playing with the other sounds.

In addition to price, another advantage to keyboards for young beginners is that the keyboard (with an "X" type stand) can be adjusted to the proper height for the child. You get a headstart on good technique by making the piano fit the child: in fact this is a prime tenet of Suzuki piano instruction, where instructors use an adjustable chair (retail: $600) and adjustable stool (minimum of $60 retail). (The concept is to make the height of the keys so that the forearm is parallel to the ground and the wrist straight with the body relaxed.) With a keyboard, as the child grows, you can adjust the stand and the chair you use to keep the forearm at the right height and the feet flat on the floor or on some type of footstool (for instance, those risers that people use for kids to reach the sink, or a couple phonebooks). A little care in setting up the keyboard at the proper height will lead the beginning student to good technique automatically.

Still, remember that the tactile feedback from a true piano along with the physical sensation of piano strings vibrating has an impact on the performer's enjoyment. You won't get that from a beginner keyboard from any manufacturer. But I believe that this is a decent product for a reasonable price.

I don't recommend the higher priced "touch-sensitive" keyboards such as the Privia. What I've experienced is that something about the ways those keys work leads to disastrous technique in my students--very bad habits that have proved difficult to correct. And professional keyboards contain features (MIDI input, sampled sounds etc.) that are not necessary for beginning students--don't waste your money on these items. If money is an issue, try this keyboard or an equivalent from Yamaha, and then upgrade to a used upright when the child has demonstrated a lasting interest.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great teaching tool for kids, January 15, 2011

By 

Catherine Gard (Fairbanks, AK, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature (Electronics)

I bought this item to teach my kids how to play the piano. Since we live in a fairly small space, I thought it would be a great alternative to a regular upright piano. I love the touch, much better than the CTk 700 which my kids had before. This one is so much better! I love this piano and I love using it to teach my kids how to play.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where's The AC Adapter?, July 12, 2011

By 

jachete - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature (Electronics)

The keyboard is pretty much what I expected. It's a fun instrument with enough keys for 2-handed playing, and the 400 "voices" and other features provide a lot of varied entertainment. I got this to use in an RV and to take to social gatherings. The sound quality is satisfactory, and is better than some other small keyboards. However, it is not comparable to a real piano, either in touch or sound. My only disappointment is the absence of an AC adapter, which is supposed to be included, according to the product description. I have ordered an adapter and a sustain pedal. The former is cheaper than replacing 6 AA batteries every 4 playing hours, and the latter produces a significant improvement in the sound quality. PS: If you plan to walk into Radio Shack for an adapter, take the keyboard with you. They have many choices, and it would be easy to make a mistake.