Instrument Review - Fisher SC-310 (with SCK-30) a.k.a. Sanyo KBX-7

As a child who grew up in the eighties there were two main electronics that I had in my bedroom - a keyboard and a stereo cassette deck a.k.a. a "boom box."  The keyboard I had in question was a Casio PT-87.  As for the boom box, I couldn't tell you what I had.  It most likely was a hand me down from my brothers as they upgraded their equipment but there is one thing I can tell you - I used those two things almost daily, sometimes in conjunction so it is only logical for electronics companies of that era to combine the two and make the ultimate device in home recording and playing - a stereo deck with a built in musical keyboard.

I have found three different examples online of this amazing yet forgotten piece of synthesizer (and stereo) history - the Casio KX-101, Casio CK-200 & CK-500, Sharp MR-990, and the Fisher SC-310 (with SCK-30 stereo music composer).

Casio KX-101

Casio CK-200

Casio CK-500

Sharp MR-990

Fisher SC-310

All of these keyboards each have some distinctions in sound (although not much being that they are early-to-mid eighties square wave synths) and they have some varying features, although very little information can be found about these suckers.  The Casio KX-101 comes with a keyboard attached to the bottom and provides for 4-note polyphony, some rhythms, arpeggios, and chords.  From my understanding, the Casio keyboards also allow for the playing to be recorded onto the internal cassette deck (although I have read on some websites that this is not true).  I am uncertain about the Sharp mode but will be reviewing the Fisher SCK-30 because that is the only keyboard currently in my possession, however I will not be able to review the cassette deck features because I have only acquired the keyboard.  

Build

Unlike the Casios, the Fisher keyboard is detachable, which is nice.  For a small generic keyboard it feels relatively solid and possesses a decent weight (especially with the 5 AA batteries added).  The mini-keys sit close but feel responsive to the touch, the sliders feel firm, and the buttons on par with any other kind of toy keyboard of that time.

Cosmetics

This thing definitely has the aesthetics from a nineteen eighties stereo company.  The glossy black plastic that covers the top is definitely a change from the drab gray boxes Casio was dropping on the market (whatever happened to those cream-colored or wood-grain Casiotones?)  The features are clearly labeled and the LCD display is nice enough to even display a staff so that you know what note you are playing and where it is located.  My only complaint is that on the far left of the keyboard are nine bullet points describing the features of the keyboard.  I could understand if Fisher decided to eternally emblazon onto the face of their keyboard directions, being that they were not known for making keyboards and the memory play features of these early keyboards can be somewhat confusing, being that they require a sequence of buttons pressed, but bullet points that could be best left for the back of a box or a magazine advertisement?

Sound 

The sounds of the voices are that of an inexpensive analog toy keyboard but are slightly different than some of the other keyboards like this out there and considering some of the features, these sounds can be welcomed into one's synthesizer orchestra.  I wouldn't be surprised if under the hood this thing had some early Casio or Yamaha circuitry.  While they may not be the first chair, they definitely can provide some dynamics or accents to a song.  The rhythms are especially nice - particularly the several rhythms with added arpeggios.  As a fan of vintage rhythm machines, I find these numerous rhythms to be fun and enjoyable and after several minutes of playing around with the features I came up with several ideas for some songs (I had to stop myself being that I have countless unfinished projects already).

Features

This is where this keyboard shines.  While this instrument is monophonic with sounds that sometimes make a Casio VL-1 sound warm, it comes with 8 preset voices, 18 different rhythms, chord function (in a typical organ set up and not integrated into the keyboard like later home keyboards), and when the chord buttons are played along with a rhythm you get kind of a walking bass.  Personally I like the chord section resembling that of an organ versus occupying an octave on the lower end of the keyboard.  For an individual like myself who is not a trained pianist, having these non-conventional setups helps facilitate the creation of music in an easy and recognizable way.  While there is no fill option for the rhythms, it is easy to change rhythms mid-song to provide for some variation.  I also thought it interesting that one of the rhythm options is "enka," which presumably references the Japanese musical style, although I am not sure.  I was just surprised to see this option as I have never seen it appear on any other keyboard in my possession.

There are sliders for master volume, rhythm, and chord, transpose and tempo buttons, and perhaps the most interesting aspect of this keyboard - memory recording which allows for the playing of up to 508 notes into 8 different sections that can be stored on a cassette loaded into the accompanying stereo.  It is also believed that you can record your playing directly onto the cassette.

While not a part of the stereo, the keyboard only has a left and right RCA jack and no plug for external power.  While there is a battery compartment for 5 AA batteries, it appears this is because the keyboard is intended to be used in conjunction with the stereo.  From researching, it appears that when docked into the stereo the keyboard consumes less of the batteries and has a longer life but it I am uncertain if the batteries are required while docked.  While this is unfortunate, having the keyboard detachable is a positive, being that should the stereo component die you do not also lose an instrument and modifying the keyboard for external power or expanded audio out features would not be terribly difficult to perform and would be possible by a novice technician.

Overall

Overall I think this keyboard is a must have for any collector.  Personally I would choose this one over the Casios (although the KX-101 would make an excellent shelf piece since the keyboard is forward facing).  The sounds may not make this as desirable to some but the features packed into this small keyboard are a plus.  It may not be a centerpiece of a band but it can definitely provide for some interesting music or some level of variation should one choose to utilize the rhythms and while the audio output options are limited, having RCA outs does provide for a nice clean sound.  The portability is a positive for this keyboard.  While the battery life could pose a nuisance, as mentioned above it could be easy to modify, and even not, I do not see this keyboard being used to draft a symphonic masterpiece.  Intermittent use may prove the battery issue a non-issue.

Looking at just the SCK-30, I would recommend if you can find this at a low price (somewhere under the $30 range), or with the SC-310, possibly somewhere under $100.  Since this is not a Casio, you may be able to find this relatively cheap (I got my keyboard $20).  Personally, I love the forward facing KX-101 with all of its buttons, dials, and sliders.  A close second in aesthetics would be the Sharp with the retractable keyboard (those buttons and sliders again do it for me).  The problem is that those keyboards, while similar, tend to go for much more.  The Fisher can get you into the ballpark for a fraction of the price.

Gallery

Instrument Review - Seiko DS-202

Update 9/23/2016!

I had recently acquired a second DS-202.  While all the rhythms and sounds work, the presets are rather generic and the speakers still rattle when the volume is increased, especially when accompaniment is added to the rhythm.  

Also, looking at the serial numbers, some of the keys have a slightly different color stripe, where instead of being greenish they are bluish in color and some of the yellow stripes are white.

The 1980s were an interesting time for synthesizers.  Not only did you have the rise of things like MIDI and digital processing, but new manufacturers entered the fold too, like electronic watch makers Casio and Seiko.

Seiko?

That's right.  The Seiko Corporation got into the synthesizer game back in 1983 and released several
odd digital synthesizers.  They were the DS-101, DS-202, and DS-250.  They also sold three add-on modules - the DS-310, which was an additive synthesis attachment, the DS-320 which was a sequencer, and the DS-1000 MIDI Digital Sequencer, and the SIB-1, with capabilities unknown at this time.  All of the add-ons attached via a very short ribbon cable into two ports on the back of the synthesizer.  There were also several cartridges that plugged into the DS-320 that added various sounds.  They were the SRC-10, DMC-2, and perhaps some others that may be floating out there.

There really isn't much information on this synthesizer but from what little there is known, it appears that the sound generation technology for this line was originally developed by Gray Laboratories, the additive synthesis engine was eventually sold to Seiko.  What makes this interesting is that at the time additive synthesis, a method in which timbre is created by adding sine waves together, was used by highly expensive synthesizers like the NED Synclavier, which retailed for five figures.  The Seiko DS synths were released for a fraction of the cost and had some very interesting features.

Let's start with the DS-202 -

The DS-202 has several sections labeled on the top panel of the keyboard - EFFECT, INSTRUMENTS, AUTO BASS CHORD, RHYTHM, and FUNCTION.

EFFECT

This EFFECT section features 3 sliders that can alter chorus, vibrato, and sustain, with a button to add delay to the vibrato.  One peculiar thing, in my opinion, is that on all the sliders of this synthesizer, the minimum is located at the top and the maximum is located on the bottom.  The same goes for rhythm tempo, with one pushing up to decrease the speed.

Anyway, these features seem to offer very little to the tone.  The chorus effects are nice and provide a little variation to the various voices but the vibrato seems almost negligible.  Same goes for the sustain, but than again that may be because my DS-202 appears to have some malfunctioning buttons, which leads me to the next section.

INSTRUMENTS

The INSTRUMENTS section features ten voices: piano, organ, harpsichord, flute, strings, electric piano, jazz organ, vibraphone, clarinet, and brass.  Pretty standard fare for a synthesizer of this time.  The sounds generated aren't spectacular and are reminiscent of a Casio from this era.  Sadly I can only seem to get sound out of half of my buttons and what comes out is clean.  Having the ability to add the effects mentioned above is a nice feature but the quality isn't anything to write home about and would probably have been disappointing had this keyboard been purchased at its full original retail, which I have read floated around one thousand dollars.

AUTO BASS CHORD

Like its fellow Casio keyboards, this featured a little accompaniment section that gave the four different modes: normal, simple finger chord, key split, and sound mix.  There is also a slider called "ABC VOLUME BALANCE," which would seem to work with the sound mix option, where one could mix two of the instruments together, although that feature does not appear to be working on my synth, or if it is, works very poorly.  Then there are four buttons - hold, variation, chord off, and tone set.

Personally, I found this section to be pretty much useless.  The chords are lackluster and dull sounding, and when played in conjunction with the rhythm feature no variation whatsoever.  Press a key and a chord is just repeatedly played with the beat.  The hold feature would hold a note below the key split but that is it and I can't quite figure out the other buttons.  Again, I do not know if this is because my synthesizer appears to be broken, but from what is coming out of the speakers I am not that impressed.

RHYTHM

This is the only section of the keyboard that I actually enjoyed.  The beats have that analog drum machine sound, and who knows - the drums may be analog.  I peaked inside the synth and saw a bunch of resistors and such on a board so it is quite possible that Seiko utilized some analog features in this keyboard.  I personally enjoy analog drums and found the rhythms to be nice.  The accompaniment doesn't really add much and I would probably recommend sampling the rhythms for use with a more capable synth, like the DS-202's big brother, the DS-250.

If you were curious, here are the various rhythms: 8 beat, 16 beat, waltz, Latin, Latin 2, swing, 2 beat, and slow rock.

FUNCTION

The final section features just one button and one slider: a key transpose button and the total volume.


Another feature of this synthesizer are the speakers.  I would probably rate these higher than a standard Casio synth.  When played to the fullest, the sound came out clear but some notes seemed to rattle the case.  While some people have complained about the construction of these keyboards, I have found them to be pretty decent (except for mine, which features a giant hole on the bottom where someone may have dropped it on the edge of a table, and perhaps causing the issue surrounding my non-functioning buttons.

Another odd feature of this synthesizer is that the outputs and power are located on the side.  I like having these to the side of a keyboard for the sake of accessibility.  I'm sure they are on this one because the back is occupied by the add-on modules but I wouldn't complain if this became standard on other synths.  On the side there is a pitch adjustment, RCA audio out (for stereo) or a 1/4" jack for mono output, as well as 1/4" jacks for sustain and expression and perhaps the most hated thing about this synthesizer - the proprietary power supply jack.  Not only does this synthesizer use a 4-pin DIN male plug, it also requires a 13.8v 1a supply.  I was able to find parts to manufacture my own but many people seem to cannibalize auctions and sell the power supply piecemeal for a profit.

To sum up this synthesizer, Mercury is to Ford as Seiko is to Casio*, but here is the sad part, where Seiko seems to have tried for the high-end home keyboard arranger market, the synthesizer (at least the DS-101 and DS-202) seem to be the equivalent of a cheap Casio manufactured a couple years later with some editable features but overall an interesting synthesizer.  I am sure the DS-310 adds plenty to this synthesizer but I would much rather utilize those add-ons on the DS-250, which will be featured in a separate review.

Here is a preview of the sounds of the Seiko DS-202 in a song project I was working on: