Vocal Synthesis produces a singing voice through a combination of lyrics and voice tone. The CT-S1000V comes with 100 pre-built lyrics to get you started, but the real fun happens when you create and save your own lyrics on the dedicated app. There are 22 preset vocal tones (vocalists), each with its own distinctive character. Each vocalist can be further manipulated with front panel controls for age, gender, vibrato and more. A range of other settings are also available to personalize your vocals. Parameters such as attack time, modulation, effects, an arpeggiator, and a retrigger function that produces a rapid series of keystrokes when a key is held down. Using the Lyric Creator app, you can input your own lyrics, provide detailed pronunciation information (for English and Japanese), and create sequences that can be strung together to form songs. You can even create your very own vocalist from any audio data. Experience a completely new kind of musical performance not possible with conventional sound sources. Two modes are available: Phrase Mode and Note Mode. Phrase mode is recommended for experimentation and improvisation when developing ideas. The lyrics are sung in order as you play for a very natural playing experience. In Note mode, the lyrics advance one syllable at a time as you press keys on the keyboard.

Naturally, the CT-S1000V comes with a wide range of built-in effects—100 in total including compressor, phaser, distortion and wah. Chains of four different effects can be applied to any tone, and thanks to Casio’s Active DSP you can assign effect parameters to the front panel knobs for dynamic, real-time tweaking. Additionally, there are system-wide chorus, delay and reverb effects. The flexibility of the effects is also noteworthy—you can assign independent effect chains to each tone used in a Layer or Split, or the tones used for melody and accompaniment parts. What’s more, tones can be switched seamlessly as the effect tail from the previous tone plays out naturally without being abruptly cut off. With this kind of attention to detail, the CT-S1000V is truly a powerhouse of expression.

The CT-S1000V has two built-in speakers that pack a surprising punch thanks to Casio’s unique Horizontal Bass-Reflex System, which is capable of producing powerful low-frequency sound. A surround function adds width and depth to the sound, while the Volume Sync Equalizer ensures that the tonal balance of the sound is maintained when you adjust the volume, providing added depth and weight even when playing at low volume. All in all, the CT-S1000V delivers sound that completely belies its compact dimensions.

The CT-S1000V’s sampling capability means you can import your own sounds from a smart device to use as a unique Sampling Melody Tone or Sampling Drum Tones. When imported as a Melody Tone, the imported audio can be played as pitched notes, while audio imported as Drum Tones can be set to replace individual hits in a drum set. Maximum sample time is about 10 seconds for the Melody Tone and about three seconds for each Drum Tone. Experiment with different kinds of sounds, such as your own voice or environmental backgrounds, then add effects and control parameters in real time with the Active DSP function. Discover your own musical originality.

The CT-S1000V plays nicely with your other gear, too, thanks to its comprehensive lineup of external connections. The standard line out jacks are ideal for hooking up to a keyboard amplifier, mixer or other equipment for recording or live performances, and the built-in speakers can be muted if required. Connection to other MIDI-compatible equipment is fully supported, enabling the CT-S1000V to be used as a MIDI-controlled sound source or as a MIDI controller. You can even use the CT-S1000V as a Bluetooth^® speaker for your smartphone or tablet using the Bluetooth^® audio function. Using the CT-S1000V together with the dedicated app expands the possibilities further still with features like melody/accompaniment cancelation, pitch adjustment and tempo adjustment—perfect for playing along with your favorite songs or honing your play-by-ear skills.