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Casio CZ-230S - Image 1

Casio CZ-230S

KeyboardDigitalPolyphonic

Back in 1986, this synth pioneered full MIDI in/out/thru on a consumer keyboard, blending phase distortion tones with a built-in drum machine pulled straight from the Casio RZ-1—perfect for jamming ideas without extra gear.

It packs 8-voice polyphony from dual DCOs per voice, driving Casio's signature phase distortion synthesis for metallic, evolving sounds via dedicated 8-stage envelopes on DCW, DCA, and pitch. The 49 full-size mini keys span four octaves with velocity sensitivity, a pitch bend wheel, portamento, and solo/monophonic modes, though it skips onboard vibrato or sustain buttons. You'll find 100 presets (99 fixed, 4 editable via computer over MIDI), a versatile sequencer in real-time or step modes, 12 programmable drum sounds, and a chorus effect, all outputting through a mono jack or built-in speaker. Battery-powered portability and multitimbral 4-part capability make it a quirky workstation hybrid.

Vintage players dig its raw PD character—crisp brass, glassy bells, and unique drums that stand out in mixes—but note the limited editing and auto-off after MIDI inactivity as classic quirks from the era.

Released

1986

Status

Discontinued

Synthesizer
Format
Keyboard
Type
Phase Distortion
Internal Battery
No
Voice
A/D
Digital
Polyphony
Polyphonic
Oscillators
2
Oscillator Type
DCO (Digitally Controlled)
Voices
8
Filter
No
Envelopes
-
LFO
1
Effects
Chorus
Expression
Aftertouch
No
Velocity
Yes
MPE
No
Additional
-
Software
-
I/O
Audio In
-
Audio Out
1x mono (built-in speaker)
Headphone
-
MIDI
In, Out, Thru
MIDI Type
DIN (5-pin)
Ports
-
Wi-Fi
No
Workflow
Arpeggiator
No
Sequencer
Yes
Mod Matrix
No
Memory
100 presets
Measurements
Dimensions
-
Weight
-
Last updated Feb 25, 2026