Back in 1988, this rackmount gem brought Casio's innovative iPD synthesis to the pro studio world, evolving their Phase Distortion tech into something rack-ready and gig-tough, perfect for pairing with guitar synths like the PG-380.
At its heart, it packs eight iPD modules grouped into four pairs, where you can mix, ring modulate, or phase them together—plus external phase options for deeper timbral tricks using sine, saw, and noise waveforms from its DCO oscillators. Two LFOs handle vibrato and tremolo with triangle, saw, or square shapes, while nine 8-stage envelopes shape amps per module and a global pitch curve; velocity sensitivity offers eight curves for expressive play. Controls live on a clean brushed aluminum front panel with 24 switches, LCD display, rotary volume knob, headphone out, and RC-100 card slot for extra patches, all in a sleek 1U all-metal black chassis that's lightweight yet sturdy. MIDI In/Out/Thru supports full multitimbral setups up to eight parts, with combo modes for splits/layers, auto-panning, and dynamic control via mod wheel, aftertouch, or pedals.
Over the years, players have praised its unique glassy, metallic tones that cut through mixes in a way FM couldn't quite match, though some note the edit-only interface takes dedication to master—no knobs for real-time tweaks. It's a cult favorite for vintage digital hunters chasing that Casio edge.
