Casio CTK-2400 61-Key Portable Keyboard

Portable keyboards can be a great entry point for beginning musicians who want to learn their way around a keyboard, as well as an affordable tool for established musicians looking to do the same. There's no denying that understanding a piano's layout can help with nearly any instrument, as well as songwriting and composing. Casio has long been a leader in bringing keyboards to market for just these purposes, keeping them both affordable and packing them with great sounds, rhythms and other tools to assist learning. The CTK-2400 continues in that tradition, with a street price right around $100 and loads of features including 400 high-quality tones, auto-accompaniment, sampling capability and much more.

What You Need To Know

• The CTK-2400 is a 61-key portable keyboard with piano-style keys

• Stereo speakers provide plenty of volume and clear sound

• Casio's AHL (Acoustic & Highly-compressed Large-waveform) delivers 400 tones, from stereo pianos to organs, wind and brass instruments, drums/percussion, synths, sound effects and more

• Additionally, the CTK-2400 has an onboard mic for sampling your own sounds

• Samples sounds can be effected with a variety of fun effects

• There are 110 songs onboard and 150 rhythms

• 48-note polyphony provides a rich musical experience

• Auto-accompaniment function gives you a virtual backing band, making playing and learning fun and productive

• An LCD screen keeps you informed of current patch as well as several other parameters

•Comprehensive controls easily guide you through all the CTK-2400's sounds and settings

• Built-in reverb enhances sounds

• Learning to play is made easy with several helpful features like fingering display on built-in songs, phrase repetition

• The Step Up learning function helps you master each hand's part until you've got the entire song down

• A USB port is provided for transmitting/receiving MIDI data with a computer

• Other rear-panel connections include a jack for a sustain pedal (not included), headphone/output jack and an audio in for connecting external audio equipment

• The CTK-2400 runs on the included AC adapter as well as six AA batteries for true portability

Limitations

It's tough to call out limitations on a $100 keyboard, as the limitations inherent typically come with keyboards in this price range, like lack of weighted/hammer-action keys, advanced composing capabilities, etc.

Conclusion

The CTK-2400 is a great option for anyone looking to either improve their keyboard skills or set out on the path to playing and understanding keyboards. It's a robust unit with a nice array of well-crafted sounds, onboard learning functions and other features that make playing and learning an enjoyable experience, for the player and the listeners. At this price, it's an affordable and fun way to get into the world of keyboards.

Resources

Buy the Casio CTK-2400 61-Key Portable Keyboard at Musician's Friend

Learn more about the Casio CTK-2400 at casio.com

 Ara Ajizian, Harmony Central's Editorial Director, has been playing bass and guitar as well as singing since he was 18, and soon that love of music combined with a passion for writing; launching what's now a decade-long career immersed in the gear world. He's thrilled to be back on the Harmony Central team after two years as Managing Editor for Musician's Friend covering gear, bands and events and gigging in the Los Angeles area.