Our technologies
Sound
A concert grand piano thrives on its powerful resonance and subtle nuances – and this is precisely what Casio's innovative sound technology impressively reproduces.
The specially developed LSI processor ensures precise sound processing in real time: every note and every key responds dynamically to your playing style and touch. The result is a natural, expressive sound with high playability.
The Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source built into the AP-550, AP-S450, AP-300 and AP-S200 responds sensitively to playing speed and timing – from gentle to powerful.
The AP-750 features the ‘AiR Grand Sound Source’ technology used in the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid series. It delivers the full character and expressiveness of a concert grand piano – for a sound experience of the highest standard.
A concert grand piano never sounds the same – it responds to every nuance of the performance. Casio's Multi-Dimensional Morphing Technology captures this precisely: it dynamically adjusts the sound to the touch and timing, allowing for the finest nuances of expression – from the softest pianissimo to the most powerful fortissimo.
The full, lively resonance of a concert grand piano is created by the interplay of the cabinet, mechanics and around 230 strings. The integrated resonance system perfectly captures this complex sound – including string resonance, damper resonance and, in the AP-750, even aliquot and open string resonance for particularly natural timbres.
Mechanical details such as damper, key and pedal sounds are also realistically simulated. The result is a playing experience that is astonishingly close to that of a real grand piano – down to the smallest detail.
An open grand piano lid changes the tone colour and projection, making the sound more brilliant and spacious. Certain models in the Celviano series simulate this effect with a four-step ‘grand piano lid simulation’ that matches real opening angles.
This allows the sound to be specifically adapted to the style and mood of the piece, regardless of whether the real lid is open or not.
In digital pianos, the sound waveform data is normally compressed and stored in the internal memory. During playback, the data is decompressed and the piano sound is generated. Similar to compressed audio formats (e.g. MP3), this process inevitably compromises the playback sound compared to the original sound.
The Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source and AiR Grand Sound Source feature lossless compression technology. This not only prevents deterioration in the quality of the waveform, but also enables the recording and playback of a wide variety of waveforms.
Casio's Sound Source technology offers a wide selection of piano sounds, including world-renowned concert grand pianos. The AP-750 features three tones from the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid series, inspired by world-famous grand pianos from Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna, each with its own distinctive sound profile. One of these tones, ‘Berlin Grand’, was developed in collaboration with renowned German grand piano manufacturer C. Bechstein. To develop the sound, Casio analysed C. Bechstein's top-of-the-range ‘D282’ grand piano in detail.
Classical piano pieces require subtle nuances and stylistically appropriate tones. Casio has developed ten specially tuned sounds tailored to playing technique, touch and genre – for a new, inspiring sound experience in the classical repertoire.
The sound system is the heart of electronic instruments – it transforms the keystroke and playing expression into music. The AP-750, AP-550 and AP-S450 models feature an acoustic system that realistically reproduces the natural, resonant sound of a concert grand piano – for an intense and expressive playing experience.
The AP-750 offers a sound experience of the highest standard with its exclusive Grandphonic Sound System. Eight speakers, powered by four amplifiers, deliver room-filling, detailed sound – tuned in frequency, volume and direction for each sound component.
Specially designed tweeters, strategically placed reflection elements and sound openings in the cabinet ensure that the sound radiates from the entire instrument, just like a real concert grand piano.
A sophisticated cabinet design – including free-standing speaker paths and a lid mechanism – enhances this effect and creates an immersive, natural listening experience that goes far beyond classic stereo.
The AP-550 and AP-S450 (4 integrated speakers) as well as the AP-300 and AP-S200 (2 integrated speakers) models also follow this sound philosophy – with sound systems that authentically reproduce the characteristic grand piano sound,
Some Celviano models offer the Sound Mode function – for individual sound design with effects such as reverb, surround and hall simulation. This allows you to replicate the acoustics of famous concert halls and expand the sound spatially. With various settings, you can shape your personal sound and make the playing experience even more intense.
Ideal for playing at low volumes – e.g. at home or at night. The Volume Sync Equalizer automatically adjusts low and high frequencies so that the sound remains full and balanced even at low volumes.
Keyboard
This keyboard combines digital control technologies with real hammer action. The result: a playing experience like that of a concert grand piano. Light touches feel gentle, while strong touches have realistic resistance – just like the original. Counterweights under each key ensure stability and control.
A concert grand piano has 88 keys, and each key has a unique touch due to the different hammer size, weight, string thickness and other factors. For this reason, we have individually scaled each of the 88 keys of the Smart Hybrid Hammer Action – for an authentic playing experience that perfectly replicates the character of a grand piano. The timing of the sound trigger has also been adjusted to provide a realistic playing experience.
The Key Off Response function controls the timing of the damping by analysing the movement of the keys when they are released. On a concert grand piano, the sound stops when the damper touches the strings. This function provides precise control over the timing of the damping and responds to the speed at which the keys are released.
This allows for nuanced touch dynamics, such as sounding the next note without cutting off the previous note when repeating notes. With the three-stage Key Off Response function, the characteristics of the keyboard can be adjusted to suit the style of music being played.
The Key Off Simulator function adjusts the duration of the release and the expression based on the speed at which the keys are released, replicating the nuanced changes in the sound of a concert grand piano. The function captures the subtle variations in length and expression for an authentic performance.
The white keys are made of a hybrid material consisting of plastic and spruce wood.
The surface texture – ivory-like for the white keys and ebony for the black keys – ensures excellent playability.
This keyboard also combines the physical mechanisms of hammer weight with advanced digital control technology such as 88-key digital scaling, hammer response and key-off response to create the authentic touch of a grand piano.
This high-quality plastic keyboard also has an excellent feel and guarantees nuanced playability.
With digital pianos, the touch is central to the playing experience – that is, how directly the playing and the sound are connected. Even though modern digital pianos use a hammer mechanism to imitate the touch of an acoustic grand piano, the sound generation works fundamentally differently. That's why a combination of digital control and physical mechanics is needed to recreate the experience as authentically as possible.
Important factors include the downweight (how much force is needed to press a key), the upweight (how strongly the key returns) and the lever mechanism: the harder the touch, the more resistance – just like on an acoustic piano.
The sound and feel also vary depending on the area of the keyboard. In the lower registers, the touch feels heavier, which is due to the hammer size, string thickness and length of the original. It also matters whether you strike the key closer to the front or further back – everything influences the sound.
The Smart Scaled Hammer Action built into the AP-300 and AP-S200 combines precisely weighted hammers with digital control to simulate the feel of a real grand piano – including differentiated playing across all 88 keys.
The Smart Hybrid Hammer Action CELVIANO Edition, the wood-plastic hybrid keyboard of the AP-750, AP-550 and AP-S450, goes even further: here, weight, mechanics and digital fine control are optimally matched to sound, cabinet and playing style. This results in a particularly nuanced, responsive touch – very close to that of a concert grand piano.
Pedals
The pedals on the AP-750, AP-550 and AP-300 models are modelled on the pedals of a concert grand piano in terms of shape and spacing, offering you a particularly realistic playing experience.
The AP-S450 and AP-S200 are equipped with three slim pedals – ideal for those who value compact design and playing comfort.
The models with the continuously adjustable damper pedal feature precise sound control, authentic changes in resonance behaviour and characteristic pedal sounds. The models with the half-pedal function also guarantee powerful expressive possibilities.
| Model | Damper | Soft | Shape and distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP-750 | continuously variable | continuously variable | Grand piano |
| AP-550 | continuously variable | 2 levels, off | Grand piano |
| AP-300 | 2 levels, off | 2 levels, off | Grand piano |
| AP-S450 | continuously variable | on, off | Slim type |
| AP-S200 | 2 levels, off | on, off | Slim type |
Experience
Velocity display
- The velocity of your performance is analysed – perfect for dynamic practice
- Helpful for varying the expression in phrases
- In duet mode: the display is split – each side can analyse their own performance
- Also visible when playing back MIDI recordings: you can see exactly how dynamically you played
Pedale display
- Analysis of damper pedal operation
- Ideal for teaching and technique training: recognise and discuss pedal use precisely
- In duet mode: the display is split – each side can analyse their own performance
- Also visible during MIDI playback – so you can retrace your pedal use precisely afterwards
Metronome display
- Use the display as a light metronome
- Five different metronome patterns are available
Status display
- Displays the current status of the instrument as needed: playback position (Instant RePlayer), recording, Bluetooth, and more
- Easy to understand even without a screen — all important information at a glance
Audio lighting
- With Bluetooth audio, the Visual Information Bar reacts synchronously to the music – with four light patterns
- Creates an atmospheric ambience when listening to music – can also be switched off if desired
When you activate the ‘Instant RePlayer’ function, it automatically starts recording your key and pedal presses – without you having to worry about it. Up to 270 seconds of your performance is saved. Once this time is exceeded, older data is simply overwritten.
- Automatically records up to 270 seconds of your playing – without having to actively start it
- Older recordings are continuously overwritten – you stay completely in the flow
- Select spontaneous highlights or problem areas while playing
- Precise playback: jump to the desired passage in 5-second increments
- Set markers to analyse or compare difficult phrases
- Control directly on the instrument or via the CASIO MUSIC SPACE app
Simply press the record button to start your MIDI recording – it will be saved directly to the internal memory. You can record up to two tracks, allowing you to record your right and left hands separately.
In addition, an audio recorder is available, allowing you to save your music as an audio file directly to a USB flash drive. (The AP-750 model also allows recording to the internal memory.)
Data stored with the integrated MIDI or audio recorder can be conveniently transferred to other devices such as smartphones or computers for listening, sharing or further editing.
The AP-750 offers new ‘scenes’ with preset combinations of sound, resonance, reverb and more — perfect for recreating composer styles, eras or performance situations.
Ten predefined presets and ten memory slots for your own scenes allow for a versatile, individual playing experience.
With the ‘CASIO MUSIC SPACE’ app, you can conveniently control your digital piano thanks to the practical piano remote control and graphical user interface. Simply connect your piano via the included wireless MIDI & audio adapter or USB cable, and you can easily change settings, fine-tune effects or adjust multiple parameters simultaneously.
The app also includes sheet music for classical works and practice pieces, on which you can even make notes directly.
Be inspired by the Concert Play function: you play as a soloist and are accompanied by realistic orchestra recordings – just like in a real concert. You have full control: play, pause, fast forward, rewind or the practical A-B repeat function help you practise specific sections.
And best of all, you can easily adjust the tempo so that even challenging pieces become easier step by step.
