Technics SX-K200 keyboard demo

Music: "Motion Capture" (C) Copyright 2019 Alfonse

Technics SX-K200 keyboard (1982)

All sounds you hear in the track were made using the SX-K200; some were run through a Boss DD7 delay pedal. All parts were recorded to a DAW, where compression, EQ, and reverb were added as required. I also quadruple-tracked the lead synth melody (with two layers of "Cosmic Wah" an octave apart and two layers of "Brass" at the lower octave, which I detuned slightly in the DAW to give it a fatter sound). Individual drum hits were sampled from slowed-down rhythms and processed to allow a fresh kick and snare pattern to be built, although the basis of the groove was the "Disco" rhythm on the keyboard (with a high-pass filter applied so that the hi-hats are mainly all you hear).

The aim of these videos is to see what you can create using sounds from ageing home keyboards together with current production tools. The SX-K200 was an evolution of Technics' electronic organs, which they had been building and developing since the '60s; its sounds are split into 8 "orchestral" polyphonic presets and 6 "solo" monophonic voices, with nods to various staple synth sounds of the era. There is also a nice stereo chorus effect that can be applied to the orchestral sounds.

ALFONSE

[sorri]

I am playing it in 2025 and works like a charm

[keiross]

Absolute banger. I remember trying to make techno on this keyboard and an improvised four track as a kid.

[atomkraftstudios]

A wonderful reminder to learn to play your own arpeggios!

[f.d.]

Sometimes -- rarely! -- it happens that I wake up with a song in my head and just *HAVE* to listen to it first thing after the first sip of coffee. Today, it happened with this song. Can't give a higher praise to music, there's really only a handful of songs which do that to me. So beautiful :)

[PocketOperatorGuy]

Pedals add so much depth and feeling to these vintage sounds.
It's a really catchy track too!
Good stuff!

[williamwinslowhansen]

This keyboard has extremely solid construction and really is a lot of fun . I just jammed on mine and really had to see if anyone had a video up on YouTube of one . This one is by far the best

[jezgomez]

Instant like. You make it sound so good!

[JosephMurphy]

This is a terrific demonstration of how usable the patches on this keyboard are. A very thoughtful and catchy arrangement showcasing the best of the Technics. I love my synth, and I love hearing the drum fills and 'signature sounds' in this track. Great work!

[RdVortex]

Wow, this is so impressive! We used to have this keyboard at home when I was a kid. I never could play it and simply played with the different sounds and automatic drum beats. Would have been completely blown away, if I had known back then, that the keyboard could be used to create great tracks like this!

[patricksanders]

This is sooo well done. I have the sx-k250 by the way.

[simon_jakobsson]

This is so funky. Damn it's so funky!

[subwaygaragemusic]

Followed you from Reddit! Nice work you've done there. All the compositions you did are eargasmic. Great job!

[handlemchandleface]

Wait!, you mean we don’t need a $$$$ synth to make cool music? But we were promised implicitly that spending more $ is the only way to go. 😩.. :)

[EBMZEQUENZER]

This is madness! How do you make those cheap keyboards sound so good? Cheers

[mixedsignalspresets]

You've got skills! Songwriting, playing and production wise. What's your musical background?

[romolek]

Rare technics :). Na co dzień gram na kn 1600 . W zespole :)

[generalerror]

Pure beauty!! Love that basic rhythmical octave riff, and the lead, and the arpeggio. (Not sure about that sleazy jazz solo though ;)

I also appreciate you alway tell us what exactly you did to get that sound. Great work, Alfonse!

[tinagel]

How you get the sound into your daw? The Technics SX-K 200 has noch Midi. Via headphone jack? Thank you. Love this Track!

[charls.the.composer]

Great Keyboard, i have one! but need service, please review of this keyboard, especially sound of the strings witout chorus and with chorus, thanks!

[sam-cj]

Yeah can anyone tell me how to reset the fucking thing though