Casio recently unveiled two brand new keyboards that are sure to divide fans. First up is the CT-S500, which is available for $379.99, followed by the CT-S1000V, which retails for $449.99.

According to Casio, the Casiotone CT-S500 delivers studio-quality sounds and features in an ultra-portable, easy-to-use keyboard. It has 61 full-size touch-responsive keys as well as a pitch bend wheel and modulation knob. The three assignable knobs can be used to tweak settings such as EQ, filter, effects, and other settings on the fly, and it also has an easy-to-read LCD. The CT-S500 is powered by the AiX Sound Source featuring a collection of 800 tones, including electric pianos, organs, strings, synths, and more. Vintage fans will also appreciate the collection of sought-after keyboard instruments, and Casio has included classic Casio sounds from their own VL, VZ, and CZ series. It even has a built-in audio sampler to create custom tones and drum kits.

With 243 full-accompaniment Rhythms, the CT-S500 makes it easy to play a few notes and receive an entire backing band that reacts to the way you play. Since it has acoustic drums, vintage drum machines, rhythm guitars, and more, there is something for every mood. With 1/4" line outputs to connect to amps and PA systems, the CT-S500 is gig-ready, but it can also be powered by 6 AA batteries if you want to play it anywhere. Thanks to the included WU-BT10 Bluetooth MIDI/audio adaptor, you can even control other gear remotely. Check out the official website for the full CT-S500 specifications or to purchase one for yourself.

Next up is the slightly more expensive CT-S1000V, which Casio is marketing as a way to give your music a brand new voice. What makes it so unique is that along with 800 Tones and a wealth of musical tools, it also features new Vocal Synthesis technology.

This means that users can speak or type their lyrics into the free Lyric Creator app for iOs or Android then transfer them to the CT-S1000V. They can then hear their words come alive by choosing from multiple vocalist models and adjusting everything from age and vibrato to portamento and other parameters in real-time. Custom vocalist creation based on audio recordings is also possible. For the rest, the specs are the same as the CT-S500, so you get 61 full-size touch-responsive keys, pitch bend wheel and modulation knob, three assignable knobs, the AiX Sound Source, 243 full-accompaniment rhythms, and much more. Anyone interested can find more information about the CT-S1000V on the official website.