my first observations of the SK-8

[rdfreak]

Well, this is the best so far I think, (yes even beats my poor old PT-50 I'd had since I was five, and got so much pleasure out of! After playing with it for a few minutes and therefore, haven't figured out most of the stuff it does, it full on seems to totally kick over my others so far! The sound quality is totally awesome; totally so much nicer than the PT-50 and definitely, the SK-1!
I've already mannaged to work out how to sample, and unlike the SK-1 (which only has a one second sampling thing), this prob goes up to about ten seconds. And like the sK-5 (that I've seen of loscha's, it has more than one sample memory bank!
Even though now I'm using the batteries already in there, it came with a powerpack, which, I can thankfully use as I already have an american adapter from my Maestro. And I'll be able to probably use it on the other casios as well!
The explanation on ebay was correct though; the rOM Pack door is very loose (but like it said, think it's only on the right side). Also like it said, there's a bit of sticker remaining on most of the keys, (someone obviously had stickers on all the notes), but I do not doubt I'll be able to get that off. Nan is good with that sorta thing, so will consult her; that's what Eucalyptus oil is for, in my experience!
I knew straight away how to turn the keyboard on, as the switch is in exactly the same position as the sK-1!
There was one button I did press, and it gave me a sequence of notes to a mystory beat, so not sure if that's a demo recording left on there by the previous owner, or what! but, I shall have so much fun working it all out!
Like the sK-5, it has four touch pads that played various notes at first, but helf my original samples when I played with that bit later on. They are actually located a bit more to the right than those of the sK-5.
The five ROM packs didn't come with cases, unlike the ones I have already, but that's no real biggy; I keep them all in a long box anyway!
The keyboard came in a lovely zip-up bag, which will do well in future for when I wish to cart around any of the portable casios.
Basically, to quote Kath (from Kath and Kim, which I've been listening to a lot lately,) "I like what I see!" but not only that mate, I bloody love what I see! it's the best! already! seriously; casio rules!
And, with this better quality sound, how absolutely awesome are all the rOM packs going to sound, especially with the real-sounding piano! man I'll be in heavin! got to work out, once I put the ROM pack in, where the actual button is! that may be a bit tricky! I remember ages ago from my PT-50, when I was a little tacker, I had to get a sightie to show me how to select the different songs. The PT-50 had numbers on the keys starting from fifth octive C, which was how we selected the different songs. This keyboard has raised bits under every key, but not sure, at this stage, if they're numbers or not.
Oh, I got the print manual too. may have to get me scanner working, and scan it!

OK enough typing; off to feedback, and then more playing!
til next time, RdFreak