First Two-Color, Key-Lighting Digital Piano Introduced By Casio

Jan. 17 - Casio tomorrow will introduce the world's first two-color, key-lighting digital piano. The new Celviano AL-150R will go on display at Casio Booth #6571 at the International Music Products Association -- NAMM Show -- that opens at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California tomorrow.
The new Celviano AL-150R will be sold exclusively by piano dealers at the suggested retail price of $2,999.

According to John Pallini, Director of Sales and Marketing for Casio's Electronic Musical Instruments (EMI) Division, the AL-150R has 100 built-in songs with Casio's easy-to-use three step lesson mode:

• Keys light in two different colors, red and yellow, to guide the user's left and right hand playing.



• Each built-in song offers three different arrangements suitable for the skill level of various users.



• New Fingering Guide System. The "Fingering Position Navigation" guide system shows the movement of the hand position, the correct fingering and the next note to be played. The "Fingering Voice Navigation" system vocally calls out the correct fingering just like a piano teacher would.

Pallini said that the Celviano AL-150R also offers built-in scales and finger exercises, a newly designed hammer action keyboard with key scaling, and a markedly improved piano sound.

In addition, the Celviano is 64-note polyphonic, has 263 different instrument sounds and is GM/GS compatible. The AL-150R has a 3.5" floppy disk drive; large backlit LCD display and 100 auto accompaniment patterns.

Additional songs and lesson materials are available via software supplements and Casio's Sheet Music Navigation System. Simply connect with the Internet through a PC and sheet music navigation data can be downloaded from Casio's web site -- casiosongs.com. Lighting keys and scores with navigation let you play your favorite songs easily. In order to do this, a Windows 95/98 PC is required and an optional MIDI cable and interface are necessary.

The AL-150R incorporates Casio's new Zygotech Polynomial Interpolation (ZPI) for full rich sound quality. This feature optimizes data compression and a polynomial interpolation based waveform playback process to produce a variety of tones ranging from natural sounding acoustic instruments to contemporary, synthesized sounds of exceptional clarity, richness and quality.

Pallini said that the new Celviano will appeal to practically anyone who is interested in learning how to play the piano. "With the dramatic education benefits this instrument offers, and the ability to expand the song bank via Internet connection, the only thing easier than playing the AL-150R will be selling it."

Casio, the unexpected extra, manufactures a wide range of portable keyboards and digital pianos for every taste, skill and budget and for every level of proficiency from novice to professional.

Casio, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world's leading consumer electronics companies. Casio, Inc., with almost a half billion in sales, markets musical keyboards, calculators, business organizers, hand-held personal computers, digital scanners and printers, timepieces, hand-held color TVs, cash registers and mobile information products and solutions for business.

Source: Casio, Inc.