The Casio AZ-1 is a strap-on remote keyboard controller designed for keyboard players who want to join their bandmates at the front of the stage. Unlike traditional master keyboards, this guitar-inspired controller is meant to be slung around the neck, allowing performers to step out from behind their equipment stack while maintaining full control over their MIDI instruments.
The AZ-1 doesn't produce any sounds itself — it's purely a controller that communicates with sound-generating equipment via MIDI cable, with no audio cable required. Despite being slightly heavier than an average guitar, the instrument is well-balanced and won't cause back strain during performance.
The controller features a 41-note keyboard with light action suited to playing with keys parallel to the fingers rather than falling onto them from above. The keyboard transmits both attack velocity and channel aftertouch information, and its range can be shifted up or down by an octave, providing a total span of just over five octaves. When changing octaves, the AZ-1 intelligently turns off existing notes to prevent hanging notes and retransmits them at the new pitch.
The neck houses an impressive array of controls that fall naturally under the left hand: a dedicated pitch-bend wheel, two assignable wheels, portamento and sustain buttons, two assignable switches, and a Solo button. The main body features an assignable slider, and a three-digit LED window displays controller values.
The AZ1 offers flexible MIDI transmission with three modes (A, B, and A+B), allowing players to switch between instruments or layer sounds. In single modes, it transmits up to eight notes simultaneously on channels 1-16, while in dual A+B mode, it maintains eight-note polyphony across two channels simultaneously.
Front-panel buttons enable quick selection of any of MIDI's 128 program numbers using an efficient bank/sound format. The controller's assignable parameters come with sensible default settings (modulation, master volume, portamento time, etc.) that can be recalled at any time. It can also send System Exclusive messages specifically designed for Casio's CZ synthesizer series to control features like tone mix, key transpose, and modulation depth.
Technical Specifications
Keyboard
- Keys: 41-note keyboard
- Action: Light touch, velocity-sensitive
- Velocity: Attack velocity transmission
- Aftertouch: Channel aftertouch transmission
- Octave Shift: ±1 octave (total range: 5+ octaves)
- Note Management: Note hanging prevention with automatic retransmission at new pitch
MIDI Implementation
- MIDI Channels: 1-16 (selectable)
- Transmit Modes: A, B, and A+B (dual)
- Polyphony: 8 notes maximum (A or B mode); 8 notes per channel in A+B mode
- Program Change: 128 program numbers (bank/sound selection format)
- Automatic Power-Up Messages: Omni Off/Poly, Sustain Off, pitch-bend center value, last program number, assignable controller settings
- System Exclusive: Compatible with Casio CZ series synthesizers
Controllers
- Pitch Bend: Dedicated wheel (neck-mounted)
- Assignable Wheels: 2 (neck-mounted)
- Assignable Slider: 1 (body-mounted)
- Assignable Switches: 2 (neck-mounted)
- Portamento Button: Neck-mounted (active while held)
- Sustain Button: Neck-mounted (active while held)
- Solo Button: Switches to monophonic performance mode, sends Omni On/Mono instruction
Default Controller Assignments
- Wheel 1: Modulation
- Wheel 2: Master Volume (MIDI main volume control)
- Slider: Portamento Time
- Switch 1: Modulation On/Off
- Switch 2: Glide On/Off
- Settings Recall: All settings recallable to initialized defaults
Display
- Type: 3-digit LED window
- Function: Displays controller values
Power Supply
- Battery: 6 × AA batteries
- External: 9V power supply (optional)
Physical Design
- Form Factor: Strap-on/keytar style (guitar-inspired design)
- Weight: Slightly heavier than average guitar
- Balance: Designed for comfortable neck-strap carrying
- Ergonomics: Left-hand accessible controls, balanced weight distribution
Additional Features
- Octave Change: Prevents note hanging
- Mode Safety: Transmit mode cannot be changed while notes are held or sustaining
- Controller Routing: MIDI controller codes sent on selected channel(s) in active mode
