Released in 1987, the Casio HT-6000 was a bold step into the pro audio world — a digital/analog hybrid synthesizer with a sound unlike anything else of its time. Overshadowed by giants like the Yamaha DX7 and Roland D-50, the HT-6000 never broke through commercially, but its unique tone and unusual architecture have made it a cult classic among synth lovers.
On paper, it offered four digital oscillators, each with 32 complex waveforms, routed through analog filters for warmth and grit. In practice, its limitations — like forcing all oscillators to share the same waveform — held it back. But now, we’ve taken the HT-6000’s essence and expanded it into a Kontakt instrument that unlocks its full potential.
Features & Improvements
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3 freely-assignable oscillators, each with 32 waveforms
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Individual envelopes, pitch, detune, drive, HPF, and LFOs per oscillator
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Multi-mode LPF (2-pole/4-pole) + HPFs for creative band-pass shaping
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SubOscillator (Ensoniq SQ-80 sine wave) + analog white noise for added weight
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80 factory patches, plus instant inspiration via the Glitch button for randomized new sounds
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Effects rack with modulation routing, reverb, and performance controls
The result is a synth that can create grainy low-end tones, airy highs, and shifting, morphing soundscapes that sit somewhere between Yamaha’s FM sparkle and Roland’s LA clarity — but with a dirtier, more characterful edge. It’s an instrument for pads that evolve, leads that shimmer, and soundscapes that feel alive.
The HT-6000 may have been overlooked in the 80s, but today its grainy, airy voice and hybrid architecture make it stand out as something truly fresh and inspiring.
Requirements:
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Full version of Native Instruments Kontakt v4.2.3 or higher (including Kontakt 5)
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Kontakt Player not supported (instruments will load but time out after 15 minutes)
Casio HT-6000 – Rhythmic Robot: the forgotten digital-analog hybrid with a sound all its own.