Casio’s SXC-1 is a pocket-sized sampler designed like a game console

Casio has officially announced the SXC-1, a standalone portable sampler that first turned up as a prototype at NAMM 2026.

The design sits somewhere between a handheld game console and a beat machine, launching in Japan on May 28.

The front panel gives you a 4x4 grid of 16 backlit pads, a small OLED display, and two rotary knobs for editing sounds and dialling in effects in real time. One knob covers filter, flanger, phaser, and bitcrusher; the other handles delay and four note roll types.

Additionally, a D-pad and buttons take care of navigation.

The SXC-1 comes loaded with over 80 sample banks drawn from Casio classics: the SK-1, SK-5, CZ-101, and MT-40. Recording runs at 16-bit/48kHz via built-in mic, 3.5mm input, or USB, with 64GB of storage and up to 15 minutes of sample time.

Read this next: Casio's new synth to include a built-in vocoder

A Beat Sync feature automatically matches loop tempo to your project, making it well-suited for quick beatmaking.

The sequencer holds up to 50 sequences of 8 bars each, and a companion smartphone app enables deeper editing.

Read this next: The Akai Pro MPC Sample offers portability for sequencing & music production

Connectivity includes stereo in/out, headphone out, and two USB-C ports, though there are no dedicated MIDI ports, which may frustrate those wanting to hook it up to other gear.

Weighing 315 gr and running on 4 AA batteries for 1–2 hours, it's genuinely pocketable.

Japanese pricing is set at ¥39,930 (around US$250), and pre-orders sold out almost immediately. A global release date and pricing have yet to be confirmed.

Stand by for further updates on the official Casio site here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

Cut through the noise - sign up for our weekly Scene Report or follow us on Instagram to get the latest from Asia and the Asian diaspora!