Casio DB-V30 Easy Rec - Sampling Mania blue edition

I have many Casio Data Bank models, but this one caught my eye (or maybe ear) due to its special feature.

This model is the Casio DB-V30 Easy Rec, and you can tell it's a little different as soon as you hear the beep as it has the crackle of a speaker rather than the normal crisp beep. This is because this model has a built in speaker and microphone, with the speaker sound coming from holes in the back, and the microphone being visible on the front (at the bottom right). The Easy Rec has the ability to record and play back voice memos up to a length of 30 seconds. These memos can also be used as the alarm sound if you want a personalised wake-up message. Memo recording and playback is controlled by two buttons on the front below the display.

It uses a 1590 module with a 3 line LCD display. The time (6 digits) is along the bottom, and date above (using 4 of the possible 6 digits). The top line is dot matrix array which is designed for 6 characters. Above that there is also a small set of indicator dots for how much of the 30 second memo is used. Other modes are data bank, timer and stopwatch (on top of the aforementioned alarm and voice memo).

This particular model is a special Sampling Mania edition. These models came in different colours than the normal, and had patterned straps. This one has the words Sampling Mania written in gothic script on one half of the strap, blue flames on the other half, and the text 30 seconds on the strap connector. The backlight also holds a picture, this time of what looks like a Celtic cross.

The DB-V30 was originally launched in around 1995, but new ones still can be found for sale. I don't know when this special edition was released.