the casio cz-1 synthesizer

so..

i've seen the casio cz1 synthesizer in a second hand shop nearby and am seriously considering purchasing it.

it would be the first hardware synth in my collection.

can anyone around here who uses/has had used it tell me some things about it?

i can't find the manual on the web, only some hints and tips,

but i'm looking for experienced users to tell me whether it would be worth buying,

along with some facts and firm explanations.

i don't have a lot of money at hand all the time, so i don't want to waste it for some gear

that turns out to be a mere disappointment.

i'm making some sort of electronic music-ish stuff, squeeks & squirks, at times sort of "industrialized".

it's looking nice with the 8 envelope curves and stuff, but i what's it really like working with it?

buy it.

one of the best phase distortion synths for the price.

(how much do they want for it?)

i'd rather have the 5000, but i'd gladly buy this synth.

sounds kinda fm ish,.. but has a completly different style of synthesis.

llovely machine.

hope that helps.

^^^

exactly what he said

mo

he's selling it for 180€, but i'll get it down to 150 or less, i'm a regular customer there,

some sort of a permanent gentlemen's agreement you know..

anyway, thanks for the advice.

do i really need that rom card and what would i need it for?

i've been making music with my computer exclusively for years (a question of budget),

for me that hardware business just started last year, so i'm practically a noob.

i can't remember if the rom card is strictly necessary... i doubt it... presumably you can make your own sounds?

150 euro..fuck... if you don't want it, pm me and i'll paypal you the fucking cash.

I have a CZ3000, and I like it a lot. It's a specialised synth, so don't expect warm, squelchy analogue sounds. Don't buy it expecting a workhorse that you will use ion every track you make. This is a synth that will compliment any analogue or VA synths you get.

However, it's great at cold, hard, nasty and weird, so you being into industrial sounds will be fine. You can also get very nasty detuned bass sounds that are pure drum n bass. And it was the synth that King Jammy used to make the first ever electronic dancehall record. Vince Clarke from Erasure used them too.

The CZ-1 is the best in the series because it has velocity. The 3000 and 5000 are the CZ-1 without velocity. The 5000 has a crappy sequencer and the 3000 doesnt.

The CZ-1000 and CZ-101 have only one synth engine whereas all the others have two.

Apart from the cool sounds, you also get layering (2 patches at once), multitimbrality (you can use it as 8 monosynths!) keyboard splits, analogue stereo chorus (not Roland quality, but still handy), ring modulator, portamento, etc.

Mine's on loan to my technically-challenged mate who makes sci-fi concept albums, and he's figured out how to edit the sounds to get really nasty Throbbing Gristle sounds out of it.

Since the programming is the same as the CZ-3000 and CZ-5000, you can use the manual for either of these to program it. Any hints and tips from the CZ-101 upwards will also work.

  Analogue Wings said:

I have a CZ3000, and I like it a lot. It's a specialised synth, so don't expect warm, squelchy analogue sounds. Don't buy it expecting a workhorse that you will use ion every track you make. This is a synth that will compliment any analogue or VA synths you get.

 

However, it's great at cold, hard, nasty and weird, so you being into industrial sounds will be fine. You can also get very nasty detuned bass sounds that are pure drum n bass. And it was the synth that King Jammy used to make the first ever electronic dancehall record. Vince Clarke from Erasure used them too.

 

The CZ-1 is the best in the series because it has velocity. The 3000 and 5000 are the CZ-1 without velocity. The 5000 has a crappy sequencer and the 3000 doesnt.

The CZ-1000 and CZ-101 have only one synth engine whereas all the others have two.

 

Apart from the cool sounds, you also get layering (2 patches at once), multitimbrality (you can use it as 8 monosynths!) keyboard splits, analogue stereo chorus (not Roland quality, but still handy), ring modulator, portamento, etc.

 

Mine's on loan to my technically-challenged mate who makes sci-fi concept albums, and he's figured out how to edit the sounds to get really nasty Throbbing Gristle sounds out of it.

 

Since the programming is the same as the CZ-3000 and CZ-5000, you can use the manual for either of these to program it. Any hints and tips from the CZ-101 upwards will also work.

thanks a lot, i'll grab it tomorrow!

so the cz1 doesn't have a built-in sequencer? so i can't program melodies with it?

  eatanter said:

so the cz1 doesn't have a built-in sequencer? so i can't program melodies with it?

  Vintagesynth.com said:

The CZ-1 competes with the CZ-5000 for the best all around Phase Distortion digital synth. The CZ-1 has the most advanced keyboard of all the CZ series synths. It has a full 61-note 5-octave keyboard with velocity and aftertouch sensitivity. Very professional features from a Casio synth! Otherwise it is essentially a CZ-3000 (which is essentially two CZ-1000s or CZ-101s). With the CZ-1 you get 8-stage envelopes, 2 oscillators per voice and a whole lot more with relatively easy programming. Whereas the CZ-5000 may not have had as good a keyboard, it had the benefit of an on-board 8-track real-time sequencer which the CZ-1 lacked.

 

If you're looking for low-cost Yamaha DX-like sounds, the Casio CZ line of Phase Distortion synths are a good buy. For performance, the CZ-1 may be the best of the CS-series. Its dynamic keyboard and enhanced memory abilities make it ideal for live situations. Memory, MIDI and multitimbrality have all been upgraded in the CZ-1 making it one of the nicest budget synths ever to grow out of a consumer market.

right, so i got it yesterday...

incredible machine, i have to say, you can get some truly weird noises out of it right away.

problem is, i didn't get a manual, and i also would like to explore this thing in a way that the manufacturers intended it to be used, too.. i'm sure there's some things in the manual i wouldn't find out on my own.

anyone here knows where i could get it, or maybe anyone of you, like, has it? been trying to find it on the web for the last few hours, but to no avail..

i've got a cz1000, i got it for £20 and i fucking love it!

i played a whole show with my band soldering iron maiden using just a bunch of patches i made and then proceeded to continue playing whilst my friend did a DJ set (the applause was touching)!!!

dunno know much about the cz1 but theyre pretty versatile and were one one the first digital keyboards to recreate analog. my output plug is also pretty old and degraded and i managed to make some pacthes which were exactly like those in various boc songs! i highly recommend getting anything in that series - snares linked me this circuit bending dude who loves these keyboards too. very cheap, very awesome sounds. makes lovely basses and bassy pads.

heh, i was gonna circuit bend it (it can run off batteries so its safe to do so) but im too scared ill hurt/short circuit it.

i have a circuit bent sk-1 that's just lovely. give it to a gaggle of drunk people and they'll be on the floor laughing in minutes - it's kind of scary.

After listening to the Marigold Factory tracks I really want to get drunk with you and play your synth

  Captain Cooper said:

After listening to the Marigold Factory tracks I really want to get drunk with you and play your synth

what tracks are these, then? they have CZ1 on them??

  Quote

After listening to the Marigold Factory tracks I really want to get drunk with you and play your synth

  Quote

After listening to the Marigold Factory tracks I really want to get drunk with you and play your synth

http://www.drhatsmarigoldfactory.com/

no casio, an old circuit bent yamaha though