Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

Hi Steve,
> 
> I only used a CZ-101 in a store, with headphones, so I can't compare 
> the two.  
Wow,that is one area where the CZ-101 really fails. They put the 
crappiest op-amp on the headphone out, has a built in white noise 
generator. Anyone ever complains that thier CZ-101 is noisy, they have
probably pluged into the headphone out. Line out is fine.
> If someone has a CZ-101, a CZ-1, a soundcard, a sequencer, and a 
> cable to record the output of the Casios, they can make audio files 
> of the same tune on the same preset and place them in the files 
> section (FileA.mid and FileB.mid) so we can do a blind test and 
> possibly vote on whether or not we hear a difference. 
> 
> --Steve
 OK, I'll give this a shot! I found some really big differences in the
two. With both CZ's volume set at max, the CZ-101 had a much hotter 
signal. Had to set the CZ-101 to about 8 to match the CZ-1. Simple
answer, "The volume on the CZ-101 goes to 11, man!" :)
 Another interesting difference is with the extra op-amp on the CZ-1
for final volume, all of the CZ-1's waveforms are inverted phase?
 So I guess the CZ-1 is an "Inverted Phase-distrotion Synth". :)
Really, all of the CZ-1 recorded sounds mirrored the sounds recorded
on the CZ-101. Very strange but obvious if you study the schematics.
Some of the waveforms don't really matter as they are symetrical, but
most, like the saw wave is positive on the CZ-101 and negative on the 
CZ-1. I suspect the CZ-3000/5000 are also inverted as they too have 
the extra inverting op-amp.
 So I made a few sound samples and uploaded them into the files 
section. Some of the patches are dead on, with no difference, while
others I had to double check as they sounded like different patches.
 Files recorded with same MIDI file run into a Anatek thru, audio out
into a Boss A/B switch. Recorded CZ-1 first then the CZ-101. Volumes 
set with a meter to be about the same. All patches sent via MIDI to
both synths. All velocity,aftertouch settings on CZ-1 set at 0. These
were CZ-101 patches so the CZ-1 automaticly sets defaults for the 
extra paramaters. Level 15, velocity amp=0 wave=0 pitch=0.
 Is there a difference?

Terry (The Casio Kid)