Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

Hi! I'm verbose, as usual.
I have a general comment about my relationship with my synthesizers,
before boring you about the specific points, below:
Before I buy a synth, I make sure it makes several sounds that I like,
and that it can be programmed, in a potentially understandable way. 
The "limitations" of a given synthesizer, given the requirements
above, seem to me to be its virtues.  The peculiarities of a
synthesizer's interface lead me down certain paths, which paths I
would not have found, even if available, with a different interface. 
This is a good thing.

So, even if someone makes a synth engine identical to the CZ1, if the
interface is different, it won't be the same!

Shop carefully, and then learn to love your synthesizer!  (Oh, except
for you rich guys - buy everything new, then, when it doesn't make you
a great musician, sell it to me, cheap!  Almost every musical item I
own was purchased used.  ;)

synergeezer
--- In CZsynth@yahoogroups.com, Atom Smasher <atom@...> wrote:
>
> On Sun, 13 Apr 2008, synergeezer wrote:
> 
> > I don't think of PD as dead, with used instruments constantly
available. 
> > It's true that PD, in the CZ sense, is not being developed, anymore.
> ==================
> 
> is it being developed in any sense? even with a K5000 and FS1r, i can't 
> bring myself to get rid of my CZ1... but i'd get rid of it in a
hurry if i 
> could replace it with a rackmount unit.
(I love my Kawai K5000S and Yamaha FS1R [now that I have a day job
{for another year - I _am_ a geezer}, and am no longer trying to make
a living in music, I can afford to have these things - is this ironic?])
I'm not hopeful that there will be a rackmount replacement for a CZ1
any time soon.  There are soft synths and analogue hardware which do
waveshaping, but not in the tradition of the CZs.  (Google
"waveshaping" or "physical modelling". e.g.)
> 
> 
> > But, fairly recently, Yamaha made the FS1R (16 operators, OK 8+8),
which 
> > I have not plunged into programming, yet, but the presets are worth 
> > current cost.
> ===================
> 
> you seem to know your way around the DX/TX/CZ/VZ range of synthesizers, 
> and you mentioned that you have a VZ and several CZs.
> 
> i had a VZ but it's gone, now :(
> 
> i'm thinking about replacing it, not so much because i miss it as such, 
> but it crossed my mind that (despite the general consensus) it might 
> actually be possible to emulate a CZ with it. lemme get your opinion on 
> this... if a patch only uses one carrier (sine) and one modulator 
> ([co]sine or other waveform), can't it emulate a CZ? it's been a while 
> since i programmed a VZ, but i remember a lot of limitations... like
each 
> carrier/modulator pair shares a lot of the same parameters. anyway,
what's 
> your opinion on that? the CZ1 is great, but it's just such a huge heavy 
> fscking tank.
Recently, flotorian indicated he had succeeded in emulating
non-resonant CZ sounds with a Yamaha DX7 (or similar).  I don't doubt
this, although I haven't tried to confirm it (I crank up a CZ when I
want CZ sounds).  Assuming it's true, you should be able to accomplish
the same with a VZ.  I am working to figure out a general mapping of
DX7 voices to the VZ.  Most DX7 algorithms can be directly emulated by
the VZ voice structure.  (Where the DX7 voice uses self-modulation,
and you have run out of modulation possibilities on the VZ, using one
of the "Saw" waves [TBD by ear, at this point in my examination] for
the replacement modulator on the VZ works well.)  I haven't tried a
voice on the DX7 that I couldn't emulate pretty well on the VZ, yet. 
(I plan to write this up for our community, after I nail it down
better.)  And I usually have 2 or more modulators left over, not to
mention (although I am) the ring-modulation ability of the VZs, more
elaborate envelopes, as well as the variety of raw waveforms.
I find the VZ versions crisper, and deeper than the DX7 sounds. (But I
love my Yamaha's almost as much as my Casio's.)
About the "fscking tank" - don't I know it, but my CZ1 sits quite
comfortably in my studio.  (But, when I was younger, I played in a
band with a Hammond B-3 and Leslie, and no roadies!  I had to help
with the organ and P.A., but I was only individually responsible for
my guitars, flute, trombone, Fender Vibrolux, and Fender Bassman
[please speak into my left ear].)
> 
> 
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