Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

>It's best to think of it as a sort of
> updated PPG Wave.

Well, it IS an updated PPG, but the PPG Wave is far more rare than 
the Microwave, so its not best to think of it as an updated version 
of something most people have never heard if those people actually 
want to get some idea of what it sounds like without hearing one.  

There were several versions of the Microwave, the original was 
12bit.  I've never used one but I'm familiar with its sound signature 
from various CDs I listened to a jillion times in the 1990s back when 
ones music library was limited by ones budget.  I think describing 
its sound as somewhere between the Poly 800 and CZ is pretty 
accurate. I'm sure you've read the technical details, the Microwave 
is a 'real' wavetable synth.  When I think of Microwave I think of a 
digital-sounding analogish sample-hold circuit making bubbly sounds 
sort of like a TB-303, but not really.  It seems to allow for quite a 
bit of real-time variation, for example, if you trigger it on a 4/4 
rhythm you can get it to constantly put out a slightly different hit 
on each beat, by setting it randomize some of its modulation 
parameters (which is what makes it sound like a sample-hold 
circuit).  Intermix's first album is loaded with Microwave without a 
lot of additional effects applied, so it's a good album to listen to 
for hearing the Microwave's potential.  Personally, I don't think 
they're really worth the price they command on the used market.  
Wavetable is the cheapest digital synthesis method to impliment, but 
I guess because Waldorf and PPG were small companies they were not 
able to mass-produce like Casio, Yamaha or Roland, thus their cheaper 
technology ends up costing more.  For $300-500 I'd rather get a K2000 
or even a Yamaha SY77.  Those synths aren't known for a 
particular 'sound' because they can make so many sounds.  A Microwave 
can probably make a lot of different sounds, too, but it seems like 
most people use that bubbly sample-hold sound exclusively, relegating 
it to a one-trick pony.  This leads me to believe that it may be 
difficult to program other sounds, sort of like how you can very 
easily turn the ring mod or noise source on on the CZ with the press 
of a button, but getting anything else requires much deeper 
programming.

    

--- In CZsynth@yahoogroups.com, Jez <jezosaurus@...> wrote:
>
> I have a Microwave. All synths are different and have their own
> character, BUT the Microwave is far superior to a poly-800 and 
better
> than a CZ series for most things.
> 
> Ideally, I would have all 3, but if I had to choose, the Microwave 
is
> by far the best of the lot. It's best to think of it as a sort of
> updated PPG Wave.
> 
> Try asking the Q on a Waldorf mailing list and see what reaction 
you get.
> I'd recommend user-forum@...
> 
> On Sun, Aug 3, 2008 at 12:46 PM, Atom Smasher <atom@...> wrote:
> > i'm considering a new toy, and recently someone suggested that i 
look into
> > a waldorf microwave. i listened to some microwave sounds that 
were posted
> > online, and they all sound like either a casio CZ or a modified 
(slayer +
> > fm) korg poly-800.
> >
> > can anyone on these lists give me an opinion of the microwave, 
compared to
> > the CZ and/or modified poly-800?
> >
> > thanks...
> >
> >
> > --
> >         ...atom
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