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Re: CZ synths and the XW-P1
2014-06-02 by napravobg@...
While I was browsing these CZ1 posts, I followed a link to a few Cz1's on youtube, listened to some of the IPD voices again, (after all these years) , and then found the Casio XW-P1 synth, which has the original CZ1 waveshapes onboard..
Has anyone tried one / owns one? . If so comments please? ( I think with CZ waveshapes onboard, that it's not too off topic?)
The step sequencer programmable by the drawbars looks very interesting to me, and something I could easily get used to,(and which would certainly boost my creativity)
And the waveform programming for Hammond voices, again via the drawbars looks like a great traditional-type feature and very usable, and a much better and more intuitive method than incrementing numbers to program relative footages and harmonic levels.
Some of the pad voices I heard on the demos sound as if with a little more tweaking they could be amazing, and I can't understand anyone thinking this a 'beginner' synth at all.
The six oscillator monosynth feature is fairly massive (or could be). The pcm sounds might not be fantastic but they are probably useable, including the drum voices, and the whole thing would make an excellent 'scratchpad'
It seemed to me to be quite capable of creating sounds that I have never heard before, or elsewhere, although I did find most of the demos quite uninspiring and flat.
The XW-P1 is miles ahead of the 26 year old VZ1 and that was a monster when it came out, (and it still is) and IMO it was never a 'beginner' synth either.
I don't understand some of the criticisms of the XW-P1 at all, especially after hearing it, (although I really hate the orange striped top panel, and the cheap-ish display) .
However, I am very tempted, and still have a VZ10m which I think would complement it very well. The VZ10m could be input into the XW-P1 via the audio ins, and the XW-P1 could also modify the VZ10m's sounds via the XW-P1 filters, which might be interesting, and much easier than trying to emulate filters with VZ phase distortion..
any opinions folks?
richard
bg