Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

off topic, but this ~is~ where all of the casio geeks hang out....

anyone have any thing to say about the AZ-1?

does it have full-size keys?
how easy is it to transpose?

how does it compare to more popular strap-on controllers?

thanks...

	...atom

----------------Void-If-Detached----------------
http://smasher.suspicious.org/fs1r  Yamaha FS1R

	"Love all.
	 Trust few.
	 Do wrong to none."
		-- William Shakespeare

> off topic, but this ~is~ where all of the casio geeks hang out....

Not really OT, as the AZ-1 is the official remote for the 
CZ series synthesizers. And has specific features to access all 
functions on the CZ's.

> anyone have any thing to say about the AZ-1?

Probably the best remote out there. Has the one of the best 
keyboards, with after-touch and velocity. The weight is perfect,
not too heavy like a Korg RK-100, or Yamaha KX-1. Not too light 
like the Roland AX-1. Two assignable wheels, one assignable slider,
two assignable switches. Transmits on two assignable MIDI channels,
seperate or combined.

> does it have full-size keys?

Yep, the Yamaha's are the only remotes I know of with small keys.
The KX-5 has short stubby keys, and the SHS-10 and SHS-200 have the 
mini keys like the CZ-101.

> how easy is it to transpose?

Has an octave up/down slider. No key transpose, but you can assign 
the wheel/slider to send a transpose message to the CZ's. Octave
slider located at bottom base of the neck/arm.

> how does it compare to more popular strap-on controllers?

The pitch bend wheel is very smooth. Unlike the Roland AXIS which 
has a dead spot around the center detent. Can send patchs 1-127, 
unlike the KX-1/KX-5/RK-100 that only send 1-64.
 Would be nice if it had a program up/down switch, like the RK/100.
AX-1. 
 The Lynx LN-4 is the only remote that can compare to the AZ-1 in
features.

> thanks...

 Don't forget to dissassemble the AZ-1 and put a custom paint job
on it. The pearl white finish is nice, but the large CASIO billboard
is just silly. Every remote from Japan had the billboard. What were
they thinking?
 
Pic of my AZ-1:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Frontrow/4877/cz101.html

Terry (The Casio Kid)

i knew ya'd come through, terry....

> > off topic, but this ~is~ where all of the casio geeks hang out....
>
> Not really OT, as the AZ-1 is the official remote for the
> CZ series synthesizers. And has specific features to access all
> functions on the CZ's.
================
i had no idea! tell me more....


> > anyone have any thing to say about the AZ-1?
>
> Probably the best remote out there. Has the one of the best
> keyboards, with after-touch and velocity. The weight is perfect,
> not too heavy like a Korg RK-100, or Yamaha KX-1. Not too light
> like the Roland AX-1. Two assignable wheels, one assignable slider,
> two assignable switches. Transmits on two assignable MIDI channels,
> seperate or combined.
===================
how is the aftertouch? on my CZ-1 i have to press so hard i'm afraid of
breaking it before it sends any aftertouch. but i think i there's an
adjustment for that....


> > does it have full-size keys?
>
> Yep, the Yamaha's are the only remotes I know of with small keys.
> The KX-5 has short stubby keys, and the SHS-10 and SHS-200 have the
> mini keys like the CZ-101.
====================
of course the CZ-101 and DX-100 also have guitar "nubs" for a strap.


> > how easy is it to transpose?
>
> Has an octave up/down slider. No key transpose, but you can assign
> the wheel/slider to send a transpose message to the CZ's. Octave
> slider located at bottom base of the neck/arm.
======================
so, i can quickly adjust it up/down one octave? two octaves?


>  Don't forget to dissassemble the AZ-1 and put a custom paint job
> on it. The pearl white finish is nice, but the large CASIO billboard
> is just silly. Every remote from Japan had the billboard. What were
> they thinking?
>
> Pic of my AZ-1:
> http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Frontrow/4877/cz101.html
==================
since the shape seems very phallic, i'd be tempted to paint it like a
giant penis.


 	...atom

----------------Void-If-Detached----------------
http://smasher.suspicious.org/fs1r  Yamaha FS1R

	"The more laws, the less justice."
		-- Marcus Tullius Cicero De Officiis

> > Not really OT, as the AZ-1 is the official remote for the
> > CZ series synthesizers. And has specific features to access all
> > functions on the CZ's.
> ================
> i had no idea! tell me more....
> 
Hi Atom,
 I uploaded some sysex info from the AZ-1 manual, detailing the 
special messages it can send to the CZ synths. Also a small
diagram of the AZ-1 layout. You can find it in the CZ docs section.


> ===================
> how is the aftertouch? on my CZ-1 i have to press so hard i'm
afraid 
of
> breaking it before it sends any aftertouch. but i think i there's an
> adjustment for that....
> 
I posted the adjustment on the CZ-1 in message #652. Just a trimmer
adjustment. Someone with the same complaint had reported this fixed
the sensitivity problem. 
 The AZ-1 seems to have a very similar quality keyboard as the CZ-1.
Keys are a little lighter. I have no problem getting a very 
controllable 0-127 aftertouch out of it. Nothing like a Roland AXIS
with "Elephant Touch". Can't get more than a 30 for aftertouch from
mine, useless.

> ======================
> so, i can quickly adjust it up/down one octave? two octaves?
Has a three position slider. Center normal/octave+ up/octave- down.
I use mine with a CZ-101, and the octave up goes beyond the range 
of the CZ-101/1000/3000/5000/230S, so the last 5 keys C~E fold over
and repeat the octave below. Not a problem with the CZ-1 as it's 
MIDI range is more than 7 octaves.

> ==================
> since the shape seems very phallic, i'd be tempted to paint it like 
a
> giant penis.
> 
> 
>  	...atom
LOL, I was thinking of painting my next one like a guitar. With 
airbrushed machineheads on the "Headstock". Airbrushed fake strings,
and frets, with pickups and bridge painted right over the keyboard.
No reason why the keys have to stay black and white. I was going to
call it the "Wannabe". I take quite a bit of flack from guitarist 
for playing this style of keyboard. Guess I step on their toes a bit!

Terry (The Casio Kid)

great info! thanks terry!


        ...atom

----------------Void-If-Detached----------------
http://smasher.suspicious.org/fs1r  Yamaha FS1R

	"The thing that bugs me is that the people think the
	 FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is protecting them.
	 It isn't. What the FDA is doing and what the public
	 thinks it's doing are as different as night and day."
		-- Dr Ley, former Commissioner of the FDA

Just to clarify, I read your message #652, which gives this instruction:

"VR4 on the main board #MA1M, located on the upper right of the board. Fully
counter clockwise for maximum sensitivity, and clockwise for 
less sensitivity."

That description is a bit technical for someone who has never serviced a
synth, like me.  I assume you're talking about disassembling the synthesizer
with a screwdriver, then turning some sort of knob located on the
motherboard?  

Are there precautions that would need to be taken when doing this (for
someone who has never opened up a synthesizer), in order to avoid damage to
the synth or -- probably a far-fetched concern -- electric shock?

Jeremy

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry [mailto:orbitaldecay@hotmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 9:58 PM
To: CZsynth@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CZsynth] Re: OT: AZ-1 MIDI controller

I posted the adjustment on the CZ-1 in message #652. Just a trimmer
adjustment. Someone with the same complaint had reported this fixed

> Are there precautions that would need to be taken when doing this (for
> someone who has never opened up a synthesizer), in order to avoid damage to
> the synth or -- probably a far-fetched concern -- electric shock?
=======================

rule of thumb - if you're not totally comfortable doing this youself, find
someone who you can trust with the synth and instructions.


        ...atom

----------------Void-If-Detached----------------
http://smasher.suspicious.org/fs1r  Yamaha FS1R

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