Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

Hello all,

I'm new to the group (although I've been messing with synths for twenty
years or so), and I had a few questions:

1 - Anybody know where to find a user's manual for the VZ-10M? I just picked
one up and while I know how to program a CZ series, this one is MUCH more
complex (which is a good thing). I found a service manual so I think I'm
good on that, but a programming / user's manual would be VERY handy.

2 - Has anyone built their own RAM cards for the VZ? It should be easy if
you know the connector pin out and can get a matching connector.

3 - Has anyone built their own RAM cards for the CZ-101? Again, it should be
pretty easy. I recall an article with schematics appearing in electronic
musician MANY years ago, so maybe this is still around somewhere. I suppose
the availability of PC based editors and librarians makes a cartridge seem
unnecessary, but I'd still like to try and build one.

4 - I'm looking for opinions on a CZ and VZ librarian / editor. From what
I've seen, Midiquest 9 seems to be very versatile. It's a bit pricey, but
it'll handle all of my equipment. Has anyone out there used it?

TIA for all replies.

Tim Servo
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein




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Welcome to this group Tim,

Check Cosmos Userpage, but due to a crash the manual pages seem to be down at the 
moment...

http://www.cosmosynths.userpage.de/

You can also download the Powerplay VZ Book from the files section of this list...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CZsynth/files/VZ%20-%20DOCs/

...Summa


On 19 Nov 2003 at 14:16, Tim Parkhurst wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> I'm new to the group (although I've been messing with synths for
> twenty years or so), and I had a few questions:
> 
> 1 - Anybody know where to find a user's manual for the VZ-10M? I just
> picked one up and while I know how to program a CZ series, this one is
> MUCH more complex (which is a good thing). I found a service manual so
> I think I'm good on that, but a programming / user's manual would be
> VERY handy.
> 
> 2 - Has anyone built their own RAM cards for the VZ? It should be easy
> if you know the connector pin out and can get a matching connector.
> 
> 3 - Has anyone built their own RAM cards for the CZ-101? Again, it
> should be pretty easy. I recall an article with schematics appearing
> in electronic musician MANY years ago, so maybe this is still around
> somewhere. I suppose the availability of PC based editors and
> librarians makes a cartridge seem unnecessary, but I'd still like to
> try and build one.
> 
> 4 - I'm looking for opinions on a CZ and VZ librarian / editor. From
> what I've seen, Midiquest 9 seems to be very versatile. It's a bit
> pricey, but it'll handle all of my equipment. Has anyone out there
> used it?
> 
> TIA for all replies.
> 
> Tim Servo
> "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
> 
> 
> 
> 
> **********************************************************************
> ***** This message is confidential.  The information contained in this
> e-mail message is intended only for confidential use of the
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> intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the
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> this document in error and that any review, dissemination,
> distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited.  If
> you have received this communication in error, please notify us
> immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message.
> **********************************************************************
> *****
> 
> 
> 
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-- 

A Touch of Future - Project	: http://www.mp3.com/AToF/
CZ/VZ Mailing list		: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CZsynth
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>1 - Anybody know where to find a user's manual for the VZ-10M? I just 
>picked
>one up and while I know how to program a CZ series, this one is MUCH more
>complex (which is a good thing). I found a service manual so I think I'm
>good on that, but a programming / user's manual would be VERY handy.

Unfortunately there isn't a copy of the manual online.  I think there should 
be .pdf files of some kind of VZ programming book (power play VZ I think 
it's called) floating around somewhere.  I'm sure someone else here knows 
where.  It's a decent book and it will help if you've got the basics of 
operation figured out.

I've got the manual but nowhere to host any .pdf files.  And I wouldn't know 
what to do anyway as I've got no experience with making .pdfs.  But if 
you've got specific questions then I could probably answer them as I'm 
reasonably adept at VZ programming.

>2 - Has anyone built their own RAM cards for the VZ? It should be easy if
>you know the connector pin out and can get a matching connector.

I was discussing this recently with Steve Gutteridge (who made the 
Easy-VeeZee page where you probably found the service manual).  The problem 
is the pinout for the card connector- it's not described explicitly in the 
service manual.  He theorized that it would be easy to put a RAM chip into a 
ROM card and use that.  I sent him scans of the inside of my ROM card (and 
by the way if anyone is thinking about opening up a rom card, don't) but it 
seems that RAM cards may have some extra stuff inside, plus there were still 
a couple of pins with unknown functions.  So progress has been made, but not 
enough.  Probably right now the easiest way to get more patches the DIY way 
would be to piggyback more RAM chips onto the original.  I was considering 
this but I think it's too much work.

>3 - Has anyone built their own RAM cards for the CZ-101? Again, it should 
>be
>pretty easy. I recall an article with schematics appearing in electronic
>musician MANY years ago, so maybe this is still around somewhere. I suppose
>the availability of PC based editors and librarians makes a cartridge seem
>unnecessary, but I'd still like to try and build one.

don't know anything about this

>4 - I'm looking for opinions on a CZ and VZ librarian / editor. From what
>I've seen, Midiquest 9 seems to be very versatile. It's a bit pricey, but
>it'll handle all of my equipment. Has anyone out there used it?

There's a dedicated free VZ editor on the Easy-VeeZee page- here:
http://www.steveandsally.freeserve.co.uk/casio/software.htm

I don't use it so I don't really know anything about it.  But it looks like 
it should work.

_________________________________________________________________
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--- In CZsynth@yahoogroups.com, "Summa" <flotorian@f...> wrote:
> Welcome to this group Tim,
> 
> Check Cosmos Userpage, but due to a crash the manual pages seem to 
be down at the 
> moment...
> 
> http://www.cosmosynths.userpage.de/
> 
> You can also download the Powerplay VZ Book from the files section 
of this list...
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CZsynth/files/VZ%20-%20DOCs/
> 
> ...Summa

Thanks for the links! I've downloaded and printed the Power Play 
book, so that should keep me busy for quite a while. My next quest 
will be for schematics. If nothing else, I'd like to figure out the 
card slot pinout. I'd also like to see if there is any way to add 
additional outputs (ideally, give each voice it's own output so I 
can run them through some analog filters). If the voices are summed 
internally (in the processor), then this would be pretty much 
impossible. Still, I'd like ot give it a shot. If anyone knows where 
schematics might be found, or if a mod like this has been done 
before, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!