Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

Hello,
this is one of my last intended posts on this list.
I sold my CZ-1 (which I now regret it a little bit)
and have no other Casio gear. If there would be
CZ-1 in a rack I'd never sell it...
I'm heading towards becoming mobile with a
laptop + Access Virus TI/Nord G2 as soon as possible,
till then I'm playing with the idea of getting
a Kawai K1 for myself because of it's 8 bit sound,
the pads and strings mainly.
It was a pleasure to be on this list, I learned
a lot (not only) about Casio stuff and definitely changed
my view of 'toy company'.
Regards,
    Darth
p.s. if you have any recommendations for an 8 bit sound
synth please reply to this mail, I would like to know
what are my options. Portable racks are very welcome.
No samplers please, that's what the computer is used for :D

>p.s. if you have any recommendations for an 8 bit sound
>synth please reply to this mail, I would like to know
>what are my options. Portable racks are very welcome.
>No samplers please, that's what the computer is used for :D

The Ensoniq SQ-80 is the best I can think of.  But it's only available as a 
keyboard.  There is a rack, the ESQ-M (which I have) but it's somewhat cut 
down (no disk drive, no sequencer, only 32 waveforms instead of something 
like 75).

The Casio HT-6000 is a nice, though also keyboard-only and limited in some 
ways (and hard to find!).  Strictly-speaking it's not 8-bit, but the 
waveforms are very coarse and have lots of weird high harmonics (though 
there is almost no aliasing).  Not terribly versitile but it's got a great 
unique sound.

The Korg DW-8000 is another good choice, not as nearly as complex as the 
SQ-80 but I think it's got a warmer sound, and better filters.  The Kawai 
K3, as I understand, is a similar machine in a lot of ways.

Aside from that, the early 4-operator Yamaha FM synths (like the FB01) are 
supposed to have 10-bit DACs.

And more expensive stuff... the PPG Wave, Waldorf Microwave, etc.  You could 
also put the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS into this category too (though I 
think it had 12-bit waveforms).  I don't know all that much about those, 
though.

Well, go for the sound not for the bits, imho the sampling rate makes a much 
bigger difference than the bit depth. Btw. the Casio CZ is working with 12bit, 
the VZ-1 is even using a 16Bit DAC...

On 22 Jan 2005 at 2:28, Scott Nordlund wrote:

> 
> >p.s. if you have any recommendations for an 8 bit sound
> >synth please reply to this mail, I would like to know
> >what are my options. Portable racks are very welcome.
> >No samplers please, that's what the computer is used for :D
> 
> The Ensoniq SQ-80 is the best I can think of.  But it's only available
> as a keyboard.  There is a rack, the ESQ-M (which I have) but it's
> somewhat cut down (no disk drive, no sequencer, only 32 waveforms
> instead of something like 75).
> 
> The Casio HT-6000 is a nice, though also keyboard-only and limited in
> some ways (and hard to find!).  Strictly-speaking it's not 8-bit, but
> the waveforms are very coarse and have lots of weird high harmonics
> (though there is almost no aliasing).  Not terribly versitile but it's
> got a great unique sound.
> 
> The Korg DW-8000 is another good choice, not as nearly as complex as
> the SQ-80 but I think it's got a warmer sound, and better filters. 
> The Kawai K3, as I understand, is a similar machine in a lot of ways.
> 
> Aside from that, the early 4-operator Yamaha FM synths (like the FB01)
> are supposed to have 10-bit DACs.
> 
> And more expensive stuff... the PPG Wave, Waldorf Microwave, etc.  You
> could also put the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS into this category
> too (though I think it had 12-bit waveforms).  I don't know all that
> much about those, though.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- 

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Wellenform Chat  So and Do 22.00 CET: http://chat.moogulator.com/

>Well, go for the sound not for the bits, imho the sampling rate makes a 
>much
>bigger difference than the bit depth. Btw. the Casio CZ is working with 
>12bit,
>the VZ-1 is even using a 16Bit DAC...

I probably took it a little too literally.  Anyway those synths are still 
nice lo-fi machines, whatever you're measuring.

Another option to consider would be to record whatever you want and then 
use one of the many bit-reduction plugins to shape the sound.

At 11:28 PM 1/21/2005, you wrote:
> >p.s. if you have any recommendations for an 8 bit sound
> >synth please reply to this mail, I would like to know
> >what are my options. Portable racks are very welcome.
> >No samplers please, that's what the computer is used for :D




------------------------------------------------------------
  Ken Luke                               ken_luke@...
  "Complexity is easy; Simplicity is hard."
    -- Edmund Keane
------------------------------------------------------------

>Another option to consider would be to record whatever you want and then
>use one of the many bit-reduction plugins to shape the sound.

actually, I've found that the best way to make something lo-fi (though in a 
different way) is to record it onto a crappy cassette deck.

Scott Nordlund wrote:
>>Another option to consider would be to record whatever you want and then
>>use one of the many bit-reduction plugins to shape the sound.
> 
> actually, I've found that the best way to make something lo-fi (though in a 
> different way) is to record it onto a crappy cassette deck.

Somewhat off topic, but what the h*ll... :)

"Lo-fi sound" can be produced in several ways, some digital, some 
analogue. One fun way is to play back the sound in a crappy speaker or 
headphones, and record that with a mic. Placing the sound source in a 
tin can is also a neat trick.

Filtering, bit reduction and all kinds off overdrive variants can also 
produce excellent results.

.max

-- 
Max Romantschuk
http://max.nma.fi/

Or.... how about this... go to a goodwill or other thrift store, get 
a couple of those old toy keyboards (casio vl/pt/mt or any other no-
name will work just fine) and run them with near dead batteries > 
instant super lo-fi ;) 
--- In CZsynth@yahoogroups.com, Max Romantschuk <max@p...> wrote:
> Scott Nordlund wrote:
> >>Another option to consider would be to record whatever you want 
and then
> >>use one of the many bit-reduction plugins to shape the sound.
> > 
> > actually, I've found that the best way to make something lo-fi 
(though in a 
> > different way) is to record it onto a crappy cassette deck.
> 
> Somewhat off topic, but what the h*ll... :)
> 
> "Lo-fi sound" can be produced in several ways, some digital, some 
> analogue. One fun way is to play back the sound in a crappy speaker 
or 
> headphones, and record that with a mic. Placing the sound source in 
a 
> tin can is also a neat trick.
> 
> Filtering, bit reduction and all kinds off overdrive variants can 
also 

> produce excellent results.
> 
> .max
> 
> -- 
> Max Romantschuk
> http://max.nma.fi/

>Or.... how about this... go to a goodwill or other thrift store, get
>a couple of those old toy keyboards (casio vl/pt/mt or any other no-
>name will work just fine) and run them with near dead batteries >
>instant super lo-fi ;)

I use one of those wall adapters with adjustable voltage.  I have a Bontempi 
keyboard that melts into alien slime at 3 volts.