Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

OK,
So I recently bought a VZ10m. Compared to my other sound modules and 
synths, this thing is noisy! By that I mean it puts out a pretty 
significant amount of white noise on its output signal. I have to turn 
down the gain on my mixer to nearly 50% before I get it to be just 
inaudible. But then, I lose a great deal of volume dynamics. Many of 
the more subtle patches are too quiet.

I did some searching on the web and found a reference from 1990 saying 
that these units were known to be noisy. What I would like to know 
from folks here is if this is really a common trait or whetther it 
looks like I've got a box with some output amp problems.

So, could someone out there tell me, if you crank up the gain on your 
box' line level outs, do you get the noise also? If so, then I would 
suspect that this is just a common trait of these synths.

Thanks

It's common for 80s synths to be a bit noisier compared to todays devices. The VZ 
isn't noisier than my TX802 or CZ-1, what do you use for comparison?
My guess is that about 70% should be a good Level setting...

On 19 Apr 2005 at 14:18, phzzzit wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> OK,
> So I recently bought a VZ10m. Compared to my other sound modules and
> synths, this thing is noisy! By that I mean it puts out a pretty
> significant amount of white noise on its output signal. I have to turn
> down the gain on my mixer to nearly 50% before I get it to be just
> inaudible. But then, I lose a great deal of volume dynamics. Many of
> the more subtle patches are too quiet.
> 
> I did some searching on the web and found a reference from 1990 saying
> that these units were known to be noisy. What I would like to know
> from folks here is if this is really a common trait or whetther it
> looks like I've got a box with some output amp problems.
> 
> So, could someone out there tell me, if you crank up the gain on your
> box' line level outs, do you get the noise also? If so, then I would
> suspect that this is just a common trait of these synths.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music,
> dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network
> for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/rKxVKC/SOnJAA/n1hLAA/QnLolB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-
> > 
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


-- 

CZ/VZ 		mailing list	: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CZsynth
FMHeaven	mailing list	: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fmheaven/
FS1R 		mailing list	: http://www.ampfea.org/mailman/listinfo/fss-list
Vokator		mailing list	: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vokator


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

>So, could someone out there tell me, if you crank up the gain on your
>box' line level outs, do you get the noise also? If so, then I would
>suspect that this is just a common trait of these synths.

Mine is almost completely silent when not playing any notes, however this 
seems to be from a muting circuit that cuts off the output when the signal 
to the DAC drops to zero, like a noise gate (I haven't checked the circuit, 
only noticed the effect of it).  There is some noticeable quantization noise 
and hiss otherwise but I've never found this to be a problem at all in the 
context of actual use.

I've noticed that on mine, the headphone output on the front panel doesn't 
sound as nice as the line outs (though it may be a result of running the 
line outs through a mixer), the quantization noise is considerably more 
noticeable.

Make sure you've got any internal volume settings at the maximum (operator 
levels, patch levels in patch split/layer or multi-channel modes, etc.), 
anything less reduces the signal to noise ratio.  And remember that ideally 
you should keep the mixer levels close to unity gain to avoid introducing 
additional noise.

I've also got a VZ10m and I have to put up the gains on my mixer to 
compensate for other equipment including my CZ1's. It is a bit 
noisier but that's because of the extra gain levels, but not much 
though. I had this problem with my second CZ-1 where I rectified it 
by opening it up and adjusting the output boards trim pots. I've not 
bothered with the VZ as its not nearly as bad. The only other option 
is to turn all my equipment down.


-- In CZsynth@yahoogroups.com, "Summa" <flotorian@f...> wrote:
> It's common for 80s synths to be a bit noisier compared to todays 
devices. The VZ 
> isn't noisier than my TX802 or CZ-1, what do you use for comparison?
> My guess is that about 70% should be a good Level setting...
> 
> On 19 Apr 2005 at 14:18, phzzzit wrote:
> 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > OK,
> > So I recently bought a VZ10m. Compared to my other sound modules 
and
> > synths, this thing is noisy! By that I mean it puts out a pretty
> > significant amount of white noise on its output signal. I have to 
turn
> > down the gain on my mixer to nearly 50% before I get it to be just
> > inaudible. But then, I lose a great deal of volume dynamics. Many 
of
> > the more subtle patches are too quiet.
> > 
> > I did some searching on the web and found a reference from 1990 
saying
> > that these units were known to be noisy. What I would like to know
> > from folks here is if this is really a common trait or whetther it
> > looks like I've got a box with some output amp problems.
> > 
> > So, could someone out there tell me, if you crank up the gain on 
your
> > box' line level outs, do you get the noise also? If so, then I 
would
> > suspect that this is just a common trait of these synths.
> > 
> > Thanks
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without 
music,
> > dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at 
Network
> > for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/rKxVKC/SOnJAA/n1hLAA/QnLolB/TM
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
--~-
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> CZ/VZ 		mailing list	: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CZsynth
> FMHeaven	mailing list	: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fmheaven/
> FS1R 		mailing list	: 
http://www.ampfea.org/mailman/listinfo/fss-list
> Vokator		mailing list	: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vokator

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