Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

Hi---
  I'm new to the list and new to casio CZ's. I just acquired a CZ-230s--- the redheaded stepchild of the CZ's it seems. My question is in regards to how CZ voice parameters are programmed and edited. I was wondering, in particular, if the CZ synths can respond to CC messages? I did some searching and didn't turn anything up, so I presume it is not possible??? Is all editing done w/ sysex? Are any of the editor programs realtime???
  I wonder if midi-ox might be able to convert CC to sysex? Or are these types of messages too different?
   
  I guess I'm still a little unclear on how the synth engine functions in the first place, and what parameters are manipulable. I understand more or less how FM/PD works, though I understand much more about typical subtractive synthesis. I know the CZ's have 2 DCO's. When only one DCO is in use, there is no modulating signal, correct? So you are stuck w/ a basic sine, triangle, or square wave. Single DCO voices are not FM or PD as such then, correct??? Also, what is the deal w/ the oscillator envelopes? Are these the equivalent of Osc envelopes in a subtractive synth? And even these are seemingly unresponsive to CC messages? It would be great of there were a way to control the envelopes in real time. I really like the CZ-230s's pad and horn sounds, but they all have such a sharp attack. What parameters are there for each DCO--- frequency, amplitude, env.??? Anything else?
   
  FINALLY--- I am an avid circuit builder/bender, and bought the 230s with extensive modification in mind. So far, I have only scratched the surface, but the first set of bends/mods that I have found would be beneficial to any CZ owner, I'm sure. Right in the center of the board, there are 5 or 6 small chips-- they may be DCO chips, I don;t know. Jumping across several points on these chips resulted in various "thickening" effects--- the equivalent of turning up the filter resonance on a subtractive synth, and also added great sublime repeating envelope artifacts. Each point seemed to affect a slightly different timbral range--- perhaps different sideband frequencies. I plan to wire several points up to pots to make the "resonance" variable. 
   
  Anyone else found any cool mods they'd like to share? I've already read about the SH*TSHOT reverse polarity trick. I'll be trying that one as soon as I find an ac adapter.

		
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>  I guess I'm still a little unclear on how the synth engine functions in 
> the first place, and what parameters are manipulable. I understand more or 
> less how FM/PD works, though I understand much more about typical 
> subtractive synthesis. I know the CZ's have 2 DCO's. When only one DCO is 
> in use, there is no modulating signal, correct?

No, completely incorrect. A 2-DCO patch is simply two single-DCO patches in 
parallel, except when ring- or noise modulation is used. The modulation 
source for a DCO's timbre is its DCW envelope .

> So you are stuck w/ a basic sine, triangle, or square wave. Single DCO 
> voices are not FM or PD as such then, correct???

Wrong again. Each DCO has a choice of sawtooth, square, pulse, saw-pulse, 
double-sine and resonant triangle, sawtooth or square, plus any combination 
of two of the first five, or any of the first five with any of the resonant 
waveforms. The DCW with its envelope generator effectively simulates an 
analogue low-pass filter. Each of the two DCOs has its own waveform and its 
own pitch, DCW and DCA envelopes. The two DCOs CAN intermodulate using the 
Ring-mod and Noise mod functions, but are otherwise simply parallel.

> Also, what is the deal w/ the oscillator envelopes? Are these the 
> equivalent of Osc envelopes in a subtractive synth?

The oscillator envelopes control the DCO pitch and nothing else. This can be 
very useful when using the Ring-mod function.

Hope this is helpful.

Simon Beck
London, UK

I am interested in "circuit bending" and actually bought a few sk-1s 
and an sk-5 to that end.  Modding the cz-5000 sounds awesome.  How do 
you know what NOT to short circuit in an irreplacible instrument...how 
do you know you aren't going to trash the whole enchilada?

--- In CZsynth@yahoogroups.com, Devin Smith <homohobilus@...> wrote:
>    
>   FINALLY--- I am an avid circuit builder/bender, and bought the 230s 
with extensive modification in mind. So far, I have only scratched the 
surface, but the first set of bends/mods that I have found would be 
beneficial to any CZ owner, I'm sure. Right in the center of the board, 
there are 5 or 6 small chips-- they may be DCO chips, I don;t know. 
Jumping across several points on these chips resulted in 
various "thickening" effects--- the equivalent of turning up the filter 
resonance on a subtractive synth, and also added great sublime 
repeating envelope artifacts. Each point seemed to affect a slightly 
different timbral range--- perhaps different sideband frequencies. I 
plan to wire several points up to pots to make the "resonance" 
variable. 
>