Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

Hello Fellow Casio Users,

I have been a Casio user for YEARS and until recently, I have never heard of and I still have never seen with my own two eyes any Casio Keyboard in the CZ, VZ, or FZ series?  I've never seen one in a store, and I can't even find a vague reference to one on the official CASIO Web site http://www.casio.com !!!!

Are these older keyboards, or are they currently being manufactured and sold (who knows where?)  Are these Analog Synths?  Digital Synths? FM Synths? Wavetable Synths?

Where can I find these synths to try out or purchase?  Are they found in stores or are they special-order only?  I live in the greater Seattle WA area and I think I've been to just about every Music store there is, and I've NEVER seen any Casio Keyboard in these series!!!

How do keyboards in the CZ,VZ, and FZ series compare with keyboards in the CTK, MZ, EX & WK series? 

I have had many Casio Keyboards in my days, starting out with simple beginners keyboards (like the MT-240) to what I "thought" were "advanced" keyboards like the 711-EX (which is my favorite and the one I now use the most).

These CZ,VZ, and FZ series perplex me!  I've never seen a Casio Keyboard with a MIDI-THRU port!  I've never seen a Casio Keyboard for which I could download patches, editors, tools and other specific software!

Have I been missing out?!  I think I have been!

I'd really like a more "professional" keyboard than the one I have now, but I truly love the "Casio Sound" and I've never found another synth, (with the exception of a very few VERY expensive Korg's), that I've liked better than my "semi-professional" Casio's.  Are the CZ,VZ and FZ synths considered "professional" synths?

What Planet have I been on?  I don't know, but obviously I've somehow managed to miss the one with the CZ,VZ and FZ series synths present!

Judging by what I've now read about and learned about these synths on www.synthzone.com I WANT TO KNOW MORE!  Particularly WHERE I might be able to see one, try it out and perhaps add it to my collection!

PLEASE HELP ME OUT!

Clueless in Seattle,

Joe Nicholson

Please respond to: joenicholson@...

Thank you!




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You're a rare breed Joe. The first person I've ever met anywhere that had
something good to say about the Casio home keyboards! Just goes to show you
that everyone's tastes are different. 

I'll try to answer some of your questions. The CZ's were in production from
the mid to late 80's and the FZ's and VZ's were in production from the late
80's to the very early 90's. The 'Zs are all very different than the home
keyboard models. There are no drum beats or built in speakers for one and
where the home keyboards usually aren't very programmable the Z's are fully
programmable. So can use Casio's synth algorithms to create you own sounds
from scratch basically. Yes the Z's were considered professional models, the
VZ's even have the word professional printed on their faceplates!
Hehehehe... 

As for synthesis type, here's a listing for each Casio model:
CZ - Phase Distortion; this is really an implementation of waveshaping
synthesis that winds up being similar to analog  both programming and sound
wise.
FZ-Sampling+Synthesis, Sampler + filter and separate oscillators, capable of
small scale additive synthesis, don't really know more about this since I
don't have one.
VZ-Interactive Phase Distortion, Very very similar to FM sound and
programming wise. Very flexible for a FM synth.

You're best bet for locating these synths is probably through online used
music gear sellers or something like Ebay. The CZ's are all very common and
the VZs and FZs are a little more difficult to find but they're not exactly
rare either. 

It's a real shame that Casio was in the pro synth market so briefly as their
stuff was interesting and they always managed to come up with an approach to
each instrument that was truly unique.  Hope this has satisfied your
curiosity somewhat.

Jon

"Furman, Jon W." wrote:

>  You're a rare breed Joe. The first person I've ever met anywhere that
> had
> something good to say about the Casio home keyboards!

Count me in. A Casio CTK-611 was what got me hooked.
The sounds are good... What really was missing was one global
reverb on all tracks -- pretty renders the machine useless if you
have a kick drum part.

Maxim






> Just goes to show you
> that everyone's tastes are different.
>
> I'll try to answer some of your questions. The CZ's were in production
> from
> the mid to late 80's and the FZ's and VZ's were in production from the
> late
> 80's to the very early 90's. The 'Zs are all very different than the
> home
> keyboard models. There are no drum beats or built in speakers for one
> and
> where the home keyboards usually aren't very programmable the Z's are
> fully
> programmable. So can use Casio's synth algorithms to create you own
> sounds
> from scratch basically. Yes the Z's were considered professional
> models, the
> VZ's even have the word professional printed on their faceplates!
> Hehehehe...
>
> As for synthesis type, here's a listing for each Casio model:
> CZ - Phase Distortion; this is really an implementation of waveshaping
>
> synthesis that winds up being similar to analog  both programming and
> sound
> wise.
> FZ-Sampling+Synthesis, Sampler + filter and separate oscillators,
> capable of
> small scale additive synthesis, don't really know more about this
> since I
> don't have one.
> VZ-Interactive Phase Distortion, Very very similar to FM sound and
> programming wise. Very flexible for a FM synth.
>
> You're best bet for locating these synths is probably through online
> used
> music gear sellers or something like Ebay. The CZ's are all very
> common and
> the VZs and FZs are a little more difficult to find but they're not
> exactly
> rare either.
>
> It's a real shame that Casio was in the pro synth market so briefly as
> their
> stuff was interesting and they always managed to come up with an
> approach to
> each instrument that was truly unique.  Hope this has satisfied your
> curiosity somewhat.
>
> Jon
>
>
>
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