Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

hi everyone.  i'm new here.  i just won a cz-1000 on ebay and i'm 
really looking forward to its arrival.  most of my synth experience 
til now has been with synths of the software variety.  a few 
questions:

1)  i'd like to use some guitar stompboxes to make the cz sound even 
cooler than it already does.  i'm thinking about some kind of 
distortion (maybe a big muff) and/ or something envelope filtery, 
like maybe a q-tron.  does anyone have experience with these or other 
pedals?  any recommendations?  any warnings?  terry:  i really liked 
some of your orbital decay tones.  how do you achieve them?

2)  my midi experience is limited, but i'd like to be able to edit 
and store patches on my computer.  problem is, i have a mac.  what 
software will let me do what i'd like to do.  i have cubase.  will it 
let me store and load sysex patches?  if so, how?  how about actually 
editing the patches?  i assume that requires some specific software, 
probably only available on platforms i don't use.  anyone?

anyhow, those are my questions for now.  thanks in advance.

if you've got other midi stuff you could control with it too, emagic's
sounddiver is the one to go for by all accounts;

http://www.emagic.de/english/products/studiotools/sd.html
casio models supported:
http://www.emagic.de/english/products/studiotools/sd/casio.html

a.

----- Original Message -----

From: "naterock413" <naterock413@...>
To: <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 4:32 PM
Subject: [CZsynth] some questions


> hi everyone.  i'm new here.  i just won a cz-1000 on ebay and i'm
> really looking forward to its arrival.  most of my synth experience
> til now has been with synths of the software variety.  a few
> questions:
>
> 1)  i'd like to use some guitar stompboxes to make the cz sound even
> cooler than it already does.  i'm thinking about some kind of
> distortion (maybe a big muff) and/ or something envelope filtery,
> like maybe a q-tron.  does anyone have experience with these or other
> pedals?  any recommendations?  any warnings?  terry:  i really liked
> some of your orbital decay tones.  how do you achieve them?
>
> 2)  my midi experience is limited, but i'd like to be able to edit
> and store patches on my computer.  problem is, i have a mac.  what
> software will let me do what i'd like to do.  i have cubase.  will it
> let me store and load sysex patches?  if so, how?  how about actually
> editing the patches?  i assume that requires some specific software,
> probably only available on platforms i don't use.  anyone?
>
> anyhow, those are my questions for now.  thanks in advance.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> CZsynth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

Hi Nate:

"1)  i'd like to use some guitar stompboxes to make the cz sound even 
cooler than it already does.  i'm thinking about some kind of 
distortion (maybe a big muff) and/ or something envelope filtery..."
    --- "naterock413" <naterock413@...>

I'd recommend checking out an all-in-one Boss VF-1 effects processor,
about $200 used, about $300 new--for all kinds of processing needs.

Shayme

Hi,

Friday, May 10, 2002, 5:52:11 PM, you wrote:

> if you've got other midi stuff you could control with it too, emagic's
> sounddiver is the one to go for by all accounts;

I just received my CZ-3000 some weeks ago and just subscribed to this
group. I'm using Sounddiver together with the CZ-3000 but whenever I
change something in a patch SD is requesting midi data and it takes
very long that the CZ is sending the data, to long to work with it.
I don't know if my CZ is damaged or if this is the normal behavior.
Since I don't have the manual for the CZ it may also be just a
configuration issue.
Would be cool if anyone got a tip to solve this.

Thanks and cheers,
Tomas

SoundDiver support for the CZ synth series is weak. I never got my
SoundDiver to work with my CZ-1 properly. You might want to check out
the SoundDiver group for better help.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sounddiver-users/

Troy


> -----Original Message-----
> From: TomasD [mailto:tomas@...]
> Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 1:14 PM
> To: CZsynth@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re[2]: [CZsynth] some questions
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Friday, May 10, 2002, 5:52:11 PM, you wrote:
> 
> > if you've got other midi stuff you could control with it too,
emagic's
> > sounddiver is the one to go for by all accounts;
> 
> I just received my CZ-3000 some weeks ago and just subscribed to this
> group. I'm using Sounddiver together with the CZ-3000 but whenever I
> change something in a patch SD is requesting midi data and it takes
> very long that the CZ is sending the data, to long to work with it.
> I don't know if my CZ is damaged or if this is the normal behavior.
> Since I don't have the manual for the CZ it may also be just a
> configuration issue.
> Would be cool if anyone got a tip to solve this.
> 
> Thanks and cheers,
> Tomas
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> CZsynth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> 
> 
> 
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http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Hi Nate,

> 1)  i'd like to use some guitar stompboxes to make the cz sound
even 
> cooler than it already does.  i'm thinking about some kind of 
> distortion (maybe a big muff) and/ or something envelope filtery, 
> like maybe a q-tron.  does anyone have experience with these or 
other 
> pedals?  any recommendations?  any warnings?  terry:  i really
liked 
> some of your orbital decay tones.  how do you achieve them?

 The best advice on stompboxes is to try them at your local music
shop if you can. Just bring the CZ-1000 with you and experiment. 
I found the all in one boxes have the best bang for the buck. They 
usually have a noise gate in the beginning of the chain. And I usually
bypass the compressor section, leaving distortion, delay, reverb,
panning, wah, for some interesting effects. I've also used a Nord 
Micromodular to add LP filters, MIDI volume, even vocoder. Most of 
the samples on the OD site used a Lexicon MPX100 for reverb. (sweet)
I also have a Digitech GSP2101, nice panning delays but thin sounding
distortion. The distortions I use range from simple amp overdrive to
small portable battery powered boxes.
 Remember though that the CZ1000/101 have a crappy headphone out.(loud
hiss).Be sure to use the line out. (quiet)
 Let me know if you find something cool. It's really a roll of the
dice to find a cool sounding device, as most are designed for the 
range of guitar and not matched for line level inputs. I'm sure there
are some gems out there.

Terry (The Casio Kid)

Hi Tomas,

 I'm using Sounddiver together with the CZ-3000 but whenever I
> change something in a patch SD is requesting midi data and it takes
> very long that the CZ is sending the data, to long to work with it.
> I don't know if my CZ is damaged or if this is the normal behavior.
> Since I don't have the manual for the CZ it may also be just a
> configuration issue.
> Would be cool if anyone got a tip to solve this.

 OK, quick answer-- only connect to the "MIDI IN" on the CZ/VZ when 
editing patches with an external software patch editor.
 This seems to plague all Casio CZ/VZ synths. I'm guessing, but there
is a MIDI handshake protocol implemented by the Casio, that seems to
slow MIDI transfers. You only need the MIDI out from the Casio when 
uploading patches from the synth. After uploading the patches, simply
disconnect the synth MIDI out. I have a MIDI patchbay and just push a 
button to disconnect. Works great! You only need to send to the synth
"MIDI IN" to edit/store patches on the Casio.
 Another flaw in the CZ3000/5000 to be aware of, is the patch you send
to these synths doesn't register to the edit buffer, even though it's 
there.(huh?) You will have to manually edit one of the parameters on 
the front panel for the patch to register in the edit buffer. (what?)
 What happens is the new patch you just sent to your CZ3000/5000 will
play, however the "Compare/Recall" LED is not lit. Therefore when you 
try to save the newly edited patch, you will not be able to do so,
until the "Compare/Recall" LED is lit. Simply manually edit on the 
front panel by selecting "Octave" (or any parameter), and press the 
value up then down. This will light the "Compare/Recall" LED so the 
CZ3000/5000 can save the patch to the user memory. A pain but it
works. This is not necessary on the CZ1/101/1000/230S. And is not an 
issue if you are sending a MIDI sysex bank of 16 patches.

Terry (The Casio Kid)

Hi Terry,

Sunday, May 12, 2002, 7:21:04 AM, you wrote:

>  OK, quick answer-- only connect to the "MIDI IN" on the CZ/VZ when
> editing patches with an external software patch editor.

Thanks a lot, that really works. It sucks, but it works ;)
I first tried to simply assign another midi port to the CZ in
Sounddiver, but I really needed to disconnect the midi cable.

>  Another flaw in the CZ3000/5000 to be aware of, is the patch you send
> to these synths doesn't register to the edit buffer, even though it's 
> there.(huh?) You will have to manually edit one of the parameters on 
> the front panel for the patch to register in the edit buffer. (what?)
>  What happens is the new patch you just sent to your CZ3000/5000 will
> play, however the "Compare/Recall" LED is not lit. Therefore when you 
> try to save the newly edited patch, you will not be able to do so,
> until the "Compare/Recall" LED is lit. Simply manually edit on the 
> front panel by selecting "Octave" (or any parameter), and press the 
> value up then down. This will light the "Compare/Recall" LED so the 
> CZ3000/5000 can save the patch to the user memory.

Luckily this works with my CZ-3000 and Sounddiver. My CZ stands in the
corner of my room and is not really easily accessible since most of
the keys are broken anyway (it was real cheap ;))
So far all patches are saved correctly without touching the synth.

Thanks for your help!

Cheers,
Tomas
-- 
http://www.mp3.com/Accelerated_Decay      http://www.decaydence.net

Hi Troy,

Saturday, May 11, 2002, 11:07:54 PM, you wrote:

> SoundDiver support for the CZ synth series is weak.

Well said ;)

>  I never got my
> SoundDiver to work with my CZ-1 properly. You might want to check out
> the SoundDiver group for better help.
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sounddiver-users/

I'm there from time to time, but so far I always got better tips in
the specific synth groups like this one. Nobody seems to really care
for this old machines in the SD group ;)

Thanks and cheers,
Tomas
-- 
http://www.mp3.com/Accelerated_Decay      http://www.decaydence.net

> I'm there from time to time, but so far I always got better tips in
> the specific synth groups like this one. Nobody seems to really care
> for this old machines in the SD group 

Yeah, I hear ya...
I've been very disappointed in Emagic's lack of support for Sounddiver
lately. I was happy a year ago when I purchased it, but lately I'm
feeling very ripped off.

Troy

> I've been very disappointed in Emagic's lack of support
> for Sounddiver

I have Midi Quest 8 which is Sound Diver's main competition, I also use the
version of Sound Diver which came with the POD II. One thing you can't fault
the guys at Sound Quest for is support, Michael Lambie as almost a legend
because of the time he commits to support. Where I think Sound Diver has the
edge is the presentation, although this is only based on using the POD
Drivers in both systems.

I use Midi Quest with a VZ and all of my midi cables are plugged in all of
the time, the VZ does require some manual intervention but that's a
limitation with the VZ Sysex Specification.

Regards

Graham

Graham@...