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Any help for the new kid?

Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-13 by oliver.mentel@...

Hi there, my name is Oliver.


I just had the luck to stumble over a 1985 Casio CZ-5000 at my local music store a few days ago and have the feeling that this may have been one of the best buys I've done in a long time.


I'm quite new to this whole exciting world over synthesizers and would like to learn more about them, especially about the CZ-5000.


Here's where I'd need some further guidance and help as this really is all new world for me:


1)


I'd like to hook the CZ5000 to my computer, but I'm not quite sure how I can achieve this, will an ordinary MIDI cable work? If no, what would you prefer instead? Would I need some sort of special software I'd need to install in order for it to be used as a MIDI controller?


2)


I've seen that there were a lot of "patches" available for the CZ range, but again not sure how to actually transfer them successfully onto my CZ-5000?


and finally


3)


I've haven't mentioned that I bought the CZ-5000 without the RA-3 cartridge, so I'm not certain if this would give me any further issues for what I'd like to use the synthesiser for.



Thanks for reading so far and perhaps even for giving me some feedback?


Cheers


Oli






Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-17 by Benjamin Tucker

Welcome.  

You might also want to consider the new CZ vst developed by another Oli...Oli Larkin's Virtual CZ!   It is an emulator and editor that will also work as a patch librarian and comes with many patches from all the Casio Synths.

http://www.olilarkin.co.uk/index.php?p=virtualcz

Great software...just released.

B. Tucker
Louisville, KY
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On Oct 13, 2014, at 6:02 PM, "oliver.mentel@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi there, my name is Oliver. 
> 
> 
> 
> I just had the luck to stumble over a 1985 Casio CZ-5000 at my local music store a few days ago and have the feeling that this may have been one of the best buys I've done in a long time. 
> 
> 
> 
> I'm quite new to this whole exciting world over synthesizers and would like to learn more about them, especially about the CZ-5000. 
> 
> Here's where I'd need some further guidance and help as this really is all new world for me.
> 
> I'd like to hook the CZ5000 to my computer, but I'm not quite sure how I can achieve this, will an ordinary MIDI cable work? 
> 
> Thanks for reading so far and perhaps even for giving me some feedback? 
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Oli 
> 
>

Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-17 by oliver.mentel@...

Wow this is great!

Thanks for this!

So, I could basically edit the patch with the software and load and play it on the CZ-5000?

Cheers

Oli


Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-17 by Benjamin Tucker

That is the idea.  You can both play it either standalone or as a VST on your computer, bypassing the CZ, or load the edited patch into the CZ and use it's sound engine.  But be aware that not all CZs are the same, having various limitations.  The software will not change a CZ 1000 into a CZ 1.  In any case, a free demo is available and, if you like it, the software is very reasonably priced.

Though VirtualCZ is out of beta, it is very new and enhancements are coming!

Wishing you many years of sonic pleasure with your "new" synth.

B. Tucker
Louisville, KY


(Notice that you can change the color (colour) of the LCD in the software.  Nice little details)
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On Oct 17, 2014, at 1:59 PM, "oliver.mentel@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> Wow this is great! 
> 
> 
> Thanks for this! 
> 
> So, I could basically edit the patch with the software and load and play it on the CZ-5000? 
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Oli
> 
> 
>

Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-18 by oliver.mentel@...

So, I purchased the Virtual Cz and got me a USB MIDI Interface (ROLAND UM-3EX) to connect my CZ-5000 with my laptop, but I can't seem to make it work. I'm really new to all of this, I pretty sure I might have set something wrong or may have forgotten something. Do I require any additional software other than the Virtual CZ to allow patches to be sent on to the synth?
I'm stuck here, I really just would like to be able to use the virtual CZ as a SYSEX editor and send the edited patches on to the CZ 5000 and play them from there?
Or did I get this all wrong?

Thanks

Cheers

Oli

Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-18 by Benjamin Tucker

Great.  I assume you have loaded the latest drivers for your operating system?

http://www.roland.com/products/en/UM-3EX/

Are your midi cables connected correctly?  Out on the CZ to In on the interface, etc?
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On Oct 18, 2014, at 5:45 PM, "oliver.mentel@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> So, I purchased the Virtual Cz and got me a USB MIDI Interface (ROLAND UM-3EX) to connect my CZ-5000 with my laptop, but I can't seem to make it work. I'm really new to all of this, I pretty sure I might have set something wrong or may have forgotten something. Do I require any additional software other than the Virtual CZ to allow patches to be sent on to the synth? 
> 
> I'm stuck here, I really just would like to be able to use the virtual CZ as a SYSEX editor and send the edited patches on to the CZ 5000 and play them from there?
> Or did I get this all wrong?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Oli 
>

Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-18 by Benjamin Tucker

Oli, 

Sorry if the earlier post was too elementary.  Are you able to play the standalone Virtual CZ with your keyboard?
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On Oct 18, 2014, at 5:45 PM, "oliver.mentel@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> So, I purchased the Virtual Cz and got me a USB MIDI Interface (ROLAND UM-3EX) to connect my CZ-5000 with my laptop, but I can't seem to make it work. I'm really new to all of this, I pretty sure I might have set something wrong or may have forgotten something. Do I require any additional software other than the Virtual CZ to allow patches to be sent on to the synth? 
> 
> I'm stuck here, I really just would like to be able to use the virtual CZ as a SYSEX editor and send the edited patches on to the CZ 5000 and play them from there?
> Or did I get this all wrong?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Oli 
>

Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-18 by Benjamin Tucker

Oh, and I notice that the website says, "
Windows XP or newer (standalone app currently only works on Windows7+)"

And did you download the very helpful manual?

http://www.olilarkin.co.uk/ccount/click.php?id=7
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On Oct 18, 2014, at 5:45 PM, "oliver.mentel@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> So, I purchased the Virtual Cz and got me a USB MIDI Interface (ROLAND UM-3EX) to connect my CZ-5000 with my laptop, but I can't seem to make it work. I'm really new to all of this, I pretty sure I might have set something wrong or may have forgotten something. Do I require any additional software other than the Virtual CZ to allow patches to be sent on to the synth? 
> 
> I'm stuck here, I really just would like to be able to use the virtual CZ as a SYSEX editor and send the edited patches on to the CZ 5000 and play them from there?
> Or did I get this all wrong?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Oli 
>

Re: [CZsynth] Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-19 by JAMIE logan

the stand alone dont work yet he is working on it

also the sysex import bank feature does not work as a bank load but it does save them as single patches which load fine
also this feature is only available to the vst2 version its not able to do it with the vst3 version

there was some problems with the sysex dumps from the virtual version but the latest update addresses this

i like the normal adsr tab this allows you to program the phase distortion osc with out having to set the size of the envelopes like in the original that can be confusing to some

and i find in that mode you make sounds quicker save them and dump them

i have been having fun with layering both my cz101 and cz1 with the output of the soft synth slightly detuning each one massive fat sounding patches and because the slite difference in sound of each they really compliment each other

its very good its like the sq80l vsti and the sq80 where i do the same or i use4 the sq80l in dual mode which give me 16 note poly playing from my sq80
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On 18 October 2014 23:32, Benjamin Tucker tucker.benjamin01@... [CZsynth] <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Oh, and I notice that the website says, "
  • Windows XP or newer (standalone app currently only works on Windows7+)"

And did you download the very helpful manual?




On Oct 18, 2014, at 5:45 PM, "oliver.mentel@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

So, I purchased the Virtual Cz and got me a USB MIDI Interface (ROLAND UM-3EX) to connect my CZ-5000 with my laptop, but I can't seem to make it work. I'm really new to all of this, I pretty sure I might have set something wrong or may have forgotten something. Do I require any additional software other than the Virtual CZ to allow patches to be sent on to the synth?

I'm stuck here, I really just would like to be able to use the virtual CZ as a SYSEX editor and send the edited patches on to the CZ 5000 and play them from there?
Or did I get this all wrong?

Thanks

Cheers

Oli


Re: Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-19 by smw-mail@...

First of all, congrats on your new purchase. As for your first question, to use the CZ-5000 as a midi controller, you need something to control. You don't even need a computer, much less software. However, the CZ-5000 is not velocity sensitive. So, if you have a sound module that receives and responds to velocity information, the notes coming from the CZ-5000 will either have a velocity of 64 (on) or zero (off).

If you want to store patches onto a computer and transfer songs between the CZ and the computer, you need a midi interface that can handle system exclusive data (all but the crappy ones can), and some software. For the PC, you can use midi-ox.

If you want to be able to play notes and have software record what you play and then play it back, you also need sequencer software.

As for using "ordinary" midi cables (cables with 5-pin male din connectors at each end), those would only be useful for connection the CZ to an external sound module, or to connect to a midi interface with a 5-pin din female connector. Some midi interfaces connect to computers via usb. Some older ones used a parallel port connector. Also, some older ones connect to the joystick port of a sound card using a midi-to-joystick interface cable.

As for transferring CZ patches you have found from a PC to the CZ-5000, some sequencers can do that (i.e., send banks of sysex data), as can midi-ox. I believe there is other software out there, too.

If the sysex patches are embedded in standard midi files, you might even be able to use a midi player. I did this on a Win 98 PC with windows media player. Its easier with a sequencer that can handle banks of sysex data or with midi-ox. Come to think of it, didn't the author of midi-ox also write a basic midi file player? Hmmmm.

A few years ago, I did a sample midi file that sent patch data to the temporary memory of the CZ, played a chord or two so you could hear the patch, etc. I think its still in the files section.

Of course, if your CZ-5000 came with a MT cable (I think that's what it was called), you could store patches and songs onto a cassette tape. (Not really recommended because its a pain to get the levels right; but if all else fails, it is an option.)

Anyhow, congrats on the CZ-5000.

Steve






Re: Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-19 by smw-mail@...

I double checked. The midi file I mentioned is in the CZ Sounds folder > Dr. Steve's Patch Test Files. If you want to use midi-ox to transfer data between the CZ and a PC, you might also want to look at the screen shots in the Using Midi-Ox with Your CZ folder. I believe there is a thread from around that time that addresses how to use midi-ox. I just have some screen shots, including two where some of the sysex bytes are labelled. You should also be able to use the same technique with songs.

---Steve


Re: [CZsynth] Re: Any help for the new kid?

2014-10-20 by Benjamin Tucker

Yes, congratulations.  And if you haven't gotten the manual yet, it is a good place to start.

It is available here or at

https://archive.org/details/synthmanual-casio-cz-5000-owners-manual

Slow and easy is the way to get into the whole midi thing.  It is, I imagine, a little overwhelming at first.

B. Tucker
Louisville
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> On Oct 19, 2014, at 5:47 PM, "smw-mail@prodigy.net [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> First of all, congrats on your new purchase.  As for your first question, to use the CZ-5000 as a midi controller, you need something to control.  You don't even need a computer, much less software. 
> 
> 
> Anyhow, congrats on the CZ-5000.  
> 
> Steve
> 
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