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I now have a US spec Casio CZ-1!


Chas

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As some on here know, I emigrated to the USA this year, which though a great move means that all my music gear is still back in the UK until it gets shipped over to the USA next year. A further dilemma is that my mains powered UK gear (and Casio boards) require 220v, so even when I get them over here I still need to go down the route of voltage converters or getting an electrician in to install a dedicated 220v power outlet.

 

My other option is to try and find some of the same models in the USA, buy them here and sell the equivalent UK models when I go back home for a couple of months next year. That would be a shame as many I bought were acquired at bargain prices, and some models don't fetch much in the UK, plus many also fetch higher prices in the USA than the UK, meaning I would lose money by selling in the UK and re-buying over here. 

 

As such, I still keep an eye open for used bargains, and sure enough an apparent bargain came up on one of the Facebook CZ groups. First thought was that it was too good to be true, there was no actual description of the item (just a copy and paste of the CZ-1's features) and some rather crummy pictures. I rang the store and they told me it was in good shape and fully working. For $179 it was pretty much a bargain, so I took a chance and bought it.

 

It arrived yesterday and was better than I could have ever hoped for the price. Considering that it is nearly 30 years old it is in very good condition. A couple of small marks and scratches, a little dusty but otherwise in excellent shape. Even the back lit display still works, if a little dimly. Better still, it has both its volume and chorus sliders (these have a habit of falling off the bigger CZ's and then getting lost in the mist of time). But there's more! When I was taking it out of the packing box I found some extra bits and pieces. It also came with two RC (10 and 30) ROM cartridges AND two RA6 RAM cartridges! What a great bonus (and they're worth a bit on their own)!

 

I haven't had a chance to hear it yet as I don't have any headphones or an amplifier (headphones ordered) and all my music gear is still in the UK. Everything turns on and all the switches appear to respond, along with corresponding LED's, which is great to discover. I can't wait to get playing it!

 

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In a pinch you can always use a set of computer speakers with the appropriate adapters as a kickass practice amp.

 

The line output levels are 100% compatible.

 

I'd recommend picking up these to tide you over until your monitors arrive from the UK.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-VS2621-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0025VKUQQ

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Stereo-Female-Y-Cable-6-Inch/dp/B000I23TTE

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Female-Metal-Adapter/dp/B0014C59UY

 

 

Those will set you up for under $75 for basic composition and practice.

 

Gary ;)

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I cut my programming teeth on my CZ-1 and CZ-101 back then, had a collection of EZ-CZ cartridges and RAs and every Casio programming book for this I could buy. What amazing fun these were! Also had the CZ-3000 but the CZ-1 was the flagship in that series. I've been tempted to get another but-with the XW-P1 already.....I remember how solidly these were made, much more solid than the newest Casios-were built to last, with some steel construction in the frame I recall but a little heavy right? Look at yours, nice! And the keys held up on mine very well. There is a (very rare now I think) programmer's book that I used to own-was the best of all the bunch, put out by an independent guy who managed to even weasel some pretty realisitic "concrete" sounds out of the CZs-silly stuff, explosions, engines, animal and nature sounds but it showed how powerful PD synthesis could be if you were willing to put in the time. Not like a sampler, but still, was very interesting.

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OK-kick you into overdrive! Do you have a Windows computer? If so, check this out......a virtual Atari computer. Why? Check the 2nd link.

 

http://tamw.atari-users.net/steem.htm

 

http://www.donsolaris.com/?page_id=346

 

I spent many hours on my old Atari 520ST-FM with the Casio CZs hooked up-yes, they had midi ports, Ataris were designed for midi and music applications, my first "DAW" was running on my Atari and worked d*** well I recall. I was able to transport entire CZ banks all over the place with the EZ-CZ and RA-6 cartridges. You've got my blood moving now!

 

I have used Steem with Windows XP (not sure about later Windoz versions although I'm sure 7 will be fine) and it works on every program I've thrown at it-even was using it recently to program a (shudder) Yamaha V50 synth with its huge database of (shudder again) FM sounds and the only program I could find to do this was Steem running an old-yep Atari editor librarian for the V50.

 

Might be something interesting to play around with if you have the time. Steem is pretty easy to get up and running (IMO). Was a real hoot the first time I saw my old Atari prgrams running on my Windoz laptops! And the Atari CZ programs worked quite well, but that was on the original Atari. I didn't have any CZ stuff after I went onto the Windows stuff and later keyboards. There apparently is still a user-supported Atari group on the web, and therefore some sideways support for the old CZ software.

 

D****! Off to eBay to check out the CZ listings, sorry honey might have to add that extra music room after all.....

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I want to buy an old thing.

 

Lololol.  Me too.  

 

A little tip for cleaning nooks and crannies is to buy a nice quality nylon bristle house and trim paintbrush from the hardware store, like a two inch size, and keep around just for cleaning gear.  A soft one can pick up dirt rather than push it around.  It works great around buttons and for getting into corners and grooves.  When done, wash the brush with some water liquid dish soap and your ready for next time. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi all, been busy with Xmas so am trying to catch up on responses. Here goes:

 

 

In a pinch you can always use a set of computer speakers with the appropriate adapters as a kickass practice amp.

 

The line output levels are 100% compatible.

 

I'd recommend picking up these to tide you over until your monitors arrive from the UK.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-VS2621-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0025VKUQQ

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Stereo-Female-Y-Cable-6-Inch/dp/B000I23TTE

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Female-Metal-Adapter/dp/B0014C59UY

 

 

Those will set you up for under $75 for basic composition and practice.

 

Gary ;)

 

Cheers Gary!

Tempting as that is above, I can actually get by with just a set of headphones and also connecting it up to my laptop. Ideally I could do with a little mixer (I have two back in the UK) so that I can hook both the PD1 and CZ-1 up at the same time, though I guess I can go real old school and do real multi-tracking and do everything one track at a time. Takes me back to recording songs on my old 4 track Tascam Portastudio! Throw in the fact that I am still so occupied with settling in to the new house, my musical exploits will be taking somewhat a back seat until everything comes over later in 2016. Then again, if I get the itch sooner I'll be sure to use your links to get set up  B)

 

Wow!  What a find!  Congrats Chas!

 

Indeed! It was a lucky find and much thanks must go to the FB CZ group. A chap on there found the advert and posted it in the group, and I jumped at it. Still can't believe I scored a CZ-1, in such good condition, and with four cartridges for just $179 + shipping.

 

Nice score Chas! After the New Year we need to set up a Casio play date!  :D   

 

 

 

 

We must! If you get Kris over in Fort Lauderdale involved, we could have a Casio megathon!  :P

 

 

its price is how much, I want to buy an old thing.

 

Er, OK!

 

 

I cut my programming teeth on my CZ-1 and CZ-101 back then, had a collection of EZ-CZ cartridges and RAs and every Casio programming book for this I could buy. What amazing fun these were! Also had the CZ-3000 but the CZ-1 was the flagship in that series. I've been tempted to get another but-with the XW-P1 already.....I remember how solidly these were made, much more solid than the newest Casios-were built to last, with some steel construction in the frame I recall but a little heavy right? Look at yours, nice! And the keys held up on mine very well. There is a (very rare now I think) programmer's book that I used to own-was the best of all the bunch, put out by an independent guy who managed to even weasel some pretty realisitic "concrete" sounds out of the CZs-silly stuff, explosions, engines, animal and nature sounds but it showed how powerful PD synthesis could be if you were willing to put in the time. Not like a sampler, but still, was very interesting.

 

I can confirm that the CZ-1 is built like tank (and weighs as much!) The lower part is indeed made of steel. I also think I know the book you are talking about, and I might have a PDF scan of it somewhere in my archives. The CZ's PD engine is capable of some immense patches thanks to the dual oscillators and 8 stage envelopes. I know I got some really bizarre sounds out of mine.

 

 

OK-kick you into overdrive! Do you have a Windows computer? If so, check this out......a virtual Atari computer. Why? Check the 2nd link.

 

http://tamw.atari-users.net/steem.htm

 

http://www.donsolaris.com/?page_id=346

 

I spent many hours on my old Atari 520ST-FM with the Casio CZs hooked up-yes, they had midi ports, Ataris were designed for midi and music applications, my first "DAW" was running on my Atari and worked d*** well I recall. I was able to transport entire CZ banks all over the place with the EZ-CZ and RA-6 cartridges. You've got my blood moving now!

 

I have used Steem with Windows XP (not sure about later Windoz versions although I'm sure 7 will be fine) and it works on every program I've thrown at it-even was using it recently to program a (shudder) Yamaha V50 synth with its huge database of (shudder again) FM sounds and the only program I could find to do this was Steem running an old-yep Atari editor librarian for the V50.

 

Might be something interesting to play around with if you have the time. Steem is pretty easy to get up and running (IMO). Was a real hoot the first time I saw my old Atari prgrams running on my Windoz laptops! And the Atari CZ programs worked quite well, but that was on the original Atari. I didn't have any CZ stuff after I went onto the Windows stuff and later keyboards. There apparently is still a user-supported Atari group on the web, and therefore some sideways support for the old CZ software.

 

D****! Off to eBay to check out the CZ listings, sorry honey might have to add that extra music room after all.....

 

Cheers for the heads up Jokeyman, appreciate the links. However, I have just purchased Virtual CZ (see below), which is a CZ emulator that works as a DAW plug-in, and as a stand alone, PLUS it works as a SYSEX librarian/ editor for ALL CZ's, including the CZ-1! This will be a godsend, and will also make all the cartridges redundant.

 

Also, the write up in the second link is incorrect in stating that Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure) used banks of the CZ230s when recording the first Erasure album. He used banks of CZ101's, and still has one in his collection of synths. Here's a picture of Vince with banks of his 101's!

 

post-2103-0-80728300-1451365048.jpg

 

 

Lololol.  Me too.  

 

A little tip for cleaning nooks and crannies is to buy a nice quality nylon bristle house and trim paintbrush from the hardware store, like a two inch size, and keep around just for cleaning gear.  A soft one can pick up dirt rather than push it around.  It works great around buttons and for getting into corners and grooves.  When done, wash the brush with some water liquid dish soap and your ready for next time. 

 

Cheers Brad, I'll give that a go. Someone else on the CZ group suggested taking the whole thing apart and cleaning all the plastic parts with gentle soap and water. Kris Nicholson does something similar to a lot of his Casios/ keyboards and really does get them coming up like new. Not sure if I am brave enough to dismantle it that much in one go :unsure:

 

And as I mentioned to Jokeyman above, I have just bought a copy of Virtual CZ, the DAW CZ emulator and also SYSEX librarian/ editor. Anyone else with a CZ, it's currently at 50% off the original price for one day only (December 29th 2016), and it's a very highly rated plug in. The sound demos of it are excellent, and the librarian/ editor for real CZ's is a massive bonus. It's worth getting even if you don't have a CZ as apparently the emulation is top notch, and it can really give you an excellent emulation of the CZ's Phase Distortion synthesis. Here's the link for anyone interested, but get in quick if you want to get it at the one day 50% off sale price:

 http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/1-Instruments/4-Synth/1158-VirtualCZ

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