lodger Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Has anyone ever used one? I saw one on craigslist recently and am sorely tempted…Is this also a phase distortion synthesizer? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Display Name Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 From Vintage Synth Explorer:"The VZ-1 takes a hybrid approach to its sound generation. Where the CZ line used Phase Distortion Synthesis and the Yamaha DX line used Phase Modulation (incorrectly advertised as FM), the VZ-1 uses Phase Distortion for ring modulation and waveform generation but true Frequency Modulation Synthesis to generate harmonics. The end result is a unique and hauntingly space-age sounding synthesizer with many smooth "twangy" textures - but it can also be very harsh and noisy when complex phasing is employed. Thumping bass-lines and sweeping pads are its strongest points but it is also very capable of analog-ish brass and strings."http://www.vintagesynth.com/casio/vz1.phpI haven't used one but it is by all accounts an awesome synth. How much are they asking for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 It was a part of the bundle three synths for about $400. I'd be very tempted however I already have A scad of full-size keyboards not to mention the smaller ones. So easy to get gear lust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Display Name Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 It was a part of the bundle three synths for about $400. I'd be very tempted however I already have A scad of full-size keyboards not to mention the smaller ones. So easy to get gear lust Yes.. I was ***THIS*** close to getting a Kurz K250 this summer... classic instrument with lots of history, but in the end I decided to get an iPad. Much more portable.. and had a warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I'd love to think about picking up a whole slew of vintage keyboards from craigslist or ebay but I am leery about the condition of these ancient wonders. Unfortunately with keyboards they are largely mechanical devices and are prone to nasty stuff like contact failure, dead keys and broken springs. Even when buying something less than ten years old it is caveat emptor depending on how the unit was handled and whether it was regularly gigged or not. Much as I'd love to pick up a 30 year old Casio for it's funky cheezy sounds, I simply cannot see myself buying one anytime soon. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 well when it comes to older gear, my recomendation is buy CHEAP. casio is a really easy brand to collect as lots of people in the mass market treat them as nearly disposable. Earlier last year I got my CZ-1 in extremely good shape for a mindblowing $50 from a craigslist ad. a strategy that is useful for buying older gear is to let the person selling know that you will need to get it serviced/cleaned and that should knock off a bit of the price. Since I use a lot a midi and sampling, the performance ability of the synths isnt nececarily my biggest concern, but i could see if that was a barrier to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chas Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Has anyone ever used one? I saw one on craigslist recently and am sorely tempted…Is this also a phase distortion synthesizer? I have a VZ-1 amongst my somewhat extensive collection of Casios. I haven't actually spent much time with it, though by all accounts, and online reviews, it is a very powerful synth. It takes 'Phase Distortion' synthesis from the previous CZ series to the next level - Casio called it 'Interactive Phase Distortion' aka 'iPD'. Unfortunately the programming interface isn't as intuitive as the CZ series, and despite the larger display and ability to edit waveforms graphically it is still tedious to program, probably more so due to the complexity and sheer depth of the synth engine. Apparently it is capable of some very deep and complex, evolving sounds if programmed well. If the board you are interested in is fully working and a good price, it is worth having even just as a controller keyboard. It is very substantially built, sleek and stylish, has velocity and after touch, and has three modulation wheels (I believe at least one can be user assigned to any parameter). Add in a unique and powerful synth engine, it's a worthwhile addition for anyone looking for a late 80's/ early 90's digital synth that is somewhat unique. "The large (for the time) backlit dot matrix graphic LCD display made programming this synthesizer far easier than Yamaha's DX7 and DX7-II; envelopes and signal path, for example, were edited graphically rather than a number at a time and in text only mode and several parameters were viewable on screen at once. Unlike other synthesizers on the market at the time, the edit pages were not nested and their location and function were clearly marked on the front panel above the menu and function buttons.The VZ-1 takes a hybrid approach to its sound generation. Where the CZ line used Phase Distortion Synthesis and the Yamaha DX line used Phase Modulation (incorrectly advertised as FM), the VZ-1 uses Phase Distortion for ring modulation and waveform generation but true Frequency Modulation Synthesis to generate harmonics. The end result is a unique and hauntingly space-age sounding synthesizer with many smooth "twangy" textures - but it can also be very harsh and noisy when complex phasing is employed. Thumping bass-lines and sweeping pads are its strongest points but it is also very capable of analog-ish brass and strings."http://www.vintagesynth.com/casio/vz1.php You can see my VZ-1 just below my XW-P1 and XW-G1, and just above my CZ-1 and CZ3000 (with my MZ2000 and 2 x HT6000's to the left). This part of my Casio collection I call the 'King Casios'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Now yer just showing off Chas :D Seriously though, that's one weird looking Casio keyboard stand. Where are your knees supposed to go? Did you pick that one up on craigslist as well? Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chas Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Now yer just showing off Chas :D Seriously though, that's one weird looking Casio keyboard stand. Where are your knees supposed to go? Did you pick that one up on craigslist as well? Gary Gary, the stand is back to front! I had it that way so that it would show up the 'Casio' logo in the photo Have it the correct way round and there's plenty of room for your knees, plus you get to give Casio a big shout out to all those people watching you play. Well, one day maybe when I'm playing a gig with my all Casio rig! Oh yes, I got the stand off Ebay for £15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoovJazzy55 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Out of room for another Casio keyboard, but I got space in my rack for a module. Any Casio suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 The vz1 has a rack mount ha. Other than that A good sampler can give ridiculous control over ur sounds. Akai s series all the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 The vz1 has a rack mount ha. Other than that A good sampler can give ridiculous control over ur sounds. Akai s series all the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chas Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Out of room for another Casio keyboard, but I got space in my rack for a module. Any Casio suggestions? As per Lodger's suggestion, you can get a rack mounted version of the VZ1. The VZ10M and VZ8M are the units to look for (I believe the 10M is exactly the same specification wise as the VZ1 (2U form?), the 8M is a slimmed down version both in size (1U) and in power). However, due to their compact size (and power) they hold their value more so than the full size VZ1, thus bargains are harder to find of these rack versions. There are also Hohner versions of the VZ models, more common in Germany and parts of Europe. As for samplers, you can also get the Casio FZ1 in rack form also - FZ10M and FZ20M. I think the FZ and VZ were the only Casios available in rack form. Until maybe Casio release a rack version of the XW's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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