Gear Spotlight - Part 2: Casio CZ1000

So I just picked up a Casio CZ1000 from my favourite gear store in Toronto, Paul's Boutique.

This unit is in excellent condition and came with the three original manuals (in English and Spanish) and the original Casio dust cover!

Here are some shots (Matrix, you'll notice my cat trying to get into the left side of the first shot).













vintagesynth.com has this to say about the CZ1000:

Phase Distortion (PD) synthesis so it is quite capable of some cool digital/analog sounds! PD is Casio's own take on digital synthesis from the mid-eighties and is found in all of their CZ series. You basically modify digital waveforms (sine waves) to create various sounds. It can create wild new sounds, notably percussive sounds. But it's not too easy to program if you don't know much about waveform theory and design.

Three sets of 8-stage envelope sections are used to modulate your sounds extensively. The first is used to modify the DCO pitches over time. Another 8-stage envelope section in the DCW is used to modify the Phase Angle over time (like filtering). Finally the DCA amplifier also has an 8-stage envelope to modify the volume of sounds over time. For further tweaking the CZ-1000 employs some surprisingly analog effects. Four types of Vibrato make up a simple LFO-type section with triangle, square, ramp up or down waveforms as well as rate, depth and delay settings. Portamento adds that classic glide effect from one note to the next. Double up on the oscillators with 4-note polyphony. Built-in noise and ring modulation. It's also MIDI equipped with 4 monophonic multitimbral parts. However, with only 32 patches (16 preset, 16 user) storage is a bit slim.

Luckily, I also managed to score a couple of 64 Patch EZ-CZ 4 Bank Ram cartridges off of ebay so I'm all set to begin my foray into the world of Phase Distortion synthesis.



I spent last night creating a few patches. Here are some sound samples (and the patch setting for the first sample if anyone is interested). These sounds are all recorded dry, any echoes etc. are built into the sounds using the eight stage envelopes.

Description: Warm Bass with soft slap back

Vibrato [on] Portamento [off] Solo [on]

Octave [-1]

Vibrato: Wave [1] Depth [39] Rate [63] Depth [01]

DCO1

Waveform
[first=7 second=0]
Envelope
[Step 1 SUS Rate=99 Level=00]
[Step 2 END Rate=99 Level=00]

DCW1

Key Follow [off]
Envelope
[Step 1 Rate=99 Level=29]
[Step 2 Rate=50 Level=00]
[Step 3 SUS Rate=32 Level=47]
[Step 4 End Rate=02 Level=00]

DCA1

Key Follow [off]
Envelope
[Step 1 SUS Rate=99 Level=99]
[Step 2 Rate=70 Level=00]
[Step 3 Rate=55 Level=99]
[Step 4 END Rate=25 Level=00]

Line Select [1+1']

DCO2, DCW2 and DCA2 not used

Detune [Octave=-1 Note=00 Fine=00]

Description: Resonant Bass

Description: Evolving Pad

Description: String Pluck with backwards echo

Description: Quick Evolving Lead

This synth has one particular feature I was unaware of before I purchased it. When running the synth via midi, you can acually use it as four separate dual-oscillator monophonic synths. Here is a recording of the CZ1000 playing four different patches simultaneously (no overdubs). I'm using my Korg Electribe Emx as a sequencer.

Sequence 1

I'm going to be writing a track later tonight using the CZ1000, Theremin, Korg X911 Guitar Synth, Nanoloop on a Gameboy Pocket, Electribe ER1, Springboard Dub, and my Danelectro Spring King (I don't know why this pedal gets such bad reviews, I love it. Will post some sound samples one day to show what I mean) and Maestro Phase Shifter pedals. Will post the results soon.



By the way, if anyone out there wants to use any of the sound samples or bits and pieces of longer tracks from this blog in some of their own work, feel free. I would appreciate a credit (i.e. "Contains a sample by Gnostic Rocket")and a quick email to let me know that you are using it, but I'm not going to get all anal and send lawyers after you if you don't. I will eventually be selling CDs through the blog with tracks that are not available on the website, plus some other cool merch and eventually some custom built instruments. But in the meantime feel free to spread any of this stuff around.