fdl@houxs.UUCP (F.LAROCCA) (12/05/85)
I'm thinking about purchasing the CZ1000. The only concern I have is about it's ability to produce a good synthesized bass. I am a part time musician and currently use a Yamaha SK30 which has a splitable keyboard and use the solo synth for bass. Can I hope to get at least that quality bass. I have tried the CZ1000 SYNTH BASS preset and found it interesting but not a very fat sound. Has anyone tried the MidiBass? Is it possible to produce comparable bass sounds on the CZ. I am impressed with all of its other capabilities. Am I kidding myself or is the CZ's ability to synthesize sounds superior to my Yamaha SK30. How does it stack up to the AX80 or the DW8000. Also, must I purchase a Roland MPU401 in order to take advantage of the patch programs available for the IBM PC. Is there a less expensive MIDI interface available for downloading patches. Has anyone had any experience with the available patch software for the CZ.
djg@well.UUCP (David Julian Gray) (12/13/85)
For under $500.00 The CASIO CZ-1000 (or 101) seems to be
the best choice. I own a 101 and I couldn't be happier. I make my
living on the road, playing clarinet, and this capable,
inexpensive, portable, battery driven synth has been a solid
companion. Make weird sounds - come home down load 'em to disc
for use in MIDI orchestration.
One caveat, the four independant voices (ie., omni off/mono
to four monophonic midi channels) is not always convincing;
Voices need a lot of delay to work in mono mode (to my ear).
>1. How much did you pay for it? Have you seen it cheaper anywhere?
I've seen $329.00 advertised nationally often; I paid
$299.00 but I paid wholesale. 47th Street Photo, New York
(1-800-221-7774; in NY state 212-260-4410) is advertising the
CZ-101 for $269.00!!, but no support. $379.00 is a fair
price to a music store that gives support.
>2. Can you completely program the patches from MIDI?
I use CZ-Rider by Robert Melvin from Cherry Lane Technologies (I
use Apple is available also on C-64); an exemplary program it
uses both a graphic and a front panel emulation for sound
shaping. Get's patches to and from disc. Any change made
from the computer is reflected on the synth but not vice
versa.
CZ-RIDER list $149.00 (Can be had for less)
Computer & Music (see below) has an excellent librarian
for the IBM but no patch editor yet.
>3. Is the owner's/reference manual complete enough to write a MIDI sequencer
/patch librarian for it?
NO! The documentation's not bad for using the synth as is but
certainly not complete enough to write MIDI software. Write
to Casio USA (I've got this info somewhere) system exclusive
specs will cost a bit.
>4. What is the pitch range of the oscillators?
Audibility. Sound great to me at any frequency my speakers
can reproduce (six octaves programmable, but harmonics are
much more.)
Even better:
The CASIO CZ-5000 66 key, full size keyboard,
built in sequencer, the guts of TWO cz-101's inside, more durable
hardware (not guts but physical switches)
47th Street Photo (New York City) advertising the 5000 for $699.00!!!!!!!
Casio is about to introduce the CZ-3000, may be the best choice
the 5000 sans sequencer for ~$130 less.
David Julian Gray
c/o Computers & Msic
1989 Junipero Serra Blvd.
Daly City, CA 94014
{apple,dual,ptsfa,hplabs,netisun}!well!djgJRCooper.PA@Xerox.ARPA (12/14/85)
From: JRCooper.PA@Xerox.ARPA David, I agree with your observations on the CZ-101 completely. I believe that it is the best possible tool for an introduction to programming voices on a fully compatible MIDI synth. I wanted to add a few lines to your original message regarding software availability for this machine. Hybrid Arts sells a patch Librarian for the CZ that runs on the Atari computers. The combination of the Atari computer, the Hybrid Software and interface (MidiMate), and the CZ-101 makes an incredibly inexpensive yet powerful combination for entrance into the world of MIDI. You can also run a 10,500 note sequencer program sold by Hybrid on the Atari 130XE that has amazing features: 16 tracks, cut and paste editor, looping functions, record and transmit MIDI commands over 16 possible channels, External sync capabilities that include SMPTE time code or click track from tape, write click track to tape for sync purposes, external clock divide function for sync to drum machines and other devices (and of course, you can save all of that to disk). That entire package can cost less than $1000(much less than an IBM PC by itself) if you purchase from a dealer participating in Hybrid's current special on the CZ-101 ($250). I have more details if anyone out ther is interested......While the CZ is not as good as my DX7, it can make some interesting sounds unique unto itself. I think you will agree that it can provide hours of fun and music making for kids of all ages!!!!