shane@deepthot.UUCP (Shane Dunne) (09/13/85)
------------------------------------------------------------ Note: I am posting this to net.music because net.music.synth is not yet known to our postnews. Apologies. ------------------------------------------------------------ I recently bought a Casio CZ-101, which is the least expensive model in the new CZ series of digital synthesizers. For those considering getting one of these, here are my initial reactions. First, I think the CZ-101 is a very good deal. For about $800 (that's Canadian dollars: things cost more here in the frozen North...), you get a MIDI-compatible digital synth with tremendous flexibility, which incidentally can be 4-timbral when played through the MIDI port. I would strongly recommend the 101 as a MIDI slave synth or for experimenting with sequencing, etc. under MIDI. The 101 has a 4-octave keyboard whose keys are slightly smaller than the standard size, which can be annoying, although the unit's portability is a big plus. Casio also offers the CZ-1000 which is the same machine with a full-size keyboard, for a couple hundred dollars extra. The MIDI implementation on the CZ series is quite full, including multi-timbral modes (putting the synth on 4 separate MIDI channels at once, giving 4 logical monophonic synths), and system-exclusive messages for up- and down-loading sound parameter data and front panel switch settings. This latter is potentially very useful, since the CZ has no mass-storage such as cassette tape (although it has RAM cartridges); a computer could be used for archiving sounds. Casio also offers the CZ-5000, which is a jazzed-up 101 or 1000. It makes the same sounds, but has more memory, a sequencer, stereo chorus and a few other bells & whistles. As I write this however, the price is higher than that of a DX-7, which is a much more powerful machine, so I would think carefully before getting one. The 5000 has one important advantage over the 101 and 1000: sounds with 2 oscillators per key are 4-voice polyphonic on the 101 and 1000, while they are 8-voice on the 5000. It seems that the 5000 would be suitable as a main synth, while the smaller models would be best as "starters" or as add-ons to an existing MIDI setup. Finally, I have done a computer simulation of the "phase distortion" synthesis algorithm used by the CZ machines. The full results should appear in the newsletter of the Computer Music Association (CMA Array) sometime soon. The upshot, however, is that the algorithm gives results that are quite similar to analog synthesizers, although with much greater flexibility in some respects. Programming the CZ is easy for folks who are used to analog synthesizers, unlike working with, say, a DX-7 where the price of power is near-incomprehensibility. - Shane Dunne ...!decvax!utzoo!deepthot!shane (I think!)
mohan@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU (Sunil Mohan) (09/19/85)
> Finally, I have done a computer simulation of the "phase distortion" > synthesis algorithm used by the CZ machines. The full results should > appear in the newsletter of the Computer Music Association (CMA Array) > sometime soon. The upshot, however, is that the algorithm gives results > that are quite similar to analog synthesizers, although with much > greater flexibility in some respects. Programming the CZ is easy for Is this similar to what the DKI Synergy synths use to 'thicken' their sound ? What is the Computer Music Association, and how may I become a member and subscribe to their newsletter ? -- _ Sunil UUCP: ...{harvard, seismo, ut-sally, sri-iu, ihnp4!packard}!topaz!mohan ARPA: Mohan@RUTGERS