CASIO CZ-1000 Digital Synthesizer 1985 | HQ DEMO

[synthead]

Lovely video! Never considered a Casio synthesizer, although they seemed interesting. These are cheap. I might have to pick one up now :)

[SLTe]

BTW: Did you know that the Phase Distortion used in the Casio CZ-series was later used extensively in the Roland D-50? All the "Synth" partials use phase distorted (co)sine-wave to produce the distinct digital/analog filtered saw and square waves.

[MrGreen333111]

the old cz series. I had a 3000 but kinda took it for granted back in the day

- thinking of course that I was opting for the poor mans synth, when in fact

it compares well to just about any synth that I've ever heard. One of the last

real synths I think! I remember creating 1) a ghostly descending scale choir

2) panpipe 3) synth bass (trying to emulate Jarre); alienesque radio frequencies.

it was good at those and i think good at creating sounds for traditional chord progressions

and lead

[J0nathan2CHIN0]

PLZ SOMEONE ANSWER Can casio record what you play????

[daftmusician]

at 1:24 sound like jm jarre!

[Sylviamarta]

great sounds this synth; has a very peculiar sound !

[GEORGEMARAUDER]

Never had a 1000, but I loved my CZ-1 and CZ-3000. Once you dig into the sound creation you can come up with some amazing sounds. I made ambient soundtrack pads that would rival a Prophet 5. Pure evil and ambient sounds are very possible with the CZ synths. Definitely one of my favorite synth lines of all time.

[gumdrops27]

i want one!!!

[TreyTafoya]

Gary Numan at 1:57!!

[blueleadguitar]

I have one of these, bought from new in 1985. It still sounds great and is very usable

[BennyFourStrings]

know of any keyboards that would have voices REALLY similar?

[1986uno45s]

@BennyFourStrings CZ101, CZ3000, CZ5000, CZ1 ;-)

[WhenDinosaursWereDjs]

that sound with the added reverb!

GORGEOUS! :)

[vstman]

I got 5 years experience programing the CZ synths. Damn quirky sounds from them, but when programmed right it can give some really awesome sounds!

[hongdekong]

if yud have to spend the rest of your life with just 1 synth, what would it be?

[AnalogAudio1]

@hongdekong this question is not easy. I think I would need at least 10 synths. For long time I had 3 synths (I could not afford more), and I realized, that it was not enough. I could not produce all the sounds I wanted.

If you play every day just one synth, one day you can not hear it anymore, no matter how cool or flexible it is. There is NO PERFECT SYNTHESIZER which satisfies ALL your needs. Unless you are very unpretentious.

[stellarartwars07]

@AnalogAudio1 Agreed. The best your going to get out of one synth is to use it as a master keyboard and do the rest in software - but even with that, every VST plug in to me sounds like a cross between a DX7 and an M1. Software doesn't seem to have the character of the real things, a lot of it is the different feel of the keys, as well as analog circuitry, which even for digital synths has a huge impact on sound. Thank you for these amazing demos!

[BabyWetsAllNight]

@hongdekong Easy. Oberheim Two Voice



[AnalogAudio1]

@BabyWetsAllNight but you are stuck with two voices :-)

[Raydensheraj]

@hongdekong

Yamaha EX-5 -> AWM2,VL - AN and FDSP Synthesis - a fantastic Synthesizer.

[daftmusician]

it sounds like kraftwerk daft punk and all the electronic artists.

[killforfiend]

how many sound banks does it have?

[Xevious76]

It looks nice... a sort of DX7 economic alternative maybe? Sure it sounds interesting, but aren't those membrane-like buttons uncomfortable? Nice demo as always

[Yunneck]

@Xevious76

it's another method of synthesis than DX series, it uses phase distortion synthesis while DX' uses frequency modulation

i got CZ-1000 from '87, some of those membrane buttons has to be pressed stronger, but rest are working nicely and you can feel the actual 'click' of the buttons

[AnalogAudio1]

@Xevious76 yes, it has similar membrane buttons like the DX7 has. I never had problems with it.

[Surixurient]

@Xevious76 It is completely different from the DX7. Much easier to program, feels like programming an analog subtractive synth only instead of a filter you have the wave shaper, which is a variable read-rate algorithm (different algo for each type of base wave, sin, square, saw, pulse, etc) used to distort the base wave. Also it is multitimbral and the cz5000 had 32 oscillators (2 per voice). I would argue it is better than the dx7 in some respects.

[pdw2309]

i have one and need to get rid of it,is there a decent market for them?or is it down to my local tip??:(

[jamestheronchapman]

@pdw2309 , what condition is your 1000 in? i might be interested.

[pdw2309]

@jamestheronchapman the keyboard is in good condition,ill power it up and see if all is in working order...it's been some yrs since it was used!

[bassbacke]

I bought one in december 1985. Switched to guitar in 1986, then to bass guitar in 1987. Just ordered a synth yesterday coming full circle after almost 25 years (not a Casio though - Korg microSTATION). Had a lot of fun with my Casio CZ 1000. Use the MIDI multi mode a lot.

[muzictomasz]

1985 sounds casio a lot better than the present to produced 2010 casio defeat :-/

[Comediastudios1]

i really want one of those but im stuck with a Casio ct-370

[Desmaad]

What is that black keyboard in the back?

[KevinHeaven9]

GIMME YO PATCHES

[Sparksfuckingryder]

Scratch that, the cartridge sounds do work apparently, and they're pretty good, very space-y sounds

[Sparksfuckingryder]

I just bought this today, it's a fun thing to play but I can't seem to get any sounds from the internal or cartridge memory so I can only play the presets, they're okay BTW

[PHAEDRIDER]

i just gambled 10 bucks on one a couple hours ago . the lcd screen only half of it works.. holding its presets though

surgery time

[goodyear90]

what synths are used in the intro??

[AnalogAudio1]

@goodyear90 Well, in the into I used a Fairlight CMI, a PPG Wave... are you kidding? Of course I played a CZ-1000, what else should I play in a CZ-1000 demo ? :-)

[goodyear90]

@AnalogAudio1 thought so ;) now i really wont one too!!

[ladyvader139]

That is the perfect instrument when you want to cover your fave video game themes ;)

[Artstar]

I like the CZ synthesis (I have a 5000) and would ideally like the 1000 to use as a lead synth, but I can't get over the lack of a modulation/vibrato wheel. I guess it could be modded.

[jimi18032]

Can you tell me what the sound is that you're playing from 1:15 to 1:25... sounds like a funky organ or something?

[AnalogAudio1]

@jimi18032 this is the famous techno organ of the CZ - heard in many tracks.

[jimi18032]

@AnalogAudio1 Can that sound be found on the other CZ synths?

[smackyjack]

Thanks for posting this little Keyboard with such an in depth demo.

[noizy4]

Early "Erasure" keyboard - Vince had loads of smaller CZ-101s linked to a BBC Micro.

[SQUARENOISE]

hoo hooooo but at 2:00 is a preset ?

[ChaseDisgrace]

@SQUARENOISE

yep

[a280281]

wow the 1st and 3rd patches you play sound amazingly crisp like a dx7

[juno4725025]

80s¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[butheadVSbevus]

the casio CZ series are very surprising synths and fun to play

[flator]

The keys you play do not produce the corresponding notes, is the board transposed or what??

[AnalogAudio1]

Yes, it's transposed... if you don't feed it with batteries, it transposes itself the way it wants... :-)

[flator]

Cool!!! A synth with life of its own!! :-)

It seems to be a common issue I´ve seen 2 or more videos of the CZ1000 & 101 with transposed keys... transposed a 5th up.

I´m planning to buy one, to use with a talkbox. I´m between a CZ101 (love its size) or a CZ3000 (has mod wheel)... same price.

[Yunneck]

@AnalogAudio1

now i know why my cz-1000 transposes itself isn't it weird that digital machine can detune?

[ekomatic]

The CZ1000 was my first polyphonic synth. When I first tried it after buying, I was very sad because of the awful presets. After a few months, i discovered very impressive capabilities of this engine. But only 4 voices polyphony, it's very frustrating.

[TheSynthFreq]

Great video of the CZ-1000! It sounded awesome with reverb added on. Wow. :)

[oiramletoh]

Sounds sad...

[Compastral]

the first and second last sounds were the best sounding! :D reverb makes it sound so freakin deep

[tekkentool]

i am so interested by the 8 stage envelope's on these.

[sauermusicDE]

The electro percussion at 2:57 reminds me of Kraftwerk.

[Space5100]

Old school good... :)

[manufacturedZ3R0]

Along side the jupiter4 and yamaha cs15 this is one of my all time favourite synths. They were one of those machines nobody wanted way back but have since become fashionable (and horribly over priced) like a lot of old gear. I've had one for about 15 years. The presets are crap but there's no denying you can create some really good sounds when you mess with the parameters. I'm going to attempt to mod mine in the near future to add real time control to some of the parameters and the filter.

[giddygavin]

Great demo thanks.I would love a CZ synth,they are very high up on my wish list!

[myrmur]

Great demo!

What reverb did you use?

[AnalogAudio1]

Thanks! It's a Lexicon MPX 500

[squeakD]

Nice vid! Man.., I wish Casio would make a modern version of the CZ series. They sold a lot of CZ synths in the 80's too.

[tekkentool]

i personally don't think there is much of a point in a new hardware PD synth. Digital synthesizers can technically be replicated perfectly by computer's and vsti's. and i know of a few PD vsti projects in the works now these things are getting popular again.