The CZ-1 competes with the CZ-5000 for the best all around Phase Distortion digital synth. The CZ-1 has the most advanced keyboard of all the CZ series synths. It has a full 61-note 5-octave keyboard with velocity and aftertouch sensitivity. Very professional features from a Casio synth! Otherwise it is essentially a CZ-3000 (which is essentially two CZ-1000s or CZ-101s). With the CZ-1 you get 8-stage envelopes, 2 oscillators per voice and a whole lot more with relatively easy programming. Whereas the CZ-5000 may not have had as good a keyboard, it had the benefit of an on-board 8-track real-time sequencer which the CZ-1 lacked.

If you're looking for low-cost Yamaha DX-like sounds, the Casio CZ line of Phase Distortion synths are a good buy. For performance, the CZ-1 may be the best of the CS-series. Its dynamic keyboard and enhanced memory abilities make it ideal for live situations. Memory, MIDI and multitimbrality have all been upgraded in the CZ-1 making it one of the nicest budget synths ever to grow out of a consumer market.

26 VISITOR COMMENTS

Philip P

April 30, 2012 @ 11:37 am

Forgot to write in english. Sorry guys.
I want to put a cz-1 up for sale, but I can't figure out the proper price level. What would you recon?

Best,
Philip P

Philip

April 30, 2012 @ 11:34 am

Jeg har et cz-1 som jeg gerne vil af med. Men jeg kan ikke rigtig finde ud af hvad det rigtige prisleje vil være. Har I et bud?

Vh Philip P

Clandestine Monarchy

April 18, 2012 @ 6:02 pm

I have a RAM cartridge for the CZ-1 but you can't use it multitimbrally. I rarely use it for that reason. I wonder if the memory is also battery powered (both cartridge and synth) as until now I never had to replace mine but I'm scared it might give up without warning.

Tebbes

April 18, 2012 @ 5:25 pm

CZ1 cartridges:
RC-10 Orchestra
RC-20 Piano/Guitar/Percussion
RC-30 Organ/Synth/Sound Effects
And there may have been a RC-40

For these patches, and many others, in sysex:
http://www.motormobil.de/cosmo/en

magicbyhand

March 4, 2012 @ 10:25 pm

There were three ROM cartridges, and I have two of them that came with my CZ from the dealer when I purchased the unit (nearly new, showroom demo). I got numbers 1 and 3, if memory serves. There were also RAM cartridges for saving your own patches, but I never saw one of those. I will dig out my ROMs and see what is on them. It might take a while, as I moved recently, and things like that tend to be "lost in the move" until a major unpacking.

<654321>

 

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