Vintage Synth Explorer

Casio • CZ-5000

The CZ-5000 expands the Casio CZ series further into the professional arena. Based on the CZ-101 and CZ-1000 synths, the CZ-5000 adds many new features while retaining the same sound and programming methods as the latter. The keyboard is expanded to a full 61 note or 5-octave length and is capable of being split for bass and treble sounds. There is a built-in 8 track sequencer which is great for storing ideas or creating patterns and sequences to edit in real-time. And finally the CZ-5000 has an expanded waveform memory for even more sounds and thicker sounds. It's like having two stacked CZ-1000 synths all at once!

Casio's CZ series of phase-distortion digital synths make for a unique sound. After all, there are 8-stage envelopes and 2 oscillators per voice for a thicker tone. Their sound is similar to the Yamaha DX synths but is much easier to program. The CZ-5000 may be at the pinnacle of Casio's synthesizer line, and it is still a great low-cost means of getting into vintage digital synth sounds today. The CZ-5000 is not analog and has no filters. But many still find it useful where strange synth sounds are needed such as industrial and electro types of music. It has been used by The Orb and Jean-Michel Jarre.

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Tom Folden

Posted 228 days ago

I bought a Casio CZ5000 synth in 1987 as my first keyboard. Along with it I puchased a Casio drum machine, RZ-1 I think it was. It was pretty cool. I was a novice but still managed to turn out a good bunch of synthpop tunes. It had its limitations, for example being only 8-note polyphonic. That, in effect, also limited what you could do with the sequencer. But great first, beginner, keyboard. I actually miss it.

sb

Posted 401 days ago

I had one for a couple of years, and enjoyed playing it. The sequencer was fun to mess with, but not much use on stage, and compared to the Rolands and Yamahas of the same era, it critically lacked a touch-sensitive keyboard - I had a Roland S-10 too, and that was far superior for the feel of the keyboard.

Colorform2113

Posted 430 days ago

This is my first digital synth, I've been kind of an analog junkie lately. But I absolutely love this synth! Powerful sequencer, extremely expressive envelopes, and just an all around great sounding instrument. the CZ-5000 was a awesome thrift store find!

Analogue Crazy

Posted 442 days ago

This is a fantastic synth. I love mine to death and use it in a lot of my music. Its real easy to program and can sometimes sound startingly close to analogue. I wish all digital gear was as warm sounding and easy to use as the Casio.

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