The Z1 is like a polyphonic Prophecy in a workstation! It does all the analog sounds and more. This is a great analog modeling synth with 12-voice polyphony, thirteen waveforms, four LFOs, two resonant filters, two effects units and more. The ability to create unique sounds is endless. The factory patches could use some help, but overall the sound is very nice! It has a fully polyphonic arpeggiator that blows all others away. It has five preset arpeggio patterns and fifteen user patterns. Unfortunately there is no on-board sequencer. There is incredible real-time control available with knobs to control the two resonant filters, and a touch controlled 'XY' pad for tweaking patches in real-time. The Z1 is used by KMFDM, Gary Numan, LTJ Bukem and Orbital.

timer-on

November 28, 2012 @ 11:12 pm

Lol, someone mentioned nord. What the 'heck' is nord, seriously?

Wobble700

November 22, 2012 @ 5:34 am

Have been using synths since 1995 - if you can find the expansion - get it!! This board is a tweakers dream. Easily makes sounds none of my other synths can create. Excels in atmospherics and weirdness of the highest degree. Want to make weird sounds you just dream about and can't manage? This will do that and so much more. You can control multiple CC's ( 5-6?) with each one(!) of the middle 5 knobs, then you still have the dedicated ones and the XY pad and great Arp. For analog I'd go elsewhere- Novation, Waldorf, Oberheim. Does digital magic in a world of analog clones. Unique & Amazing!

orangefunk

July 27, 2012 @ 2:49 am

Part 1.

I have had a Z1 for 10 years now. Despite the multiple engines I think the sounds can be somewhat limiting. i.e. the acoustic modelling engines are more or less fixed (compared to my old VL7) and the synth modelling stuff can be quite basic when compared to modern synths.

It can be kinda spooky and ethereal and even the string modelling has a kind of grit which is just amazing even if its not entirely convincing.Many people dislike the sound but for me its up there with the rest of my synths, (Matrix 12, Minimoog, Kronos, etc) just because it imparts something different.

orangefunk

July 27, 2012 @ 2:47 am

Part 2

I think this synth strength is in its player oriented approach. If you are a player and like soloing, using controllers, expression then you will be in your element. I am not keen on the EPiano-Clavinet stuff and think people generally overrate those aspects of this synth especially if they haven´t had a lot of experience of the real thing. The numerous sounds available on the web from user groups and experts confirmed my suspicions about the lack of tonal variety. For this reason I could not see this being my only synth, but as another "colour" it can´t be beat at the price.

diggnity

June 13, 2012 @ 3:06 pm

I got a prophecy first, love it but then someone stole it and i bought a z1. I like the fast envelopes alot, short bass sounds fight good inside a big mix. Good bass and bright, high freqs, lack in the mid freqs - compensate it with the internal eq has limits. Z1 is king in athospherical deep strings, complex long-durating layersounds, spherical pads and drones thankx to the 4 routable and syncable LFOs with 18 waveforms. Very good epiano and clav sounds. Use the talkbox with mod-wheel on saw and pulse-sounds, great! I love it, and want to keep it - forever!

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