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.

Sotiris

July 26, 2009 @ 5:59 pm

A really great synth. A programmer's dream! When it came out i didn't buy it, but when i saw a used one for sale i grabed it (for 650 euros, with voice expansion and memory card). Can't stop playing it! The keyboard feel is very pleasant and the arppegiator is tons of fun. And if you know about synthesis, well ... you 're in sound heaven. I 'd love to have a software editor for it, maybe someone knows about one?

Barry

March 31, 2009 @ 7:25 am

Yeah, this is one of the greatest synths ever created. But it is for people who know how to program ONLY. My first real synth was a Korg Prophecy, which is the monophonic little brother of the Z1, and it took me more than four years before I really knew how to work that thing. Now that I know more about synthesis I wish I still had it (it was stolen)!

FX CAN be tempo-synced so I don't know what the joker below me is talking about. He, like most others who have used either the Proph or Z1, probably doesn't know how to use it properly...But if you DO know how to get around a COMPLEX synth, get this bad boy!

Sunjammer

March 21, 2009 @ 7:11 pm

One of my favorites, because it slots so nicely into its particular niche; pads and physical modelling. I'm using it as a master keyboard alongside an R3 and a Modular G2, and it's all joy. Main drawback is a flat out bad FX section, at least by modern standards; FX are shared across all timbres, have very rudimentary modulation options and lack tempo sync. Practically forces you to get creative at an earlier stage in the signal path however, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Jim Wicked

February 26, 2009 @ 11:02 am

This could have been the greatest digital synth ever made. It sounds amazing and the potential is limitless. ...unfortunately, programming it is a real bear. If you have an inhuman amount of patience, you owe it to yourself to get one of these. Otherwise, look for something easier to program.

planetplayer

January 12, 2009 @ 11:17 pm

Tried when first came out. ALmost brought one, but they ran out when I was ready. When in stock again I said. No.
Good as a solo synth. Like the almost forgotten Prophecy.

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