Casio VZ-1
Released: 1988
MSRP: $1399US
Synopsis:
The VZ family was Casio's second generation digital "Interactive Phase distortion synthesis". method, replacing their CZ family. The envelope based phase modulation (i.e. "DCW") was replaced by oscillator based phase modulation. (a.k.a. Hohner HS-2) Architecture Class: FM.
Ebay Description:
The Casio VZ-1 is a (pressure and velocity sensitive) 61 key, 16 voice multitimbral digital synthesizer, featuring 8 oscillators (with various phase/ring modulation arrangements), dedicated 8 stage pitch and amplitude envelopes per voice, along with vibrato, tremolo, portamento, 64 presets and MIDI.
Physical
| Form Factor | Dimensions | Weight | Audio Input | Audio Output | Communication Port | Control Input | Control Output | Switch Input | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 keys | W:1060mm D:324mm H:93mm W:41.75in D:12.75in H:3.69in | 12kg 26.5lbs | no | dual mono mix | MIDI: IN OUT THRU | volume assignable | no | sustain program increment | 16W AC |
Interface
| Compatibility | Multitimbral Memory | Program Memory | External Storage | External Programming | UI Input | UI Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VZ-1 VZ-10m VZ-8m | User:64 RAM card:64 ROM card:128 | User:64 RAM card:64 ROM card:128 | card: RC-100 (ROM) card: RC-110 (ROM) card: RC-120 (ROM) card: RC-130 (ROM) card: RC-140 (ROM) card: RA-100 (RAM) | MIDI SysEx | menu based | graphic LCD display |
Architecture
| Multitimbral | Polyphony | Unison | Architecture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combination:4 Multi-channel:8 | Normal:16 Combination:4 | no | Up to eight oscillators, divided into pairs. The output of each pair of oscillators is either phase, ring modulated, or mixed. Each pair of oscillators can then phase modulate the next pair or be mixed to the main output. |
Output
| Effects | Pan Modulator | Volume Modulator | Headphone |
|---|---|---|---|
| no | no | pressure Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedals Tremolo | yes |
Control
| Arpeggiator | Arpeggiator External | Sequencer | Sequencer Memory | Sequencer External | Continuous | Program Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | no | No | N/A | N/A | Pitch-Wheel Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel MIDI-PitchBend MIDI-CC1 MIDI-CC5 | key MIDI pedal (inc) velocity |
Keyboard
| Key Pressure | Chord Memory | External Control | External Sustain | Key Scaling | Velocity Curves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| channel | no | MIDI | pedal | 6 points | 8 |
Source
| Name | Signal Class | Waveform | Octave Range | Amplitude Modulator | Harmonics Modulator | Pitch Modulator | Wave Assign Modulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | digital | Samples saw1C0 saw1C4 saw1C8 saw2C0 saw2C4 saw2C8 saw3C0 saw3C4 saw3C8 saw4C0 saw4C4 saw4C8 saw5C0 saw5C4 saw5C8 sineC0 sineC4 sineC8 noise1 noise2C0 noise2C4 noise2C8 | +9 | no | no | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
| M2 | digital | saw:5 sine square noise:2 | +9 | no | phase:M1 ring:M1 | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
| M3 | digital | saw:5 sine square noise:2 | +9 | no | no | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
| M4 | digital | saw:5 sine square noise:2 | +9 | no | phase:M3/M1-M2 ring:M3 | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
| M5 | digital | saw:5 sine square noise:2 | +9 | no | no | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
| M6 | digital | saw:5 sine square noise:2 | +9 | no | phase:M5/M3-M4 ring:M5 | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
| M7 | digital | saw:5 sine square noise:2 | +9 | no | no | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
| M8 | digital | saw:5 sine square noise:2 | +9 | no | phase:M7/M5-M6 ring:M7 | pressure Vibrato Mod1-Wheel Mod2-Wheel pedal PitchEG portamento | no |
Envelope
| Name | Level | Rate | Loop | Polarity | Trigger | Level Modulator | Rate Modulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PitchEG | 8 | 8 | no | yes | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M1AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M2AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M3AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M4AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M5AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M6AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M7AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
| M8AmpEG | 8 | 8 | no | no | no | key velocity | key velocity |
LFO
| Name | Waveform | Delay | Polarity | Sync | Delay Modulator | Level Modulator | Rate Modulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrato | saw:up saw:down square triangle | no | yes | no | no | pressure MIDI-CC | pressure MIDI-CC |
| Tremolo | saw:up saw:down square triangle | no | yes | no | no | pressure MIDI-CC | pressure MIDI-CC |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |