CASIO VZ-1 iPD Synthesizer (1987)
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- (c) 2015 vintage synthesizer demo by RetroSound
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CASIO VZ-1 iPD Synthesizer from the year 1987
The VZ-1 is a real digital synthesizer like the Yamaha DX-7. No virtual sound engine, no samples.
iPD synthesis = interactive phase distortion
The VZ-1 uses Phase Distortion synthesis for ring modulation and waveform generation and true Frequency Modulation Synthesis to generate the harmonics.
The sound is a bit similar to the DX series but the synthesis is different. Also different to the early CZ series. The voice combinations allows for some very wild and complex sounds.
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This is one of those magical synths that never got its due. Becuase the BIG 3
Yamaha
Roland
Korg
Always draw the most attention. But some of the sounds on this gem are second to none. Beautifully illustrated by you.
Yes Casio....the. name
It also didn't help that Casio put this out around the same time as the ROMpler movement took hold in the US with the Korg M1. As good as the technology was, nobody took Casio seriously in the synth arena, and truth be known, most still don't. They seemed to be even more inept at getting musicians to take them seriously as, say, Kawai was, and Kawai had additive synths with great potential.
I realize now why we don't see your face in these videos because the giant smile on it does not fit in the frame. Great sounding synth. I can't understand why Casio did not build off of this platform and develop into a leader in sound synthesis. Thanks for the post as always.
860anthony haha ;)
yes a VZ-2 with realtime controller and arpeggiator would be a hit today I think. after the analog revival.
***** Just imagine a new Version of the Yamaha AN1X, the AN2X with 4x the AN150 Expansion Board build in, each board with its very own Controls ......
860anthony Sadly, nobody took Casio seriously--with the possible exception of Yamaha, who I think actually tried to sue them for patent infringement.
It also didn't help that sometimes Casio undercut its own attempts at making a pro instrument with boards like the CZ-230s. If you're going to call yourself a big-boy synth and command big-boy synth prices, one-finger chords need to not be part of that product. Yamaha themselves made the same mistake with the MM series. As good as it may have been, most saw it as nothing but a Portastudio with delusions of grandeur.
Larry Wilson Good point Larry. Casio seemed to have an inferiority complex vs. the big 3.
@guinness4life After the CZ series (response to DX7) the VZ1 was their response against Yamaha SY series. And Korg m1. But again when Casio wanted to "strike back" to the "legendary monsters" DX7, D50, M1, ESQ1.. I have this feeling: "They're always late.
My father bought it in 1988 with cz1. Gr8 memories with vz1 and childhood.
Thank you for doing a demo on this fantastic synth. When keyboard players hear my electric piano sound they always come to the stage to ask where it's coming from. Invariably they're shocked to find out it's one of the VZ engines, usually the VZ-8M. I hope someone does a GOOD review of the FZ, as well. Back in the day, these were the most awesome synthesizers going. I believe two of the things that kept them a secret were their lack of endorsing keyboardists in famous bands, and the high price tags they carried. Shame. I LOVE mine. ALL of them!
thank you :))
I had both at one point. I would love to have another VZ-1. I still own a VZ-8m but I miss the keyboard. The FZ was Sooooo heavy! I used to have to carry that thug to gigs and I am found of saying it was build and looked like a soviet tank! 😀
@@murdockscott I really don't want to part with my old Casio gear, but I can't imagine I'll be playing out any more. I have their latest three synths, and love them all. So, I'll hold on to those. But I have the VZ-1, three FZ-1s, a VZ-10M, and a VZ-8M. I'll probably sell the 8M with the MG-510 MIDI guitar, as they're actually paired in the first place. If you, or anyone you happen to know, would be interested in any of them, please let me know. I really do need to let them go.
I suppose if I got rid of my girlfriend. I'd just ha e room for another synth. The Casio's had their own character like you brilliantly demonstrate. Love it. Well done.
Wonderful synth
thank you
Still to this time it is absolutely beautiful and absolutely amazing of what it can do. Still my primary synth.
Couldn't agree more!
Tried out one a couple of days ago. Now it will become the head synth in next music project! It has it´s own personality!
yes :)
My first synth in 1989.... I still have it today for the unique sound...
Very complex to program but not impossible. By comparison the DX7 seems simple!
Can you use midiquest?
@@annother3350 midiquest is shit.
@@dxmat I used to think so until I used midiquest 11 with my Evolution EVS-1 and its been a Godsend. Not clunky like I remember
VZ-1 ROCKS!!! Big competitor of DX-7II and all synth from that age. I love it!
So simple, so characteristic sound, just cute and usefull as is. If You know the limits, You can make a really big, deep,fat synth sonds. Unless the hopeless drum and acoustic sounds :))) Thank You for the video!
BMR Studio very underrated digital synth. a real synthesizer!
very complex synthesis and sounds. I had the rack module VZ-10M in the mid 90s and I missed the sound a lot.
what a beautiful machine
Louis-andré Rousseau :) indeed!
Brilliant synth! I managed to buy one from ebay, mint condition and in it's original box!! It soon went into storage as my relationship with my girlfriend hit the rocks...now 2 years on and finally having my OWN NEW HOUSE the VZ1 will be out of storage and will be at the heart of my new studio set up!! Goodbye bad relationships! Hello SYNTHLOVE! MGTOW lads =: )
:)
Hell yea my man. I got out of a shit relationship too and im all about my studio now
i also just bought a casio cz3000 gumtree! its was pay the council tax, or buy the synth..hmmm
So true. I think the name Casio wasn't appreciated or desired much, looked down upon. But how wrong. beautiful synths I totally agree.
@@scotmcfox8908 You chose wisely my friend!!! What possible joy could come from paying those greedy beauracrates 👍
A real PPG style vibe from this unit. Never played one, but always felt that the Casio range from the 80's was very underrated.
agreed
@Frank De Ruiter on the contrary, professional keyboardists or engineers who love vintage gear, have a very positive attitude to Casio VZ, CZ, FZ series... If we speak about modern keyboards, Casio Privia Pro PX-5S is appreciated for the unbeatable price/ quality ratio (of course it's not a synth but quite a decent keyboard).
@@vintagesynthesizers actually is a synth. Has a full six layer VA engine with ROM based oscillators. It's absurdly tedious to program, but program it you can and it sounds amazing!
love that phased string
I think that Casio invested a lot in children's keyboards at that time, as a result of which the musicians of that time did not take it seriously. Otherwise, the professional synths were awesome and had their own character ...
🙌
Love my VZ-1, add extra poliphony with a VZ-8M and a RAM 500 card. Up to four VZ-8M can be connected to a VZ-1 for more voices. Wonderful Yahoo group with most of the ROM cards contents posted for downloading and use.
ISOTROPOSPHERE yes the VZ yahoo group is great!
I have the expander of this and also a Vz8M. So I could expand the voices for the first one as well? Sounds cool if possible. Thanks.
Great.. I've learned subtractive, phase distortion, and a bit of FM. Now there's this!
:)
Das habe ich erst jetzt gesehen. Sehr sehr schön!
+Mr Woofer :)))
a monster digital synth
Marko , neke si zvukove , jako lijepo i '' toplo '' složio ! Umalo nisam 1989 kupio taj Synth , iako je u Dubrovniku bio , preskup , oko 5000 DM , u to vrijeme - bogastvo ! Da vježbam svirat i programirat
+žarko Crnogorac :)
+RetroSound Svaka cast za demo,i YT stranicu takodje.Uzivao sam na dosta demoa koje si uradio.
Wonderful synth great sounds. i haven't see one for sal for a very lonhg time. Well done. great demo once again.
thank you
nice work! i got one of these as part of a trade, i haven't even tried to learn it yet as it seems quite different from anything else i know. your demo shows the quality of sounds that can be made with it!
Pulse Emitter thanks a lot :)
Still sounds good!!
Hey I have been watching your videos for a while now and because of them I have purchased my very first synth (Yamaha Sy85) and now I have a special passion for them. So keep up the good work and I will be looking forward to seeing the next video!
TheTron1057 thank you!
Jesus that sounds incredible
Thank you
I love the CZ series and you can tell the VZ can go "further" than the CZ in some ways but the editing bricks my brain. Im so conflicted about it at the end of the day. A super slick editor with a patch generator would probably do it for me.
Somehow FM with analog core!! Thanks for the video!
Such great pads. Reminds me of my D-50. I especially like the Brass & Bass split patch at 3:18
sbigglesby yes reminds a bit on the D-50. :)
***** I've played a D5 and the VZ is definitely much richer and more complex than it
Nice sounding digital synth. Sounds different to Yamaha FM synths (it’s good to have both :) ). Has the best Vibes preset sound among all synthesizers IMHO (judging by VZ8m). Also must be a cool drum synthesizer.
thank you!
I had one till about a year and a half ago when some ahole liberated it out of my studio. If I can find one reasonable I'd buy it.
Jaxx, I found three of these on eBay, and two of them were only $100 each. The killer is shipping, because they're so heavy, as I'm sure you remember.
Mal wieder eine tolle Demonstration über einen unterschätzten Synthesizer. Ich würde Ihn nicht unbedingt vergöttern (wie u.a. meinen SY 77;-) ), aber er hätte mehr Erfolg verdient gehabt. Vor allem weil die Casios (CZ als auch VZ) wärmer und auch analoger klingen können und trotzdem DX Klänge produzieren können. 3 Jahre früher, bessere Presets und ein Hardwareprogrammer wie bei Roland und das Gerät hätte Casio endlich im Profimarkt etabliert...
Beautiful and unique sound I think. I got a VZ8M for some time now, and it sits very well among the yamaha and roland stuff, in the mix.
***** thanks
Nice. I was confused at first, because the screen looks very much like their pro-level sampling keyboard released in the same year.
Man I love that monster. I miss mine so much, I can’t believe I sold it like a moron. 😕
Me too ;)
A Casio poderia relançar esses sintetizador VZ-1 e o Casio FZ-1 esses sintetizadores são poderosos ,é uma atualização deles seriam maravilhoso.Fica aí a dica Casio , obrigado;
The CASIO CZ & VZ Synthesizers are very interesting. Here can you find the full CASIO playlist with single sound demos, sound tutorials and one synth demo tracks. Enjoy.
The CASIO playlist ----> ruclips.net/p/PLe08Lbpy8pPbVOueQikTUmJ4mH_RvubhF
It sounds so good 😭
And Yamaha nipped the design for SY flagships!! Two years later!!
:)
It was my first synthesizer. The IPD sound engine was great. However, its greatest disadvantage was a complete lack of effects. There was no reverb, no distortion, no flanger etc., which severely limited the capabilities.
🙌
@Salim Sivaad To each one his own. I appreciate some on-board effects for the simple reason that when switching patches I expect them to have some set of basic effects like reverb, delay and perhaps modulation associated with them. It is much easier to reproduce the same sound each time I recall a patch than to have an external unit which I have to set separately. Casio VZ didn't even have a reverb, which was quite limiting and made it sound very dry.
After the CZ series... this VZ1 was the last try on manufacturing really HQ synths. : (
yes
I like it!
Enough that I may just buy one.
:)
Casio pro keyboards. The best keyboards ever ignored!
Just got one at a yard sale, great video!
thanks
A synth like that reminds me of the works of Hans Zimmer, when he first broke through the American music industry.
Yes. Experimental.
i own one since 1991. love it. many keys do not work anymore, but nothing midi can solve. ipd synthesis is like fm on steroids and much easier to program.
odinmp5 agree with you
odinmp5 Easier to program ? This synth has been sitting in its rack for 2 weeks and I'm afraid to start programming it lol
***** If I have a DX7, a Yamaha V50 and this CZ-1, which would you recommend I start with first ? As in which one would be the easier of the three to learn FM/PD ? Amazing demo by the way ;)
Fred Payette the CZ-1 is easy to program.
thank you :)
Fred Payette just be patient. rewards will come in the form of warm waves.
Thanks for this video, I always wanted to see a test of this synth, and I like the way try them. but I would like to have another video using the presets.
fmsynths83 but the presets are most crap and show not the potential of this complex machine.
I bought mine brand spanking new from Sam Ash Music on W48 st..In 1990, $489 on sale! Still have it.. I want to change the rom battery some day. Have you replaced yours? Great Demo.
Still have mine in the roof of the garage...
🙌
Die Casio-Synthis gehören zu den am meist unterschätzten Synthis überhaupt. Die Keyboardversion des VZ soll allerdings ein Problem mit dem Display haben, der Bildaufbau soll dort sehr langsam sein. Das wurde in der Modulversion dann geändert.
+Martin Mole Also ich hatte das Modul VZ-10M und jetzt den VZ-1. Ich konnte keinen nenneswerten Unterschied beim Display fetstellen. Ein gewisse Trägheit ist ist bei beiden Modellen vorzufinden.
*****
Viell. hast du ja auch schon ein neueres Modell mit verbessertem Display. Das mit dem Display war damals auch beim Test in der Keyboards beanstandet.
This is supposedly the real FM Engine versus Phase Modulation in the Yamaha Synthesizers. I think it has an excellent sound, but I still don't know if they also use Phase modulation. I was thinking about the rack at sometime.
ish233 YAMAHA had in the 80s the patent of FM synthesis and CASIO named this PM. a bit different but the sound is similar
+RetroSound Casio named it "PD" (Phase Distortion). "PM" is "Phase Modulation", which is actually more what the DX series used, not FM as they somewhat incorrectly advertised it as! As ish233 said, Casio's iPD was closer to real "FM" than the original DX7 was, though I'm not sure if the DX7II was also closer to FM than the DX7.
Chas D it's also what I've heard, but I looked further into it a bit ago, and the physics are just missing the point in Yamaha synthesizers, it's not a great discernable difference. One may get more beef out of the sound of the Casio VZ 1-10m, but that may be because of the design of the Casio synthesis engine directed within FM. Every synthesizer company has some different techniques, but Casio isn't unfamiliar with phase distortion so that is often heard or communicated within the Casio realm. I would like to own one, because of its history and see how I can manipulate the sounds...eventually.
Do you have these sound patches for sale?
sehr imposante Sounds aus deinem Casio-Schlachtschiff,
manche Sounds erinnern mich an den DX7 andere an den M1.
ganz cool auf jeden Fall auch die rhythmischen Pads.
Einzig eine Anzeige der Uhrzeit vermisse ich auf dem Display ;-)
VolcaRock Das kommt nicht von ungefähr, denn das war Casio`s Antwort auf den übermächtigen DX7. Er erreicht nicht ganz die Brillianz des DX7, klingt aber teilweise etwas wärmer und es lassen sich sehr geniale und komplexe Flächen programmieren. Wenn man Muße dazu hat denn das ist weiß gott kein leichter Weg. ;)
Ich mag ihn. Muss ja nicht immer analog sein. ;)
Für mich ist ohnehin immer spannend zu sehen, was du hier fabrizierst,egal mit welchem Synth!
Oh je, Ich bin schon mit FM überfordert und werde den TX81z den ich schon seit Jahren habe aber noch nie wirklich genutzt habe wieder verkaufen.
Auf jeden fall, Abwechslung ist immer gut :-)
VolcaRock Eben! :) Er darf nicht langweilen, dann ist es mir egal ob analog oder digital. Beides hat gute und schlechte Eigenschaften. Nicht jeder Analog-Synthesizer klingt toll und nicht jeder Digitale schlecht.
Den Stereoping Hardware Controller für den TX81z kennst du schon? Der eröffnet ganz neue Möglichkeiten den Klang in Echtzeit zu beeinflussen. Den Entwickler kenne ich sehr gut. ruclips.net/video/KK7G6ILFwsI/видео.html
Vor allem kann man mit digitalen völlig andersartige Klangflächen schaffen. Aber unabhängig davon sind so manche Teile regelrecht verstaubt in meinen Racks,so auch der TX81z. Der Link mit der Hardware ist fantastisch.Ich glaube damit hätte selbst ich umgehen können ;-)
Good CASIO stuff.
PSS-270 Casio-Core Music. thanks
well....after seeing your video i rushed on ebay . guess what? there. was a mint vz1 from germany , i ve just bought it. Incredible sound and it sounds incredible with no effect.
thanks a lot.
is it possible to buy your sound for the vz1.
best regards
Thank you :)
Unfortunately I have sold the VZ some years ago.
thanks for replying.
i am desperate now!
Anyone watching this channel have saved these sounds?
Bought one of these new back around 1990, along with a rack mount FZ-10M (the sampler counterpart). The VZ has one of the nicest keyboards I have ever played, and is beautifully made, superb material quality. Still works perfectly today (although the display backlight is a little dim!). The stock presets are nearly all terrible and don't do it justice, and it is indeed a bit of a nightmare to program, not intuitive at all, no matter what the manual says! I used it as the controller keyboard for all my other MIDI gear because of its lovely action. The FZ sampler was also way ahead of both contemporary Roland and Akai devices, which I tried before opting for the FZ, which I also still have, and which also still works perfectly. Both of these machines are truly pro quality. The FZ also has a 'secret' synth built in with waveforms and envelopes, that you can use with the sampler for some adventurous exploration. I also have a CZ-101, which is much easier to program, and despite being a fairly inexpensive small key plastic device is actually a bit of a monster of a synth. Its eight -stage envelopes can create some of the most incredible sounds I have ever heard, that can change spectacularly over time. Preset 17 (E.Piano) is the main keyboard sound on Carly Simon's beautiful Coming Around Again. Casio made some fantastic pro quality gear in the '80s (their MIDI guitars included!), and it's a shame they didn't continue to do so. Highly under-rated instruments all.
Agree with you. Fantastic synth and reliable .thank you
The pad at 4:47. . .what was that? Incredible.
Preset , here is a track I made with that patch, a little fx but not really any at all.. just demo track soundcloud.com/nativ-1/ozone
Ashley Whiteman It's really nice. I like the vibe of the track.
its an amazing but hugely misunderstood synth, for the time it came out, these kind of sounds were out of the world. Casio should have hived off a separate professional musical instrument division and put it under a good CEO & team things would have been different
Fantastic Synthesizer. Agree with you
Once Yamaha had successfully sued Casio for patent infringement (Casio's Phase Distortion Synthesis is essentially the same process as Yamaha's FM Syynthesis), Casio could no longer manufacturexany of its proressional level synths like the VZ-1, the CZ series, etc. So, unfortunately, your good suggestion would have been impossible for Casio to implement.
Only bosses can handle 3 mod wheels
🙌😄
I just picked one of these up, but she's loaded w/ some unsparing factory presets. How can I get these amazing sounds?
People talk about the yahoo vz group. That's the place to go
Special sounds the Casio i like ... :-) digital very good ...
fritagogo1 :)
Like the quartz of my clock... Regularity...
Sorry this is not a question on the VZ-1, although it is a fantastic Synth along with the Vz-10m & Vz-8m. But I couldn't help but admire your wonderful display/storage shelving system in the background. Is it a commercially available item? If so any details would fantastic so I can go on the hunt! Which may be difficult as I'm in Australia, but I'm up for the task. Currently storing my boards (150+) on ugly fixed workshop style metal shelving units and smaller items like grooveboxes/drum machines on shelving in 52RU Server towers and rack units in separate matching towers. Pretty happy with the racked stuff, but the boards look terrible and are difficult to find sometimes (edge on). Any help would be gratefully accepted.
IKEA modified. These days only second hand.
I didn't belive that a PD synth can sound analog and warm... I'm very impressed, are programmed by yourself the patches?; best PD synth imo
Thank you! :)
Question, In your Experiance Coming from a CZ BG, how easy is it to make a VZ-1 sound as good or better than a CZ-5000 for EG?
The sound character is very different. The VZ is more DX like
@@retrosound72 ah, makes sense now, the DX did make some nice sounds though, never had one but did play a friends a few times.
have to admit your Demo sounds great still.
Would love to see Casio make a modern CZ 5000 equivalent, looking at getting one atm, (used to have a 101 and a 1000 years ago) but the cartridge prices are a bit on the crazy side nowadays.
The patches you're using in this vid - are they available for download/purchase?
Many years old stuff. I have sold the VZ.
@@retrosound72 thanks for the reply
I dont have room for another synth. I also dont have room for another girlfriend. So win win. ❤
Perfect :)
Compare with as CZ1000, CZ101,etc? They are all Phase Distortion. But which is better?
+speedtribejp the sound is very different. The VZ-1 is a lot more complex and a bit like DX7.
+RetroSound Can you do a sound compare of CZ101 and VZ1, you have both ;)
How do you think this compares to the DX synths?
+Saibot216 the sound character is a bit different. with the iPD synthesis can you make more warm sounds in comparision to FM synthesis. but unfortunately also not easy to program.
Not as easy to program? How so?
+RetroSound hey what is a good price for these?
+Saibot216 this is a very intellect intensive synthesizer. one should have strong
preconceptive abilities and alot of experience with this synth as well
as PATIENCE. think of it like a dx only inherently more additive every
time u synthesize. several waveforms besides sine wave to use. no set
algorithms, u have to conceive your modular arrangements all on your
own, and u have to figure out the "holes" and things that dont work in
your modular arrangements. midi functions are deficient and tedious to
deal with. synthesizer is tedious in general to actually really use.
Der VZ-1 klingt wirklich gut. Eine Frage: Wenn er weder Rompler noch VA ist, wie nennt man diese Synthese-Art denn eigentlich?
Sammy3000 Die Klangsynthese nennt man Phase Distortion, auch schon benutzt in den CZ-Synthesizern . Im VZ-1 wurde sie zur "Interactive Phase Distortion" weiterentwickelt, wodurch DX7 ähnliche Klänge möglich wurden.
Man wollte bei CASIO auch etwas vom Kuchen abbekommen den der übermächtige DX7 , dann schon als war als IIer Version, war immer noch ein großer Verkaufsschlager in den später 80er Jahren.
Aus patentrechtlichen Gründen durfte man die FM Synthese nicht verwenden also tüftelten findige Casio Ingenieure an einer neuen Syntheseart die FM ähnliche Klänge zu erzeugen vermochte und nannte sie iPD Synthese. Leider blieb der VZ eher ein Ladenhüter denn nach dem DX7 begann das Sampler- und Workstation Zeitalter und alle wollten nur noch realistische Chöre und Pianos. Der VZ-1 kam zu spät, leider denn es handelt sich um einen extrem leistungsfähigen Synthesizer der in der Lage ist extrem komplexe Klänge zu erzeugen. Er muss nur bedient werden und hier liegt das große Manko denn die komplexe Synthese will beherrscht werden, mit Tipptastern. Wie man sich denken kann ist das nur etwas für echte Masochisten. :D
***** Vielen Dank für die detaillierte Info - habe wieder was dazugelernt.
Gostaria de saber uma coisa.....porque o Jean Michel Marte com todo conhecimento que ele tem e experiência profissional não toca de verdade nos Shows e as músicas de 94 para cá ficou tão eletrônico que não tem boas melodias só efeitos parecendo DJ
Which one would you choose CZ or VZ ?
like the CZ more. soundwise and easy to use
but how to edit it, i just got a hohner hs2 which is the same, but its the most uninviting synth to edit in the box ever!!! :(
There is a sounddiver editor. Left my winxp pc for it...
is the dark sound at 0:24 a preset or did you create it?
no preset
very nice :)
Sounds like Depeche Mode
Yes
how can i get a t-shirt like yours?
***** this is a unikat
Are these the stock presets?
Not all
@@retrosound72Good job!!! Is it possible to buy/get this presets ?
what sound card was this?
+sha zsha I have no soundcard.
VZ Very Zesty :D :D :D
S0und0racle :)
PD and TRUE FM hybrid synth (unlike the DX7 which is PM)
yes
Jean Michel Jarre
Are these patches available somewhere?
I have no idea.
@@retrosound72 well that’s odd. You have no idea if they were stock or made?
what is "iPD"? I know VZ-1 and VZ-10M but...
Interactive Phase Distortion
A bit like FM