Casio CZ vs VZ

[acreil]

They're completely different.

[atma]

the vz's are pretty terrible sounding. they're one of those synths you have to spend hours and hours messing with to get anything remotely usable out of. they have a very weak glassy sound to them.

[bitleyTM]

I love them both. They are completely different. The CZ series are neat and gritty, very italo disco. The VZ is very glassy and also able to produce warm sounds, pads; a lot of possibilities. Quite 'Scritti Politti' somehow. The VZ is quite similar to the DX7II imho, only slightly less digital. The CZ is more close to a somewhat broken DX100. :-) The CZ series can also sound like a cheap ass analog synth, sort of like a Juno 60 through a bitcrusher.

[soundsubs]

one thing jumps out: velocity is available on the VZ. you can use this for modulation and volume.

and i agree with others here, the CZ series sounds grittier and tougher, the VZ is nicer and prettier.

im sure this has something to do with the bit depth in programming and output.
the CZ is probably earlier technology and sounds slightly more in your face.

[Futureman84]

Originally Posted by bitleyTM

....The CZ series can also sound like a cheap ass analog synth....

It always amazed me how 'analogue' my CZ-101 could sound..

[projectwoofer]

Originally Posted by atma

the vz's are pretty terrible sounding. they're one of those synths you have to spend hours and hours messing with to get anything remotely usable out of. they have a very weak glassy sound to them.

In YOUR opinion of course...

[rockmanrock]

Didn't they miss off the resonant waveforms on the VZs?

[acreil]

Originally Posted by rockmanrock

Didn't they miss off the resonant waveforms on the VZs?

It's not just that, they don't really have much in common at all. The VZ is standard phase modulation with sawtooth waves and "ring modulation" (and several really stupid limitations). It has none of the piecewise linear phase warping, windowed sine sync or alternating between two different waveforms stuff that the CZ uses.

[scottgibbons]

Originally Posted by soundsubs

one thing jumps out: velocity is available on the VZ. you can use this for modulation and volume.

Just FYI, the CZ1 has velocity (which is why I sold my CZ5000 and kept the CZ1)

[paugui]

Originally Posted by scottgibbons

Just FYI, the CZ1 has velocity (which is why I sold my CZ5000 and kept the CZ1)

I ended up getting a CZ5000 and, despite I like the sound a lot, I'm think if I should let it go or not exactly for that reason...

Do you think the velocity and aftertouch is a real plus, or since I don't have a CZ1 I should just hold on to my CZ5000?

[cresshead]

sound of the cz synth

[scottgibbons]

For what I use it for (mostly percussive sounds), the velocity is worth a LOT. When I decided to sell one, I didn't have to think very hard before deciding which one was the keeper.

Why don't you buy a CZ1, see what you think and then sell the one you like less? They're not very expensive, and in my experience they sell easily (because they're not very expensive...)

[minime123]

cresshead, thanks for posting that = great cz work!!
mini

[AnalogGuy]

The main difference are maybe that CZ sounds a lot more analogue and lofi but the programming is much easier than in VZ which is harder but the sound is quite opposite, very hifi, glassy studio but warm at the same time. VZ is much more menu-driven but in other hand it contains a big matrix lcd screen showing all the details like actual envelope and lfo curves.

VZ contains a lot more performance options than CZ. Of course the CZ-1 contains velocity and aftertouch as well, but however VZ contains also a lot of different possibilities of complex multitimbral layers and cross-fades across different sounds and performance features. I think VZ is much more capable as expressive synthesizer than CZ when programmed right. Don't forget VZ contains 3 wheels (1 pitch and 2 programmable modulations)