Furthermore, the design also has some features that give it a unique character. Instead of introducing a completely new method of synthesis á la FM, Casio came up with a cost effective way to digitally implement the sound and feel of a proven technology- analogue subtractive synthesis. phase) and the Yamaha works in the frequency domain, but the similarities are clear enough. Technically, they’re different systems because the Casio operates in the time domain (i.e.
In Yamaha’s original implementation of FM, waveforms are grouped together in eight algorithms, and the envelope controls the frequency of one waveform, which then modulates another waveform or waveforms depending on the algorithm. In Casio’s version, an envelope directly modulates the phase of a waveform, of which there are eight to choose from.
Its diminutive size contrasted with its big sound, and soon CZ sales were in DX7 territory.ġ989 Ed Alstrom, Casio’s marketing manager, estimated 80,000 CZs sold worldwide, making the CZ-101 one of the most popular synthesizers ever.Īpart from the US patent here is very little information available on how Casio developed phase distortion, but it’s very likely that it was inspired by John Chowning’s FM. With its 4 octave mini keys it fitted in with Casio’s pocket calculator image.
#CASIO CZ 1000 PRO#
They had already produced the VL- Tone, a bizarre calculator/ synth combo.ġ985 In February Casio brought their expertise to the pro synth market with the CZ-101. Casio was a calculator manufacturer whose expertise lay in mass producing LSI chips. It seems that it was fashionable at the time for companies to develop incredibly expensive computer based synthesisers, but only Fairlight and the Synclavier would have any measure of success in this rarified market. The only other PD synth in the world was the similarly computer based Con Brio ADS, on which it was termed “phase modulation”. Here is a video of Tomita’s system exhibited in 2015 at the Toshio Kashio museum. One was built for IsaoTomita but it never went into mass production. It was a general development system on which sequencing, phase distortion synthesis (PD) and rudimentary sampling were possible. The system was based on Casio’s own office computer called the FP-6000, which itself was pretty advanced at the time, with features like a 29 bit co-processor. Ishibashi and Masanori of Casio patent PD synthesis.ġ983 the Yamaha DX7 was introduced, and soon became the biggest selling synth ever.ġ984 Casio wanted part of this market, and after a two-year development period, they came up with a £30,000 system called the COSMO SYNTHESIZER which was was debuted at the ARS Electronica. A great product and favourable exchange rates allowed them to achieve great success in Europe and the US.ġ982 Messrs. Purchase madtheory Casio CZ Authentic sample library for Kontaktġ980 Casio introduced the Casiotone 201, their first home keyboard. September 18th 2021: Added single cycle loops of CZ-101 waveforms. March 17th 2010: Added info about DAC offset calibration revised pricing information.įebruary 16th 2019: Added video and link to Toshio Kashio museum, review of Virtual CZ. June 23rd 2009: Added info on DAC frequency response.Īugust 30th 2009: Created historical timeline added link to Wiki and US patent. March 8th 2009: Sales figures and new references and links added. October 13th 2008: improved explanations of parameter values,įebruary 13th 2009: corrected name of Yukihiro Takahashi.
January 1st 2007: Corrected name of Casio’s first keyboard. September 2006: First web version completed.ĭecember 31st 2006: New references added. This post is work in progress since June 9th, 2002.
0 kommentar(er)
