Casio Synthesizers and Samplers

 

Although better known for their consumer electricals, home keyboards and watches, in the 80's ans early 90's Casio also produced an impressive array of synthesizers and samplers aimed at the serious musician on a budget. In their CZ range, instead of employing the traditional analog subtractive synthesis with a filter, Casio used a digital synthesis method they named "phase distortion" to recreate the effect of an analog filter. I used a total eight different waveforms: as well as the standard sawtooth, square, and pulse waveforms to create the more complicated tones akin to its analog counterparts.

 

The extended product catalog included the FZ range of Samplers, The VZ synth line, SZ1 multitrack sequencer, RZ-1 sampling drum machine, DH-100 and DH-200 midi wind controllers, and the amazing VL-1 Tone - part toy, part synthesizer, drum machine and realtime sequencer imortalised in the Trio song, Da Da Da. Casio Pro Synth manufacturing ceased in 1992 but these instruments crop up for sale from time to time, and they're well worth grabbing if you spot one.