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Average Price: $51

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$249

$700+

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Standard

High-end

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Description

The first 16-bit sampling synthesizer in Japan. The FZ-1 was the premier Casio synthesizer model at the time, providing 16-bit handling of all sampling—a technique in the spotlight at the time—to enable playback with high sound quality and satisfy the exacting demands of even pro musicians. It also featured a large graphical LCD display, enabling waveform editing and making adjustments possible for superior usability.

https://web.casio.com/emi/40th/history/fz-1.html

Product specs

Brand Casio
Model FZ-1 61-Key Synthesizer
Finish Black
Year 1986 - 1987
Made In Japan
Categories Digital Synthesizers, Keyboard Synths
Analog / Digital Digital
Key Size Full Size
Keyboard Action Synth Action
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Number of Keys 61 Keys
Polyphony 8 Voices

FAQs

What type of sound engine does the Casio FZ-1 Sampler use?

The Casio FZ-1 uses a digital sound engine with sampling capabilities, allowing you to capture and manipulate audio samples for creative sound design.

How many voices of polyphony does the Casio FZ-1 offer?

The Casio FZ-1 provides 8 voices of polyphony, enabling you to play multiple notes simultaneously for more complex musical compositions.

Does the Casio FZ-1 Sampler have MIDI connectivity?

Yes, the Casio FZ-1 features MIDI Input, Output, and Through, allowing it to interface with other MIDI-compatible devices for expanded control and integration.

What is the keyboard action type of the Casio FZ-1?

The Casio FZ-1 has a synth action keyboard, which is designed for a responsive and flexible playing experience suitable for electronic music styles.

How many keys are on the Casio FZ-1 Sampler?

The Casio FZ-1 features a 61-key full-size keyboard, providing a broad range for performance and composition.

mylarmelodies

mylarmelodies

CASIO FZ-1 Sampler Demo

Video thumbnail for CASIO FZ-1 Sampler Demo by mylarmelodies

CASIO FZ-1 Sampler Demo

mylarmelodies

mylarmelodies

Video thumbnail for CASIO FZ-1 (1987) DEMO. SAMPLING/SYNTHESIS by Elmo Sexwhistle

CASIO FZ-1 (1987) DEMO. SAMPLING/SYNTHESIS

Elmo Sexwhistle

Elmo Sexwhistle

Video thumbnail for Is the Casio FZ-1 really as fat as a Jupiter-8? | Special Vintage Unit Ep.1 by Synths and Sounds

Is the Casio FZ-1 really as fat as a Jupiter-8? | Special Vintage Unit Ep.1

Synths and Sounds

Synths and Sounds

Video thumbnail for Under The Radar w/ Sam Willis (R&S): Part 2 - Casio FZ-1 by pointblank Music School

Under The Radar w/ Sam Willis (R&S): Part 2 - Casio FZ-1

pointblank Music School

pointblank Music School

Video thumbnail for Casio FZ-1 Synth Keyboard sampler Demo: HARSH :/ by Gearfacts

Casio FZ-1 Synth Keyboard sampler Demo: HARSH :/

Gearfacts

Gearfacts

Video thumbnail for RS056 Casio FZ-1: Ferris' new synth by rejected synths

RS056 Casio FZ-1: Ferris' new synth

rejected synths

rejected synths

Video thumbnail for Casio FZ-1 by Musicnectar

Casio FZ-1

Musicnectar

Musicnectar

Video thumbnail for Casio FZ-1 Overview Part 1 of 5 by Synthdude

Casio FZ-1 Overview Part 1 of 5

Synthdude

Synthdude

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Casio FZ-1 Sampler.

Features and functionality

  • The FZ-1 offers unique waveform drawing and multiple loop points, providing diverse sound manipulation options compared to typical samplers.

    Source
  • Sampling at 9KHz and setting the first loop as a short crossfade can create crunchy, aliasing sounds while maintaining pitch.

    Source

Build quality

  • Owners frequently encounter issues with sticky and clacky keys, although the keybed is praised for its nice aftertouch.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The FZ-1 is noted for its more hi-fi sound and unique switched-capacitor analog filter, contrasting with the Akai's sample coloring capabilities.

    Source

User experience

  • Though the FZ-1 has more menus due to its features, users find it straightforward to use, contrary to its reputation for being complex.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The FZ-1 excels in producing sounds with motion over time through its multiple loops and multistage envelopes, offering rich sound modulation possibilities.

    Source
  • Sampling an oscillator from another synth and setting timed loops can create wavetable-like sounds with minimal timing changes.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Owners have acquired the FZ-1 for as low as $75, highlighting its affordability compared to its capabilities.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Cleaning key contacts with rubbing alcohol and a q-tip can remedy dead keys, a common maintenance tip shared by users.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • The HxC floppy emulator is recommended for reliable patch loading; it's almost plug-and-play with a few config files needed on the SD card.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Casio FZ-1 Sampling Keyboard (SOS Jun 87)

muzines.co.uk

The Casio FZ-1 sampler is hailed for breaking new ground as an affordable 16-bit sampling keyboard with a unique LCD for graphic editing, making it a standout in its class. Its professional-grade velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard, coupled with ample polyphony, offer excellent playability. The onboard synthesizer features rival those of its competitors, promising flexibility and high-quality sound. However, the use of rare high-density disks and a slightly delayed volume slider response could be drawbacks for some. Overall, the FZ-1 impresses with its expansive sound library and innovative sampling capabilities, making it a worthy contender for professionals.

positive

Casio FZ1 (MT Jun 87)

muzines.co.uk

Casio's FZ-1 sampler is a game-changer, bringing 16-bit sampling to the masses at a competitive price. It boasts impressive features like a digital synthesizer, eight outputs, and a graphic display for easy editing. Its design favors straightforward usability, making it accessible for both pros and amateurs. The sound quality is stellar, especially for percussive samples, which decay naturally without noise. However, the small display can be a challenge, and selecting samples for editing could be more intuitive. These minor drawbacks don't overshadow its value, as software updates could address them. Overall, the FZ-1 is a must-have for musicians seeking advanced sampling technology without breaking the bank.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 5 Ratings

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summedanddot

Casio FZ1 Sampler

found this one in a junk yard and got it for 10 dallors Casio FZ1 Sampler

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Paul McCartney uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Paul McCartney

Singer, Bassist

The Beatles

...
Verified via Hog Hill Mill Blog

The FZ-1 sampler is listed in this blog

See how Autechre uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Autechre

Music Producer

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Autechre's hardware samplers include the likes of the Ensoniq ESR and EPS, Kurzweil K2500, Emu E-Synth, and Casio samplers like the FZ1, FZ10, SK1, SK5 and SK100

See how MF Doom uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

MF Doom

Rapper, Music Producer

Madvillain

...
Verified via YouTube

Mentioned at 1:59 in this interview.

See how Underworld uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Underworld

Music Producer

Freur

...
Verified via Soundonsound

"Our oldest sampler. It goes on once a year."

See how Paul Weller uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Paul Weller

Keyboardist, Composer

The Style Council

...
Verified via Bonhams

PAUL WELLER/THE STYLE COUNCIL: A CASIO FZ-1 DIGITAL SAMPLING SYNTHESIZER, in fitted flight case, lid stencilled Paul Weller 13 Keys SL, with freight label dated September 1994, with provenance documents, keyboard 40½ x 12 x 5 inches?

See how Don Airey uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Don Airey

Keyboardist

Judas Priest

...
Verified

Don Airey is confirmed to use the Casio FZ-1 Sampler as part of his live instrument line-up, described in the article "Living in the Past" from Music Technology's February 1988 issue, where the instrument is mentioned among his equipment. Airey characterizes his setup as "something old, something new, something borrowed," and the Casio FZ-1 is noted as a current favorite during a pre-show examination of his keyboard riser.

See how Alec Empire uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Alec Empire

Music Producer

Atari Teenage Riot

...
Verified via Discogs

Atari Teenage Riot's 1995 album was produced by Alec Empire and lists the following instruments in the liner notes: "This album was recorded with an ATARI 1040, a CASIO FZ-1 sampler and a TR-909 drummachine... Sorry but we had to use the AKAI S-1000 sometimes for timestretching"

Alec Empire can be seen playing a Casio FZ-1 in the music video for "Speed" from the same album. He also tweeted in 2014: "that is such an old track hehe done on a Casio FZ1 sampler ;)"

See how John Flansburgh uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

John Flansburgh

Guitarist

They Might Be Giants

...
Verified via Google Books

In the 33 1/3 publication They Might Be Giants' Flood, on page 74, John Linnell reports that he and Flansburgh each acquired a Casio FZ-1 for the writing and recording sessions for that album.

See how Joey Beltram uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Joey Beltram

Composer, Music Producer

Final Exposure

...
Verified via Redbullmusicacademy

Mundo Muzique cites the gear used on "Mentasm" in this RedBull Music Academy Interview:

In Joey’s Studio we used an Akai MPC60 drum machine, Casio FZ-1 sampler, Alesis effects, Mackie 32-8 Mixer, and Tascam DAT recorder. We both had more gear than that, but those were the important pieces for the “Mentasm” project.

See how John Linnell uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

John Linnell

Singer, Keyboardist

They Might Be Giants

...
Verified via Google Books

In the 33 1/3 publication They Might Be Giants' Flood, John Linnell reports that he and Flansburgh each acquired a Casio FZ-1 for the writing and recording sessions for that album.

See how Kitaro uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

Kitaro

Keyboardist, Composer

Mickey Hart, Philip Glass and Kitaro

...
Verified via YouTube

The FZ1 can be seen 3:01 into this video

See how David Ball uses Casio FZ-1 Sampler

David Ball

Keyboardist

Soft Cell

...
Verified via Muzines

"We also use quite a lot of old stuff, because I've still got things like a PPG 2.2, and we've used a Prophet 5, Juno 106 and Jupiter 8 because there's a lot of arpeggiated stuff. A big problem with a lot of modern sequencers is that you have to write arpeggiation in yourself- there isn't actually a machine which arpeggiates, which is a shame because it's nice when it's more random. We use S1000s, S900s, and an FZ1. I tend to use the FZ1 as my main sampler just because that happened to be the one that I bought."

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Casio FZ-1 Sampler, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Yamaha DX7
Yamaha DX7 Synthesizers
3
Roland Juno-106
Roland Juno-106 Synthesizers
3
Yamaha RX-5
Yamaha RX-5 Drum Machines
2
Atari 1040 ST
Atari 1040 ST Computers & Peripherals
2
Akai MPC60
Akai MPC60 Production & Groove
2
Emagic Logic Audio
Emagic Logic Audio Music Software
2
Oberheim OB-Xa
Oberheim OB-Xa Synthesizers
2
Yamaha DX100
Yamaha DX100 Synthesizers
2

1 alternative for Casio FZ-1 Sampler, curated by the Equipboard community.

Casio FZ-10M

$275.00

similar sound

The Casio FZ-10M is the rack mount version of their FZ1 sampler.

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