The CASIO CZ-5000 Sequencer explained and played

Sorry for the bad audio quality. I recorded it with the internal microphone of my camera which is terrible.

It is time to make some proper videos on the great capabilities of the 1985 digital synthesizer from Casio.

0:32 History of Casio's Synthesizers
3:08 Hands-On Explanation of the Sequencer
8:40 Some sequenced sounds of the CZ-5000

Leave your questions and opinions in the comments!

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Check out the great video from Syntaur which i mentioned:

All the sources on Casio synth history, here we go:

[darwiniandude]

Enjoyed your explanation and especially the multitrack composition at the end. Nice use of percussive elements too. I get my CZ-5000 the day after tomorrow hopefully, can’t wait :)

[jeffblack]

I was always interested in the music workstation idea and the way I kind of graduated through synths in the 80s kind of reflects this. After learning the basics with a Moog Prodigy and Yamaha CS30 in 1981, I bought a SCI Pro-One, which had an arpeggiator and then a Roland JX-3P, which has a basic step sequencer. I was looking for one unit that could record a whole song with different parts and came across it with the CZ5000, which I owned in 1986. In those days, you really had to study the manual to get the best out of it. Though I did attempt some interesting stuff, the hard and digital nature of the CZ sound just wasn't all that suited to multi-timbral songs - although I salute its ambition. I moved from there to the Ensoniq ESQ1 and then the Roland W30 sampling workstation.

In the early 90s, I had the idea that a PC could be custom-designed with the right hardware and software to become a virtual recording studio. So I researched it, bought all the components and ended up with a midi sequencer synced to four tracks of audio via a SMPTE card (the time code that synced audio to visuals in film). I had basically invented a DAW - primitive by today's standards, but it worked. The CZ5000 was a big step towards that. though, of course, Cubase VST came along in the mid-90s and gave me exactly what I was striving for all along.

[zmix]

2:39 In 1980 the Synclavier II was released, it featured a real time multi-track sequencer, and of course the Fairlight II CMI (1982) had one as well..

[synthesizerhome]

The first MIDI synthesizer with integrated multi-track sequencer was the Sequential Circuits Six-Trak from 1984.

[parisgraphics]

Fantastic video. Thank you! I made an album with just a cz1000 (found for $10) and an MPC and more recently found a 5000 for cheap but had not gotten into the sequencer section yet in part because I found the manual a bit confusing. Your video really helped and I'm looking forward to exploring it now.

[andreasboll]

I love the entire CZ, FZ and VZ family. Arturia emulation is also quite usable, but original is original! Thanks for the very nice video 👍

[moneydoctor]

Killer. Thanks for this example and explanation.

[lloydpopp]

Is there a way to change the patch's parameter while sequencing it? Like sequence it while Changing the waveform, messing with the modulation etc

[andreasvitz]

I have a chance to buy a casio sz1 sequencer. Have you used one before and would you recommend it? Cheers

[sotirisnikolaidis]

i try to write after the second track but the sequencer doesn't work
only the first 2 tracks i can record

is it a hardware problem?

great video
thank you 🙏🏻🎹

[chaziast]

6:04 what buttons are you pressing exactly? i don’t know if there’s something wrong with my cz5000 but this is the part of the tutorial i’m stuck on. i can’t seem to select to the right

[corncobjohnsonreal]

I remember this girl from that minecon video

[davidm]

I bought the stand alone version, SQ1 ? many years ago used, but as new boxed. I don't think I tried it more than a couple of times, family issues at the time. I must get it out and actually learn to use it again. 👍 Not able to read music, note lengths etc made it hard to understand what I did wrong too. 🤔

[electronicmusician]

how do you make the sequence loop without the 1 bar gap? thanks

[jasonmcgary]

Can this sequencer send sequence data to other synths

[annother]

I think the Evolution evs-1 has phase distortion amongst its many synthesis types

[petepete]

I dont understand wich button u use then u chose the programmer, I'm just trying the manual mode but the screen still the same

[richardsmith]

Very confused with this method...you need to show the buttons you are pressing when you make a change to the menu, and the screen resolution is very poor - can't see wht the symbols are for which functions you are choosing.

[snoopdoggdankkush]

It's not the gun, its the gunner.