Bad Gear - Casio RZ1

[@teddym2808]

What cracks me up is that no matter what the synth is, good OR bad, you always make them sound GREAT in the jam section. You have a lot of skill with hardware indeed.

[@finebalance]

This machine will forever be associated with Steve Poindexter's track 'Work That Mother F****'. He somehow managed to make a classic with just that machine on its own...

[@AudioPilz]

Just had a listen to this one!!! Great tune!!!

[@smaggich]

Steve and Muzique records is the shit!!!! Chicago!

[@timbermicka]

Sterling Void (Marshall Jefferson IIRC) - It's Alright tho. Work That *** is fire tho.

[@sawtooth808]

When I was younger I thought Steve Poindexter (like every other Chicago house/hard trax producer at that time) used a 909 or 707 {Larry Heard} ) when I went into Toronto’s used music equipment store (RIP Songbird) and the guy at the counter laughed and said “Yeah , that was a Casio RZ 1” , and incidentally the store had a 909 & an RZ 1 in at the same time. I purchased the 909, in the immortal words of Wayne from Wayne’s World I was feeling “saucy” that day.

[@Spockddc]

Also Todd Terry unders "Masters At Work" moniker seems to employ this with sampled 808 kick and snare e.g. "Alright Alright" track

[@RSTypeContent]

This is truly a casio moment

[@AudioPilz]

😂

[@Peacefrog226]

I love the Kruder & Dorfmeister vibe around 7:44 - kudos!

[@AudioPilz]

Legend!!! Thanks!!!

[@Dudderlyful]

Great tunes, as usual! I wouldn't bat an eyelid at this drum machine but you made it work! Happy friday everyone!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@MeeperDude45]

And the winner today ist the Roland S-1 ;-)

[@pbbbht]

All the jams from your videos are rad every time, but that second one in this video sent me to another planet

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@tesseracht]

Oh man, I almost bought one of these back in either 99 or 2000. I was briefly obsessed with Casio's Z-series pro instruments at the time. I got the CZ-1000 and the VZ-10M. A buddy of mine had the FZ-1 sample keyboard which I wanted sooo bad and then there was the RZ-1 drum machine. I never knew the RZ had sampling capability or I would have for sure bought it, but at the time I just couldn't justify it. Great video as always!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@desktorp]

cz-1000 and 5000 are bad ass

[@pontram]

FZ-1 is a monster !

[@secretelitemusic]

@@pontram 30 seconds of memory!!!!!

[@pontram]

@@secretelitemusic Monster memory !

[@megus_music]

I did not expect to see the cartoon from my Soviet childhood in the final jam!

[@AudioPilz]

Classic!!!

[@PiriakaTrackwrecker]

That last jam combined two of my fave things! Golden era boombap and Gstoned goodness is my jam, with a side dish of dub fx and sonics

[@AudioPilz]

Same here!!!! Love it!!!

[@ToreHansen]

woo had one in the 90s! Cool video and have a great weekend!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@morganwebster6636]

Man, you killed it on this one. Awesome, totally AWESOME!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@morganwebster6636]

@@AudioPilz You are welcome. Thank you.

[@juanocordoba]

loved the intro tune with those hats. amazing

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!!

[@aerospatialerecordings]

We used one of these in my old band back in the early 90s when we were desperately trying to emulate "Come Visit the Big Bigot"-era Severed Heads. The grotchy RZ samples definitely got us partway there. I occasionally wax nostalgic for one until I see the current used prices. Think I'll stick with the Volca Sample.

[@AudioPilz]

Maybe put some RZ-1 samples in a Volca Sample for even more crunch;)

[@armignac]

Welcome to Bad Gear! Thanks for all these great Videos!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

as usual great visuals on the third jam

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@gdr8628]

die hihat ist sowas von legendär

[@AudioPilz]

Stimmt!!!

[@MarsHottentot]

This was my first drum machine back in 1991 for use in an industrial rock band. Somehow, we gigged with this coupled with a live drummer and samples cued up on cassette tapes! I get strong pangs of nostalgia whenever I hear the RZ1's rigid groove and dusty sounds! Would have loved the companion DZ1 drum mixer and the uber-rare DZ kit!

[@AudioPilz]

Wow, that's really old school!!!

[@Mtaalas]

(Jam 1) "Sounds only a mother could love..." then whips out VERY GROOVY AND NICE SOUNDING PIECE THAT I COULD JAM THE WHOLE DAY TO... damn you!!!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@pauleugene8286]

Video runtime: 9.22. Actual time to view video, hidden memes, video clips, and inuendo: 39.48. I love it!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@martijn_yt]

Video runtime: 9.22. Time to record the words: 2 hours. Time to record the music: 10 hours. Time to insert the memes: 156 hours. 😂

[@mr-iz8cx]

Amazing the difference a sampler makes. 5 seconds in and the track sounds completely different to my memory of your other clips. Really cool

[@AudioPilz]

Happy to hear that, thanks!

[@PacifierMusic]

Made my first cassette with an RZ-1. Loved it so much. Made some great music back then

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️Nice❤️❤️❤️

[@ZetaCarinae]

I always like your tunes but this week that finale track was fantastic, really good work.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@AlexNes]

I love that Florian never skips a beat to take a stab at The One Who Shall Not Be Named and that no "legendary" gear is sacred in Bad Gear. I also happened to "innovate" a lot of musical ideas from the short jams into my own work. Thanks for the "innovation" sir! Wish the channel all the success :) - A fan from a neighboring country.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@MeAlexSenna]

The swing of the RZ-1 is legendary

[@AudioPilz]

I've heard about it in legends;)

[@jaknunas]

My first drum machine! I still have it, cassette, manual, box, and all. You made it sound much better than I managed to do, back in the 80s, though.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Nice, you got the box!!!

[@heparo8704]

1:58 pure fun. Thank you for all the good stuff Sir ! 😊

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀❤️❤️❤️

[@doubletriangle22]

You’ve got it sounding great. My first drum machine joint 1993 Xmas and birthday present with a 4 track and korg poly-800.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice vintage setup! Thanks!

[@ryanbrennan2911]

That was my favorite sounding intro so far I think

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@ladyapp-titude]

Wow! So cool to see RZ1 is this week's Bad Gear! One of the few times I actually lived the proverbial dream by finding one of these for $10 at a garage sale, used it on a couple of tracks, sampled the F out of it, and resold it for several hundred dollars! Also cool to see another one of my memes used. It doesn't get much "badder." Thanks for making my Friday!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Wow, nice find!!!

[@rachelar]

Yeah yeah and I found a D50 on the street and a DX7 ii in the recycle garbage. True, I swear

[@AudioPilz]

Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel* Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/audio.pilz/

[@Space_Reptile]

your final beat is more of a banger than usual, i hope you have a longer version of it avalible somewhere/sometime

[@treetopjones737]

Shades of Enigma.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Full tracks are available on Patreon

[@JohnnyBrewer68]

I need the meme at 43 seconds to share with a friend of mine... As always, great work!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@dasoffendor]

to be fair, the sound of my cat dry heaving could be turned into an avant-garde masterpiece if i ran it through a space echo.... But as usual you manage to find the diamond in the rough. Great stuff

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! RE-201 is the GOAT

[@memereference2545]

That Mad Mike rip in the first jam took me back, nice one

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@felipesancho]

Casio will always have a warm spot in my heart

[@AudioPilz]

Same here!!!!

[@rave6892]

those hi-hats are quite suitable for mid 90`s trance.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@TheHorseValse]

Nice! 😀Ahh, the good old Fairlight Stravinsky Firebird Orchestral Hit sample in Jam 1. Love it! 🙂

[@AudioPilz]

Classic sample!!!

[@apollo.c.vermouth5672]

That's from Stravinsky?!!

[@TheHorseValse]

@@apollo.c.vermouth5672 Yes. Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite - Infernal Dance of King Kashchei, the very 1st second 😀

[@TheHorseValse]

@@defcreator187 It sure does. Planet Rock pitched it down, AudioPliz pitched it up. Warm and longer, short and thinner. 🙂 Don't bite, I like them both! 😃

[@Fifthcell]

I LOVE THIS MACHINE

[@demanu]

You make me feel good about getting old. 95% of all the gear I've ever owned has been on this channel. Either I was ahead of my time or I fell for every single piece of gear with a gimmick, I think the latter.

[@dracul74]

Thx, gave me a chuckle… I’m a sucker for a good gimmick too.

[@AudioPilz]

Don't worry! That's completely normal behavior;)

[@Trinin]

Excellent use of the Robot Carnival Intro!

[@AudioPilz]

Ah, an anime connaisseur!!!

[@Trinin]

@@AudioPilz oh yes! Your selection for clips and such is impeccable.

[@slipknotboy555]

Great as always! The lo-fi sampling is kinda appealing, but the limitations kinda cancel that out, heh

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@birdie17uk]

Great stuff as per usual! I had a good chuckle at the Uli memes this week. BTW, I accidently switched on the closed captions and it translates as 'Ollie', which also made me giggle for some reason....

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! Lol

[@phelper4554]

This cowbell was used in one of my all time favorite techno tracks but I don’t know the name and I’m still searching for it 😂 great episode thanks a lot ❤

[@AudioPilz]

Work that...???;)

[@bigkik]

Wow ! Truly the other 707 ! Sounds good in my ears !

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@tobiaslofi]

The downtempo jam was great! Even at 1.5 speed it still sounds like nice chill light drum & bass. It works on multiple levels!!

[@AudioPilz]

Nice, thanks!!!

[@jugglerj0e]

This is a BIG Hollow Box! Big "Plastique" case and "Hollow" in its sound. But even with its limitations, you proved its good at what it can do. Great Jams!!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@Rompler_Rocco]

Wow, my earbuds broke, and I'm SO glad I put on real headphones! Especially for that final jam. This is going to have to become part of the ritual 👍💯

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Headphones are recommended!!!

[@mixedatmidnight]

Generously amusing, yet final all in groove never fails to amaze what this archaic machine is capable of in the modern day. Awesome as always.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@nicolasaguaisol7829]

I will buy one if it comes with the "Waaaaw" sample xD. Just a wish, not a request: as a fan of your work, fan of korg work, and fan of your korg reviews, i would love to see Korg Prologue or Korg Wavestate review someday. Especially of the Prologue since it seems to have been an unsuccessful synthesizer for its characteristics. Happy fridday! 💖

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestions, thanks!!!

[@fongfeen]

that tr707 image. amazing

[@AudioPilz]

High voltage;)

[@Kieran_Rowles]

BG you always come up with some amazing tunes on what is some crappy gear. And every week too. I can't make a tune even in a month.

[@FrankyDigital2000]

Kinda, intimidating isn't it.. Sorta..

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@Kieran_Rowles]

@@AudioPilz I hope to hear some of the full songs you have made one day, that would be amazing. You are far more talented than you give yourself credit for. Tag the full songs on the end that would be rad.

[@hydroparadise]

Was that the Robot Carnival intro?? Love it! Always enjoy your videos!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! Oh, a connoisseur!!!

[@zachshipstead5247]

The boom-bap jam is perfect. Both musically and sonically.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@recombinant]

"a drum kit only a mother could love." 🤣 That hi-hat sound is super distinctive, though - I can definitely recall having heard that before. 🤔

[@AudioPilz]

It's on so many different records!!!

[@recombinant]

@@AudioPilz so true! When I heard it, I said "it's THAT hi-hat!" 😂

[@recombinant]

Honestly I should probably try to find a sample pack of that drum machine, because it has some iconic tones to it. Thanks for reviewing it! It was great! Keep up the great work! 💯👍🏻🚀

[@agentooe33AD]

You never cease to impress on the jams you can come up with no matter how bad the bad gear is!

[@mb102]

The Vsynth just pass was F^ing shocking...well I have a vs2480 and mv8800 if I had that Vsynth and a fantom then would have been a Roland studio...I could not imagine this dude with them 4 units...all that resampling from eachother...would make epic beats.....I'll send my VS and MV you gotta get a VsynthGT and a maxed out fantom....I'll provide references....imagine if mfdoom Trent Reznor and kool keith shit down iceTmouth some time later wjat we listen to is wjat came out...

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@jarrodhroberson]

you are one of the rare people that can mAke anything sound good just like; ola england, andy martin, and emily hopkins

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!! Love them!!!

[@Area51Resort]

The music that you are able to create is amazing even with a pooch like that! You are definitely a wizard. How about an episode on either the Roland MC808 or 909 groove boxes? Also, let's not forget the iKorg products, the M3 and the RADIAS. Yes please!

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestions, thanks!!! There's already an MC808 episode out there!

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

its amazing how you do so much with so little

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@personalwatching9312]

Mate you are so talented. Every time you create a track, its creative, interesting, experienced. That last track made this ugly thing just sit where it should in a way that suddenly made the sounds make sense.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@RANDOMLOOPGENERATOR]

Damn, smooth jams! I picked up a Roland D110 for £50 last week, absolutely loving it, slotted in a treat with my live Acid House rig! Keep up the fine work, still waiting to see the Roland SH-32 on your show!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! SH32 is moving up my list!

[@RANDOMLOOPGENERATOR]

@@AudioPilz Fantastic!

[@jamesforrest9837]

truly a set of drums only a mother could love, but it's all worth it for those sweet, sweet lo-fi samples

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@treetopjones737]

Hey that "Da Da Da" song used the little Casio toy synth's rhythm. Not a mega hit song of course.

[@jaybird3745]

Loved this episode you are the master.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@JeroendeHaan]

This show needs more Casio!

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Nice stuff in your first tune there. You're using an S-1 now too. I'm so glad I had Detroit Modular send me one. I almost feel an 808 State vibe coming through, in the second... those exotic sounds, in there.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! S-1 is really nice!

[@ditchgames]

I wanna see Casio cz-101 next...

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thank you!!!

[@carstensorensen154]

Great episode as usual - keep up the good work!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@AMOKIAN]

The .2 sec. sample pads rocked…hahaha… The mods folks have been doing to to them gave them a new life. I liked separate volume slides like the TR707.

[@AudioPilz]

The faders are awesome!!!

[@mataya909]

Again, a proof that it's not about what IT can do, but what can you do with IT. Jam 2 is amazing. Keep it fun and thanks for another mellow friday evening. Greetings from Zagreb.

[@treetopjones737]

Think outside the box: contact pick-up on the kalimba, run it through a reverb, a delay, & an octave box.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@oldmancolin]

finale track is 🔥🔥🔥

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@marial8235]

Amazing that you got that old tub to sound good.👍. I wanted one back in the day and now I am glad that I was too broke to get one.😂😂😂😂😂

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! It's called Tub Techno;)

[@stephenmarsh6746]

The bottom third looks ALOT like the Yamaha RX-11 that I had back in the day. It sounds almost the same as well.

[@axwax2]

I've noticed that as well. Really similar design and sounds. I wonder if one was "inspired" by the other, or if there was some kind of collaboration...

[@AudioPilz]

There are quite a few similarities!!!

[@Pablo668]

Fantastic work. I really liked that last jam. I want to see you do a vid on the CZ101.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! Great suggestion!!!

[@h2o1969]

Wow, this has been like a unicorn for me. I have a bit of a thing for 80's Casio synths. Mostly I get them from yard sales and charity shops.

[@AudioPilz]

Great if you can still find one of these!

[@kerzwhile]

Wow, I completely forgot about this thing!! Brilliant work! 😊

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@ivmup2232]

Impossible to forget....You have no idea what I generated with just this little thing..

[@LittleRichard1988]

Even though lofi drums and FM synthesis is dated I like lofi sounds and I always thought it was cool that people like organfairy still produce music with that lofi sound at a time when these kind of sounds were considered by many as outdated. Personally if I did want these same drums I would have them as part of a Casio MT-500 keyboard as not only is this a slightly cheaper option but you also get 20 VS synthesis instrument sounds.

[@AudioPilz]

Super interested in the Portasound range!

[@KooriGraywolf]

Adding "A drumkit only a mother could love" to the list of amazing quotes from this show. Also I don't know what it is but I absolutely love the kick drum in the first jam. I don't think it's the compression but rather just how you contextualized the kick in the jam, it has a kind of videogame feel to it

[@AudioPilz]

Great kick, thanks!!!

[@bldcaveman2001]

To be honest I laughed at the start thinking "okay this week he's gonna deliberately make shit because how can not you with this?" but you're proving to be the unchallenged master of this game!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! But hey, if it worked for His RZAness;)

[@brianedgin]

"Short but usable cymbals..." photo of Prince... Well played, Sir, well played.

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@stepans2167]

Could you please explain this one?

[@brianedgin]

@@stepans2167 Prince famously used an androgynous symbol in place of his name for a few year because of a conflict with Warner. It did the trick and he eventually got out of the contract. Look up, “The artist formerly known as Prince,” for details. :)

[@kaitlyn__L]

Okay, those lofi samples really do have a lot of character. I bet the vaguely named "tone" knobs' filter helps with it too

[@AudioPilz]

It's a passive filter and presumably broken on the test unit;)

[@Mattbuchanan71]

Another brilliant episode!!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@zmix]

I remember being a little underwhelmed at the sounds when this machine was released, but more recently I learned that CASIO recorded Yukihiro Takahashi (prominent Japanese solo artist and former drummer in Y.M.O.) to make the sample library (Love to hear those recordings in modern fidelity!!). What's interesting is that if you tune the snare up 1/2 or a whole step it sounds fantastic, and very much like Takahashi's iconic snare. Stock it always sounded to me like a Cat sneezing...

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, love the snare but cat cold sounds definitely vibe with that machine

[@blimolhm2790]

2:34 all good drummers agree we must choke the crash before hitting the cowbell so this is very convenient and realistic

[@AudioPilz]

Clap and ride is a different story tho;)

[@StopTryingSoHard]

This is one of the drum machines I actually used for like 10 or so years in the late 90s/early 00s. I do have my kick swapped to a +3 semitone 808-style with a 30Hz roll off (created on an Alpha Juno.) I have a Yamaha RX5 now and that's the only actual vintage drum machine I actually use (well I also use a SR-16, but you can still buy those new.)

[@AudioPilz]

RX5 is tight!!!

[@synth3tik242]

That ride in the into was fire!

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@cyphercracker]

The rim and cowbell makes it worth it 😊

[@ivmup2232]

Yes... the HiHats weren´t so bad either... and you could sample with 12 bit at least...made the sounds a bit telephone dirty...

[@AudioPilz]

Really liked these!

[@scottasin]

yes. more like this, please an thank you

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@manuelsteinmair]

Wow, what a machine! But I'm talking about the space echo here😊 The Casio could be a nice piece of decoration in a museum, but at least it has more sample time than Data needed to decide to not switch sides to the Borg! 😅

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️Space Echo ❤️❤️❤️

[@JoeyLevenson]

I ran my Casio RZ1 through a space echo!

[@anthonyrothercom]

The Master Of Bad Gear

[@AudioPilz]

Hey Anthony, thanks!!!

[@QueMusiQ]

These vintage sounds are actually intriguing. It’s more of the sound I’m looking for when I reach for vintage one-shots. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@AudioPilz]

Definitely got that crunch!

[@removalist1995]

Been waiting for this one for a while!

[@AudioPilz]

It was about time!!!

[@davidlaux5530]

Have you played with the yamaha rx5? The ability to edit the sounds is amazing.

[@AudioPilz]

I'd love to give that one a try!!!

[@dj_grumble]

I have used the Casio RZ-1 heavily in my beats (basically just to resample drum sounds to 12 bit for the extra crunch). Got one around 2005, later donated it to my nephew who was getting into music, but now I want it back!! 🤣

[@AudioPilz]

Nice approach!!! Definitely get it back!

[@randynovick7972]

I am going to channel my inner Werner Herzog and say that this is both charming and horrid, like a neighbor who invites you over on a sunny summer afternoon to have lemonade and show you his collection of beautifully restored torture devices from the fifteenth century.

[@AudioPilz]

[@downloadhistoryproductions]

The final jam really shows you that special low fidelity sauce it puts on samples that's hard to find on newer, better samplers.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@NicholasBryantBonzaiSequoias]

A joy to behold.. the strange thing about Casio.. they are sometimes 'on the money' with their products.. but usually not. ;)

[@AudioPilz]

At least it's not their millenium falcon;)

[@Fabian_drop02]

​@@AudioPilzwhy do I own so much of the gear you post. Lol 😢

[@AmeyahOfficialTV]

i really like the clap of the RZ1. just have to look for the full drum kit. thanks for another great video with awsome jams.

[@AudioPilz]

Always a pleasure! Thanks!!!

[@larryfinke6133]

Like a cheesier 707 but as usual, you made it sound good in the mix!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@CodyCampbellCanCode]

I think it’s about time you do an Alesis HR-16 review just like this one. Especially given how much the newer Alesis shows up in your amazing show, and after it’s review. Thank you!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! That one should definitely be moving up my list!!!

[@MarshalArnold]

I have a friend who calls every synth I have a "Casino" 😂 doesn't even get the Casio correct he says it like Cas-in-oh 😅

[@AudioPilz]

Lolz

[@mtsr272]

I always watch with pauses to look carefully at the memes) many thanks!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!