Casio CZ-1 Running through the Dreadbox Erebus Filter

[@erichkohl9317]

Great video. Those patches at the end were stellar. I have a CZ-5000 btw. Bought it used. '80s me would have loved it, but all I had was a PortaTone!

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

Sounds great man; love the CZ-1! Running it through that analogue filter is a great idea.

[@ProckGnosis]

Thanks! Gotta say it was one of the more nice sounding experiments I came up with. It really does warm up the sound.

[@user-vd3if4wq6m]

I like your style man, " Tutoring while Reviewing " ;)

[@ProckGnosis]

Thanks...there's should ALWAYS be an opportunity to learn something somewhere...even playing with synths...

[@MrFghkjk]

Well Done! Thank You sooo much for the inspiration. Really like your relaxed Demo. This filter warming up the sound. I always liked the harmonics of the CZ synth. I will get my CZ1 out of the dust corner and run it through some modular filters. But Your Setup with the Erebus is very simple and easy to connect. Pretty cool - thumbs up from Berlin !

[@ProckGnosis]

+1 of 7 Billion Humanus Vielen Dank! Klingt herrlich, nicht wahr?

[@jolann_k]

Great idea! Great sound! Very "modern" 80's. I just bought a CZ-1000 and plan to buy an Erebus pretty soon. I think I'll borrow you that trick, dude. ^^ Cheers

[@robertsyrett1992]

Listening back to this video, I kind of wish they hadn't changed the filter in the new V3 Erebus.

[@ProckGnosis]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I was watching the direct comparison that Tim Shoebridge did (which I had been planning to do, but don't need to now, eh?) and it confirmed what I already suspected: the v1/v2 filter is just a little ballsier. The v3 isn't bad at all...it's just a little less aggressive sounding.

[@PontusStensgaard]

Excellent demo! I plan on using a digital synth (probably the microkorg) to make the Erebus get more paraphonic voices. The issue would be note priorities, as I would want the Erebus produce the lowest and highest note (or whatever sounds best) . I bet it's acheivable, but probably with some MIDI routing/programming in between. If I can get the damn synth that is, ordered it about 2 months ago. The guys at Dreadbox seem to be superbusy trying to meet with the demand. Thanks for the demo, this along with your semi review of the Erebus from some months back really does the erebus favors, sounds amazing - Dreadbox ought to thank you - if they havent already :) Sidenote: Love your harmonics/intervals when playing chords, an inspiration for me, love that dark and remorseful tone you achieve.

[@ProckGnosis]

Yeah, I have to admit the CZ sounded even better than I thought it would through the filter. Really breathes some life into the wave forms, especially with a bit of resonance. There are some waveform combinations I hardly played on the CZ before that sound seriously impacting through the filter. I'm surprised about the wait for the Erebus, but I do know the Dreadbox guys are extremely busy after getting back from NAMM. Having just checked several sites here in Deutschland, I'm surprised to see they're back ordered. Didn't realize they were selling that well. And as for the keyboard playing, thanks...I really just love the sound of major-7th and minor-6th chords. That would come from some earlier Tony Banks (Genesis) influence and a touch of jazz..

[@andycarrillo48]

I like the chords here, can you do a video of interesting chords or ear catching chords like 10! I’m interested in learning new chords

[@ProckGnosis]

Well, not knowing exactly which chords you're referring to, I can say there are likely a bunch of major and minor 7th chords, which I love and tend to play a lot of.

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

Definitely breathes new life into it.

[@emmarossignol4445]

Seeing how you work with the CZ really makes me want one. Problem is I already have a DX7 so I need something that can handle more traditional analog sounds. Also I need a filter, either for the DX7 or on something else.

[@ProckGnosis]

Love the DX7, but I have to admit I slightly prefer the CZ synths. Just easier to program for the most part. And there's something about those fake "resonant waves" that I haven't found anywhere else.

[@mramiritaylor]

Thanks for giving us the wave rundown! Ever try an in depth review of this synth? Ive been in the market for one but there isn't enough reviews on KZbin about this so I can know definitely if its worth buying! Love your stuff!

[@ProckGnosis]

Thanks! Probably won't be doing a review anytime soon, though it is a possibility a bit later on. Think it all depends on 3 things whether a CZ is worth buying: 1) you REALLY love the sound (though I have to admit software can mostly nail the sound), 2) the price is reasonable and 3) the reasonably priced CZ still functions ok.

[@mramiritaylor]

@@ProckGnosis You mention something in one of your videos about the CZ that is a little concerning the fact that it has a limited working lifespan. Is that commonly the case with these keyboards?

[@ProckGnosis]

@@mramiritaylor Well, you have to understand all the CZ models are 30+ years old. Most things that old have a tendency to break or have some problems. I think they hold up a lot better than some synths, but again, they are pretty old.

[@reneotten2288]

Great idea! Gonna try this with my DX7. The Korg DW8000 is a digital synth with analog filters btw.

[@ProckGnosis]

I will bet it sounds pretty good. I have to say that prior to trying this, I never fully believed that an analog filter could so successfully cream-ify digital waveforms, despite having read some strong endorsements for the DW8000 and the Ensoniq ESQ-1 (also with digital waves and analog filters). I am now a believer.

[@reneotten2288]

I forgot to say... try a Duvel beer in one of your next videos. Duvel from Belgium. But don't do it middle of the day because you want to nap after that. lol.

[@ProckGnosis]

I have tried and finished quite a few Duvels. I lived in Belgium for a bit. In fact, the first time I tried one, it kicked my ass! It looks like a normal pils or lager, but guzzling that first one, I didn't know it had almost twice the normal alcohol content of a normal pils or lager. Lesson learned!

[@reneotten2288]

I had my first Duvel after drinking about 10 Heinekens in a bar in Holland on a Sunday afternoon. A friend said.. have you ever tried a Duvel? I said no... then he bought us one. 20 minutes later I was down and out. They are the perfect sleeping aid, it's not just the higher amount of alcohol, it's the combination of that and the fermentation. There are cheaper beers with extra alcohol added artificially like the French brand "Amsterdam" and they are horrible. Duvel is divine, I really need to buy a few again soon. Cheers!

[@colonelrjb3608]

My next purchase will be either a CZ1 or an AN1X or both. I have 10 pedals to run them thru and a Neutron, Pro1 and a DM12D. So they should sound amazing. Thanks for this vid, gave me a lot of ideas.

[@ProckGnosis]

Oh yeah...if it's not clear from the video, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the CZ sounded through the Erebus filter. Sounds like you'll have plenty of good filter options as well. Cheers!

[@hellitastenfan]

Oh, hi...great video, a useful addition to this dread box. greetings

[@ProckGnosis]

Vielen Dank! I plan on doing another video running the CZ through different filters. It really does sound great.

[@TheGreatPizzaMasterpiece]

Very nice! Especially like the square wave through that box. I would guess everything sounds creamy through the Erebus, huh?

[@ProckGnosis]

Yeah, it does. Amazingly so...

[@rollyhustle]

Currently trying to run my Dominion1 through the Erebus V2 but not having any luck. I have checked output and know that everything is connected properly... This is the strangest thing. Could it be that the Audio In on the Erebus simply isn't accepting the level? The Erebus manual says Audio In accepts up to 3v p/p inputs, but it outputs 10v p/p output max. Perhaps an attenuator is in order.

[@ProckGnosis]

Are you triggering the VCA envelope on the Erebus? I'm going from memory, but I think you need a gate pulse or MIDI note-on event to trigger the VCA and the VCF envelopes on the Erebus. If you run the MIDI out from the Dominion 1 (great synth btw) into the MIDI-in on the Erebus, but keep both the Erebus oscillators switched off, the MIDI note-on from the Dom 1 will activate the envelopes and filter/amplify whatever is coming into the audio in. Lol...at least it will if I'm remembering it correctly.

[@rollyhustle]

@@ProckGnosis That did the trick! After some trial and error anyway. Need to be mindful of the Audio In though, as it crackles when the signal is a bit hot. Sending the MIDI from Ableton to the D1 then Midi Thru to Erebus works. Otherwise if I am playing the D1's keys then Midi Out works to trigger the Erebus. They're across the room from one another and I haven't patched the Erebus' Gate or VCA with CV yet to see how it works out that way. I appreciate it, thank you! :)

[@ProckGnosis]

Cool. Glad it helped. Yeah, when I was running the Dreadbox Hades through the Erebus, it would crackle a bit too. Don't remember the Casio CZ doing that but maybe the line-outs are not as hot. @@rollyhustle

[@trcwm]

Nice demo! and thanks for displaying the actual waveforms. It sounds like you ran the CZ+erebus signal through additional effects, reverb and chorus perhaps?

[@ProckGnosis]

Thanks. Didn't plan on showing the actual wave forms at first, but after I saw them I thought it would be interesting to show. And there was just a bit of reverb added in the mix-down...but no chorus. The only chorus-y sound was just the two oscillators being slightly detuned.

[@MB-uz2zu]

love this man

[@SoundAuthor]

Nice! SonicState reviewed the Dreadbox not long ago and I agree the filter is amazing!

[@ProckGnosis]

Sound Author Thanks. Yeah Nick (at SonicState) gave it a pretty good endorsement, but I was a little surprised to see they (Dreadbox) added a patch point for pulse-width modulation. Nice addition, but you lose the patch point for LFO depth, which I liked as well.

[@SoundAuthor]

ProckGnosis No LFO depth?! That's a dealbreaker :\

[@ProckGnosis]

Sound Author Well, no LFO depth control with a patch point and the mod wheel...you can still control it with the LFO depth knob on the Erebus. Not quite as nice, I'll admit...

[@SoundAuthor]

Oh, that's different.

[@dessiplaer]

How did you trigger the filter on the Erebus from the Casio? I like how the Casio sounds through the analog filter. I have a CZ-101. I might have to drag out my Odessey and try running the Casio through it. As always, I enjoyed the video.

[@ProckGnosis]

The midi-key down data the Erebus receives from the CZ-1 will trigger a gate pulse, which triggers the filter envelope. The Erebus can actually act as a midi-cv converter to trigger other CV synths that don't have midi in. The midi in is converted to CV out and gate out values on the patch panel.

[@ProckGnosis]

Oh yeah...I'd definitely try the CZ-101 through the Odyssey. Assuming you mean the newer Korg version, the 3 filter options would be way cool.

[@dessiplaer]

It's an old Mark 2 Black and Gold. It's serial number is fairly low, but I don't know if it has the Moog filter clone or the Arp redesign. I've read that the only way to tell is to open the unit to see.It does have external gate and cv inputs.

[@ProckGnosis]

Hmmm...I would have thought someone could tell which filter version based on the serial number. Anyway, give it a shot...I expect you will like the result!

[@bllinstruments]

hi, like the video, you are changing the dco wave, but Can you give me the set of the dcw and dca to have this kind of sound ?

[@ProckGnosis]

Hmmm...that depends on what part of the video you're talking about. And even if you pointed out a specific time, I doubt I could tell you what the DCW and DWA settings were. The sustain levels for both DCW and DCA were maxed at 99, I'm sure. The differences in sounds you hear in the video were based on the settings on the Erebus filter and which wave forms I used on the CZ-1. Does that make sense?

[@bllinstruments]

At 2.09 and after when you try the different wave form with DCO 1

[@ProckGnosis]

No way to know for sure, but it was probably about a 45-50 attack, peaking at 99, with a 45-50 decay to the sustain phase...probably about 50-60 on the sustain. And I'm assuming you have a CZ or are familiar with how the envelopes are programmed so this makes sense. Would be too much to explain here otherwise. Cheers!

[@bllinstruments]

thank you !, yes i just found a cz3000 witch as you know, get the same engine. i have to learn this new synth, thanks again ! tom

[@ProckGnosis]

Congratulations! I am very sure you will have fun exploring it. My first synth was a CZ-1000, and I programmed the hell out of that thing.

[@mistersoulhundhund8178]

can you make a rnb nummber play with your Synthesizer`s?

[@saardean4481]

hey there. Do you think the Dreadbox Lamda Filter pedal would achieve similar level of "creaming" synths? Are the filters of the Lamda and Erebus similar?

[@ProckGnosis]

Don't know if the Lamda has the exact same filter design as the Erebus, but it can do a 2-pole slope just like the Erebus' filter. And the Lambda has an analogue filter, so yes, it should be able to get similar "creamy" results. Problem for me would be the Lambda doesn't have an ADSR envelope to control the filter amount or create automated sweeps with. Unless you used another envelope or LFO with CV out into the Lambda "filter amount" input, you would have to do all your filter sweeps by hand. Which some people might even prefer, I guess.

[@saardean4481]

oh man you are right. I completely didn`t think of that. thank god i asked you before purchasing! ..Ok then Lamda gets out of the picture. Then what would you choose between Moogerfooger mf 101 ( correct me if i am wrong but doesn`t it have kind of an env follower? Will this do the "env-sweep-following function?" and the Dreadbox Epsilon Pedal. The Moogerfooger i love the sound i hear here and there but the Envelope follower seems pretty limited? Or am i wrong? On the Other hand the Epsilon has a more tweakable Env follower but will it be awesome like the Lamda? So the only filter that does it all is basically .....the Erebus, but i can`t afford it. So Moogerfooger or Epsilon? (or something else?) Vermona filter Lancet? My aim is to do what you do to the CZ1 only to a Minilogue of which i don`t like the filter somehow on pads. A bit scratchy sounding

[@saardean4481]

Hope i am not annoying you with all my questions but i like your aesthetic and my choice will be a influenced a lot by your opinion (also i am half greek if that helps... :-)

[@ProckGnosis]

Not a prob. I've been in travel mode the last few days (moving from Europe to North America), and this isn't really my area of much experience. I really just stumbled across it trying to use the Erebus with the CZ and REALLY liked the results. None of the filter pedals you've mentioned will easily replicate what the Erebus is doing because the Erebus has 1) the A-D-S-R envelope to control the filter, and 2) it is able to receive a MIDI "key down" event to trigger the envelope that controls the filter. The Epsilon would come closest of the three, as it has the simple envelope controls (A-D only), but the envelope is triggered by the actual incoming audio signal, not a MIDI "key down" event, nor even a CV gate signal, so again it wouldn't behave quite the same.

[@saardean4481]

Man thanks for the invaluable info. You protected me from a lot of stress and wrong purchases. So i guess it has to be the Erebus. Need to find the money. The NYX also sounds pretty jaw dropping but even more expensive.... Thank you for the information my friend!

[@stormcrow70]

Some good sounds.

[@ProckGnosis]

Yeah, it really does offer something different for a shaping the sounds of a digital synth.

[@stormcrow70]

I'm going to try Cz101 through minilogue.

[@anonymous_friend]

How does the Cz1 compare to the cz5000?

[@ProckGnosis]

I never used the sequencer on the CZ-5000, so the core sound of both are VERY similar, but the CZ-1 adds velocity control for the amplitude and timbre, so I prefer the CZ-1. For patches that don't use velocity, they are damn near identical.

[@drinner]

Hello. I was wondering. I have a Casio CZ-1000, and I was going to try to see if I could utilize it as a midi controller for Reason 8, via a USB midi interface and laptop. I have never tested the midi to see if it would work with much newer equipment (such as a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface). Do you know? Have you integrated the CZ-1000 with newer midi technology, and if so, did it work okay?

[@ProckGnosis]

If the CZ-1000 is working as it should (functioning correctly), then yes, you can use it as a controller for Reason 8, but it will be a bit limited as a controller. First, the keyboard for the CZ-1000 doesn't transmit velocity data, so you won't be able to hear any dynamic expression when you play (for example, you hit a note harder and it gets louder or brighter). Second, there are no knobs or sliders that transmit data (other than the pitch wheel), so adding any other expression or modulation from the CZ-1000 would not be possible. One of the positives about MIDI is it hasn't changed much since it was introduced in the early 1980s, so as long as the CZ-1000 functions, it will be compatible with any software or hardware synth that can receive standard MIDI data.

[@drinner]

Thank you for your quick response and your knowledge! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post so quickly. I will take all of those points into consideration!

[@DSPsWifesBF]

Really love your channel. Any suggestions for a solid analog pedal that I could run my digital stuff through?

[@ProckGnosis]

Thanks much. Ah...that depends on what you want to achieve with your pedal. I tend to favor reverb and delay effects, but they're usually better delivered in digital form. Dreadbox does make some cool effects pedals...oops...it appears they MADE some cool effects pedals. Discontinued (www.dreadbox-fx.com/effects/). I have the Epsilon, and thought it was quite cool. For a slightly awesome, all-around effects pedal , I splurged on the Eventide H9. Sounds phenomenal (good distortion, great reverb, good chorus), but it's all digital. Really just depends on what you want I guess.

[@Mute67]

I saw your Casio VZ10m and wonder which one do you like most - CZ-1 or the VZ10m?

[@ProckGnosis]

Tough question, but I would say I slightly favor the CZ-1 for a few reasons. It's easier to program (understandable user interface), I love the sound of the resonant wave forms, and you can more easily get classic synth sounds out of it. The VZ-10 offers a little more power (double the polyphony), but the user interface is a little harder to get around, and it's harder to program more standard sounds with. If you're into weird or different sound design though, I would say the VZ-10M offers more for that than the CZ-1.

[@RaJuRMusica]

Is this a preset your playing, or????? May purchase one of these today. MInT.....and how are you running this into the Erebus? Can I run it into a SubPhatty, or Behringer Model D, Etc?

[@ProckGnosis]

Hey RaJ...sorry missed this when it arrived. Unfortunately they stopped making this synth (the Erebus), but yeah, you should be able to do something similar with the Behringer Model D. It has an external input so you could run sounds (from a Casio keyboard or whatever) through the Model D filter.

[@S4V0LAEN3N]

Thumbs up for the bonus part at the end! :)

[@ProckGnosis]

+Tri3Dr Thanks...when I was editing the video, I almost chopped that off, and then I thought "no way...that just sounds TOO cool..."

[@yargnad]

I love most all the Casio synths from the 80s, even the lowly MT series with yellow hex drum triggers and all. With a little processing they're all still relevant today and can easily find a place in a mix. This made me want to grab a CZ. They're not that common anymore and apparently not as affordable as they once were.

[@ProckGnosis]

You're right. Just caught this video a couple days ago, and it perfectly makes the point with an old cheapo Yamaha keyboard. kzbin.info/www/bejne/momVY4WMn8l9sNk

[@PauloConstantino167]

What does resonance mean ?

[@ProckGnosis]

Well, I'm not sure of your mother tongue, but here's a good explanation in Italian (www.sintetizzatore.com/index.php/filtri), and here's a good explanation in English: www.embedded.com/print/4230103. Basically "resonance" (also called Q) is an emphasis or increase of harmonics at the cutoff value of a filter. I used to work with a Paulo from Italy...no offense intended if you're not Italian.

[@PauloConstantino167]

Hi there buddy! Thanks for your prompt response! Yes I'm a hybrid between italian and brazilian. I am a student of electronics and I've been interested in synthesizers, and specially the analog electronics inside, and I always see the term resonance applied to synths and I wondered what it actually does. I do know that the resonance of a filter is the highest amplitude of either voltage or current at the resonant frequency. Maybe I just wasn't thinking enough here! So what the synth literally does is to apply this resonance at its filter cut off to make it sound "brighter" at the cut off? Why is this used ? What kind of effects are people using this to make ?

[@ProckGnosis]

Oh boy...there is no correct answer for that, but some people use it to get a psychedelic, funky, cool, more synthesizer-ish sound. There are LOTS of examples, but watch this (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX-QaYumrsZlnJo) starting at around 25 minutes and 15 seconds. You'll hear filter sweeps with resonance and without resonance, so you can easily compare. Buona fortuna!

[@robertsyrett1992]

@@PauloConstantino167 Resonance of analog filters create an organic musical waveshaping. The resonance can sound like something like an additional sine wave oscillator that is soft synced to the oscillator running through it. But when multiple oscillators or paraphonic signals are sent through it the resonance can behave unpredictably, and modulating the Cutoff frequency can add to the effect. On the whole a nice resonant filter is a highly efficient way to add a lot of possibilities to a synthesizer's sonic palette.

[@UnitedPebbles]

Cz 101 is more compact and hackable into modwares?

[@ProckGnosis]

Hmmm...I've never seen a CZ-101 hacked or modded. Usually it's some of the older compact Casio keyboards that get modified...like their SK1 sampler.

[@UnitedPebbles]

I don't know much 'bout that electronics stuffs. Not an electrician or computer engineer or sound engineer or all of the above?

[@jupitermarx]

How did you patch it together, what was the method?

[@ProckGnosis]

Amazingly simple. MIDI-out from the CZ to the Erebus MIDI-in triggers the Erebus filter envelope, and the audio line out from the CZ into the Erebus provides the CZ oscillators/sound that the Erebus filter is shaping. The Erebus oscillators are switched off, and only the CZ oscillators are running through the Erebus filter. Does that make sense? Reading back over my description, it almost sounds more complicated than it is.

[@jupitermarx]

Thank you so much for taking time out to respond to my question. I'm sure you get alot of comments and questions, so I'm honored !

[@ProckGnosis]

No problem! It's all about helping folks get something out of music and synths, and it's part of why I started the channel. Cheers!

[@wax83]

Great video. Punkt.

[@jensingvordsen]

12 min onwards Great!!

[@ProckGnosis]

Whaaaat? You didn't want to hear 11 minutes of background and examples of just the Casio CZ-1 before I ever run it through the Erebus? Yeah, guilty as charged. I admit, unless you're a CZ-1 geek, you probably didn't care much about the first part.

[@marcelmaes5275]

Boris Becker once was blinded by the sun ona service and cried "Scheiss Sonne" :-)

[@ProckGnosis]

Lol... sunshine is rare enough in Germany, you don't want to curse it when you get it, but it was definitely blinding me on this day.

[@kdchmln]

6:33

[@ProckGnosis]

Yep, that's where the actual filter sweeping starts and where I misspelled "additional".

[@blissx]

hey, how are you getting it to trigger the filter envelope?

[@ProckGnosis]

Neil Macneil Hey Neil...when the Erebus receives a MIDI note on from the CZ-1, it triggers the filter. Also, as long as the switch on the Erebus next to the envelope is set to "retrigger" even playing legato (hitting the next note before the first one is released) will trigger the filter.

[@blissx]

ProckGnosis ahh it has midi. I just dusted off my cz-5000, i might have to look for an erebus or something similar. thanks.

[@Gnosis4you]

Best Combination ever....!

[@ProckGnosis]

Efcharisto! And I have to agree, it's pretty awesome!

[@oele]

time to dust off my cz 101

[@ProckGnosis]

Oh yes...especially if you have the Erebus to run it through...

[@jasonbailey6550]

Makes the CZ sound really "fat" and zappy, nice :)

[@pmlostracco184]

Now I wish I never sold my CZ-1

[@ProckGnosis]

I had thought about selling it a few years ago, especially after finding a few CZ-like softsynth options that were ok, but I'll likely keep screwing with this CZ-1 until it dies beyond repair options...

[@johnpennington2142]

Im about to sell mine

[@nobodyneverknows]

FULLY ANALOG DREADBOX ANALOG SYNTH ANALOG ANALOG

[@ProckGnosis]

I think that means you like Dreadbox synths...I fully agree...

[@nobodyneverknows]

Yes, they look and sounds great, same as this sweet Casio :)

[@kaihG]

6.40 minutes before you actually do what the video says you're going to do. Well alright then!

[@ProckGnosis]

Ah, but the wait is worth it when you DO finally get to hear those CZ oscillators creamified by the Erebus filter. And there are worse ways to spend 6 minutes and 40 seconds than playing with a Casio CZ-1. : ) Cheers...

[@kaihG]

Not really, no.

[@XYtoTheDoubleG]

Douche much???

[@freeecountryy]

Last of Brunnen G - Who pissed in your coffee?