KORG Z1 MOSS Synthesizer (1997) single sound demo

[@stevenyjtsai]

The fact is, the core value of Z1 is the TMS57070 DSP chip customized by TI (Japan), each chip provides 2 voices (Z1=12voices by 6 DSP chips; Z1-EX=18 voices by 9 chips, very expensive). This DSP chip only licensed and made by TI Japan corp and stopped production in 2000, never ship to other countries. That's why only few Z1 were produced and no longer seen after 2000 (Actual production time-slot only less than 3 years), the only rest parts have possibly been built as MOSS-board for Trition Expansion but not a lot. Z1 sounds are unique due to hardware's difference comparing to later Korg gear and competitors. It's truely a lost tribe never seen any more. Rest in peace !!!

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

Fact is, it's ONE TMS chip per voice. 6/12/18 chips produce 6/12/18 voices of polyphony, respectively. Check service manual schematics, it's clear as day...

[@teddym2808]

z1 is at absolute top of my gear lust list.

[@irishmusico]

That pad sound @ 1:48 it never gets old

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@waggon321]

I wish they'd remake it.Underrated legend of a synth!

[@jamesmeeker6933]

Why remake it? There are plenty on the used market. Not hard to come by and generally inexpensive.

[@duxgarnifex3678]

The sound design capabilities of this instrument are still relevant here even in the 2020s

[@retrosound72]

👍🎹

[@PureAmbientDrone]

a classic find these days

[@GrahamLaight]

Astonishing quality of sounds - excellent!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@neilloughran4437]

I had a Z1 for many years and I really enjoyed its different engines with the VA and acoustic modelling being my favourites, I remember rolling some great pads and moog style synths, as well as an awesome violin and oboe/soprano sax horn and a fantastic trumpet... I actually got a better trumpet sound out of this than the Yamaha VL7 I had. Having said that overtime I did find there was a thin sameyness to sounds popssibly because of the onboard fx. I recall downloading 1000s of sounds off user forums and I didn't like any of them... but might be someone elses cup of tea. I often wish I had kept it just for the sounds I had programmed because some of those horn sounds/ evolving pads through a Strymon Big Sky would rival anything...

[@oupahens9219]

That "Sameness" of sounds "interested" me as well after a while, after I was doing a lot on the DX5, and then incorporating a D110 into the mix. It was to my then early years quite a disruption. They did not "gel" with each other. Nowadays I do mess around with all different ones. They all have different "flavors". Like women. I was so "Christian" before.

[@Skyisnotalimit]

Think this will be the next one in my collection.

[@thefool2007]

Sounds great- my kind of synth- industrial patches, bizarre shrieks, cool arp, and unlike other synths. I like this better than the more mainstream AI synthesis. Cool concept with the oscillators. Great demo as always.

[@retrosound72]

Thank you and agree with you. 🙌👍

[@busywl69]

one of the best ever. midi quest really opens it up.

[@popcycles]

Really? Can you make changes in realtime in MQ and hear the changes on the Z1? Or do you have to change parameters, save, then export, then hear the result.

[@busywl69]

sends in realtime. its still around, think there is a demo www.squest.com/Products/MidiQuest11/Instruments/KorgZ1/index.html

[@popcycles]

I'll have to check it out. I didn't know it sent in realtime, as in, move a parameter in MQ and the sound changes on the Z1 instantly. Thanks.

[@mattsynth]

Great sounding synth, very innovative sound back then. I wish I had mine back. XY pad was amazing controller.

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@grambo4436]

By request Can you do the "Roland JP 8000 And Alesis Andromeda"?

[@garyhendrie4001]

Got that baby, sits nice n̈ice with its brother the yamaha EX5, brilliant machines, both.

[@retrosound72]

Yes great synth

[@davidgeppert5763]

klingt wirklich Klasse

[@retrosound72]

Der Z1 klingt sehr brachial digital

[@silentghost82]

Korg m1 should be recreated with the technology available today

[@LeadingMotive]

It was, The M1 has been available as VSTi from Korg for many years already.

[@jgh548]

@@LeadingMotive Plus much of the M1 and Wavestation ROM is in Kronos.

[@thebbs5450]

The Z1, my Battleship Galactica! Never Heard before such pulsating 3d-sounds...

[@retrosound72]

Wonderful synth for sure.

[@CaalamusTube]

That last patch was beautiful!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@EquinoxeBruno]

Super !!!

[@retrosound72]

Thank you Bruno

[@OrbvsTomarvm]

i recognise these sounds from the moss board i rammed right up my tex

[@klinkske]

Wow at 6 minutes make me really think about front 242

[@retrosound72]

🎹🖤🎧

[@jupitermarx]

Now I have a new member of my KORG virtual analog synthesizer collection,... newest this the Z1, MS-2000, Radius, Micro-KORG, KORG KingKORG;) I may be missing some?? Don’t have the Prophecy.

[@retrosound72]

:) cool

[@javiceres]

The Prologue

[@silverseraph8233]

Klingt wirklich gut der alte Z1 ;-)

[@retrosound72]

ja ;)

[@transforminggravity15626]

Cool

[@retrosound72]

:))

[@transforminggravity15626]

I like that keyboard sounds really good

[@rectangleboy]

Did that shake the camera at 2:27?

[@retrosound72]

yes. this was too much bass power :D

[@THEH4VOC]

Insane! The power \o/

[@retrosound72]

;)

[@martinmole6159]

Einer der am meist unteschätzten Synthis, wie der Yamaha AN1x.

[@retrosound72]

ja

[@geoffk777]

That sounds great! I have a MOSS add-on card in my Triton Rack, but I haven't really used it much. I need to go back and see if it sounds anything like yours...

[@retrosound72]

:) thanks

[@gphone9619]

It does. I have the MOSS board in my Extreme and hear all those tones all the time...

[@davidgeppert5763]

geiles Gerät!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@Musicology1975]

Was this also used by faithless?

[@photocallmusic4221]

Thanks for the demo! Is the sound at 2:10 a preset?

[@retrosound72]

I think yes

[@photocallmusic4221]

@@retrosound72 Thanks man, happy synthing!

[@Mr.PastGlory]

I loved the Z1. Used it on most of my tracks between 2002 - 2012. Problem is: Spare-parts. N.L.S.. It''s a great synth. In hindsight, - from my experience -, everything KORG made with a silver-coloured-casing was meant to be a prototype relinquished to the 'interested'. End-User = Beta-Tester. AM-8000R, DL-8000R, Z1, Prophecy ... none of them was meant to last. They've built some great stuff, but without serious support. To be honest ... they have become the Beringer of Japan. Sorry.

[@crawlingman7003]

What is the patch @ 2:07?

[@retrosound72]

Good question

[@Captain2Pig]

i forget how different korg's gear is. i haven't bought any stuff since mid 1990s and gave a synth away to a friend who's kids then wrecked it. Are there any Korg synth modules on the go just now that would be a valuable addition?

[@retrosound72]

For me one of the best digital synths. Most modern stuff is crap.

[@Captain2Pig]

is this available as a synth module - my wife won't let me squeeze in another synth without getting a new house - i am sure you are familiar with the territory! thanks for getting back to me. brilliant channel

[@solomonjenkins9505]

really? even as resolution increases? I have a korg m3, is that crap?

[@drecksheep]

Mal wieder was verpasst ^^...schöner "dreckiger" Sound. LIKE!

[@retrosound72]

:))

[@DrSqu]

Coole Sache :) Mich erfreute nicht alles am Z1. Aber da gabs schon paar interessante Dinge. Irgendwann werd ich wohl wieder ein Z1 haben :)

[@retrosound72]

Mich auch nicht. ;) Deshalb musst er gehen obwohl es eigentlich ein sehr cooler Synth mit Charakter ist.

[@heinerkruseprivat1121]

good sounds, are they internal?

[@retrosound72]

not all

[@heinerkruseprivat1121]

@@retrosound72 are they available somewhere?

[@retrosound72]

maybe ebay

[@mysterio1972]

wowww!!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@this_connor_guy]

Can you get any lo-fi, gritty, aliasing with this bad boy or is it pretty solid in that department? Because I love aliasing/lofi stuff. :)

[@retrosound72]

sure, this is the perfect synth for aliasing and lofi digital stuff.

[@this_connor_guy]

Sweet! That combined with the fact that I hear it's basically a digital modular makes this a must have synth for me :)

[@chieftp]

I had one of these, 2 actually. I think I bought one new and one used. build wise and spec wise, it was awesome - right up there with my trinity plus. but sound wise, it just didn't hold up.

[@JBR-RBJ]

So would you say TRINITY is better 🤔 ?

[@brandonharris9160]

I need a new screen for my Z1, anyone know any sources?

[@retrosound72]

...

[@brandonharris9160]

@@retrosound72 why would you reply a blank comment

[@retrosound72]

I have really no idea @@brandonharris9160

[@psychosculptor]

Hello! Which synthesizer do you like more, polysix or Z1?

[@retrosound72]

Z1

[@psychosculptor]

RetroSound ahaha)))

[@pcuimac]

Forbidden Planet? ;)

[@retrosound72]

Forbidden Synth ;)

[@Logansix]

Ein Freund hatte den auch mal. Und ich den AN1x.

[@retrosound72]

sehr schöner synthesizer

[@charthers8903]

Anything great in synths was done between 1970 and 2000

[@retrosound72]

🎹✨🙌

[@j82cerberS]

я не музыкант, я просто меломан, и мне нравиться))) А можно сыграть одну и туже мелодию на нескольких инструментах? Сделать битву поколений.

[@retrosound72]

да. спасибо

[@redisnotdead8428]

есть где то игра престолов в стиле ретро, синтвейв. )

[@mainmajo]

Not my taste, but thank you.

[@retrosound72]

:)