KORG Z1 MOSS Synthesizer (1997)

[@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 Triton 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 !!!

[@texacomann]

This z1 is wonderful, I have it now at home, inspected deep and it is the best Digital VA with many non comercial sounds. If you want real analog monophon sounds get a analog synthesizer but this offers crazy stuff. You can bend sounds to total different Charakter. In this Video he does not use knobs sliders and aftertouch. Just preset playing does not Show the potential of the machine. Tweaking makes the sound come alive.

[@carlosgomepimentel4151]

Doce lembrança 😭

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@gjc82071]

Definitely. I have the EXB-MOSS on my Triton Pro X & it's literally like having a while, other keyboard. I downloaded some MOSS .PGG patches from Tritonheaven & it really takes the MOSS & Triton to whole, new levels.

[@Theinvalidmusic]

Don't lose faith! I thought I was all out of luck for getting one, and then all of a sudden, one turned up in my local pawn store for £360. Couldn't believe it. Best synth purchase I've ever made. Incredible machine. Such a broad palette of sound.

[@BeamSplashX]

The sound... it's HUGE. It's like a synth orchestra.

[@FallingIslands]

Sounds so awesome!!!

[@GrzegorzNowacki]

Amazing sound, I did not expect it so good ;) thank you.

[@ViRtUaLmOnKeY023]

Lovin' this, great synth. Thanks for posting.

[@justwaving]

Very cool sounds, nice one Retro!

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Holy shit, Korg really went all the way in the late 90s with some unique instruments. It's such a shame it depended on proprietary custom Chips that nobody else produced.... I'm sure it would be a cult classic by now like the MicroKorg or the Minilogue.

[@retrosound72]

yes a great synth but not a good seller for KORG

[@stevenyjtsai]

Just got a 18 voices Z1-EX recently, can't wait to play it. You know, only synth freaks have courage to master Z1. The true VA synth ever. I also have Moss board on TritonEX, but 6 voices just could to something solo like toy, and not able to show rich and fat voices on performance simultaneously comparing to Z1 (12-18 voices)

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Yuhjer Tsai I have a Z1 expanded also and a Prophecy, so big and small :)

[@pierstheoneandonly]

Once considered Z1 had similar desirability to the Kawai k5000. It's clear the Z1 has a lot more _genres_ of sound available whereas the Kawai is limited to digital, glassy, atmospheres.

[@JRoecker]

yes.... triton rack with the Moss expansion..... only 6 voices.... but totally worth it.

[@this_connor_guy]

I was so happy with my Akai AX80, and then I discovered this and now I'm regretting not picking one of these up instead. Ach!

[@gerardo9402manuel]

no sound acoustics?

[@venomslair137]

Those arpeggios scream: «OLD SCHOOL TRANCE» all around the place!!!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@MrDFaraday]

@drumsdrumdrumdrum You are correct. I ended up getting a JP8000 instead. I had a few digital synths and I guess I just needed something different.

[@RinghausenMusic]

... gutes Video ! ich hab noch den Korg Karma ( keine gute Hardware die Kiste ) könnte ein Moos-Board nachrüsten , kostet in der Bucht ca. 500€... ob das Sinn macht ?

[@Rawwbot]

@retrosound72 O_O was störte dich denn an der Raven? Also am Klang kann es imho nicht gelegen haben oder?

[@chicoandtheman7599]

Retrosound, which do you like better, the Z-1 or the AN1x? Personally I like them both, though if I had to choose,...I'd probably go w/the Z-1.

[@retrosound72]

both are great but I like the An1x more.

[@devmiles]

***** i wonder if there is any synth with better bang for the buck than the an1x..probably the most underrated synth ever.

[@davidgeppert5763]

Zum Glück gehört der noch zu den erschwinglichen Synths. In 2-4 Monaten sollte der zusammengespart sein

[@retrosound72]

na dann los!

[@albedoshader]

@DrSqu: Ich habe mir direkt bei Erscheinen den Prophecy gekauft (damals für satte DM 2500.-, von meinem Nachhilfe- und Zivigeld) und habe ihn heute noch. Den Z1 hatte ich direkt nach Markteinführung mal getestet, hatte aber nicht das Geld dafür. Klanglich gibt es schon einen Unterschied. Das Aliasing setzt beim Prophecy früher ein. Der Z1 hat, soweit ich weiß, 48 kHz sampling rate, der Prophecy müsste um 41 kHz liegen. Die Prophecy-Filter klingen rauher, vielleicht schlechteres Supersampling?

[@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 12 chips, very expensive). This DSP chip only lisensed 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 possibily been built as MOSS-board for Trition Expansion but not a lot. I believe 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

[@1vootman]

I owned one for a long time...bad ass synth, I wish I still had it. Great for bass and breathy stuff...but the best at making experimental sounds. The Z1 + Waldorf microwave XT= an alien death machine.

[@gjc82071]

RetroSound - Do you know the difference between the Z-1 & the Z-1 EX? I just bought a Z-1 on Ebay. ($549) it comes expanded to 18 voices (I assume w/DSPB-Z1 installed) I am guessing that the EX is just a Z-1 with a pre-installed, DSPB-Z1? Do you know if there is much difference between DSPB-Z1 & EXB-MOSS? (I have EXB-MOSS on my Triton) I can't really find any useful information on the subject & I'm really curious. Nice demo BTW. I really love MOSS & can't wait for my Z-1 to arrive. =D

[@psychosculptor]

Which synthesizer do you like more, Z1 or polysix?

[@retrosound72]

P-6

[@psychosculptor]

RetroSound Thx..

[@DrSqu]

Ich habe meinen Z1 vor paar Jahren (Not-)verkauft. Würde wieder so ein Teil in die Sammlung nehmen :) Ich finde: + Eigenständiger Sound + Sehr viele Möglichkeiten, vielseitig + Interessante FX-Abteilung + Geiles Design, stabil + Pads, Texturen, FX-Sounds - Programmwechsel sehr träge - VL-Modelle von Yamaha deutlich besser als die Z1-Modelle - Edit am Gerät und mit Sounddiver eher mühsam (+ aber viele Möglichkeiten) Geiler Lacher am Schluss :-))))

[@MegaGaborGabor]

Please part 2 !

[@liantrosretrospectiva4134]

at the time nobody wanted a synth like this one... everybody was after simple and dedicated VAs with panels full of knobs, and ROMplers

[@retrosound72]

Yes but it was a great synth

[@soundmanhaven1]

awsome sounds on the z1 :)

[@BarryWarne]

uh ... does anyone know if there was a rack version of this or the prophecy ?

[@NELLOARA]

Sounds so awesome...!!!!!!

[@Jossco1371]

Had a MOSS board on my Triton Extreme, and IMHO, I couldn't hear the difference from the PCM sounds. Something wrong with my ears maybe?

[@D10078]

So many synths and only a very few get through the doors at my local Guitar Center Like 1 rare item I wish I had the money less than $500.00 it was and was an Oberhiem if I spelled correctly. Blue faceplate green led. Played with it for an hour.

[@moogdome2562]

I had one bought off eBay, The seller ripped me off. the synth was in such a bad condition. I wanted my money back. He refused, but I had his address I got my money back in the end. pity, great synth, very heavy. Great demo.

[@devingademan]

What did you paid for it?

[@Captain2Pig]

great sounding synth - sounds like a couple of different sound generator engines including virtual analog?

[@retrosound72]

yes 13 synthesis types 3.1 Standard Oscillator3.2 Comb Filter3.3 VPM (Variable Phase Modulation)3.4 Ring Modulation3.5 Cross Modulation3.6 Oscillator Sync3.7 Organ Model3.8 Resonance3.9 Electric Piano Model3.10 Brass Model3.11 Reed/Wind Model3.12 Plucked String Model3.13 Bowed String Model

[@Captain2Pig]

that's a lot of options and much more than my own old favourite - the yamaha EX5 (think that has 5 sound engines including virtual analog engine).

[@HighlandStudio91]

Sadly...Korg no longer makes quality,durable synths that stand the test of time...like the Z1.I had to return 2 Krome keyboards,because Korg's Krome has been plagued with various defects,which have been ongoing since it was released back in 2012.Also....what is equally sad,is the Krome sounds NOTHING like the Z1.The Kronos is interesting,but the Kronos has also been plagued with various defects over the years....but perhaps the release of the Kronos LS 88...might yield better results.

[@Skyisnotalimit]

Buy a Roland. My korg keyboards has been worn out in pitchbend, plugs, displays, knobs.. My Roland keyboards still rolling like new. I wonder how that is.Roland makes quality, Yamakorg if you want less.

[@snuppssynthchannel]

same about my King Korg, Amazing synth engine, but the Construction is not good enough. Same Keybed as on the KROME.

[@stevenyjtsai]

I have Kronos73 on hand but sealed for 4 years in my storage room, Kronos sucks on VA.... I have no compromise on VA solution, only hareware is the king, sw sounds kind of FAKE.

[@snuppssynthchannel]

The King korgs VA engine is amazing. My father is an experienced synthesist, that owns two mini Moog D types. He made the lead from the fusion jam, Stratus from the album Spectrum by Billy Cobham With the emulated Moog filter on the king korg. And modeled it after the Moog D- type itself. It was scary how similar it sounded, the King Korg and the D-type. I promise you, the filters on the King Korg beats the filter of the a Prophet 6 (we borrowed a Prophet 6 from a friend and compared the two With Precision)

[@stevenyjtsai]

OH REALLY? Maybe its the missed one I forgot, will try it later.

[@BlackSupremist]

I sold my EXB-V3 MOSS TRI board for the Korg Trinity workstation last year, I was surprised it sold in less than an hour after throwing it up on eBay. I never could get it to work, my Korg Karma refused to recognize it, so I got rid of it for $49.00 wit free ship, even though it was in mint-condition with original disks, install manual and the Korg V3 sticker, amazing I even got that much for it. The guy who sold it to me brand new totally lied, he said MOSS-TRI would work in my Korg Karma, but he didn't say there are two different versions of the EXB-MOSS board I needed to watch out for, and that only one would work in my Karma synth. The two kinds are, EXB-MOSS TRI (for Korg TRInity workstations) and the EXB-MOSS board (for everything else Korg has that supports it). Hope that helps yall avoid my mistake. I finally got the right one off eBay for $457.82, it is the EXB-MOSS and totally makes my Korg Karma 1000% better sounding, it did something to the basic architecture of the factory default Korg Karma and made all the sounds incredibly rich, more analog and alot fatter!! Now I couldn't imagine owning a Korg Krama without the EXB-MOSS board, absolutely worth every penny, really makes all my original hardcore gangsta rap mixtapes shine.

[@chicoandtheman7599]

The EXB-MOSS board is awesome. I have one on my Triton Pro X & it really is like having 2 different synths. (in 1 keyboard) I also have a Z-1, expanded to 18 notes polyphony. (w/DSPB-Z1 board) The Z-1 & EXB-MOSS use the same synthesis engines, but IMO they sound slightly different. The Triton has more numerous & powerful, internal FX processors than the Z-1, so obviously that can affect the overall sound. But IMO the Z-1 sounds cleaner, clearer & crisper, while the EXB-MOSS sounds a bit muddier & lo-fi, but in a good way. The Z-1 also has more powerful, control parameters.

[@BlackSupremist]

Gerry No tru dat!! U eva wanna sell me yo Triton X, im buyin! ima loot me one sumdey ;)

[@descargamusicalny]

Gerry No can you load Z1 patches or programs into the EXB-moss board? I have it installed in my triton extreme, I thought about selling the whole keyboard but, there is a trumpet sound in there that is so unique. I like it better than the trumpet sound that is in the kronos.

[@chicoandtheman7599]

descargamusicalny Yes, you can. I know there are Triton sites (like Korgforums.com, Korgpatches.com, & Tritonhaven.com) that have "converted" Z1 patches for the EXB-MOSS, (& many other MOSS patches) but I do not know how to actually convert them myself. I know only how to load them. For example, here is a download at Korgforums. (& there are many more like it) Z1 Card 1 - All 128 MOSS sounds off the Z1 Card 1 converted to Triton MOSS format korgforums.com/support/triton-pcg/tnz1cr1.zip I think the Korg Z1 Yahoo! group offers info on the actual conversion process. As for the trumpet sound, yes....certain synths are always going to have a few great patches that you just can't duplicate on newer & more advanced synths. Part of the reason you can't get that sound on the Kronos is because Kronos doesn't have MOSS synthesis engine, & also lacks a brass modeling engine.

[@chicoandtheman7599]

BlackSupremist Ooops. I must have missed your comment. No, sorry. I would NEVER sell my Triton Pro X w/EXB-MOSS. I have many synths, some older, some new & better, but the Triton remains my personal favorite. Also, I don't really sell gear. In the early 1990's I traded a Korg DDD-1 & Roland D-10, for an Alpha Juno 1 & heavy duty, metal, 30 space rack/road case. (w/lockable doors, internal power supply, cooling fans, etc), & sold a Korg M1 to buy an M1Rex. Those were the only things I ever sold. (& I regret it) I would never sell any gear, ever again, even if I don't use it. (like my Roland W30) I'm a gear hoarder. :-) Also, you never know when a piece of gear might come back in style. What I like, I use. What I don't use, I hold on to, just in case I ever want to use it again someday. :-)

[@stevenyjtsai]

I also have kronos, but has been abandoned by myself for years. Only ture VA gear could deliver the real-FAT thing, believe me.

[@DrSqu]

Ach ja, noch ne Frage.... Man liest manchmal, dass der Prophecy "anders" klingen soll. Manche sagen "stärker, weniger Hifi". Ich hatte mal kurz einen Prophecy hier, konnte aber keine wirklich charakteristischen Unterschiede feststellen - Hatte den Z1 aber bereits paar Jahre nicht mehr, also kein 1:1-Vergleich, ... klar, halt monophoner Prophecy. Die Architektur ist fast identisch. Konntest Du schon mal vergleichen?

[@joeellis5352]

is there any point in getting a z1 AND a prophecy? i like both but iv heard theyre the same but z1 is polyphonic, and can maybe do more, is there anything the prophecy can do that the z1 cant? and vice versa? and is there actually any difference in the sound, like if you made an identical sound on both would there be ANY difference?

[@albedoshader]

+Joe Ellis Both sound different. And the sound architecture is no the same. Both have similarities but a different sound character, and either of both can do things the other can’t.

[@joeellis5352]

thanks

[@albedoshader]

+Joe Ellis Try to find the manuals of both synths online to get an idea about the differences in their architecture. Here you can download the owner’s manuals/parameter guides... For the Prophecy: www.synthmanuals.com/manuals/korg/prophecy/owners_manual/ Prophecy parameter guide: web.archive.org/web/20050825201118/www.orchardgrove.com/prophecy/prophecy_parameter_guide.pdf For the Z1: www.synthmanuals.com/manuals/korg/z1/ What the Prophecy has, but the Z1 doesn’t: Feedback of the output back into the mixer, which can produce LOUD and crazy stuff, pretty rude filters, not the most moderate sound character in general ;), a mod wheel with integrated ribbon controller What the Z1 has, but the Prophecy doesn’t: Resonance oscillator, bowed string model, organ model, electric piano model, much cleaner filters than the Prophecy, at least 12 voice polyphony (expandable to 18 voices), polyphonic sequencer, bigger effects section, touch sensitive modulation control pad, higher sample rate (afaik)...

[@joeellis5352]

cheers, that what i gathered from the demos really but wasnt sure if it was just the video quality

[@starby7043]

Please note that Z1 does have feedback. Here you have block diagram www.retrosound.de/Z1.html I consider feedback as one of the essential features of Z1 (and also of the AN1x mentioned here) and also wonder why not all synths have it, since it needs only one multiplication and addition.

[@stevenyjtsai]

Another similiar VA structure like Yamaha AN plug-boards. (main processor + MCU +DSP) (1) Yamaha YSS236-F - VOP3 processor (2) H8/3002 RISC CPU (MCU). (3) Yamaha YSS233-F - MDSP (one DSP support 5 voices). AN1X comes wth 2 DSP chip , so support 10 voices in total

[@weatherkop]

teisto is right where he belongs, on a commercial. shite. ranting aside, Im finally getting a Z1 after owning two Prophecies and being underwhelmed by the monophony and keys but very satisfied by the depth of the synthesis types. like a digital pirate trotting along the dark waters of infinity I will find the beast and slay it.

[@MilesBader]

Also awesome key-action (I seem to recall it was a variant of the same great Yamaha keybed used on lots of the better Yamaha synths)...

[@KONNECTORAS]

Miles Bader Actually the keybed WAS the very same Yamaha from Korg M1 to Triton Extreme and from Yamaha DX7 to Motif ES at least... Fantastic keybed, easy to play with!

[@MarcS4R]

@retrosound72 he even makes a quasimidi synth sound good :)

[@albedoshader]

@albedoshader: Soweit ich weiß, ist auch das Hüllkurvenverhalten nicht identisch. Prophecy-patches lassen sich auch nicht eins-zu-eins in Z1-Patches übersetzen, zumindest nicht ohne manuelle Feinarbeit. Aber der brachiale „Lo-Fi“-Sound des Prophecy macht ja gerade seinen berühmt-berüchtigten Charakter aus, der „klinisch-digitale“ Klang des Z1 ist ebenfalls charakteristisch. Man kann jedoch aus beiden Maschinen mit genug Erfahrung, Geduld und Experimentierfreude erstaunliche Sounds herausholen.

[@Rawwbot]

@retrosound72 nicht dein ernst oder??? Warum hast den wieder weg gegeben?

[@popcycles]

How do you change the sounds without changing the patches?

[@retrosound72]

with my mental to MIDI controller interface.

[@popcycles]

I mean, how are you changing the programs while playing? I don't see you selecting different programs, yet the patch changes by itself.

[@retrosound72]

its on my mind and the synths change the programs. like hypnosis.

[@ZipSnipe]

How sad, such an awesome sounding keyboard but many critical parts to keep it going are not available therefor you could be buying into a doorstop . I am very disappointed in Korg now, I have always loved their sound but I won't buy another if there is no support for it to keep parts available

[@GrahamLaight]

That was ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!!! May I suggest covering the background with cloth or foil? Blue spotlights make keyboards look great as well.

[@MrDFaraday]

I thought about buying one of these when they first came out. Tried it in the shop and hated the presets. The Z1 sounds too digital and its painful to program.

[@Rawwbot]

Marko, fütter den Z1 doch mal mit den Sequencen aus der Raven per Midi, und dann über das Pad den Sound manipulieren :D PS: Wo bleiben eigentlich die Videos wo die Raven diverse andere Synth anfeuert??? *WART*

[@RyanCheungLiAn]

For me the greatest synth ever made. ^^

[@gjc82071]

From the demos I've heard, the Z1 is nothing like the K5000 IMO. The K5000 sounds thin & very metallic, but not necessarily in a bad way.

[@txdap]

SOME REALLY TOUGH SOUNDS HERE !!!

[@75IFFY]

I had to turn it down , my apartment was shaking

[@GeorgiosZaimis]

I guess, my expansion card EXB-MOSS can play the same sounds on my Korg Triton?

[@bastiaanw3519]

Can't help but to hear a lot of Tangerine Dream in these sounds. They had a Korg fetish, right?

[@gjc82071]

Yea sorry bro, but there's definitely something wrong w/your ears then. I have the MOSS on my Triton Pro X (+ I have every EXB-PCM) & it's really like having a whole, other keyboard. The tones & filters, etc on the MOSS, sound nothing at all like the PCM sounds.

[@yotekojo3754]

Nada del otro mundo, con razon mucha gente no compro esas expansiones Moss

[@liverawkstar]

I don't under rate this synth at all--- I have over 30 synths and this one by far is one of my faces along side my Waldorf's and DSI's== this is great digital: nice breathy sounds, (etheric) flute possibilities : best ever ... easy to program to, if you half way know whats going on

[@hectorsagnay1485]

Nada de bueno dino piano Grand piano Galaxi búscalo si hay o no please