Korg Z1 (1997)
Multi Oscillator Synthesizer

The Z1 synthetic purpose is to emulates acoustic reed-breath instruments physical behaviors using Virtual Synthesis. Originally created on the project OASYS Open synthesis Architecture project

KEYBOARD 61 velocity keys with aftertouch.
Main panel features a display at 240 x 60 resolution, 62 button and 25 knobs. On the left side 2 wheels for modulation and pitchbender, an X-Y axis touchpad and 4 dedicated performances buttons.


Back panel terminal connectors:
- main signal out
- Midi interface
- PCMCIA card slot (ATA linear mode)
- volume pedalswitch input
- damper pedalswitch input
- 2 assignable pedalswitch inputs.

 

 

TECH main core D703003 NEC V853 TM a 32/16-BIT CPU +sub CPU + 6X DSP TI TMS57070 manages 12 voices polyphony + 6 more if optional DSPB-Z1 board is fitted into the synthesizer. DAC is a TDA1305T.

- oscillator 1 - oscillator 2 - white noise generator - sub-oscillator The elements generate different acoustic models according to the Z1 algorithms.

PERFORMANCE multitimbric system handles 6 parts with various parameters:

- volume / panning - key zone - pitch transpose - special arpeggio zone - Midi channel assign.

ALGORITHMS structure can be routed in 13 path signal or algorithms roughly organized in 2 family groups: - Virtual analog (7 algorithms) + Virtual acoustic (6 algorithms)

Virtual Acoustic   Virtual analog ELECTRIC PIANO MODEL a EP Rhodes emulation features 4 main parameters: - hammer defines the shape, strength and the motion of the hammer that virtually hits tines - tone generator: sets the tine dimension and its overtones - pickup: sets the position and dimension of virtual pickup - EQ: simple EQ with Shelving at +/- 18 dB range. BRASS MODEL physical model of simulation of brass lip-reed instruments with 4 parameter settings: - instrument defines preset shapes and length of the virtual instruments according to 7 presets of brasses and reeds. - pressure: is the breath force blown into the virtual instruments, whose settings can be assigned to expression controller such as aftertouch or wheel. - lip: defines shape and tension of the lips that variates timbre colors. - bell: defines the shape of the damper and resulting variable tonal changes and resonances. Special bending modes: linear for trombone or jumping for a piston valves emulation. REED MODEL physical model of simulation of woodwind reed instruments. 13 preset instruments emulation such as saxophones, double reed, bassoon, clarinet, flute, pan flute, ocarina, shakuashi, harmonica and reedsynth (variable physical dimension and reed characteristics) PLUCK MODEL simulates a plucked string like guitar or bass with 4 parameters: - attack: alters the waveform when a string is plucked - string: defines position of string plucking and defines some harmonics settings to match physic characteristics such as thickness or flexibility - damp: attenuates harmonics for a kind of matched filter key tracker - pickup: same principle as algorithm number 9. ORGAN MODEL additive synthesis for Hammond-like organs with drawbars emulation. Each drawbar features 3e sinewave variations from pure wave to various levels of altered harmonics. A click percussion can be added with variable amplitude and length BOWED STRING MODEL simulates bowed string instruments such has a violin with 4 parameters: - bow: defines intensity of the bow on the strings while the X-Y pad simulates the bow velocity - damp: attenuates harmonics - reflection: specify the amount of the wave that are reflected at the end of the string. - string: various parameters regarding the string structure and point of contact with bow   STANDARD OSC generates basic waveforms like a traditional analog synthesizer. Each oscillator can be either a sawtooth or a pulse mixed to a ramp progressive wave from sinewave to triangle. The sawtooth and pulse waves feature advanced parameters e.g edge, smoothing, width, phasing and 99 waveshaping table (from classic KORG 01/W) COMB FILTER the signal from the other oscillator waveform (or the noise generator) is sent through a comb filter and the feedback level of the comb filter is altered in order to produce a tonal change. The FEEDBACK parameter raises resonance level and DAMP smoothes it. Input to comb can be either: filter, noise, impulse or subosc or any combination of them. VPM OSC the carrier output is phase-modulated by a modulator and output through waveshape processing. Carrier and Modulator features 4 basic shapes (saw, sine, triangle and square) and special OSC MODULATOR is an oscillator from any other algorithm. The waveshaper processes the oscillators trough 99 different waveforms, altering the spectral contents with new resonances and distortions. RESONANCE OSC 4 resonant bandpass filters with variable harmonics process. Each filter mode can be controlled by assignable modulation source such as LFO or Midi Control Change. OSCILLATOR SYNC a slave oscillator is synched to a master osc wave cycle: when master osc starts new cycle, the slave phase is reset to zero and begins a new cycle. RING MOD standard ring modulation with 5 variable inputs: - osc 1 & 2 - filter 1 & 2 - subosc - noise - carriers: saw, square, sinewave and triangle CROSS MODULATION quite similar to RING MOD but uses a modulator to frequency modulate a carrier.

FILTER 2 digital resonant filters can be combined in parallel mode or 2 serial modes.
Both filters are multimode:

-lowpass -highpass -bandpass (or reject) - dualband pass HEAR resonance

ENVELOPE 5 EGs :

- 1 X EG AMPLIFIER 4 segments + 3 levels - 4 X assignable EGs: 4 segments + 5 levels

LFO 4 freely assignable modulators, relative frequency range from 0 to 60 Hz with retrig mode and Midi clock sync. Up to 8 shapes and variations with variable start offset :

- triangle with adjustable phase - sawtooth up to 180' or down to 180' - exponential saw-up or saw-down - sinewave - square - sample and hold - random - stepped HEAR

 

ARPEGGIATOR the polyphonic arpeggiator features 5 preset patterns, 15 user pattern (by step entry mode): random, standard up, standard down, alternate mode 1 and alternate mode 2.

Some arpeggios functions: latch, gate, velocity and special KEYSYNC function retriggs arpeggios from beginning when a note is activated.Overall tempo can be synched to external Midi clock HEAR arpeggiator

EFFECTS a double DSP processor FX1/FX2 under the hood:
- FX1 is insert and includes these effects: overdrive, compressor, EQ, wah, exciter, decimator, chorus, flanger phaser, rotary, mono delay and talking modulator
- FX2 is for the master mix REVERB, STEREO DELAY and master EQ.
HEAR delay

MEMORY:
- 32 performances
- 256 internal RAM patches.
More data can be saved using Korg card ZMC01 or standard ATA-PCMCIA, note that PCMCIA file system is custom format and cannot be read back to a computer.

LEFT Battery replacement RAM system works with a 3V lithium battery soldered to the mainboard which requires some soldering,

 

 

EDITOR many computer based softwares are available:

- Korg Z1 editor 2004 (commercial, PC) PIC - Soundiver (out of business) - Soundquest (commercial, PC/MAC)

 

VST PLUGIN / FREE Z1 SAMPLES:

No VST emulation no sample pack

we're looking for a free reliable source of z1 samples. CONTACT

Z1 RELATED FAMILY

	Z1 EVL -EVOLUTION a special bundled Z1 with different factory sounds. I believe it was an individual initiative by a third part seller. We should have the patchfile somewhere, we will share it freely asap. Don't' spend money for that it's just a single sysex PIC
	MOSS-TRI board six Moss voices for trinity series.
	EXB-MOSS Z1 board six Moss voices for Triton and Karma series. Optional DI-TRI board adds ADAT digital output
	Prophecy little cousin, solo monophonic with different features. Z1 can load some Prophecy patch only with third-part software (and conversion must be tuned).

 

AUDIO DEMO

factory demo1 factory demo 2 factory demo 3 Z1 promo cd 1 Z1 promo cd 2 Z1 promo cd 3 Z1 promo cd 4 Resonance pluck arpeggio metallic saw sounds RAW reed pad

LFO pad VA drum filter ghost LOFI drums future mellotron Church model filter chords relax noise sample and hold arpeggio pan old computer horror bell

we're looking more demos.. interested? UPLOAD

 

VIDEO SELECTION Deep Synthesizer Synthesizer Ambient Space

MANUAL

SERVICE MANUAL

-MORE DEMO -FREE SAMPLE SET

original Brochure

custom Z1

Z1 Fun error!