Roland D50 vs. Casio CZ3000

[gustavojobim]

Hi
I don't have a vast knowledge of synths, so I'd like to hear from you.
My synths are:

Roland XP-30
Korg microKorg
Korg Poly-800 II

So I'm interested both in small synths and old synths.
I'm also into building my own sounds.
I have the opportunity of getting either a Casio CZ-3000 or a Roland D-50. There are used ones in my city in good condition (although not so great prices).
From samples it seems the Casio has nice sounds and it's older; but it's a big and heavy board. And it's less expensive than the D-50.
The Roland D-50 is a classic but at the same time it sounds rather cliché; the youtube samples I found didn't go much beyond people emulating Enya and Jarre. And the D-50 is also a big board.

So which one would you prefer, and why?
Do I really need any of those, having already those synths listed above? Particularly, if I have the XP-30 do I need the D-50? Am I suffering from G.A.S.?

Any ideas will be appreciated.
Thanks!!!

[modulator_esp]

I'd go for the CZ, the XP30 is pretty much 2 generations after the D series and can do lots of similar stuff, whilst the CZ is not like any of your other stuff

[hurolura]

I would do the same, the CZ 3000 could provide you some special sounds that you do not already have.

I have a CZ-101 here which is perhaps my oldest synth.
The CZ is from the same period as the Poly 800 II (I also had this one but sold it) but with a different sound that could be a good companion for it.

The best is always to have different kind of synthesis available to have differnt kind of sound. You already have:
- 1 Rompler: XP-30 (PCM based synthesis)
- 1 virtual analog: microKorg
- 1 analog: Poly 800 II

The CZ 3000 would provide you the Phase Distortion Synthesis.

Then you would just miss
- additive synthesis (Kawai K5, K5000)
- FM synthesis (any DX/TX or better an SY/TG-77 or even better a FS1R)
- physical modeling (...)

[gustavojobim]

wonderful, many thanks for your replies.

do you think then a Korg Prophecy would fulfill more of those gaps? an acquaintance is offering one but I'm not so sure about it, considering the price he's asking and the difficult menus I've read about on the net.

[hurolura]

To be quite fair the CZ also have a small display and only keys instead of knob to edit sounds. Not that straightforward.

But it is just not much better for the D-50 except if you can get it with its PG-1000 programmer companion.

The Prophecy would probably also provide you something of a different flavour as it uses physical modeling but remember this one is only monophonic. And the so called physical modeling is actually one of the first virtual analog. A quite powerfull though as it was a resurgence from the OASYS project which is now somehow re-appearing inside the Korg Kronos series.

[paugui]

I have a Roland D550 and had a Casio CZ5000.


The Roland D550 is much more than a ROMpler, it is sometimes even called the first VA ever, that uses samples too (despite you can't filter them).
I think it's a pretty cool synth, and wouldn't mind getting the keyboard version, as you get the nice joystick to mix the different sounds.

The Casio CZ3000 is like the CZ5000, but without sequencer (it's nice, but not a big loss for sure...).
I sold mine because I was lacking space and would rather have the CZ1 (which is velocity and aftertouch sensitive).
If I can get one of those or a CZ1000 for a nice price, I think I'll just grab another one, cause it can produce some really nice sounds I think.


I'd probably pick up the Roland D50, for one reason, it is sensitive to velocity and aftertouch, which I think is really nice.
If the option was between a CZ1 and D50, I'd probably suggest the CZ1 instead, as you could always get the D550 later, which is really nice too

[hurolura]

The D-50 has nothing to do with a VA.

VA are based on modeling of all the elements of the sound path. Everything is calculated in real time.

On the D-50, the oscillators are "just" sample played rather than calculated.

So the D-50 is just one of the first excellent romplers and I wouldn't tell it is a VA (the first one being the Z-1/Prophecy, Nord Lead or Access Virus I guess).

[Uncle Krunkus]

I'm biased because I have a D50, and I love it.
The combination of punchy samples, and analogue tones is just really nice.
But then I've got a bit of a Roland habit.
Which flies in the face of me saying you should branch out and get different brands. The more variety in manufacturers you have, the better the sound will be, overall, well,... that's what I think anyway.

So, go the Casio,... this time.

No,.. scrub that,.. get the D50!

[soundwave106]

[Dougster]

Anybody have an opinion about how the D-50 card for the V-Synth compares? Is it really the same as having a real D-50?

Regards,
Doug