Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Too expensive perhaps? It could be that cautious music
    consumers are hesitant to buy into a sampler that appears
    to be void of third party support. Too bad, I liked the
    sound of the FZ-1 when I head it. Casio will get the
    message, drop the price, and then the support will come. 
    Did anyone see Steve Reich with his two FZ-1s in this
    month's Music Technology??
    
    dp

	Just caught this in the latest Keyboard...

	The FZ-1 will be coming out in RACK-MOUNT form!!

	This exciting to me, not so much that their sampler will be 
more available, but that Casio has seen the light in the area of rack-mounts!

	Dan

Just got some info from Jerry Kovarski at Casio about the
    new rack mount FZ!
    It is called the FZ-10M, and (as is always the case), has
    several improvements over the FZ-1 (making us owners curse
    the Casio gods). The biggest improvement is the 2 meg of RAM
    as standard equipment. This is news because the FZ-10M will
    list for the same price as the old FZ-1. You don't get a
    keyboard, but you get more mem. Also, the filtering has been
    improved, cause better high end response, and a noticeably
    quieter output (and the old output wasn't bad). The output
    has been made hotter, and they've included XLR connectors
    (I'm not sure, but I think this means they are balanced 
    outputs).
    Kovarski also mentioned that the new series of diskettes
    (part of their "Shareware" program where users sent in their
    favorite home made sounds) will be in the stores shortly. About
    25 disks total, that can be copies for free (like Roland's).
    
    So, these items make the old FZ look a bit more appetizing
    (although I'm prejudiced and thought it was a good deal anyway).
    Oh yeah, they are testing a new "crossfade looping" program (my
    hubby is one of the testers) which seems to work real well. This
    will probably be available shortly, as will their sequencing 
    program (we have a copy of it, but don't need it 'cause we use
    a computer).
    
    Casio is still being very "closed" about their architecture, but
    they claim that there are 3rd parties working on a hard disk for
    the FZ. THIS will improve it's sales to working musicians tenfold!
    
    They are new at this... but they are trying!
    

    Optional software is now available free from Casio (in the U.K.,
    free from the User's Club or from your favourite Casio Pro-Tech
    store). 
    
    So far a single track sequencer (surely developed solely for non-key
    playing salespeople to show off the samplers) and sample directory
    sw is on offer. 
    
    Casio techy contact for the U.K. is Dave Clancey at Casio on
    01-450-9131 X264.
    
    Richard.

    I'm in the market for 16-bit samplers, and I have always thought
    the FZ-10M must be a killer box.  I've demoed the FZ-1, but in the
    usual music store ambience where you can here yourself think, but
    barely, and the output of the equipment you're auditioning is mixed
    with the clamor of everything else going on in the store.

    How cheap are FZ-10Ms these days?  I also wondered if anyone read
    an article comparing samplers (in Keyboard(?), maybe).  The fellow I
    was talking to at Daddy's in Nashua, NH said that the article rated
    the FZ pretty low in comparison with other 16-bit samplers.  I wonder
    why?

    regards,
    -jim

    
    
    RE -1
    
    As you must have gathered from previous notes. Richard(MARVIN::)
    Machin is the local FZ1 exponent. I am sure he'll reply here
    eventually. As to price you can get an FZ1 here in the U.K. for
    about 800 pounds, however Hohner do a sampler which is an FZ1 rebadged
    these are going for silly prices like 550 pounds ? Look out for
    one !
    
    					

    
    I've used my FZ1 for a while now, and I still think the sound is
    as good as anything I've heard (e.g. AKAI 900, EPS, EMAX). It's 
    down to whether you like the onboard editing/display software -- or,
    more important to many -- whether you have the confidence to play
    something with CASIO written on the back.
    
    I wish it would save memory on powerdown (so you don't have to load
    from disk each time you switch it on). 
    
    
    At its current price, it has to be a great buy. Oh, and the keyboard version
    has a nice action.
    
    Richard.
    
    By the way -- very seldom does a magazine rate a machine highly if it's
    not new, or in the top current 'earners' for manufacturer and retailer.
    You must always bear in mind the symbiotic relationship between
    reviewer and manufacturer/advertiser. It's easy to spot in Hi-Fi mags,
    sometimes less so in music mags!
    
    

    Has anybody seen any recent prices for the FZ1 or FZ1M?
    
    Thanks - Hoyt

    
    
      Last I heard, about nine and change.
    
    
    RC
    

    Has anyone heard about an upgrade package for the FZ10M which is
    supposed to give it even more memory?
    
    Thanks 
    Errol