Casio - VZ-1

Digital synthesizer with the iPD sound engine, designed to compete with YAMAHA's FM synthesizers. It allows more intuitive sound creation than FM engines. VZ-1 uses Phase Distortion for ring modulation and waveform generation but true Frequency Modulation Synthesis to generate harmonics. The end result is a unique and hauntingly space-age sounding synthesizer with many smooth twangy textures - but it can also be very harsh and noisy when complex phasing is employed. Thumping bass-lines and sweeping pads are its strongest points but it is also very capable of analog-ish brass and strings. 100v version, will require a step down transformer.