Casio CZ-2000S (1985)

A battery-powered phase distortion synthesizer with 61 full-sized keys and built-in speakers, released by Casio in 1985.

Overview

The Casio CZ-2000S is a phase distortion synthesizer from 1985. It belongs to Casio's CZ series, which ran from 1984 to 1986. It was built for musicians who wanted to create and edit their own sounds, and it gives you full sound editing even though it sits at the entry level. It has 61 full-sized synth-style keys with no touch sensitivity or aftertouch. It also has built-in speakers and an amplifier, so it works on its own, and it runs on AC power or batteries, which makes it easy to carry around.

Casio sold the CZ-2000S mainly in Japan, so it is less common in Europe and the United States. It came out around the same time as the CZ-101 and sits in a lineup with the CZ-1000, CZ-3000, and the flagship CZ-5000. It has fewer features than the higher-end models. It is also cheaper, and the sound editing kept it within reach of hobbyists and beginners.

Specifications

Number of Keys	61
Key Weight	Synth
Key Size	Full
Touch Sensitive	no
Aftertouch	no
Number of Voices	8
Polyphony	8
Sound Generation	Phase Distortion
Sounds Editable	yes
Accompaniments	no
Recorder/Sequencer	no
Tutorials	no
MIDI	yes
USB	no
Tablet Connectivity	no
AC Power	yes
Batteries	yes
Speakers	yes
Audio Out	yes
Audio In	no
Sustain Pedal	yes
Soft Pedal	no
Expression Pedal	yes

Design

The keyboard has 61 synth/organ style full sized keys, with no touch sensitivity or aftertouch. It has built-in MIDI capabilities. It has a built-in amplifier and speakers. It runs from both AC and battery power.

Context

The Casio CZ-2000S is a synthesizer released in 1985. It is aimed at musicians who want to create and modify their own sounds. It was made mainly for the Japanese market, so it isn't often seen in Europe or the US. It is part of the CZ family, whose models spanned from 1984 to 1986. It's very much an entry level model. The CZ series includes the CZ-1000, CZ-3000, and CZ-5000. It expanded to include the full-size CZ-1000, the rack-mount CZ-1, and the flagship CZ-5000. The CZ-2000S is listed as a synth released at a similar time to the Casio CZ-101.