Casio RZ-1 (1986)
The Casio RZ-1 was Casio's first programmable drum machine. It came out in 1986 as a budget-priced answer to the LinnDrum and Oberheim DMX. At $399.00 USD (£299.00 GBP), it undercut those professional machines by a wide margin, and it found its way into early hip-hop productions as a result. Mantronix used one, and the Beastie Boys' *Paul's Boutique* famously drew on its sounds. The RZ-1's drum sounds also appeared frequently in early Latvian electronic music, notably on recordings by Dzeltenie Pastnieki. The RZ-1 was one of several affordable instruments showcased in the period press, alongside other budget-minded gear like the TB-1 MIDI switching box, as noted in Mix Magazine (September 1986, p.15).
The sound engine is simple. There are 13 PCM sounds in total: 10 sampled sounds (Bass Drum, Snare, Low Tom, Hi Tom, Rim Shot, Clap, Hi Hat, Open Hi Hat, Crash Cymbal, Cow Bell) plus three synthesized sounds (Agogo, Maracas, Claves). The sounds are punchy and raw. Some ears hear them as synthetic and cheap, and that is exactly what made it a "dance producer's secret weapon." A grey version was also available.
Programming is done on a 16-step single-track sequencer, with memory for 100 patterns and 100 songs. Patterns are stored as 64 four-step groups, which allows built-in real-time editing. The front panel is covered with 42 analog-style rotary knobs, which is unusual for a drum machine of this era and makes it fun to tweak. There's a "one finger play" feature for live triggering, six individual outputs (Bass Drum, Snare, Hi-Hat, and so on), and MIDI In/Out. No effects are built in, so you're expected to route it through an external processor.
The RZ-1's reputation is split. The sounds are loved for their punch and character, and the machine is easy to program once you get the hang of it. But contemporary users were less impressed by the difficulty of programming and the overall sound quality. It's a budget machine, and it sounds like one.
What isn't documented: no sample rate or bit depth for the PCM sounds, no polyphony spec, no detailed synthesis parameters for the analog-style section, and no frequency response or S/N figures. Dimensions, weight, and current used market prices also remain unrecorded.
- 13 PCM sounds (10 sampled + 3 synthesized): Bass Drum, Snare, Low Tom, Hi Tom, Rim Shot, Clap, Hi Hat, Open Hi Hat, Crash Cymbal, Cow Bell, Agogo, Maracas, Claves
- 16-step single-track sequencer; 100 patterns, 100 songs
- 42 analog-style rotary knobs; "one finger play"
- 6 separate outputs; MIDI In/Out
- Introduced 1986 at $399.00 USD / £299.00 GBP
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