Behringer has unveiled the CZ-1 Mini, offering up its take on the classic Casio CZ-1 Phase Distortion synthesiser.
The unit was first alluded to two years ago, and true to Behringer form, serves up an affordable alternative to the Casio CZ-1, which first hit the market in 1986.
Following the same smaller form factor as Behringer’s Pro-VS Mini, Phara-O Mini and JT Mini, the CZ-1 Mini takes heavy inspiration from the CZ-1, but with a slightly different feature set..
Where the original CZ-1 polyphonic synth boasted eight voices, Behringer’s CZ-1 Mini comes loaded with three voices instead. It’s not all subtraction in terms of features, though, as the CZ-1 Mini brings an analogue 24dB low-pass filter.
Elsewhere, the CZ-1 Mini features two DCOs (digitally controlled oscillators), which serve up the same eight waveforms found in Casio’s CZ series: sawtooth, square, pulse, double sine, saw pulse, and three resonant waveforms, which are flavoured with simulated filter resonance.
The CZ-1 Mini also features 27 touch-sensitive keys – facilitating “expressive play” – in addition to a 16-step sequencer and three-pattern arpeggiator, and even a “studio-grade” chorus.
The unit also has comprehensive I/O, with a USB-C input, five-pin MIDI in, sync input and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
“With real-time controls and deep compatibility, it’s everything you love about hands-on synthesis – no compromises!” says Behringer.
The CZ-1 Mini is available now, priced at $89. For more information, head to Behringer.
Sam is the Associate News Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Thoroughly immersed in music culture for the majority of his life, Sam has played guitar for 20 years, studied music technology and production at university, and also written for the likes of MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer.
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