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The Truth About Combination Waves
2007-12-17
For those new to Casio CZs, the oscillator has the ability to alternate between two different waves. For example, it can send out one cycle of a SAW wave, then one cycle of a SQUARE wave, then another cycle of the SAW and so on. All you have to do is specify the first and second wave to be used.
Combination Waves—According To Casio
According to Casio, there are 33 possible combinations of waves. That's not nearly the whole truth of the ability of the CZ-1; when I count them I can find 216 possible combinations. The main reason why Casio's count of waves is so limited is that they don't admit to the existence of the window function. I have created a table (below) to explain where Casio's number 33 comes from.
| 1-1 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 1-5 | 1-6 | 1-7 | 1-8 |
| 2-1 | 2-2 | 2-3 | 2-4 | 2-5 | 2-6 | 2-7 | 2-8 |
| 3-1 | 3-2 | 3-3 | 3-4 | 3-5 | 3-6 | 3-7 | 3-8 |
| 4-1 | 4-2 | 4-3 | 4-4 | 4-5 | 4-6 | 4-7 | 4-8 |
| 5-1 | 5-2 | 5-3 | 5-4 | 5-5 | 5-6 | 5-7 | 5-8 |
| 6-1 | 6-2 | 6-3 | 6-4 | 6-5 | 6-6 | 6-7 | 6-8 |
| 7-1 | 7-2 | 7-3 | 7-4 | 7-5 | 7-6 | 7-7 | 7-8 |
| 8-1 | 8-2 | 8-3 | 8-4 | 8-5 | 8-6 | 8-7 | 8-8 |
The numbers in this table correspond to the "official waveforms" of the CZ series. These are the numbers that are screenprinted front and center on the CZ-1. It is necessary to think of these "official waveforms" in order to figure out how Casio came up with their "official number of waveforms".
The white squares (25) plus the pink squares (8) adds up to Casio's "33". This is their official tally of how many waveforms there are. This is also the number of waveforms that are available by programming the CZ-1 from the front panel.
- 1-2
- White squares indicate unique and valid combinations of waves.
- 1-1
- Pink squares are valid, but are equivalent to just using a single wave. For example, using wave 3 + 3 is the same as just using 3 by itself.
- 2-1
- Blue squares are valid but not unique. That's because 2-1 is the same as 1-2, and 3-4 is the same as 4-3.
- 6-7
- Green squares are not valid. It is not possible to combine the resonant waves because they are not just waves. They are a certain wave passing through a certain window function, and there can be only one window function per wave combination.
Combination Waves—In Reality
As has been previously stated, Casio's documentation does not tell the whole truth. They simplified the explanation of the waves, to keep people like you and me from getting confused. However, the truth is not actually that difficult to understand.
The most important thing to understand is that it is possible to combine ANY WAVE with ANY OTHER WAVE and run it through ANY WINDOW. That is, all combinations of waves and windows are possible. The first wave has eight possibilities, the second wave has eight possibilities, and the window function has eight possibilities. That means there are altogether 512 possible wave combinations (83 = 512). However, not all of them are unique.
The second important thing to remember is that the waves available to be combined are NOT the same eight waves that are screenprinted on the front panel. The eight basic waves in the table below are the ACTUAL basic waves, which I described on a previous page.
The numbers in the table below correspond with how I have been differentiating the actual waveforms available through sysex.
| 000-000 | 000-001 | 000-010 | 000-011 | 000-100 | 000-101 | 000-110 | 000-111 |
| 001-000 | 001-001 | 001-010 | 001-011 | 001-100 | 001-101 | 001-110 | 001-111 |
| 010-000 | 010-001 | 010-010 | 010-011 | 010-100 | 010-101 | 010-110 | 010-111 |
| 011-000 | 011-001 | 011-010 | 011-011 | 011-100 | 011-101 | 011-110 | 011-111 |
| 100-000 | 100-001 | 100-010 | 100-011 | 100-100 | 100-101 | 100-110 | 100-111 |
| 101-000 | 101-001 | 101-010 | 101-011 | 101-100 | 101-101 | 101-110 | 101-111 |
| 110-000 | 110-001 | 110-010 | 110-011 | 110-100 | 110-101 | 110-110 | 110-111 |
| 111-000 | 111-001 | 111-010 | 111-011 | 111-100 | 111-101 | 111-110 | 111-111 |
- 000-001
- White squares indicate unique and valid combinations of waves.
- 000-000
- Pink squares are valid, but are equivalent to just using a single wave. For example, programming waves 010 + 010 is the same as just using 010 by itself.
- 001-000
- Blue squares are valid but not unique. That's because 111 + 000 is the same as 000 + 111.
Combination Wave Demonstration
The table below is the same as the logical table above, but now it shows the actual waves produced by the combinations. In essence, this table demonstrates that its possible to combine each of the 8 waves with each of the other 8 waves. The combination waves are shown without any window function affecting them.
You can see in the table below how 010 + 010 is the same as just 010. Also notice how 010 + 000 is the same as 000 + 010.
Combination waves demonstrated
Click table to see full-size image
Key for this table
- This option is available through the front panel.
- This option is only available through sysex.
Summary
It is possible to combine any basic waveform with any other basic waveform. The result is exactly like the two waves have just been glued together. It is important to remember that these are not the same waves printed on the front of the CZ-1; these are the actual basic waveforms.