SeriesYamaha CS

My big dissapointment is that to use the good performance sounds, you have to be in performance mode, and that mode is monotimbral. Other wise you can use up to 4 XG sounds at once in multi mode. Very annoying. There are basic filters on this that are pretty limiting. Definitely "first synth" territory. Price paid 700$ UTILIZATION The menu is pretty complicated for such an entry level synth. And no thats not a good thing. There is one knob and 10 arrow buttons to press to navigate the huge menu. A lot of the things are not self explanitory and half of the stuff you will never use. 3 knobs fell off on mine (they are cheap plastic knobs), and now I turn them with their metal bars instead. However, it still works after 8 years in all respects. SOUNDS Ok basically this is one part ROMpler and one part GM/XG machine. As far as the ROM sounds go, they are exemplar of the mid nineties dance/trance scene. A few pads, lots of leads and basses. Drums are OK. The GM sounds are good, but they are GM. Considering the low cost of the cs1x the sound set is pretty good. I'm sure you can find much better for more money but considering that this is a 8 year old machine that shouldnt be a challenge. OVERALL OPINION Ok now here is where the 10 comes. You're probably asking urself; ok why does he still have this synth? Here is the reason: it is a PERFECT midi controller. Ok maybe not perfect, but very good. Why? You can definetly get this on ebay for less than 100$. It has a solid 66 synthaction key board. It has 6 good assignable knobs. Simple to use. Nuff said. This has been my sole controller since I got into MIDI and it has never let me down. Moreover, it is a good keyboard to try out ideas on...it has all the major dance sounds you need as a trance/dance producer to use as a "scratchpad". Then, when you are ready to control your VSTs you just press a button and there you are. And I'll admit it, I just have a love for this thing as my first keyboard...yeah I said it! Originally posted on FutureProducers.com Posted by: I_watch_stars ( 7-, 2005)

The Yamaha CS 80 is a very big unit. I do love the way that it is laid out though with color coded sliders, I think it looks cool and kind of makes some sense of all of the stuff on the board. This board is very big though and weighs about 150 or more pounds. So there wont be any taking it anywhere. You will want to leave this in the major studio, so I don’t know why someone would want this in their home unless they just have a good space to get it in. The Yamaha CS 80 has some amazing sounds that are very thick and phat. I didn’t think that sounds on this type of gear could be so fat. They are almost to fat and need to be eq some. UTILIZATION Using it will take about a day or two depending on how long you sit at the unit, you will have to learn where everything is so that when you want to do something you know exactly where that slider or knob is to tweak. But with the color coded stuff it kind of makes sense of everything for you once you get the hang of it. SOUNDS The sounds are by far the best thing about this unit. This has the best sounding phat sounds out of any piece of vintage gear that I have heard ever. This is the winner hands down as far as sound thickness goes. Also the ability to edit those sounds is pretty easy once you understand some basics. OVERALL OPINION This thing is huge, so don’t purchased it if you don’t have the room for it. There are two handles on it, but you probably wont be able to carry 150 plus pounds like it’s a suit case, its just too big for that.

FIlters can't screech that well and synthesis ain't too strong. Envelope generators makes so little difference to the sound, and the layers are hopeless. I'll rather say it's ok! Can't stand the little arpeggio manipuation, so limited concept. Price paid $1450 UTILIZATION Pretty simple to use till the point of boringness. Quite easily switchable though. Too little realtime controls. Yamaha should have a case for this model, everytime i carry it around in a bag, it gets knocked. Really makes me worried. However, it's still ok and functioning. The switch knob falls off easily. They should have those similar model knobs as ibanez guitar knobs, which looks really alike. If that is possible, the color can be switched, sure would be fun to decorate some. Never called Yamaha support for this item, but did for others. Service average. SOUNDS Clear sounding. Synth patches and strings are good. Piano sounds are clear, but of cos no match for real pianos. Techno sounds are pretty good, can get good harmonies. This is more a commercial dance/ambient synth. Effects are plentiful and pretty good. OVERALL OPINION The arpeggio manipulation is what really turns me off, i'm having an idea but can't shuffle the groove around. The sound manipulation is ok, can't stand the lag of filter sweeping. If Yamaha wants to come out a dance synth, they should go all the way, so many of their models are more based for honky tonk styles. This model is like a dance wannabe. Lose outright to Roland. However, it ain't too $$ for a dance synth. Originally posted on FutureProducers.com Posted by: Unknown (January 1-, 2003)

This analog synth is arguably the best synth I've ever played in my life. More versatile than most synths of its ilk, it's got some of the richest tones that I've ever heard come out of an electronic instrument. It's an eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer with controllers for all effects, including pitch, modulation, sustain, vibrato, tremolo, and others. It originally didn't come with midi but some have been retrofitted to use MIDI. Since these are not made anymore, they're really expensive, and you're just as likely to find one with MIDI as without. The original synth was able to connect to other OB synths through the digital buss system that they developed. This technology also allows the synth to connect to drum machines and sequencers, though only with particular models which I have not come across. UTILIZATION The setup isn't too difficult, and the manual is clear enough on how to operate it. Since it's an older piece of gear, the technology isn't too complex, and most people should be able to figure it out. The editing and effects can take some time to be able to manipulate with ease, but with practice it becomes a more natural process. SOUNDS The sounds of the CS-15 are some of the most useful synth sounds I've ever used or seen used on recordings. They are known for replicating actual instrument sounds as much as creating their own warm, powerful, unique textures. They are particularly effective for adding huge low end to recordings, as well as providing other subtle textures. OVERALL OPINION I can honestly say it's the real deal. It's definitely way out of the price range of most people, but it's definitely up there with any Yamaha synthesizer in my opinion. I can't speak for all of them, but the few that I've heard are pretty comparable to this one. I've tried other synths but none compare in my opinion (except for the OB-4 and some of the other Yamaha's). I can't tell anybody to pay the ridiculous price that they are inevitably going to end up paying, but I will say that if you want one analog synth, save up and get this one. You'll be glad you did.

All the right features are there. I feel the sampling is a little extraneous. The keys are nice and bouncy although a little narrow. Plenty of presets and sound control. Having the plug in board option is nice too. Price paid $950/used circa 2001 UTILIZATION Ehhhh.... it's a tad confusing. The submenus can be a bit tedious at time searching for the right paramater. Most parameters have a knob on the front panel, thankfully, so you only rarely have to dive under the hood. Built like a brick shit house. It's pretty heavy and would probably break if you dropped it from a high distance but it can put up with a good beating. SOUNDS The sound quality is great. The presets seem mainly focused on the trance genre which is why I bought it.. Effects are useable but I'm suce a fan of outboard and plug in effects I usually keep the synth as dry as possible. OVERALL OPINION Bottom line: I love this synth for the trance/house/techno sounds I can get out of it. Piercing highs, warm pads, rumbling lows and everything in between. It's my main MIDI controller and I use with a wide variety of soft synths also. I've actually sold a few synths just to hang on to this one. I will probably buy some old school analog synths soon to round out my collection but the CS6x is the last VA synth I will buy for a long time. Originally posted on FutureProducers.com Posted by: Unknown ( 6-, 2003)