From orion.oac.uci.edu!network.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pitt.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!minerva!metlay Thu Jan 30 12:45:58 PST 1992 Article: 28734 of rec.music.synth Path: orion.oac.uci.edu!network.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pitt.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!minerva!metlay From: metlay@minerva.phyast.pitt.edu (metlay) Newsgroups: rec.music.synth Subject: Re: Comments on Yamaha CS-50 Summary: analog heaven Message-ID: <201590@unix.cis.pitt.edu> Date: 29 Jan 92 20:08:00 GMT References: Sender: news@unix.cis.pitt.edu Distribution: rec.music.synth Organization: Atomic City Lines: 27 In article georg@dali.nlp.physik.th-darmstadt.de (Georg Mueller) writes: >I found someone willing to sell me his CS-50 (sorry no CS-80, but cats, >look out!). >Any opinions on the beast? >How much is it worth? >Is it rare? The Yamaha CS series of analog synths ranged from the CS-5, a remarkably powerful little one-voice one-VCO synth somewhat like the Korg MS-10 or the Micromoog, up through the CS-15, CS-20, CS-30 (beloved instrument of Mark Shreeve, the UK's second greatest electronic musician ever), and up and up to the CS-80 and the later CS-70M, which was Yamaha's last analog monster. I may have missed or miswritten a couple of numbers, having only worked with a 5 before, but the basic trend, as it was with the CP electronic pianos and the SK organ/string machines, was that the higher the number, the greater the power. The CS-30 was a very, VERY capable instrument, and I would expect the CS-50 to be as good or better, with a quite respectable sound. How much does he want for it? BTW, it may be rare like Kawai SX240's are rare, but it's not really RARE like Minimoogs or TR808's are RARE . -- metlay | "Oh no! Oh bummer! Oh heavy heavy HEAVY!" metlay@minerva.phyast.pitt.edu | (n. planer) From orion.oac.uci.edu!usc!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!midas.ICD.Teradyne.COM!rogoff Fri Jan 31 17:13:35 PST 1992 Article: 28833 of rec.music.synth Path: orion.oac.uci.edu!usc!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!midas.ICD.Teradyne.COM!rogoff From: rogoff@midas.ICD.Teradyne.COM (David Rogoff) Newsgroups: rec.music.synth Subject: Re: Comments on Yamaha CS-50 Message-ID: <9201311705.AA12094@midas.teradyne.uucp> Date: 31 Jan 92 17:05:04 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Lines: 115 In article <201590@unix.cis.pitt.edu> you write: >The Yamaha CS series of analog synths ranged from the CS-5, a remarkably >powerful little one-voice one-VCO synth somewhat like the Korg MS-10 or >the Micromoog, up through the CS-15, CS-20, CS-30 (beloved instrument of >Mark Shreeve, the UK's second greatest electronic musician ever), and up >and up to the CS-80 and the later CS-70M, which was Yamaha's last analog >monster. I may have missed or miswritten a couple of numbers, having >only worked with a 5 before, but the basic trend, as it was with the CP >electronic pianos and the SK organ/string machines, was that the higher >the number, the greater the power. The CS-30 was a very, VERY capable >instrument, and I would expect the CS-50 to be as good or better, with >a quite respectable sound. How much does he want for it? >metlay | "Oh no! Oh bummer! Oh heavy heavy HEAVY!" >metlay@minerva.phyast.pitt.edu | (n. planer) Sorry, but you've got the chronology (and technology) wrong: Around 1975/6 the CS-50,60 & 80 came out. They all share common electronics. CS-50: 4 octave, velocity sensative keyboard, 4 note poly, 1 changable preset (front panel knobs). Seen lately for about $100 CS-60: 5 octave, velocity sensative keyboard, 8 note poly, 2 changable presets (1 front panel knobs + 1 mini knobs). Adds the wonderful pitch-bend ribbon!!! Originally $2500, got mine in '81 for $1000, Seen lately for $200 to $400 CS-80: 5 octave, velocity & POLYPHONIC PRESSURE keyboard, 8 note polyphonic, 2 sounds at once (basically 2 CS-60 from one keyboard- layered/not split), 6 changable presets (2 front panel knobs + 4 mini knobs). Comes with wheels that insert in back for rolling around. Originally $7000, got mine in '85 for $1400, Seen lately for $1000 to $1500 All of these are monsters (100-220 lbs). Around '77/78 the CS-5, 10, 15, 20M & 40M came out. These were all Mini-Moogish lead synths ranging from the CS-5 (2 octave, 1 note, no memory) to the CS-40M (2 note, RAM based programable presets). The CS-70M (M is for memory) came out in 80/81 to replace the CS-80. It has very little to do, in the way of sound generation and user interface, with the CS-80. It was basically Yamaha's Prophet 5. Pretty useless- haven't seen one since '82. Right around this time the GS-1 & GS-2 came out which lead to the CE-20, DX-1 (nice machine!), the DX-7 and therefore the end of useful synthesizers from Yamaha. If anyone wants more info just ask. David To: synth, metlay@minerva.phyast.pitt.edu Subject: Re: Comments on Yamaha CS-50 Newsgroups: rec.music.synth In-Reply-To: <201590@unix.cis.pitt.edu> References: Organization: Teradyne STD, CAE Cc: Bcc: In article <201590@unix.cis.pitt.edu> you write: >The Yamaha CS series of analog synths ranged from the CS-5, a remarkably >powerful little one-voice one-VCO synth somewhat like the Korg MS-10 or >the Micromoog, up through the CS-15, CS-20, CS-30 (beloved instrument of >Mark Shreeve, the UK's second greatest electronic musician ever), and up >and up to the CS-80 and the later CS-70M, which was Yamaha's last analog >monster. I may have missed or miswritten a couple of numbers, having >only worked with a 5 before, but the basic trend, as it was with the CP >electronic pianos and the SK organ/string machines, was that the higher >the number, the greater the power. The CS-30 was a very, VERY capable >instrument, and I would expect the CS-50 to be as good or better, with >a quite respectable sound. How much does he want for it? >metlay | "Oh no! Oh bummer! Oh heavy heavy HEAVY!" >metlay@minerva.phyast.pitt.edu | (n. planer) Sorry, but you've got the chronology (and technology) wrong: Around 1975/6 the CS-50,60 & 80 came out. They all share common electronics. CS-50: 4 octave, velocity sensative keyboard, 4 note poly, 1 changable preset (front panel knobs). Seen lately for about $100 CS-60: 5 octave, velocity sensative keyboard, 8 note poly, 2 changable presets (1 front panel knobs + 1 mini knobs). Adds the wonderful pitch-bend ribbon!!! Originally $2500, got mine in '81 for $1000, Seen lately for $200 to $400 CS-80: 5 octave, velocity & POLYPHONIC PRESSURE keyboard, 8 note polyphonic, 2 sounds at once (basically 2 CS-60 from one keyboard- layered/not split), 6 changable presets (2 front panel knobs + 4 mini knobs). Comes with wheels that insert in back for rolling around. Originally $7000, got mine in '85 for $1400, Seen lately for $1000 to $1500 All of these are monsters (100-220 lbs). Around '77/78 the CS-5, 10, 15, 20M & 40M came out. These were all Mini-Moogish lead synths ranging from the CS-5 (2 octave, 1 note, no memory) to the CS-40M (2 note, RAM based programable presets). The CS-70M (M is for memory) came out in 80/81 to replace the CS-80. It has very little to do, in the way of sound generation and user interface, with the CS-80. It was basically Yamaha's Prophet 5. Pretty useless- haven't seen one since '82. Right around this time the GS-1 & GS-2 came out which lead to the CE-20, DX-1 (nice machine!), the DX-7 and therefore the end of useful synthesizers from Yamaha. If anyone wants more info just ask. David From orion.oac.uci.edu!usc!wupost!uunet!mcsun!news.funet.fi!polaris!kontu.cc.utu.fi!janlappa Tue Feb 4 12:05:29 PST 1992 Article: 28951 of rec.music.synth Path: orion.oac.uci.edu!usc!wupost!uunet!mcsun!news.funet.fi!polaris!kontu.cc.utu.fi!janlappa From: janlappa@kontu.cc.utu.fi (janlappa) Newsgroups: rec.music.synth Subject: Yamaha CS40M problem Message-ID: <1992Feb3.160630.1@kontu.cc.utu.fi> Date: 3 Feb 92 16:06:30 GMT Sender: usenet@polaris.utu.fi (Usenet News) Organization: University of Turku, Finland Lines: 25 Nntp-Posting-Host: kontu.cc.utu.fi I have recently aquired a used Yamaha CS-40M. It's one of the few monosynths with memories (20 in all) and a versatile beast with rich analogue sounds. But there's one major problem: once I have stored the pathces into memory they can't be re-edited when recalled. The knobs work only in panel mode. Now I wonder if this is done on purpose or is this some malfunction or misuse by my side. I have no user's or service manual so I can't check this out. And if Yamaha haven't provided this synth with edit capability could it be modified to have it? My experiences of other CS-series synths are following: CS5/CS15 - Good basic monosynths with singing sound, CS5 perhaps too limited. CS50/60/80 - Great analogue polys, especially CS80. Plenty of knobs and thick sound. Heavy and generate a lot of heat so there are tuning stability problems and component aging when older. CS70M - Electronically quite different, more reliable. Good versatile polysynth although it has no useable link to the world outside: no MIDI and the sounds can be stored only in magnetic cards. No touch response. Janne Lappalainen Turku, Finland janlappa@kontu.utu.fi From orion.oac.uci.edu!usc!wupost!spool.mu.edu!uunet!paladin.american.edu!auvm!DCS.LEEDS.AC.UK!ROSS-C Wed Mar 4 00:11:57 PST 1992 Article: 30285 of rec.music.synth Path: orion.oac.uci.edu!usc!wupost!spool.mu.edu!uunet!paladin.american.edu!auvm!DCS.LEEDS.AC.UK!ROSS-C From: ross-c@DCS.LEEDS.AC.UK (The Brown Bottle) Newsgroups: rec.music.synth Subject: CS30 Architecture Message-ID: <6594.9202260937@orsun.dcs.leeds.ac.uk> Date: 26 Feb 92 09:37:44 GMT Article-I.D.: orsun.6594.9202260937 Sender: "Redistribution of rec.music.synth" Lines: 33 Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU Via: dcs.leeds.ac.uk (csvax1.ARPA); Wed, 26 Feb 92 09:41:33 GMT Comments: To: SYNTH-L@AUVM.AMERICAN.edu, pgr@ramandu.ext.vt.edu Patrick Writes: >Describe the CS30 architecture It is a monosynth with basically two independent VCO->VCF->VCA lines. But there are lots of opportunities for mixing between the lines. There is a lot of semi-patching ability using input switches. It has FM (no-envelope), ring modulation, noise input on one of the filters, and processing of external sounds from mic etc. The FM is a control on ocs 1, RM is a control on one of the VCA's. It has a sequencer, which is an 8-stage variable step-speed analogue, I would classify it more as a second, programmable-step LFO. It has three envelop generators (ADSR) with a lot of choice how you modulate what with which envelope generators. You have five virtual envelope generators, but two of these are inverted versions of the other ones. You can switch the input of the second filter to be the high-pass of the first filter, giving complex filtering abilities. I have had some marvelous sounds out of the FM, but the oscillators (on my one anyway) do not track evenly. So, my wonderful sound is out of tune within a few keys. I plan to have a sampler as my major purchase this year, so maybe I should have the CS30 sent out to me (it's in New Zealand), as I can sample the sound. A cheaper alternative would be a Korg MS20. (I've seen them going really cheap, e.g. 80 pounds, anyone know what these machines are like? Having a patch-cord machine would be dead sexy). What about a Roland SH-2? One of the local shops claim they're going to be getting one soon. Unfortunately the sound is IMHO a bit thin compared to Minimoogs, Monopolys etc. One of the VCA's has an additional input for the sine wave from VCO1, which can fatten the sound, but it still doesn't have "IT" (whatever "IT" is). Ross-c From news.service.uci.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!decwrl!netcomsv!netcomsv!boo!uttsbbs!john.belew Mon Feb 8 18:05:17 PST 1993 Article: 45595 of rec.music.synth Path: news.service.uci.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!decwrl!netcomsv!netcomsv!boo!uttsbbs!john.belew From: john.belew@uttsbbs.uucp (John Belew) Newsgroups: rec.music.synth Subject: Re: Yamaha Analog Synths Message-ID: <1978.68.uupcb@uttsbbs.uucp> Date: 6 Feb 93 14:34:00 GMT Distribution: world Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591 Reply-To: john.belew@uttsbbs.uucp (John Belew) Lines: 46 -- Sampled from the message Yamaha Analog Synths posted by Duke Togo... DT> before DX series took off in 1983..For example, I like to know about DT> Yamaha's CS series and GS series analog synthesizers..One of the DT> reason DT> why I am saying this is that I am pretty much interested in acquiring DT> one in the future..Now we all know that any Yamaha Analog is no match DT> for the original Prophet-5 or Roland Jupiter...But a little info and DT> maybe a history or 2 are appreciated....Oh one more thing..What is the Actually, the Yamaha CS series synths aren't that bad, especially consider- ing the price apposed to the "name brand". I currently own a CS-5 and a CS-20M, paying $80 and $150 (extremely cheap consider that a MiniMoog usually goes for $500-$600) for them, respectively. Though it lacks seperate VCF envelope setting, the CS-5 has an external source input, making it a pretty nifty addition for use in an effect loop. It's a bit thin sounding, but then again, it was one of the major instrument on Depeche Mode's "Speak and Spell". As far as the CS-20M goes, it's got probably the most extensice set of programming features I've seen on a pre-digital interface synth. It's 2 ocs plus noise, plus a 1hz ocs for fattening up the sound. Each of the two main osc's feature 7 different type of pitch mod with varible depth. Both the filter and VCA stages are controlled by sliders as opposed to the usually knobs, the filter stage also sports and inverse switch. The filter stage also sports five different type of modulation with varible depth. Both envelope are four stage. The best thing about the CS-20M are the eight battery backed patch memories. Variations in tone after saving to memory are limited to modulation (all stages, speed cannot be changed), filtering depth, and sustain. I currently use the CS-20M for live work, and for sampling ( patch the sound, then sample it in stereo with osc 1 on the left, and osc 2 on the right for some real big sounding analog samples). Anyways... T$T$ / KF ... What do you mean? 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