In the latest Telekom Electronic Beats video, synthesist Mathew Jonson demonstrates a classic Yamaha CS-60.
The CS-60 was released in 1977, before the emergence of MIDI and other modern synth technologies. But the synth’s hands-on interface, sound and playability make it as desirable as ever.
It would be better to hear this without it being drenched in reverb.
Are you running it through some reverb?
I always wanted one of these………..they always come up trumps in the demos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtxWlTIWRHo
https://www.lronhubbard.org/books/ron-series/music-maker/details.html
I’ll write it before someone else does:
Uli, we need a clone.
Bemaha CS-60?
A post-filter sinewave oscillator… The “glissando” mode… These -classic- synths really had some awesome and unique features and design ideas that are sadly not often found in modern synths, however more complex these can be. There’s still a lot to be learned from the oldies!
got to play around with one of these in 1984 and fell in love, should have bought it then but whatever they were going for at the time was way more than I had and based on what they are going for on eBay, plus the cost of regular tech support and the inevitable hernia operations from moving it around, I still can’t afford it.
I was hoping that Yamaha would come up with a modern reissue, either VA, analog or hybrid but that doesn’t seem at all likely.
This demo should have been done without drenching it in reverb.
With a vintage analog, effects are an integral part of your sound and performance style, just as effects are integral to a guitarist’s sound and performance style.
CS synths will always be used with effects, so I’m fine with real-world demos.
Also – anybody dropping 5K on a vintage analog knows that they’re going to run it through effects to get the sound they want.
I’m not sure why anyone would want to sit through performance demos that are detached from reality. The only reason I can think of is if you can’t imagine how you might use an instrument when you’re watching someone else play.
If you listened to violin or a flute in an anechoic chamber (no reverb) it would sound dreadful… it’s an unnatural environment… a HUGE part of any natural instrument is the sound of the room.
If you listened to an electric guitar, the Amp, Cab and FX are just as integral part of the sound.
Listening to these kind of synth sounds without FX is equally as unnatural and so in my opinion you should demo them as they would be used in the real world.
My CS is permanently plugged directly through the Strymon series and they have just become part of the sound of that synth.
But believe me unlike MANY synths (are you listening D50 fans?) it doesn’t NEED the FX to hide a crap or even half decent sound… the higher numbered CS’s sound incredible….
Many of the patches on my D05 sound like they’re already drowned in reverb right from the box.
As I said, turn off the FX on a D50/D05 and all of a sudden that great sounding synth sounds incredibly unimpressive…. It’s no different to having a great rich pad sound on a Juno and then switching the chorus off…..you’re left with a sense of “oh….. is that IT?”
All the tricks have been used by Vangelis… hence the reverb ?
Yeah… there was a lot of reverb on it but it didn’t bug me. Maybe it’s a Blade Runner thing, but having a ton of reverb on a CS synth just seems like the right thing to do. I think this guy is great and the CS-60 is a comparatively affordable alternative to a CS-80 imo. His other videos seem very cool too.
Still aint got nothin on the 80
No it’s NOT an 80 but it gives you a good SENSE of an 80, just without a lot of the richness and expressivity… but I think it’s still a great synth in it’s own right.
Yes, still better than most.
Ty, if you were to multitrack a 60, being that it’s basically half an 80 (minus poly AT and velocity), how close do you think you could get to that vibe?
Why do guys in these types of videos always want to show themselves and keep on talking? When you have such a nice instrument to play on? Personally I’m not very interested in e-books.
Hooked off at about 2 mins after zapping some video / audio fragments until the end.
Hey Folks,
Just remember.. this is FREE content. There aren’t that many CS-60 videos out there. This guy makes a really good video because he loves the synth and wants to contribute to the community. It’s easy for us to bitch and moan because we’re spoiled but man… this is a dope synth and a dope video that he created at his own expense. Nothing will ever be perfect for any of us because music is so subjective to begin with but let’s not lose perspective.
I enjoyed it a lot. Not everyone needs to shut up and play. Bob Ross didn’t need to shut up and paint. This type of video, if done right by a knowledgeable person, can be entrancing and informative.
I don’t really follow Mr. Jonson’s music, but I watched this and then his SH-101 tutorial. Neither wasted time on a particular feature and so they covered a lot of ground. I think the format, with this presenter, works well! 🙂