This video is an audio demo of a classic Yamaha CS-60 polyphonic analog synthesizer.
The CS-60 was introduced in 1977, priced at US $3999, or about $16,000 in today’s dollars. It offers 8-voice polyphony, great analog sound and immense hands-on control, but not the additional layers/oscillators and performance capabilities (polyphonic aftertouch) of the CS-80.
The Yamaha CS-60’s synthesis architecture is simple, but very well thought-out, allowing for a tremendous amount of performance expression and immediacy.
Video Notes:
00:00 Slow and deep detune
01:49 That’s more like it
05:15 Squarelling
07:36 Did you saw that? (terrible pun i know)
09:08 Rectangles with Sinusitis
10:21 Doctor Sine to save the day
11:30 noise-R-us
13:52 Don’t ignore me
15:01 Good job, you turned off all oscillators mate
15:17 Square waves in curved oceans
16:28 Under the hood (showing off the voice LED mod, thanks to Golt)
17:05 Tinsel fantasy
18:52 Sawlo
20:36 Silo – with slight oxidation
21:34 Sawdust with square hinges in a bed of sins
22:48 Opening that filter
23:27 Get ready for take off
24:44 Across the horizon
25:54 Pulse 1 (fiery chariots)
27:46 Filter ride
28:46 Put a ring on it
29:06 Pulse 2 (deep)
29:56 R U sure?
31:06 Dusk – Chapel – Dawn
33:47 A square beginning
36:53 Still not done
39:05 Final s(tr)aw, then we’re square
via Metralon
Except showing the specific features and sound of the CS60, one thing that this video makes clear is that there must be a law against the release of any synth without extensive aftertouch features. Aftertouch brings a synth to life, it makes it a playable musical instrument.
Yes! Unfortunately Yamaha didn’t think about that when they made the MODX line of synths.
What can you do with monophonic aftertouch that you can’t do better with a pedal?
Also, if you want a MODX with aftertouch, you can get the Montage, which is the same synth on steroids.
Except that the Montage costs a lot more. To answer your question, you can do one thing with aftertouch and a different with a pedal. Not so on the MODX.
Beautiful Sounding Synth! Nice Performance. Thanks for sharing.
What really amazes me about the Yamaha CS synthesizers is how simple their synthesis engine is, yet how amazingly expressive they always sound.
Great to see these old synths being restored
I can easily love this thing, having had time with it and a CS-80. Many synths have great voices, but these two have a feel that invites you to dig in. If you’ve ever played a CS-80, you know what the standard is about when people speak of polyphonic aftertouch. It was pianistic, yet when I went for the poly AT, I could hear each finger. That mechanism doesn’t come cheap or often. Maybe someone will eventually design a broader keyboard AT controller as a more traditional alternative to tools like the Linnstrument. Its a weird and very subjective line to walk. There are ‘normal’ keyboard skills and then there’s being more of an oscillator head. I keep holding on to the hope that someone will suddenly release the ROLI Seaboard version of “The Dark Side of the Moon” and it’ll WORK!