yamaha cs series

[martin200]

Hi, new to all this computer stuff, so please forgive me in all measures - A question; why is everyone raving about the yamaha CS15, when maybe why not get a cs5 and cs10 and link them thro the cv's? You would have the snappiness of the 10 and still two of vco, vcf, and vca etc. Or would it not work like that?

[intrancewetrust]

i think it would cost roughly the same either way? so some may say, may as well get the 15 and save some space, and maintenance? you might gain some advantages, but you lose some things too... i think like triangle wave, glide, and pitch bend depth...the brightness fader is quite cool on the 15... i guess it depends if you really need something that the other option cant deliver...

imo buy all three lol they are fine little boxes well worth the money. the 30 looks good too and the 50.. and...

[madtheory]

CS5 envelope is shared with VCF and VCA, and doesn't have the attack level control- which is essential for snappy sounds. I don't see people raving about these synths at all, although like everything else vintage they've gone up in value. They sound good and are among the more reliable synths ever made.

[CfNorENa]

A question; why is everyone raving about the yamaha CS15

I realize this opinion is likely to get me banned from VSE, but I, for one, do not rave about the CS-15. Perfectly workmanlike, looks the business, and is an ideal solution if you just want to get down to the business of making music (which is, after all, the point). But I found it the most boring, plain Jane, vanilla analog I've ever played. For me it was ZERO inspiration.

I know this puts me in the tiny majority on this board, but hey, we all got different ears and different needs, right?

[intrancewetrust]

i think thats a good point, its all subjective anyway. the sound is very pure, so it could be boring to some people. reminds me of a 'test tone' sometimes. and plain jane makes for a great first love...

[analoglsd]

A question; why is everyone raving about the yamaha CS15

I realize this opinion is likely to get me banned from VSE, but I, for one, do not rave about the CS-15. Perfectly workmanlike, looks the business, and is an ideal solution if you just want to get down to the business of making music (which is, after all, the point). But I found it the most boring, plain Jane, vanilla analog I've ever played. For me it was ZERO inspiration.

I know this puts me in the tiny majority on this board, but hey, we all got different ears and different needs, right?

After owning your old CS-15, you can add me to that minority as well.

[Solderman]

I don't adore my CS-15 or anything. It definitely has more "ooze" than "pow". Has its place and does what it does nicely. I didn't pay much for it either. If I want to cut through a mix with some power, I'll go for the SEM Pro. The upper harmonics on the CS-15 are not it's strong point, it's the sweet midrange. If I could, I'd replace them both with a Roland SH5, but that's not gonna happen now.

I've mentioned on other threads about doing the serial channel mod and generally feel it expanded the tonal versatility quite a bit. It takes some work to find the sweet spots, I'll grant you that. Goes from yawn to 'ohhhh' back to yawn very easily.

The fast LFO isn't as useful as I'd hoped. No LFO square-waveform either. Feedback loops from headphone out to VCF in produce some nice options, but the VCF key-tracking is stuck at 90% and modding it would take some engineering. Mine also has kinda noisy VCA's and faint ground-hum is audible at higher volume settings that a power-supply recap did not fix. Still would like to add some modular-like CV input options at some point. (or maybe just get a CS-30 when I have a studio that's three times bigger than the one being used at present.)

[Sir Ruff]

(or maybe just get a CS-30 when I have a studio that's three times bigger than the one being used at present.)

This is the solution to any CS-mono problem

[madtheory]

Yes, the CS-30 is something else.

[intrancewetrust]

the basic tone would be the same surely? just more modulation/shaping options?

[Sir Ruff]

the basic tone would be the same surely? just more modulation/shaping options?

Right. WAY more options: 3 envs, speed modulatable/envelope-triggering LFO, ring mod and cross-mod, ability to do CS-50/50/80 style filter routing.. and a sequencer.

[madtheory]

I wouldn't knock the "basic tone". The CS series does the sweetest PWM square ever IMO. Each to his own I guess. That said, one of the reasons I bought a Novation K Station is because it's very easy to get it to sound exactly like a CS 10. And I would venture to say- a CS80 too.

[martin200]

I ended up buying the cs15 anyhow. Tho on the morning of the day i bought it i saw a cs30 go unsold in japan for 8500yen (£670) AND seriously considered backing out of the cs15 deal and begging a few people for the extra pounds to buy the 30 instead.....!But didn't. Shipping and everything.
Am now trying to work out how the h**l to use this thing and thinking - a sequencer would be so useful......
But like i said, its all new to me! So, can anyone tell me, what is the best way to fire notes off on a Cs15? I'm guessing a yamaha or korg drum/rhythm machine or sequencer with cv out? Any suggestions please!

[intrancewetrust]

a kenton box would be the best i think, but they are $

[madtheory]

Pro Solo is not expensive when you consider its functionality. IIRC you will need Y cables for CV and gate because the CS-15 is really two synths in one box.