{"id":2500,"date":"2008-02-07T04:22:31","date_gmt":"2008-02-07T03:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sequencer.de\/blog\/?p=2500"},"modified":"2025-08-07T14:23:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T12:23:03","slug":"yamaha-cs-series-the-analogue-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sequencer.de\/blog\/yamaha-cs-series-the-analogue-series\/2500","title":{"rendered":"Yamaha CS series \/ the analogue series"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yamaha CS series \/ the analogue series (CS= control synthesizer)
\nYamaha analogue Trigger: gate pulse in\/out 10V negative to GROUND.
\nbtw: there is a „rumour“ around the CS series respond to korg logic Hz\/oct. – thats not true. it’s a special exponential characteristics.. you need a special interface to midify it!!.. so: simply play it! there are some special interfaces around .. eg EES in germany did one..
\nCV in\/out: 0,0835 V to 4 V (exponential)
\nTrigger in: Note off 15 V to 3 V \/ Note on 0 V to -10 V
\nTrigger out: Note off 3 V \/ Note on -7 V<\/p>\n

Yamaha Synth overview..<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
First Yamaha Synthesizer.. 1974, so it was after Roland (strnage, because Yamaha was the MUCH bigger company.. SY1 and SY2<\/a>after that the CS (control series) came up..the sy has hpf and lpf multimode filter but is in fact more a preset machine with a little control..<\/td>\n\"Yamaha<\/a>
\nclick to enlarge SY1 and SY2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yamaha
\nMonophonic Series:
\nCS5<\/a>,CS10<\/a>, CS15<\/a>, CS30<\/a> and CS30L<\/a> (CS30<\/a> without sequencer)
\nall very powerfull especially the CS30<\/a> and the smaller CS15<\/a>
\nYamaha CS15<\/a> – – click pic to enlarge!
\nquite strange surface on the CS30<\/a> (find waveform select in the filter section or select the filter type in the VCA section ;) ..) but the CS30<\/a> has at leas lots of features like crossmod,sync, 2 multimode filters (with resonance),analogue sequencer,fast lfos, etc. the CS15<\/a> follows the yamaha analogue synth philsophy: 2 „channels“ with extra outputs (same in the CS30<\/a> of course) where you can even use 2 separate VCO-VCF-VCA structures..
\nthe LFO is about 50Hz audio speed on both. please click the images of CS5<\/a> and CS30<\/a> for all parameters.
\nmore CS (control synthesizer) synthesizers are: CS40m,CS70, CS80 and the smaller CS60 and CS50
\nand polyphonic exept the cs40m.
\nCS5<\/a> finally is reduced to one of it all: 1 env,1 vco, 1 vcf ,lfo with s\/h.<\/td>\n		the CS10<\/a>
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\nclick image of CS-10<\/a> to enlarge..
\nand the smaller cs5
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\nclick image of CS-5<\/a> to enlarge..
\nthx for image cs5 by j\u00f6rg<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
the <\/a>CS15<\/a> has also quite a lot of features but „only“ 2 ENVs (pos\/neg at the same time accessible via a switch like the CS30<\/a> offers.. ) both have dual VCAs and 2 multimode VCF with resonance (independantly), but the CS-15<\/a> has no ring\/crossmod but 2 VCOs and the fast lfo..CS15<\/a> sounds wanted? still have some on DAT ;)..
\nwill follow sooner or later ..the CS10<\/a> has only 1 VCO,also 2 ENVs and noise gen (as the the CS15<\/a> and 30) and ONE multimode filter (still lpf,hpf,bpf), the<\/td>\n		\"Yamaha<\/a>
\n\"yamaha<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/a>YAMAHA CS30<\/a>, the flag ship had 3 ENVs (with pos and neg),1 LFO that has (as the cs40m) multiple waveforms for the same LFO!! so you can mod filter 1 with rectangular LFO and VCO by saw LFO waveform but same frequency!!
\nringmod, crossmod (=fm!) means you can mod VCO1 by VCO2 frequency!! (metallic spectra!), noise gen.
\nvery comfortable but most chaotic interface ever done on a synthesizer! why? ever selected filter types in the VCA section? this „feature“ is yamaha UI only ;) so if you come around the strange illogical surface this is a 2 VCF multimode filter (bpf 6dB\/oct.,lpf,hpf 12dB\/oct.), very fast and slow envs (time x 5 switch!).. so you have 2 ranges.. btw: the lfo can be quite fast.. the cs 30 also lets you choose the sequencer as a mod source for VCO1,2,both,filter1,filter2 – the sequencer can be clocked by the LFO or by an internal clock
\nhere’s a nice audio demo it’s the internal sequencer and no FX: cs30_demo.mp3
\n<\/a>deutsche info:
\nder YAMAHA CS30<\/a> ist ein analoger synthesizer mit 3 H\u00fcllkurven, einem LFO,der f\u00fcr jede modsektion eine eigene wellenform bekommt und dabei in den audiobereich reingeht (schnell!!) , die h\u00fcllkurven haben einen 5x mode, so k\u00f6nnen sie schnell sein oder 5x verlangsamt werden, das macht bei 2 multimodefiltern mit resonanz sicher auch sinn, denn die haben ja nicht nur LPF zu bieten. dazu gibt es einen 8step analogsequencer,der nat\u00fcrlich die VCOs und co steuern kann und die h\u00fcllkurven triggern (kann eingestellt werden, ob das stattfinden soll oder nicht pro ENV!! dazu gibt es Ringmodulation und FM\/Crossmodulation und beide VCOs gehen von 128″ bis hoch zu 2″ , also eine irre range!! es gibt 2 VCAs, und 2 getrennte outs f\u00fcr zwei signalwege, ext. input ist auch vorhanden. der klang ist sehr besonders, wer den cs80 kennt, hat eine grobe vorstellung, nur geht hier synthesetehcnisch weit mehr als beim CS80!)-\u00fcbrigens kann der LFO (speed) per H\u00fcllkurve moduliert werden!
\nauch negative modulation der h\u00fcllkurven ist m\u00f6glich bei quasi allen zielen!.<\/td>\n		Yamaha CS-30<\/a> – click pic to enlarge!
\n\"Yamaha<\/a>
\n\"Yamaha<\/a>
\n\"Yamaha<\/a>
\nclick pic to enlarge! CS30<\/a> OSCs and SEQUENCER in the right.. the ENVs are NOT EQUAL! – there is hardly no other synth from that time with 3 ENVs, SEQUENCER, RINGMOD, FM \/ XMOD and 2 VCFs with resonance (not self oscillating)
\nmore on the CS30<\/a>, here’s a more deep<\/span> info<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
the CS-30L<\/a> is the SAME as the CS30<\/a> but no Sequencer. It’s Layout changed a bit but the keyboard is the same 3 and 1\/2 octaves one..well, it is almost the same strange logic but it’s a huge source of very interesting sounds since it also has 2 resonant filters, 3 envs and 2 FMable OSCs with ringmod..it is designed like rolands sh3a – in a case, you see the little metal things? here you can attach the cover to take it on the road.. and I must say: yes, it is much easier to transport then..click to enlarge pics.. –>
\nHERE’s the CS30L<\/a> without Sequencer<\/td>\n		HERE’s the CS30L<\/a> without Sequencer
\n\"Yamaha<\/a>
\n\"Yamaha<\/a>
\n\"Yamaha<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/a>the „wooden“ series: cs50<\/a>, cs60<\/a>, cs70<\/span> , cs80<\/a> and cs40m simply have another design..
\nbut there are a lot of similarities.. but more „luxury“ and more heavy ;) means: the cs80 the „classic“ yamaha has some special features like ribbon controllers, polyphony (6 cs60\/8 voice\/cs80) and the cs80 even poly aftertouch keyboard!!the <\/a>CS15d<\/a> is btw. NOT a slightly different CS15<\/a>! it looks more like the cs40m –
\n2 ENV (adsr), filter, 100hz lfo (as most yamaha CS series had!!), also „2 channel“ system with some presets.. not bad, right? duophonic or 2 VCOs thats YOUR choice!<\/td>\n		\"yamaha<\/a>
\nclick image of CS15D<\/a> to enlarge..
\nthx for image cs15d by j\u00f6rg<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yamaha CS-80<\/a>
\nCS80<\/a> synthesizer with ribbon controller and polypressure!
\ninternal tech specs CS80special thing: memories! but the cs60 had simply another row of small sliders as a „memory“ to switch beween the 2 sets.. strange idea? right!! this is yamaha! remeber vangelis? thats the CS80<\/a>’s special smooth sound..
\nall of them had hpf and lpf mode! both with resonance
\n..but all of these were really innovative and had quite complex structure.. the best you can understand them as 2 signal path synthesizers in one.. see above (CS30<\/a>, CS15<\/a> features).. but polyphonic.. the smallest was the cs50<\/a>: simple structure, same for the cs60<\/a>.. but the cs80 remindet of the mono brothers CS15<\/a>-30 : 2 VCFs!..anyway it did not reach the complexiy of the CS30<\/a>, but it had „presets“ and „memorys“ (this was of value those times.. if you could carry the 100kg – cs80 ..) the cs70 finally had real memory!! but it was quite more an expanded cs40m ;)
\nbtw: there is also a software emulation of the CS80<\/a> by arturia..<\/td>\n		\"yamaha
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\n–> enlarge CS-80<\/a> click the image..\"yamaha<\/a>
\n–> enlarge CS80<\/a> click the image..
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\nthe „memory“ of the CS80<\/a>: another set of sliders! – click on each pic to enlarge!!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/a>Yamaha CS-40m<\/a>well known from Front242 and other early electronic groups… the CS-40m<\/a>
\nthe cs40m<\/a> synthesizer was monophonic and also „wooden side paneled“ (the cs40 was released 1\/2 years after the CS50-80\/CS15<\/a>-30 – in 1980) had the same „tricky“ LFO waveform per section as discribed for the CS30<\/a>: one lfo but another waveform for VCF ,VCO etc.. so this allowed „global tempo sync“, the filter was a multimode filter (12dB : lpf,hpf or 6dB bpf).. the most famous users were Front242 (geography album).
\nand: it had memory!! after saving a sound you could not change it (exept very small changes) but well.. even the eraly prophet 5 had this problem,too ;)
\nanyway it is a remarkable sound, because multimode filters very not that often found on other synthesizers of that time..
\nso yamaha maybe showed their typical characteristics: lots of possibilies, somewhat unusual surface, special sound..
\nthe CS-40m is quite close to a CS15<\/a> with memory but a nice ringmod added or a smaller CS30<\/a> with no sequencer less ENVs but memory… anyway it’s a strange way the sound is memorized: once you have saved a sound it will not be able to re-edit it again..<\/td>\n		\"yamaha
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\n–> enlarge CS40m<\/a>, click on it!!\"yamaha<\/a>
\n<– enlarge CS40m<\/a> , click on it!!
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\n<– enlarge CS-40m<\/a>, click on it!!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

the <\/a>CS70m<\/a> came in 1981, 6 voice poly synth with „lots“ of memories (15 per „channel“).
\nmultimode filter, can be seen as some sort of followup to the cs 80 or a poly-cs40m .. quite rare., strange megnetic cards for sounds were used to archive them, dual channel concept means: it is a 12voice synth -those channels can be layered and detuned slightly .. so finally you have 2 filters per voice and one vco.. but assume you will layer them and get a nice cs80 followup synth but no poly aftertouch or ribbon but it had a 600 note poly sequencer, 4 sequence<\/p>\n

but here: the CS01<\/a>, the smallest.. it’s lfo isn’t that fdast as the CS15<\/a>’s or CS30<\/a> etc..<\/p>\n

btw: the design of the CS series was quite close to the organ design of eg. the<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

CS70m<\/a>
\n\"yamaha<\/a>
\nclick to enlarge…
\npic thanks to plasmatron<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
the Cs1X<\/a> , Cs2X<\/a> and CS6X<\/a> are not analogue, they are rom based synthesizers, the cs6x has also plugins slots for yamahas „plug in hardware“ like VL, AN, Piano etc. and of course a DX<\/a> module that is exacly a DX7!!<\/td>\nthe Cs-1X<\/a> and Cs-2X<\/a> are almost yamahas answer to techno of the 90ies and offered ok-filters and standard rompler synths – same look like the an1x which is VA (virtual analogue)… but also offers a nice FM section but cannot be compared to yamahas 4,6 or 6OP FM synthesizers<\/a> ..<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

<\/a><\/a>YAMAHA CS01<\/a> analog synthesizer<\/p>\n

do NOT confuse the CS series with the „new“ CS1x and cs2x or cs6x, htese are romplers and have a compeletely different structure..<\/p>\n

english below!!<\/p>\n

ein kleiner, batteriebetriebener synthesizer! cs01<\/a>
\ner wurde von Thomas (Anyware-Instruments) modifiziert,das er nun selbstoszillation beherrscht, die sich genau so anh\u00f6rt ;) Bei mir liegt die Resonanz nun auf dem VCA Drehregler,der sonst f\u00fcr den Breathcontroller zust\u00e4ndig ist.. Da dieser aber nervig ist, ist mein cs01 nun acid-geeignet ;)<\/p>\n

der CS01<\/a> ist in 2 versionen erh\u00e4ltlich (oder besser war erh\u00e4ltlich): diese version ist die erste, mit einem schalter f\u00fcr resonanz oder keine resonanz, die mk2 version hat dort einen regler. meiner hat den VCA regler links (normal f\u00fcr den bc1 gedacht), sein filter klingt doch nett oder? (soundbeispiel oben). die modifikation ist ansich nur einen widerstand \u00e4ndern und ein poti etwas trimmen ;)
\nwas noch GINGE: Ja, der Simpel-Ringmod aus dem Moog Liberation<\/a>…Die beiden Rechteckwellen auf eine Exclusiv-OR-Gate geben (z.B. ein Gatter aus dem HEF4030 oder HEF4070…. Laust\u00e4rkepoti dran und das auf den Filtereingang legen und fertig…muss evtl. von den Pegeln her noch etwas angepasst werden. Aber der CS hat nur einen Osc, somit muss ein einfacher rechteck-OSC geschaffen werden.. nett w\u00e4re auch filterausgang als osc2, nur ginge das nicht mit dieser schaltung,denn diese funktioniert nur mit rechteck.<\/p>\n

some ideas for modding: lfo speedup (possible)<\/p>\n

gate on the reso switch (not the standard ENV).. so you can select like on the sh101<\/p>\n

invert the env<\/p>\n

add distortion and use the vca level slider, because it does not have sooo much effect ,so we could sacrifice it for another nice functionality..<\/p>\n

and there are still the breathcontrol controls, imo they are cool 2 more controllers.. one used for reso already, but vca could do another thing ;)<\/p>\n

imo the cs01 could like some „dirt“ generators or suboscs, or subdivision of the speedup LFO?<\/p>\n

intense the mod amount of the lfo .. imo it is not that much even with modwheel at max!<\/p>\n

and: maybe change the bender bending down instead?.. nicer for some basses..<\/p>\n

maybe something for „crackling“ sounds? PWM subdivision or mod of any kind.. maybe as a nice audio osc..<\/p>\n

aaahh, moment: the cs01 has a custom chip, so pwm is not availble for mod, but maybe you can re-use the highspeed lfo as a mixable OSC? nice for clicks n cuts kind of sounds?..<\/p>\n

this CS01 is a modified! the resonance is now on VCA bias (left), that normally sets the VCA amount of the breath controller and: able to self-oscillate!! but: I do not really like breath control.. so Thomas of Anyware-Instruments helped me to do this modification ;) it’s just exchanging a resitor and adjusting one trimmer\/poti<\/p>\n

mine is the mk1 version (has a switch for resonance), but mine has a knob for resonance to self oscillate.. I do not like breath controllers much, so this is a much better version for me ;)<\/td>\n

riddle\/r\u00e4tsel solution – it is.. \/ es ist..
\n\"yamaha
\nYAMAHA CS01<\/a>!!
\nmp3: LISTEN \/ H\u00d6REN!!
\n<\/a>\"yamaha
\n\"yamaha
\n\"yamaha
\nsome info on the cs01 here soon! \/ bald mehr.. some short info\/kurz info:HERE: CS-01<\/a>planned mods:<\/p>\n
Yamaha <\/a>yc450 organ:
\nnice words used on the yc 450 slider knobs: squawk, astro, birds..!:
\nsee those mini sliders? thats another sound set , a clone of those drawbars en miniature.. : a bit like the cs80 „memory panel concept“..<\/td>\n		\"yamaha
\n\"yamaha
\n\"yamaha<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yamaha<\/td>\n<\/font><\/a>Yamaha Synth overview..<\/strong><\/font><\/a><\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n