The Yamaha CS-15 Analogue Synthesizer from 1979 - A Forgotten Animal
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- čas přidán 20. 07. 2024
- 0:00 - Intro Sound (detuned phat saws)
0:28 - Welcome to the CS Series
1:44 - Sound 1: Saw Sequence
2:03 - Sound 1: Explanation
3:01 - Sound 2: Overrated Distortion
3:31 - Sound 2: Explanation
4:02 - Sound 3: What Drum Machine?
4:33 - Sound 3: Explanation
5:38 - Sound 4: Oh Wow!
5:55 - Sound 5: Oh Wow Too!
6:17 - Sound 4 & 5 Explanation
6:35 - Sound 6: Ceetar
6:50 - Sound 6: Explanation
8:12 - Sound 7: Whistle
8:27 - Sound 7: Explanation
9:05 - Summary
9:45 - Performance
Whilst I just scratched the surface, check out Marc Doty's no-stone-left-unturned run through of this fun synth for more: • The Yamaha CS-15
//
I've had a dozen requests to cover this synth and I said I'd do it if I was able to get hold of one and I'm glad to say that that happened.
The CS-15 is a two-oscillator analogue monosynth from 1979 that has an awful lot more to it than meets the eye. The signal and control routing is so much more flexible than many other comparable synths from this era that command legendary status and so I'm kind of baffled as to why the CS-15 doesn't seem to be held in the same high regard.
What's good about it?
Two great sounding oscillators with triangle, sawtooth and pulse and a crazy wide range from clicks to stuff only dogs can hear.
The LFO runs up into the audio range and so the pulse width and oscillator frequency can be modulated at audio rate for cool cross mod and pulse-width distortion FX. This can be done discretely to either oscillator to taste.
The filters - There's two and they're multimode / state variable! Contouring can come from either of the two envelopes and can be positive or negative and you can do audio-rate modulation of the filter because of that LFO mentioned earlier.
The VCAs - There's two (notice a pattern here) and they can have their own envelope contouring and/or can be modulated by the LFO (again right into the audio range).
Envelopes - There's (drum roll) two! They're super snappy or long and loose as there's a switch to extend the time period from x1 to x5. They can be triggered by an external signal as well as the keyboard.
Signal Routing - There's two mixers. VCO 1, noise or an external signal can be mixed to run run through VCF 1. VCO 1 and VCO 2 can be mixed to run through VCF 2.
Rear Control - CV and trigger? Yep, there's two of each. You can control the oscillators and envelopes discretely (I don't know of many comparable synths from this era that allow for that that aren't modular).
Anything else? Yes; portamento, glide (positive and negative with time control and discrete for each oscillator), pitch bend and dual or single filter control in the performance section.
So what's wrong with it?
LFO can't be retriggered with note on or clocked, there's no oscillator sync, the filters sound great but they're 2-pole and don't self-oscillate, there's no global LFO control in the performance section and despite being able to make two entirely different sounds at once, there's only a mono output.
But all in all, it's a very versatile and powerful synth considering its era and the prices have tended to remain less than even the Roland SH-101 which is very limited by comparison. It's certainly much cheaper than an original Pro~One, MS-20 or Odyssey that are held in high regard (I have all of those and love them too btw).
Anyway, I hope this answers the question for those who asked it.
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/ alexballmusic - Hudba
0:00 - Intro (detuned sawtooths)
0:28 - Welcome to the CS Series
1:44 - Sound 1: Saw Sequence
2:03 - Sound 1: Explanation
3:01 - Sound 2: Overrated Distortion
3:31 - Sound 2: Explanation
4:01 - Sound 3: What Drum Machine?
4:33 - Sound 3: Explanation
5:38 - Sound 4: Oh Wow!
5:55 - Sound 5: Oh Wow Too!
6:16 - Sound 4 & 5: Explanation
6:35 - Sound 6: Ceetar
6:50 - Sound 6: Explanation
8:12 - Sound 7: Whistle
8:28 - Sound 7: Explanation
9:04 - Summary
9:46 - Performance
Absolutely stellar video from you as always. I haven't watched one single video from you ever, that hasn't been completely original, amazingly creative, enjoyable and well paced, and simply put; spot-on.
Cheers 👍
-H.B.
hey, this is a weird request but can you never make a video on this thing called the micro genie? Thank you
@synthmalicious Is that a Lowrey instrument?
Hi Alex where did you find this synth
@@willfomes406 It's borrowed. There's people behind the scenes who help tremendously with this channel.
Yeah the synth is cool, but have you ever watched a video by Alex Ball!? That guy is amazing!
Prefer Geert Van Schlänger myself.
I second that. Alex seems to compose on-the-fly. Lots of people can do that, but very few with such high quality.
I heard he's a bit of a wanker, ;O)
Why, yesh! I have eard im. Sho what?
Alex who? I suggest Ken Danger instead - heavy metal synthesist whose only problem is he always drinks a wrong drink.
got mine early 2018, always wanted one! the greatest mono synth in the world (for me)
Funky jam at the end!
I like two schignals at the schame time myschelf, if you know what I'm schaying.
Geert Van Schlänger I like my tracks to be schlonger than this
Double Dutch eh?
Never cross the schtreams though Geert.
@@dionysiaex5538 Maybe you're into that. I'm not judging.
HE SCHPEAKS
Being a software engineer as well as a (very) amateur composer, I have always supported digital instruments, recording, and sampling since they became available. Appeals to the tech nerd in me, I suppose. But there is something just ALIVE sounding about good old-fashioned analog. I mean, the world (and music itself) is analog, isn't it? Amazing little synth. Thanks, Alex!
Yep, it's an instrument in a very real sense. Very much alive.
The electricity is Surging through the electrical components themselves, and Moving. Analog instruments are literally Breathing, and I think that's what makes them sound so Alive. In the software world they talk about Machine Learning and AI... but I think the closest thing a machine can do to emulate Life is to Breathe and provoke/evoke an Emotional response/interactivity where- in a sense- the human player and the instrument become "one" in the symbiosis. I believe this is the true appeal of Analog Synthesizers.
I agree with the other comments. i have also noticed that digital hardware effects
and VST effects sound better on Analogue synth as well they seem to compliment
each other especially reverbs and choruses and delays etc etc.
I never watch demonstration videos of synths I've demonstrated because I am typically so frustrated by them. But yours is, of course, and as per usual, just absolutely wonderful. In such a short span of time, you have really hit on the major points of this incredible synth.
But I'd expect nothing else. Perfect!
Having two resonant band pass filters is really one of the most enormously wonderful things about this synth, and because so few people really engage in actual synthesis, the ability to employ formant synthesis to create vocal sounds is often missed. So many say "oh, this is some old monophonic analog synth... they're so limited." And yet, you can emulate the human voice with this one! I celebrated this aspect in a demonstration I did for a synthesis series I did for the Bob Moog Foundation that still, somehow, didn't make people realize that this synth makes an SH-101 or a Rogue, or so many others look like boring buzzers in comparison.
Yes, I'll gladly defend that assertion.
So, everyone... if you're interested in synthesis instead of having simple synthesizers that have status reputations, buy this... they're cheap, they're amazing, and they'll not only make you sound wonderful, but teach you how to engage in complex synthesis!
And you might know someone who has done a series of in-depth explorations of this particular super-model.....
Thanks Marc, I'm glad it came across OK!
It took you a full series of videos to _really_ explain what this synth is capable of and do it justice and so I was trying to find a way to draw people's attention to the fact that this synth is _so_ flexible but whilst making only half a dozen sounds for a 10 minute video.
I almost felt rude to the CS-15 by stopping there. It's like it was saying "play with me more, you'll be surprised".
I can't think of many synths in this category with two state variable filters with discrete modulation. That alone opens up a whole range of sounds, exactly as you say. Watching your BMF formant demo I think I basically did exactly the same thing you did, ha. I'll add some links and things in the video description because I feel a little dirty.
I think it's just what happens with the great and unique functionality of this synth!
Also, I think this was the first synth I ever played where you could adjust pulse width modulation independently on oscillators.
If you want to find a synth demo channel that's actually interesting, I'd recommend checking out Jexus.
@@quantum.9883 Thanks but no thanks!
It's just got that gritty post-punk quality that synths 10 years later (or before) just didn't have. I love it. I LOVE it!!
OMG spectacular sound. What a beast. It’s as old as me but sounds much better. Thanks for sharing
...and the Oscar for perfectly demonstrating one of the greatest forgotten synths ever goes to.... ;-) Awesome video! You make the best ones!
😉
On the surface this looks like Just Another Synth From The Analog Era™, but hot damn. This seems to be closer to modular of the time with the way the oscillators, filters and amplifiers are set up. You even get CV inputs! What a beast of a synth this is inside, when it looks a bit unassuming on the outside. That sitar sound too, damn.
Cheers for the great content, keep it up!
Exactly that. Like a not-modular, modular synth.
The CS30 is even better, stacked with goodies and those super-smooth filters (not self-oscillating by the way). You can be processing drums and have them triggering basslines and adding other weird shizz at the same time
Jaw-dropping... What a synth!😍
Excellent video, as always. Thank you 😊
I sold mine a couple of years ago. Regret kicked in instantly. I bought another a few weeks ago. I will never make the same mistake again.
Great demo , thanks for taking the time to upload.
We’ve all done it. Huge regret in hindsight. Sold my TR-909 & TR-808 about 1991 after I sampled them into my Roland Sampler and just used the samples which were great btw. Just found them too big at the time. Also have sold two Roland SH-2s, Oscar, Korg MonoPoly and a Jupiter 4. Doh! Good job I held onto 303, CR-78, 707, CR-8000, JP6 and Pro One. Thing is at the time they weren’t cherished or valuable.
So many cool synths I don’t know, thanks a lot for bringing them up! Great demo and explanations 👍🏼
You see now, I never forget about the CS series.
I'm blown away! This synth looks way too unassuming, given its abilities. Excellent demo, thank you.
A great demo thanks ! You always succeed in making each synth shinning, with this special and absolutely delicious 70's touch. I used a CS-15 when it was released on the market but I had forgot about the big bass sounds it was able to produce. A great synth underrated. Thanks again !
Now I really want to see you playing the CS-30🙏👍
Great demonstration Alex. The CS-15 is a beast of a mono synth. It's on my wanted list. Thanks for going over it's capabilities
Amazing video as always, and a gorgeous piece of music at the end ! X🤘🏻X
Just wanted to let you know - I found this a really great intro to the sounds this synth can make. I am super excited as I ordered one yesterday off Reverb so have been scouring CZcams for inspiration. I can't wait to pair it with some of my more modern analogues. I really like the Ceetar sound you made and the tune you did at the end is very inspiring.
Entertaining and informative as ever Alex, thank you.
Wow. Your final composition from 10:00 on sounds absolutely fabulous! Headphones are mandatory!
I just love the Yamaha CS synths! Thanx for making another great synth video Alex!
Thanks Michael. Yes, the CS synths are a really cool range.
This synth sounds amazing. Great flexibility and a sound designer’s dream!
Always loved the mono CS's! Indeed very underrated.
Wondeful demo as always :).
Cheers Xavier.
Possibly my favourite mono-synth. sounds amazing and the routing is excellent.
Great demo Alex, made me fire up the CS15 and have a play!
Amazing show again Alex, thank you! ;-)
Loved the C5, might have to grab this next!
Thanks again Alex
A friend om mine has one of those elusive CS30’s back in the day. Man that thing was a beast. Would love to see you do your thing with one of those some time.
Anyways, as always, premium content right here. Sweet tune at the end. Keep it up my man 👌🤘
another great video Alex, thank you
Wicked stuff! Great sounds from this little beauty. I had no idea it was so flexible and so unique. Thanks for the education!
Yes, somewhat modular signal path, but hard wired with switching.
Very cool.
I have one, but I've not been using it much for some time. This video perhaps has given me some renewed appreciation for it. It certainly has a wonderful clear sound, and it fits into mixes very comfortably, without taking over. Time to turn it on again...
Loved the presentation.
Great video - I like your sounds a lot!
That outro jam is.. too good man. Really, a welcome surprise.
Brilliant as ever
Actual synth used in Aphex twin's Selected Ambient Works 2 🤯
That’s awesome and inspiring! Love that sound! I’ve got a few synths from the 70s, the Yamaha SY-2, Jen SX1000 and Korg MS10. Love all three and am considering adding one from the CS series! 😊🎶🎉
Man, was expecting it to get so funky at the end. Nice!
Such an awesome synth!
Really interesting synth thank you so much for sharing :D !!
Great demo Alex!! Yamaha's synths have always had their own sound character. Not just the DX series. You got some pretty cools sounds out of that thing and put together a cools 70s sounding tune with it!! Fantastic!! The late Billy Preston would have liked it too!
A happy CS-15, I can assure. Nice job!
Great video of a great synth. Thanks!
Well done! More sound design demos on this would be awesome.
Your sound is soo goood. What a great track at the end. Me and my neighbors like it a lot. Best wishes.
Thanks Peter 🙂
Ahh yes another underrated synth, made easy for a noob like me by this video.
Another video that's on the ball, Mr. Ball!
Yeah, very underrated. Glad it made sense from a viewer perspective. 🙂
OMG i like the sound of this synth !
Me too.
Awesome! I just bought a CS-10 a couple months ago. It’s a bit more basic than this but still has that classic Yamaha CS filter, envelopes so snappy they included 5x modes to slow them down to normal range, LFO that extends into audio rates, and springy keys that are really fun to play. Found the old guy at a second hand store for a really good price and thought I can always flip it if I don’t get on with it, but it turns out I like it a lot, and it’s staying.
Incredible what was going on with the drums. Nice performance at the end. Subd.
The end song is very cool! Thank you. :)
Great demo Alex - I am fortunate to own one and love playing it. The CS-15 is criminally underrated and overlooked in favour of more famous American mono's. The tricks up this synth's sleeve are its modular-like versatility, control and the dual channel architecture that you demonstrated so well. It can be played as a pair of CS-5s layered, or as a 2 osc 2 filter beast or anything in between. The CS-15 can be played truly duophonically using a 2 channel MIDI2CV converter or a sequencer like a Korg's little SQ1. It has individual modulation depth controls like an ARP Odyssey, missing only envelope modulation of the pitch and PWM. The Glide can be used as an embryonic envelope to slur the pitch. The Dual Channel feature is something the Minimoog, Odyssey and Pro-One cannot do - layer a flute with a trumpet each with their own articulation. I've even had the SQ1 sequencer play the upper channel while playing the lower channel via the keyboard. Guitars/Voice can be processed through the external input. Loved hearing someone else get some great sounds. Yes you can put this through a Strymon Blue Sky and do Bladerunner on it! Awesome synth. I was heart broken when my white panel Odyssey died before Analogue restoration became fashionable again, but the CS-15 more than fills that gap. Keep 'em coming!
Fab as always
This is great. After seeing Bitchin Bajas use this synth and watching Marc Doty's videos a few weeks ago I found one on Ebay with case for a reasonable price. It sounds so good. It has a very clear tone which can sound modern while never sounding harsh. I really don't know why this synth is such a sleeper compared to the other mono's of the era. Thank you for all the patch ideas, I'm going to give them try.
Not forgotten at all - I was playing mine a few minutes ago :))) Great synth.
🤝
Cool sounding synth. I like the track at the end as well.
Thanks Jon.
All those black panel synths are so pretty in such a functional utilitarian design style. There's something so interacting with early science fiction film machinery about them. This visual embodiment of applied mathematics.
I'm legit in love with this synthesizer. Wish the SKs had some of that.
You still have amazing ideas when using yours synths. You know how to make them so expressive, so warm, so alive. Bravo, really good job with this baby CS, which is a boss finally!
Thanks. So they do sound warm and alive by themselves to be honest, but it's nice to take the steering wheel.
The CS-15 is very underrated I think.
Everytime I watch a new Alex Ball video, I get inspired enough to work on a new track.
Please don't stop uploading, my creativity will run out :(
That's a really great thing to hear, thank you!
Great Video and an Awesome Break Down 10:46 😎😎
1:44 is so LCD Soundsystem-esque omg, love the sound of this machine overall
I've always wondered about exactly this synth! Brilliant demo, as usual. This synth sounds really really good! Thanks for this enthusiastic presentation! I could feel the excitement in your voice when you said "I've got hold of one" 😋😆
P.S. The knobs and sliding switches look strangely similar in shape and design to the ones on the Korg Mono/Poly...
Yeah, I borrowed one a year ago briefly but not for a stand alone demo. Glad to have one in for a proper video.
Makes sense that it has the same switches as the Mono/Poly because they were only two years apart and they probably used the same suppliers.
A CS-15 + Roland RS.505 above a Fender Rhodes mk1 88 with a Lexicon Prime Time 93 and Dynacord VRS-23 (also on top of the Rhodes) is the core of my keyboard rig.
The CS-15 is so good. I'll buy a second and mod/automate/CV-everything on it soon.
I bought one of these and a moog source for 60 quid the pair around 1987. Cracking synth.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very cool Sounds!!!!!
Yeah, man. Great synth.
I have a CS-5 and I love it!
So funky, i love that :)
gosh, this sounds awesome
Cool isn't it!
Awesome demo!
Thank you Marc.
As I wrote below your demo of the 30, Alex, I almost got hold of one of these in the early 2000s. I would’ve grabbed at it, only I wasn’t attracted to some of the roadblocks thrown up by those who owned it.
Great outro!
Thanks!
Two signal paths in one synth are pretty cool.
Oh my Darwin! it really roars!!! I have the Yamaha CS15D but I haven't play it for years as I have been living in Japan for 16 years and my synth is back at my parents house in Mexico... I miss my Yamaha mono synth!!! You made it sound great! Great song!!!
Damn that track at the end is so good, I've come back to listen to it many times..
Cheers!
I bought a second-hand CS-5 back in 1988. And still have it. It sounds not bad for its size...
One thing demonstrated well is how the CS-15 is a really fun performance synth. It has it's own way and it works well. It's kinda like performing with a Juno 106 and it's modulation controller.
Very nice sound. Like the CS series.
Yeah, very cool synths.
I had one and loved it, chopped it in for a Juno 60 back in the eighties. Would love one again, but not at these current prices.
Cheers Alex, I had assumptions about the smaller CS synths, consider them reset. Chunky tune to finish, lovely, lovely stuff. :)
My work here is done.
Really love the CS series. Those synths just sit in a mix beautifully and not hideously priced (thinking 5, 15, 30 not the CS80 of course) and as you say potentially a bit forgotten.
Yeah, dying to try the 30 and 30L in particular having played this. A friend has one funnily enough, so might happen some time. As you say, these lower CS monos are somewhat forgotten, especially given how they stack up against some vintage synths that people fight over.
Slicky and lushy performance !
Great animal !
Great animal indeed!
Always wanted one of these :)
Think this one is for sale...
CS-15s are pretty easy to find and usually not that pricey (relative to the rest of the vintage market madness).
@sneakydisco You got an amazing deal!
@sneakydisco Funny. To me a synth with built-in speakers screams “crappy home keyboard” and I almost certainly don’t want it (ARP 2600 notwithstanding).
I had one years ago! Nice vid!
Thanks Christian. I've seen your CS-5 and 10 demos (great as usual) but don't think I've seen you demo the 15? Is it long gone?
@@AlexBallMusic yes, I sold mine 2006 I think... It bugged me that I couldn't get both oscillators through both filters like on the Korg MS-20... but apart from that it was a nice synth with a superb basic sound
The first few patches gave me so many FM vibes but it’s not even an FM synth. You can totally see why they went that direction in the not so distant future
Great chaotic feel to the demo track at the end Alex! I have no personal experience with the 15 myself, only the 15D, but I really like the kind of dirty texture, or grit, that seems to penetrate every sound it makes. Seems like a lot of fun to use as a add-on (at least in my world of production) synth here and there to offset more polished sounds. Cheers!
Thanks Espen. Yes, it's a pretty flexible synth and translates to modern styles well, particularly if you want a bit of nastiness. After this video I still had it in the studio for a little while and it was interesting to compare to some original ARPs and the SE MidiMini clone I recently borrowed because those sound a lot "better", but the CS-15 has its own charms I think and it can do things those synths can't. It's still relatively cheap too.
@@AlexBallMusic Yes, they WERE Alex, prior to 21/2/20.... thanks!
I have a CS15. I find the exact opposite. I don't find it 'dirty' at all. It's a very clear sound, and the filter is smooth and tight rather than aggressive. It doesn't generate a load of nasty frequencies. It's clear and a touch understated. This makes it distinctive and depending what you want, it can be a real strength. It slots into a track far more easily. I have a Moog Subsequent 37 which in comparison to the CS15 sounds kind of overcooked.
I have one. Would never part with it. It pairs very nicely with my Odysey. You can have the top row playing a sequence AND external input and still play the keyboard independently for the bottom row. My favorite feature though is the Brilliance slider. It can be like a crossfader between the two oscs and it can be amazing for "morphing" of tones.
Yes, that's one thing I thought about but didn't cover - a sequence and another line at the same time. I did the dual drum thing instead.
Damn this is like an SH-09 with more functionality, This thing also happens to remind me of the Polivoks although given the CS-15 has two signal paths it's odd to see it isn't duophonic like the Polivoks.
Would _love_ to try a Polivoks. That synth really fascinate me.
It is duophonic but only if via the cv/gate...you can sequence one path and play the other
Roland SH-09 , SH-2 and the 1978 SH-1 have a better bottom bass end than the CS-5, 10 & CS-15 range. CS-15 can do bass but can create great sounds in the mid to high register and is very, very good at lead lines that really cut through. Very different sound compared to SHs, Pro Ones and Moogs. More Bandpassy filtery than Low Pass filtery. Basically I’m saying the low pass filter on this is pretty weak but the Band Pass and High Pass filters are good on this. One thing is that the build quality is bloody strong as is the keyboard quality. Sturdy buggers these. Even the single VCO CS5 was very good at lead lines that really would cut through when I used to gig it in the early 80s.
Just being able to trigger each VCO independently should be enough to secure its heavyweight status and there's a hell of a lot more to commend it as well! I had absolutely no idea this was even possible - it's the first time I've looked at my MS-20 and thought "why can't you do that?" (although I did immediately feel a little guilty for throwing shade at it)
amazing.instrument..gr8 jam
The “What Drum Machine?” sound is so great. Reminds me of the early Human League “drums,” although they most likely did that with their Roland System 100.
sounds very similar to being boiled
Vertical crazy synth kkkkk awesome
Ops very
Love those distorted grungy sounds!
Yeah, grrrr!
@@AlexBallMusic TRLOL. You're a character.
That octave-unison whistle is really Tomita-esque! I like it.
Yes, the architecture allows for sounds like that. Impossible on a lot of other monos from that era.
I like this.
The sound of Alphawezen - A Yamaha CS mono is their main ax (songs like Electricity Drive, Wald 2, Frost)..
This is the only vintage synth I regretted selling...
Cool as hell
Yeah, isn't it just!