Yamaha CS-80 | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Yamaha |
Dates | 1977 - 1980 |
Price |
|
Technical specifications | |
Polyphony | 8 voices, dual layers |
Timbrality | Multitimbral |
Oscillator | 2 per voice |
LFO | 1 multi-waveform |
Synthesis type | Analog subtractive |
Filter | 2 High-pass 2 Low-pass |
Attenuator | ADSR |
Aftertouch expression | Yes, polyphonic |
Velocity expression | Yes |
Storage memory | 22 preset 4 user |
Effects | chorus, tremolo |
Input/output | |
Keyboard | 61-note with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch (on a per note rather than per patch basis) |
Left-hand control | Ribbon Controller |
The Yamaha CS-80 is an analog synthesizer introduced by Yamaha Corporation in 1977. [2] It supports true 8-voice polyphony, with two independent synthesizer layers per voice each with its own set of front panel controls, in addition to a number of hardwired preset voice settings and four parameter settings stores based on banks of subminiature potentiometers (rather than the digital programmable presets featured on the Prophet-5 introduced soon after).
It has exceptionally complete performer expression features, such as a layered keyboard that was both velocity-sensitive (like a piano's) and pressure-sensitive ("after-touch") but unlike most modern keyboards the aftertouch could be applied to individual voices rather than in common, and a ribbon controller allowing for polyphonic pitch-bends and glissandos.
Production of the instrument ceased in 1980. Vying with the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Oberheim OB-X polysynths for the title, the CS-80 is often described as the pre-eminent polyphonic analog synthesizer, [3] [4] and, together with the monophonic Moog modular synthesizer, commands amongst the highest resale price of any synthesizer. [3]
There are plug-in instrument software emulations of the CS-80 for usage in digital audio workstation, music sequencer, and other software which supports the plug-in formats that these instruments were implemented and released in: the "CS-80 V" from Arturia [5] which was released in 2003, the "ME80" from memorymoon which was released in 2009, and the GX-80, which is a CS-80 emulation combined with its predecessor the GX-1, from Cherry Audio which was released in 2022. [6]
There are no known hardware clones of the entire CS-80. At the 2014 NAMM Show, Studio Electronics premiered their new Boomstar SE80 synthesizer which includes a cloned filter section of the CS-80. At the 2018 NAMM Show, Black Corporation showed Deckard's Dream, a rackmount synthesizer with CS-80 inspired architecture and features and supports polyphonic aftertouch via compatible third party external keyboards.
In 2015, Yamaha introduced the Reface CS, a 37 key mini synth, based on the CS-80.
The Greek composer Vangelis used the Yamaha CS-80 extensively. He described it as "the most important synthesizer in my career — and for me the best analogue synthesizer design there has ever been ... It needs a lot of practice if you want to be able to play it properly, but that's because it's the only synthesizer I could describe as being a real instrument, mainly because of the keyboard — the way it's built and what you can do with it." [7]
The CS-80's features can be heard on the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis, in which CS-80 is featured prominently, as well as the composer's soundtrack for the film Chariots of Fire , and the bassline of Peter Howell's interpretation of the 1980 theme tune to the BBC science fiction show Doctor Who .
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