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Yamaha CS-80

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Yamaha CS-80
ManufacturerYamaha
Dates1977 - 1980
Price
  • US$6900
  • GB£4950
  • JP¥1,280,000
[1]
Technical specifications
Polyphony8 voices, dual layers
TimbralityMultitimbral
Oscillator2 per voice
LFO1 multi-waveform
Synthesis typeAnalog subtractive
Filter2 High-pass
2 Low-pass
AttenuatorADSR
Aftertouch expressionYes, polyphonic
Velocity expressionYes
Storage memory22 preset
4 user
Effectschorus, tremolo
Input/output
Keyboard61-note with velocity
and polyphonic aftertouch (on a per note rather than per patch basis)
Left-hand controlRibbon 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]

Software and hardware emulations

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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. This includes the following plugins with the year they were first released:

  • Arturia CS-80 V (2003)[5]
  • Cherry Audio GX-80 (2022)[6]
    • CS-80 emulation combined with its predecessor the GX-1.
  • memorymoon ME80 (2009)
  • Softube Model 77 (2024)

There are no known hardware clones of the entire CS-80. At the 2014 NAMM Show, Studio Electronics premiered the Boomstar SE80 synthesizer which includes a cloned filter section of the CS-80. Black Corporation's Deckard's Dream (2017) and upcoming Deckard's Dream MK2 (autumn 2024) are rackmount synthesizer with CS-80 inspired architectures and features which support polyphonic aftertouch using compatible third party external keyboards.

In 2015, Yamaha introduced the Reface CS, a 37 key mini synth, based on the CS-80.

Vangelis

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Main article: Vangelis

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.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Colbeck, Julian (1996). Keyfax Omnibus Edition. MixBooks. pp. 131–132. ISBN 0-918371-08-2.
  2. ^ "[Chapter 1] Origins of the Yamaha Synthesizer - Yamaha - United States". usa.yamaha.com.
  3. ^ a b "The World's most desirable and valuable synthesizers and drum machines". Attack Magazine. Attack Magazine. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  4. ^ "The Schmidt synth and the CS80". Synthtopia. Synthtopia. 7 April 2011.
  5. ^ Magnus, Nick; Reid, Gordon (April 2005). "Arturia CS80V - Software Synth (Mac/PC)". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group.
  6. ^ "Cherry Audio release GX-80". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. November 2022.
  7. ^ Goldstein, Dan (November 1984), "Soil Festivities Vangelis Speaks", Electronics & Music Maker, retrieved August 22, 2016

Bibliography

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