Yamaha CS-15D
This is a partially preset, partially variable monophonic analogue synth which was released in 1979. It was part of a synthesizer range that included the CS-20m, the CS-40m, and the CS-70m. It has a very solid warm sound for a single VCO synth. The preset section is divided into two channels. Channel 1 has 15 sounds with the usual array of unrealistic instrument imitations and Channel 2 has 14 synth sounds plus a button to activate the 'manual' section of the synth. There is a slider to mix between the two channels and channel 2 can be detuned.
The 'manual' section comprises 1 VCO with a variable control between pulse and saw waves. There are also controls for pulse width modulation, noise and footings (32' - 2'). The 12dB filter has cut-off and resonance plus a dedicated ADSR envelope with a control for envelope amount. It has a nice wet and warm sound. There is a separate ADSR for the amplifier.
Most controls to the left of the preset section affect the presets as well as the manual section. These include a modulation section with 1 LFO (sine and square), S/H (random) and repeat. Modulation can be routed to either the VCO, VCF or VCA. There is also a global tuning pot and a performance panel that includes portamento (which isn't very precise) modulation and pitch wheels as well as a 'brilliance' slider. Why a slider for VCF modulation instead of a wheel? God only knows. One feature of the pitch wheel that has synthesists divided is that it doesn't have a spring although a soft 'click' is felt when moved back to the center-point. It can be handy to reach the lowest possible notes without having to hold the wheel in place.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - Monophonic
- Oscillators - 1 VCO per section
- LFO - 1 (sine, square, s/h, repeat)
- Filter - 1 12dB/oct (2-pole) lowpass filter with dedicated ADSR
- VCA - 1 ADSR
- Keyboard - 37 keys
- Memory - 29 presets, no user
- Control - Dual CV and Gate
- Date Produced - 1979-1982
- Websites of Interest
- Resources & Credits
Images from here.
Reviewed November 2007.
Errors or Corrections? Send them here.
very nice sounding square and saw osc,the filter and the ADSR have very good fast response,no noisy unwanted sound,pure beauty.
the filter is amazing I cant say any bad at all.
I am sure this synth ll worth much more in the future.
I ve tried to controll the CS15D through the Doepfer dark Energy.
Actually what i ve done,i reset the midi button of dark energy and i gave the second octav c tune for the first note.the trigger working very vell,fast response very nice.so i cant hear any pichy tune but i am using the second oscillator of cs15 and i ve got full controll under.the fine tuning are on the same place.. 0 scale no fine tuning was needed.if i switch to the first oscillator, the tune on the same note and that osc hasent been connected to the cv of dark energy.i dont know how is it possible but its working with one osc defo..I ve read Yamaha CS15D have HZ/V controll instead of V/oct.
I ve asked MR Doepfer He was suprised either.
so how is that possible?