Vintage Synth Explorer

Yamaha • CS1x

The CS1x is Yamaha's first Analog Emulation performance keyboard for electronic and dance musicians (the CS line is back!). It's a digital synthesizer that emulates analog style, sounds and controls. All controls and parameters are real-time and MIDI controllable. As well as a superb set of quality synth bass, pads, voices, leads and arpeggiated sequences there are plenty of amazing drum sounds also with analog sound and control.

Some of the coolest features of the CS1x aimed at dance musicians will provide you with instant sonic gratification and hands-on real-time tweakability. There are 6 knobs for envelope attack, release, filter cutoff, resonance and 2 are assignable knobs. Two scene memories will remember the current state of the envelope and filters as set by the control knobs so they can instantly be recalled and you can even use the Mod-wheel to morph from one scene into the other, very cool! Scene Memory data is also stored with your synth patches. Built-in digital effects are great but the Arpeggiator steals the show with 30 inspirational patterns suited for techno, house, basslines and basic arpeg. patterns.

Plenty of memory (128 preset, 128 user) and MIDI control make the CS1x perfect for both live and studio use. Control the synth, arpeggiator and editing through MIDI control. The CS1x only has limited multitimbrality in which, when hooked up to a sequencer, MIDI channels 5-16 offer plain old Yamaha XG synth sounds but MIDI channel 1 holds the CS1x's main sounds and effects. It's already being used by Underworld, Bushflange, Jamiraquai, Skylab2000, Somatic Responses, and David Bowie.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Fray

Posted 236 days ago

Just picked one up on Ebay for 180 USD. My kids immediately recognized many of the classic loops which apparently are still being used in Hip-hop type music today. A little confusing to figure out at first, but kept us all riveted due to the plethora of complex, high quality sounds.

passenger

Posted 236 days ago

I need the factory cs1x soundbanks (user and preset) in wav or sf2 or halion or other format for using it in a vst-sampler, were can I get it?

die-6-

Posted 237 days ago

I need a Yamaha PA3B Power Adapter for connect it and start to enjoy it, anyone can help me? not available anymore in Yamaha...:-(
my mail is omniman@mac.com
thanx

die-6-

Posted 237 days ago

I need a Yamaha PA3B Power Adapter for connect it and start to enjoy it, anyone can help me? not abailable anymore in Yamaha...:-(
my mail is omniman@mac.com
thanx

Reggie

Posted 248 days ago

I bought this new way back when. This thing is surprisingly good! It has a great sound and you can create a lot of synth sounds; buzzes, bleeps - ear candy for days!

I only use it in Performance mode. You can sculpt and stack 4 voices to make some ethereal and cyclical pads. And I mean Really Good pads! It's also good with bass though I primarily use other synths for that.

I don't like synths that are workstations or so complicated you need a PhD just to turn it on. This thing will get you where you need to go in short time. The only gripe I have is the lack of order with the rom sound files and the wall wart. For that I give it 4 stars.

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