The CS-20m is another of Yamaha's classic CS-series analog synthesizers of the '70's and '80's. It is a monophonic analog synthesizer with dual-VCOs that use subtractive synthesis to create superb bass, synth, lead, bubbly-squirty and percussive sounds. It has all the essential components of a classic synth: There is a resonant filter with switchable high, band or lowpass filtering with its own ADSR envelope controls. There is an ADSR VCA envelope generator which contains a third oscillator which generates a sine wave to modulate and enhance your sounds. And there is an LFO which can modulate the PWM sweep. Fortunately, the CS-20m features 8 memory locations for patch storage of your favorite or most used sounds.

Stacked up against the other CS-synths, the CS-20m appears to be a very little brother to the CS-70m (a 12-VCO and very flexible beast). The CS-20m offers more memory patches than any other CS-synth (excluding newer CS1x and CS6x models). As for other synths, the CS-20m could be considered Minimoog-like, though it sounds much brighter and thinner than the Mini. If the Minimoog's price is out of your league, the CS-20m is not just a nice alternative but it is quite a classic and solid analog synth! It is used by The Crystal Method.

Jim Mooney

July 3, 2009 @ 2:15 pm

I aquired one of these when I managed a music store in the early 80's. It was kinda like an OB-1, but better built. Back then all of Yamaha's synths were huge beasts, but they were tanks, too. Anyway, you could really fatten up the sound by mixing the VCO's sine wave into the VCA along with the VCF. This gave real girth to the tone by adding more fundamental. Talk about your fat basses...

Joe

October 29, 2008 @ 7:05 pm

Brilliant synth, makes such good use of the LFO (as all CS's do), each section being able to have an independent waveform and amount. Its bliss to work with. Not to mention the multi mode filter and great sound.

Analogue Crazy

September 4, 2008 @ 2:54 pm

Smaller monophonic version of the CS-40M with 2 VCO's instead of 4 and no ring modulator or pitch envelope. Looses over half of the CS-40M's memory but its there. Very unique sound, smoother and more creamy than the other CS monosynths. Same sound as CS-40M but not as meaty.

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