Vintage Synth Explorer

Yamaha • CS-30

The CS-30 is a large, knob infested, black analog synthesizer with traditional features. It is a monophonic synth with extensive analog control and shaping. It has two oscillators with separate outputs, two VCF resonant filters, two VCA amplifiers and three envelopes. It also features a ring modulator, external audio triggering and a simple but useful 8-step sequencer for use as a sketch pad, pattern or arpeggio effect. The CS-30 does not have any on-board effects, memory nor MIDI. Although the CS-30 is just a monophonic synth with a short 44 note keyboard it offers a lot of programming flexibility, and plenty of knobs. It's used by 808 State.

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Matt

Posted 6 days ago

I bought one of these beasts back in 1985 for about £200. I played with it for a weekend and took it back to the store on the Monday.
It was OK for light softer sounds but the oscillators and filter were weak and coupled with the sluggish ADSR generators the synth lacked real punch.

The best thing I could say about it was it looks good in the dark with the sequencer running.

mick

Posted 74 days ago

i saw one of these for sell for 1850 eur (2396 dollar) in europe!

Jed

Posted 88 days ago

Our CS30 is the center piece of our synthesized sounds, our one and only synth and is used in conjunction with a Hammond Tonewheel organ and a Rhodes. It is everything we need in a synth and a truly great machine. It's lack of more modern features have never been an issue as it is always played live. It's eight step sequencer is great. A sweet machine indeed.

Macthemusician

Posted 230 days ago

I have the CS30L with the performance section on the left and built to be in its own case and included legs. This is a synthesizer of extraordinary flexibility and the additional unfiltered sine wave oscillator that adds deep rich body to the otherwise not so fat sounding yamaha synths such as the CS15 make it truly great. The CS40m also has the unfiltered sine wave oscillators although not as flexible as the CS30L- The CS40m has memory.

alessandro

Posted 236 days ago

i have a cs 30 (model whitout sequencer) since 1979 but It's turn off since 1991, now is in the garage, i don' t know if today it's ok or not. Great synth!!!

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