Yamaha CS-60
The CS-60 is a very scaled down light version of the CS-80. It's a classic and old polyphonic programmable analog synthesizer that has some potential. It does not sound as great as the CS-80 nor is it as programmable. You get a few preset sounds which are pretty useless and a mere 1 user patch. But there are just enough sliders, edit parameters and even an excellent Ring Modulator to get some interesting pads, drones, basses and other analog synth sounds. Oddly, sitting between the keyboard and those large Preset Switches is a long velvet ribbon controller which is pretty cool for doing wild pitch bends.
Due to its old age most CS-60s are in battered shape these days, difficult to service but in need of some. And they suffer common ailments of the analog domain - overheating, unstable tuning, it weighs a lot, etc... However the CS-60 is the cheapest way to get into some genuine CS-80 sounds of analog heaven with basic entry-level programming! It has been used by Air, Jean-Michel Jarre, Oshe and Bob Marley and the Wailers.
- Demos & Media
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Video 1 - Yamaha CS-60 Synthesizer DemoAudio Clip 1 - Here's a cool track from OSHE that shows some of the Ring Modulator effect of the CS-60.
Audio Clip 2 - A series of sample sounds from Future Music CD, issue 97.
Manual - Download the original owner's manual from SoundProgramming.net.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 8 voices
- Oscillators - 1 VCO per voice (square and saw plus PWM; 1 sub-osc with 4 wave types; noise gen)
- Memory - 12 presets, 1 user patch
- Filter - High- and low-pass with resonance and ADSR envelope
- Arpeg/Seq - None
- Keyboard - 61 keys (aftertouch)
- Effects - Ring Modulator
- Control - CV / Gate
- Date Produced - 1977
- Websites of Interest
- Resources & Credits
Images from Zikinf.
Info from Rory McDonald.
Errors or Corrections? Send them here.
The only flaw is the latch on the AC cord compartment.
Big fun playing this analogue sweetheart.
This current one needs some fixes, as it is blowing fuses, and there is one keyboard wire that broke. But I should have it back in shape soon.
I originally bought the CS60 because the CS80 was out of my price range, and while not as nice, the CS60 really gave me a lot of excellent sounds and is one of the most enjoyable analog synths to play, due to the "paddle" controls and the ribbon controller.
My current unit cosmetically is beautiful, and was heavily modified by the previous owner (it was a pro mod however), adding individual Osc outs, some touch switches for modulations and a DB-25 connector for computer control.
I also own a SY-1, the very first Yamaha synthesizer! That one needs a little work, too.
FYI I did not write the review on this page, though it credits my name. I supplied pics which I think were subsequently changed.