Vintage Synth Explorer

Yamaha • S30 / S80

Yamaha S30

The S30 Control Synth has the same high quality sound set, synth engine, and programming functions as the Yamaha CS6x (sold by Yamaha as "the" trance synth). The S30 provides full 64-note polyphony, 64 multi-mode resonant filters and 24MB AWM2-based ROM. On-board voices include 256 presets with stereo-sampled acoustic pianos, chunky organs, brilliant guitars, lush strings and analog synth sounds. Used by such artists as Faithless for the classic techno song "Insomnia" for that distinctive sound.

Programming is about as easy as, press a key, turn a knob, and listen, then save the sound in any of 128 user-voice memory locations. There are also 128 user-storable performances for layers, splits and multi-timbral sequencer setups. The S30 can take the same optional PLG150 modular Synthesis Plug-in expansion boards as the CS6x, S80 and Motif. Some PLG boards add completely new synth engines that add extra polyphony, voices and effects to the S30's existing ones.

It's a decent real-time controller with four assignable data sliders and five assignable knobs. It certainly makes a great Midi Master Keyboard, drive and control all of your other gear with it! An on-board song sequencer plays back Standard MIDI Files (SMF) from SmartMedia cards, which allow storage of up to 100 songs - including keyboard setups and chained playback. The S30 also lets you store your voices and performance setups on compact SmartMedia cards.

Yamaha S80

The S80 is an elegant 88-key, weighted-action version of the S30, with a second PLG Board expansion slot fitted. All three synths, the S30, S80 and CS6x, are actually the same machinery in different cases. The CS6x places more emphasis on real-time controllers, performance and synthesizing while the S30 and S80 are more workstation oriented.

VISITOR COMMENTS (8)

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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.

 

Neilo

Posted 106 days ago

What about the S90 and the S90ES? I own an S90 and it plays and sounds great, but I don't rate the usability/intuitiveness compared to my Triton LE... be good to see it reviewed on here.

Benny

Posted 196 days ago

If this synth was released in 2000 as VSE says, how on earth could Faithless have used it for Insomnia, which was released back in 1995? Not even the CS6x is that old, the "facts" on this site can sometimes be more than confusing..

engineerjoel

Posted 253 days ago

LOVE this synth. I LOATH/despise/hate the operations manual!

Does anyone know if an easy to read "S80 for Dummies--programming guide" available???

DJ Atmos

Posted 315 days ago

The keyboard action is nice but the sounds are severly outdated and cheesy. Don't pay more than 300 euro for one.

Mezzo

Posted 315 days ago

Currently the S80 is the main keyboard in both my studio and performance rig. As with most Yamaha equipment, it is nearly indestructible. To a piano player, the action is astounding as are the piano sounds. I added the PF card for additional polyphony and the additional pianos. As a synth, Yamaha has not skimped either. The filters are as good as everyone says, as are the LFOs and effects. The output is virtually noise free. I also have the DX card installed. Nothing like hearing those FM sounds without all the noise. I've owned mine for 6 years and do see any current board that I would replace it with. That says something.

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