Altogether now 🎶 Now, the first envelope is a bi-polar affair with its outputs being A and B, The 2nd and 3rd are quite debonair and their outputs are C, D and E This alphabetic fun crops up all over the place where you modulate almost anything, You'll be left with a big fat smile upon your face as you hear the CS-30 start to sing, Now, the two filters here are multi-mode designs that can be setup in several ways, The amps, you see, can be separate or combined and I'm sure that you're suitably amazed Oh! There's pulse width modulation, there's sample and hold, there's ring modulation and there's bend, There's slidey portamento, there's voltages controlled, there's even a sub octave at the end You can sequence, you can play, you can run things through, you can create sounds in true stereo, Oh! There's oh so many options of the things that one can do, but I'll shut up now and we'll get on with the show! 🐋💥
Ha, love the Bertie Wooster, I have a CS-15 and that’s hard enough to fathom. Will watch your vid on that. Your CR-78 sounds? We’re they from a CR-78, the samples in a Boss DR-660 or just samples on a DAW or something? Pray tell.
2:18 The only way you could have topped this.. would be if you had dressed up in a Top Hat and perhaps a monocle or something! Brilliant as ever, mate! :D
Outstanding job! You’re the Monty Python of synthesizer videos. Fun and entertaining but clearly supported by a foundation of skill, talent, and creativity.
Even my CS-15 confuses me from time to time but it makes me smile every time I turn it on. I'd really like to have a CS-30 but I think that it has way too many knobs and switches for me.
Thanks for tuning in my friends, I'm Looooo-pop! I'll be doing a nice review of gear that's going to drop, I'll show you all the features and I'll show you all the tech, Then I guess I'll play some tunes, hey-ho, what the heck? (Continues in this manner for 50 minutes)
I do not understand my Yamaha CS30 at all, but whenever I play it, it delivers to me and my ears something outrageous and beautiful which no other synth can copy. So maybe it understands me :)
Lol 😂. That's got to be one of the best , funniest and most informative video I have ever seen on anything. That music , despite it being very humourous is difficult to play neatly. Kudos on everything there. Makes me want to improve my game. Class.
Loved the singing - what an inspired way of showing off this amazing synth. Problem is you have now put out a challenge to the rest of those we follow. I can't stop chuckling. Great stuff!
I was in awe since the first sound, omg and the feature song has to be one of the most entertaining and musical things I've heard in a gear demo, like, ever.
You probably weren't wanting this request, but I'd love a run through the Feature Song. It sounded incredibly authentic and the harmonies and instrumentation were lovely.
Haha, wasn't planning on it. The chord progression is | C / C#dim7 / | Dm7 / / / | | G7 / G7aug / | C / / / | | C / E7/G# / | A9 / / / | | Dm7 / G7 / | C6/9 / / / || The spoken section was just the classic old cycle of fifths starting from Am.
Crazy amount of features for a mono synth! Especially for that time, when these came out. Can't go wrong with the sound as well, because that's just killer. Also, these videos are turning more and more into Monty Python sketches... Bloody brilliant! :)
Yes, surprisingly spec'd. Guess it was their top of the line instrument. They went overkill on the CS-80 so I guess they did the same here. Monty Python - haha, thanks. :)
Love my CS30, i bought it in 1981 for £50, in fact the synth was cheaper than that because the price included a guitar amp! One groovy feature is the 'Hold' button on the sequencer. this prevents the CV from the keyboard being sent to the sequencer (if the sequencer is set to receive this CV) The CV from the keyboard determines the pitch of the sequence so you can play the sequence in any musical key and when you find a key you like press HOLD and the sequence will play in that key while you play a melody over it, kinda hard to explain but fun. I could say a lot more about this wonderful machine but i'll leave it to Alex.
Never saw any of your videos before this one... and I had no idea what I was in for. Was expecting to hear someone talk to a camera about specs while occasionally playing a few notes, but instead found an impressively dense production full of multiple bangers. Had to rewind a few times to listen again and dance, especially for the last tune... and to think about the inspiring musical ideas demonstrated in the arrangement. It hasn't made me want a CS-30, but it has definitely made me want to spend some serious time learning to compose like that.
Yamaha CS30 Just found the video. I had one of these in the early '80's I wish I kept it, I think I brought it for £150 or £250 I can't quite remember. You could have so much fun with one of these, go on a journey and end up somewhere completely different from journey to journey. Great video brought back a lot of happy memories, Thank You.
Oh Alex, you are definitely one of the stars of the TH-cam Synth community. We have loopop who reviews everything new in huge headache - inducing detail (in a nice way), Synth mania and Espen Kraft who cover both the 70's and 80's, but you are the consummate entertainer. What a fun review (partly reminiscent of Queen's Seaside Rendezvous/Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon (surely an influence). Thanks again fro an interesting review and loved the chord progression on the Upright!
Thanks Kevin. I love those channels that you mention. Great to have a community that makes its own entertainment and resources. Queen were definitely an influence on the song! I remember watching the documentary where they talked about playing signals through a bucket to get that old-time tone.
Apart from sounding fantastic, these early CS synths are built so incredibly well that it puts most modern gear to shame. My CS-10 is 43 years old and feels like it will easily outlast all the rest of my gear, and even me. I got it for $250 because the 5/10/15 are all underrated (people have recognized the value of the 30 by now). Great synths.
Lucky you! I had to pay my CS-15 a few years ago 3x as that here by chance in a local shop. The previous owner kept it unused for many years. It was checked, of course. Though now 2 keys need a stronger push to make sound but it is a tank and I love it to bits. I reiterate once again, you guys abroad have no idea how lucky you are to get used gear for cheap. Here in Italy it only happens once every 10 blue moons ;)
Inflation can be a blessing if you have some foresight. I don't think I've ever owned anything music wise that really ballooned in value but I only buy used anyway so I can usually offload them for what I paid in the first place. Hopefully the world catches on to the ESX-1's status as the bang for your buck sampling groovebox king, so I can recoup my losses on overpaying for a really really clean one 🙃
That was a fun video! Thanks for sharing it with us! Closest I ever was to CS-30 ownership was an eBay auction over fifteen years ago for a CS-30M, but I was outbid at the last possible second. But in 1999 I briefly owned a CS-15… and I am a moron for having ever sold it.
Altogether now 🎶
Now, the first envelope is a bi-polar affair with its outputs being A and B,
The 2nd and 3rd are quite debonair and their outputs are C, D and E
This alphabetic fun crops up all over the place where you modulate almost anything,
You'll be left with a big fat smile upon your face as you hear the CS-30 start to sing,
Now, the two filters here are multi-mode designs that can be setup in several ways,
The amps, you see, can be separate or combined and I'm sure that you're suitably amazed
Oh! There's pulse width modulation, there's sample and hold, there's ring modulation and there's bend,
There's slidey portamento, there's voltages controlled, there's even a sub octave at the end
You can sequence, you can play, you can run things through, you can create sounds in true stereo,
Oh! There's oh so many options of the things that one can do, but I'll shut up now and we'll get on with the show!
🐋💥
And the whale:
i finally explode to an ode,
in a LFO-Mode..
Wonderful song/demonstration - had me thinking of Vivian & Bonzo Dog Band 🎭🐶🏆...
Full on Monty Python Vibes!
Chapeau!
Ha, love the Bertie Wooster, I have a CS-15 and that’s hard enough to fathom. Will watch your vid on that. Your CR-78 sounds? We’re they from a CR-78, the samples in a Boss DR-660 or just samples on a DAW or something? Pray tell.
Just samples chopped up and sequenced in Cubase.
The "feature song" made my day! For real!!!
Thanks old bean.
the rest of the review isn't important, cut it
The musical number of the control layout is excellent work.
Really appreciate all the work that's gone into this video, cheers.
Thank you!
Simply the best synth review I've ever seen on YT ! It's so creative, funny, instructive and...with what talent, what originality ! Bravo !
Thank you!
2:18 The only way you could have topped this.. would be if you had dressed up in a Top Hat and perhaps a monocle or something! Brilliant as ever, mate! :D
THIS! And a walking stick/cane to roll around sync'd to the LFO ;)
Brilliant. Now MY bucket list synth too lol damn ...
Choreographed dance with multiple versions of himself?
Outstanding job! You’re the Monty Python of synthesizer videos. Fun and entertaining but clearly supported by a foundation of skill, talent, and creativity.
Now I know why you collect vintage synthesizers. Your song writing ability is something else.
Lockdown is driving Alex insane, and we all benefit from that.
They let me out of the straight jacket for a couple of hours to make videos.
@@AlexBallMusic when you did that Montage where you were just looking at the synthesizer that was me when I got my Yamaha PSS-270.
@@willfomes406 Pft! I went and got a Casio...... :)
@@jakobole which Casio keyboard did you get?
This synth still gives me a headache when I first turn it on. 30 minutes later it’s making some crazy sequence you’d never get anywhere else
Yep!
Even my CS-15 confuses me from time to time but it makes me smile every time I turn it on. I'd really like to have a CS-30 but I think that it has way too many knobs and switches for me.
what a video. I can't imagine how much work goes into this. bravo.
I can't remember when I have been so entertained and delighted with any youtube video. Thank you for all your hard work.
Cheers Cliff. 🙂
What an excellent, GAS inducing video! But wait what now I gotta start singing my layout overviews?!
He did just raise the bar, yeah.
@@ZetaCarinae I assure you my reviews will be worse if I start singing...
Thanks for tuning in my friends, I'm Looooo-pop!
I'll be doing a nice review of gear that's going to drop,
I'll show you all the features and I'll show you all the tech,
Then I guess I'll play some tunes, hey-ho, what the heck?
(Continues in this manner for 50 minutes)
@@AlexBallMusic I can rap it for sure! Finally I can justify the investment in an 808
@@loopop there are two things in our galaxy you never ever can justify:
1. the investment in a 909
2. the investment in a 808
It's 20 seconds into the clip and I already NEED one of these 😍
Holy ____! Just when I think you can’t raise the bar any if higher. Excellent video my friend, and what a great sounding synth.
still one of my favorite intro tracks of all time, all the beeps and bloops are so awesome
I very much demand you, from now on, to sing a jolly tune whenever you explain the layout of a synth!
Deal.
@@AlexBallMusic looking forward to a cs 80 panel layout song featuring an interlude about that cute tiny preset compartment 😁
@@rejectedsynths It is going to be Alex' first 10-hour video! Yay! (Also the first one on yt worth watching)
Alex, is the Synth Man, Synth Man, Synth Synth Synth Man Man.
it really was brilliant!
I usched thisch schynthesizer for the main theme to Schaturday Night Beaver.
You got some amazing tones on the soundtrack to The Horninessh of the Schlong Dischtansh Bummer” too. Definitely underrated that one
lol
So it was you who wrote that schwingin soundtrack!
Damn that beaver with your wood, Geert...you know you want too 🏒
And I ghadd one...gwonce, longge tyme akko :_:
love mine as well, this thing is not very logical to use, but it makes you happy when you understand what happens.... and it sounds so lush
It's like a modular synth pretending to be a fixed architecture synth!
Awesome once you've figured out where everything is!
I mean, did you listen to the funky ending track? It was as musical as anything I've ever heard.
Dude. Your videos are amazing, don’t know anyone who does informative and entertaining as well as you do! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
It's Thanksgiving here in the States, and I'm thankful for folks like Alex who always go WAY over the top to just make a few other dorks smile. :)
Always go FULL dork. No compromises.
That introduction song was unexpected and incredible.
Cheers!
Was this a Ladytron cover?
Wins the award for the best synth video of the year 👍🎹👍
It was the exploding whale that did it, wasn't it?
This is by far the most fun I have ever had watching a synth video. My goodness that thing sounds fantastic!
Alex, this was another insanely brilliant video presentation! Thank you!
Thank you!
I do not understand my Yamaha CS30 at all, but whenever I play it, it delivers to me and my ears something outrageous and beautiful which no other synth can copy. So maybe it understands me :)
i love you so much, dude, this explanation cabaret was heart melting ❤
Thanks very much!
That intro sequence was mental!! Sounds like an absolute monster. Thanks for the entertaining demo.
in my opinion this video is one of your best (the song at 2:20 is so fun !).Your musical composition highlights the strengths of this synthesizer.
Thanks Jeff!
I really do appreciate the effort you put in these videos, keep 'em coming
Thank you!
You are truly
among the best on you tube explaining and demonstrating synth's. This is so very very, absolutely mega fantastic, good!
By far the most entertaining synth review I’ve seen! Please keep them coming!
Lol 😂. That's got to be one of the best , funniest and most informative video I have ever seen on anything.
That music , despite it being very humourous is difficult to play neatly.
Kudos on everything there.
Makes me want to improve my game.
Class.
You've earned my sub about 10 times today... but this gets a standing ovation. BRAVO! Just... BRAVO!
Even though the CS80 is praised as Yamaha's best analog synth,
I'm glad their monosynths are finally getting some love.
Love your uploads. Informative, funny, and great musicianship. Thank you Mr. Ball.
Quality content! Loved the explanation song and the demo.
Your a good composer :0
Cheers!
thank you for existing and, thank the ALGORITHEM for putting you in my feed.
Loved the singing - what an inspired way of showing off this amazing synth. Problem is you have now put out a challenge to the rest of those we follow. I can't stop chuckling. Great stuff!
Excellently entertaining review Alex! The Yamaha CS line is absolutely gorgeous sounding!
Love this super creative and engaging video format!
Also, closing song gave me Crash Bandicoot vibes which I do not mind at all 😎
Thanks. I originally filmed myself talking through the features in a normal way, but even I fell asleep watching it back.
Daft song seemed better. ;)
@@AlexBallMusic made me crack up laughing, it was a flash of true brilliance
Hell yes. I see a splendid new series emerging here. Brilliant video - beast of a machine!
I'm not good at reading of the functions without sounding boring, but I can write a silly song, so...
The old time explanation was amazing, big love 😊
I came for a synth demo...and left with a great little synth ditty!
I was in awe since the first sound, omg
and the feature song has to be one of the most entertaining and musical things I've heard in a gear demo, like, ever.
Favourite synth ever since I saw a 40 min demo a while back. It's just soooooo phat
Simply Amazing. I'm completely stunned.
Love the musical explanation :)
You’ve been hanging out with “Bad Gear Moby”, haven’t you? 😁
Only virtually. Damn you, COVID!!!
@@AudioPilz Really? ;-) No way...is there ....oh...! Hust! Lalalala! HIer stecken also all meine Abo´s. Interessant.
never seen a better synth description/tutorial !
You probably weren't wanting this request, but I'd love a run through the Feature Song. It sounded incredibly authentic and the harmonies and instrumentation were lovely.
Haha, wasn't planning on it.
The chord progression is
| C / C#dim7 / | Dm7 / / / |
| G7 / G7aug / | C / / / |
| C / E7/G# / | A9 / / / |
| Dm7 / G7 / | C6/9 / / / ||
The spoken section was just the classic old cycle of fifths starting from Am.
Crazy amount of features for a mono synth! Especially for that time, when these came out.
Can't go wrong with the sound as well, because that's just killer.
Also, these videos are turning more and more into Monty Python sketches... Bloody brilliant! :)
Yes, surprisingly spec'd. Guess it was their top of the line instrument. They went overkill on the CS-80 so I guess they did the same here.
Monty Python - haha, thanks. :)
Holy Madonna!!!!!!! Another great post and another great synth review!!
Love my CS30, i bought it in 1981 for £50, in fact the synth was cheaper than that because the price included a guitar amp!
One groovy feature is the 'Hold' button on the sequencer. this prevents the CV from the keyboard being sent to the sequencer (if the sequencer is set to receive this CV) The CV from the keyboard determines the pitch of the sequence so you can play the sequence in any musical key and when you find a key you like press HOLD and the sequence will play in that key while you play a melody over it, kinda hard to explain but fun. I could say a lot more about this wonderful machine but i'll leave it to Alex.
You continue to impress me, Alex!
Amazing as always, love this synth, nd the synthwork! Thanks for your art!
Top class Alex. I loved the song and as always you never disappoint in your demo tunes.
I was lusting after one of these. As of yesterday, the price has probably gone insane.
The prices don't tend to be horrendous (not cheap obviously), but it's more the rarity that scuppers it.
Never saw any of your videos before this one... and I had no idea what I was in for. Was expecting to hear someone talk to a camera about specs while occasionally playing a few notes, but instead found an impressively dense production full of multiple bangers. Had to rewind a few times to listen again and dance, especially for the last tune... and to think about the inspiring musical ideas demonstrated in the arrangement. It hasn't made me want a CS-30, but it has definitely made me want to spend some serious time learning to compose like that.
Thank you very much! Glad to have been a suprise.
Holy crap - blown away. Thank you for all you do!!!
Cheers Daniel
2:19 Great song ;-) So happy with my CS-30. It's truly special!
Ah, congratulations on your ownership.
I had the most fun watching your video keep up the good work that I loved it.
That final track is AMAZING!
Great compositions! Always high quality videos. Thanks.
Thanks Brian.
Awesome track at the end. Great video. Bravo!!
Great work as usual, enjoyable watch. Thanks
Another wonderful demo Alex.
Synthemaziser
Saxamaphone... saxamaphone...
One of the coolest monosynths out there - it keeps surprising me every time I turn it on. :)
Loved your tunes too - both of them.
Thanks. Yeah, very versatile.
Fantastic stuff again. You're videos are magic 😎👍
What at treat🙏👍😀😀. Youre a true gift to the interweb, Alex.
Thanks. 🙂
Incredible performance, incredible presentation :)
The feature song just made my day! 😂👍
wow. so great. it really has a unique sound. maybe berhinger will make one soon. with patch points.
Always raising the bar, Alex. Lovely Music Hall tune!
Thanks Luis.
Very impressive and unusual perfomance
song at the end is unreal! mixed so well too. please release ^.^
Yamaha CS30 Just found the video. I had one of these in the early '80's I wish I kept it, I think I brought it for £150 or £250 I can't quite remember. You could have so much fun with one of these, go on a journey and end up somewhere completely different from journey to journey. Great video brought back a lot of happy memories, Thank You.
Absolutely epic video!
Come on, man!! That was fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing.
Masterpiece of a review 👏👏👏
Amazing presentation, sound and demo :)
Oh Alex, you are definitely one of the stars of the TH-cam Synth community. We have loopop who reviews everything new in huge headache - inducing detail (in a nice way), Synth mania and Espen Kraft who cover both the 70's and 80's, but you are the consummate entertainer. What a fun review (partly reminiscent of Queen's Seaside Rendezvous/Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon (surely an influence). Thanks again fro an interesting review and loved the chord progression on the Upright!
Thanks Kevin. I love those channels that you mention. Great to have a community that makes its own entertainment and resources.
Queen were definitely an influence on the song! I remember watching the documentary where they talked about playing signals through a bucket to get that old-time tone.
That tune at the end is mad! Love it!
Wonderfully inventive video it’s like a mini musical! must have taken an age to write and record . Well done
c. 2:20 Definitely one of the best Vivian Stanshall impersonations of the last six or seven months. 🍍
Next week: "I'm in the Moog for Love."
Apart from sounding fantastic, these early CS synths are built so incredibly well that it puts most modern gear to shame. My CS-10 is 43 years old and feels like it will easily outlast all the rest of my gear, and even me. I got it for $250 because the 5/10/15 are all underrated (people have recognized the value of the 30 by now). Great synths.
Lucky you! I had to pay my CS-15 a few years ago 3x as that here by chance in a local shop. The previous owner kept it unused for many years. It was checked, of course. Though now 2 keys need a stronger push to make sound but it is a tank and I love it to bits. I reiterate once again, you guys abroad have no idea how lucky you are to get used gear for cheap. Here in Italy it only happens once every 10 blue moons ;)
Inflation can be a blessing if you have some foresight. I don't think I've ever owned anything music wise that really ballooned in value but I only buy used anyway so I can usually offload them for what I paid in the first place. Hopefully the world catches on to the ESX-1's status as the bang for your buck sampling groovebox king, so I can recoup my losses on overpaying for a really really clean one 🙃
Your song introducing the layout ... simply epic!!
Wow some unexpected sounds out of that thing, sounds great. Love the musical tutorial too, one of your best videos I think!
Thank you. Yes, versatile synth for sure.
That was a fun video! Thanks for sharing it with us! Closest I ever was to CS-30 ownership was an eBay auction over fifteen years ago for a CS-30M, but I was outbid at the last possible second. But in 1999 I briefly owned a CS-15… and I am a moron for having ever sold it.
good job as usual Alex :) !
Great to see you playing your pianoforte in this video!
A bit of a Yamaha team-up. 🙂
This is superfun to watch
Oh dude, this was f**** BRILLIANT!!! great and cool monosynth BTW. Cheerio.
Hah that little Mort Garson-esque ditty was amazing
Mort or JJ? Love them both
I Love It So Much !!! Hahaha Thank You Very Much For This Gorgeous Feature Song
thanks a bunch for the Supersempfft song in the outro
The way you rock this machine is pure funk😍
😎
Nice! I especially love the old Yamaha synths. This would definitely be my choice.
Also it'd go with my old Yamaha snare drum hehe.
Vintage Yamaha analog synths always look so cool
What a great sounding beast!