Absolutely stellar video from you as always. I haven't watched one single video from you ever, that hasn't been completely original, amazingly creative, enjoyable and well paced, and simply put; spot-on. Cheers 👍 -H.B.
I never watch demonstration videos of synths I've demonstrated because I am typically so frustrated by them. But yours is, of course, and as per usual, just absolutely wonderful. In such a short span of time, you have really hit on the major points of this incredible synth. But I'd expect nothing else. Perfect! Having two resonant band pass filters is really one of the most enormously wonderful things about this synth, and because so few people really engage in actual synthesis, the ability to employ formant synthesis to create vocal sounds is often missed. So many say "oh, this is some old monophonic analog synth... they're so limited." And yet, you can emulate the human voice with this one! I celebrated this aspect in a demonstration I did for a synthesis series I did for the Bob Moog Foundation that still, somehow, didn't make people realize that this synth makes an SH-101 or a Rogue, or so many others look like boring buzzers in comparison. Yes, I'll gladly defend that assertion. So, everyone... if you're interested in synthesis instead of having simple synthesizers that have status reputations, buy this... they're cheap, they're amazing, and they'll not only make you sound wonderful, but teach you how to engage in complex synthesis!
Thanks Marc, I'm glad it came across OK! It took you a full series of videos to _really_ explain what this synth is capable of and do it justice and so I was trying to find a way to draw people's attention to the fact that this synth is _so_ flexible but whilst making only half a dozen sounds for a 10 minute video. I almost felt rude to the CS-15 by stopping there. It's like it was saying "play with me more, you'll be surprised". I can't think of many synths in this category with two state variable filters with discrete modulation. That alone opens up a whole range of sounds, exactly as you say. Watching your BMF formant demo I think I basically did exactly the same thing you did, ha. I'll add some links and things in the video description because I feel a little dirty.
I think it's just what happens with the great and unique functionality of this synth! Also, I think this was the first synth I ever played where you could adjust pulse width modulation independently on oscillators.
Being a software engineer as well as a (very) amateur composer, I have always supported digital instruments, recording, and sampling since they became available. Appeals to the tech nerd in me, I suppose. But there is something just ALIVE sounding about good old-fashioned analog. I mean, the world (and music itself) is analog, isn't it? Amazing little synth. Thanks, Alex!
The electricity is Surging through the electrical components themselves, and Moving. Analog instruments are literally Breathing, and I think that's what makes them sound so Alive. In the software world they talk about Machine Learning and AI... but I think the closest thing a machine can do to emulate Life is to Breathe and provoke/evoke an Emotional response/interactivity where- in a sense- the human player and the instrument become "one" in the symbiosis. I believe this is the true appeal of Analog Synthesizers.
I agree with the other comments. i have also noticed that digital hardware effects and VST effects sound better on Analogue synth as well they seem to compliment each other especially reverbs and choruses and delays etc etc.
On the surface this looks like Just Another Synth From The Analog Era™, but hot damn. This seems to be closer to modular of the time with the way the oscillators, filters and amplifiers are set up. You even get CV inputs! What a beast of a synth this is inside, when it looks a bit unassuming on the outside. That sitar sound too, damn. Cheers for the great content, keep it up!
The CS30 is even better, stacked with goodies and those super-smooth filters (not self-oscillating by the way). You can be processing drums and have them triggering basslines and adding other weird shizz at the same time
Just wanted to let you know - I found this a really great intro to the sounds this synth can make. I am super excited as I ordered one yesterday off Reverb so have been scouring TH-cam for inspiration. I can't wait to pair it with some of my more modern analogues. I really like the Ceetar sound you made and the tune you did at the end is very inspiring.
I sold mine a couple of years ago. Regret kicked in instantly. I bought another a few weeks ago. I will never make the same mistake again. Great demo , thanks for taking the time to upload.
We’ve all done it. Huge regret in hindsight. Sold my TR-909 & TR-808 about 1991 after I sampled them into my Roland Sampler and just used the samples which were great btw. Just found them too big at the time. Also have sold two Roland SH-2s, Oscar, Korg MonoPoly and a Jupiter 4. Doh! Good job I held onto 303, CR-78, 707, CR-8000, JP6 and Pro One. Thing is at the time they weren’t cherished or valuable.
A great demo thanks ! You always succeed in making each synth shinning, with this special and absolutely delicious 70's touch. I used a CS-15 when it was released on the market but I had forgot about the big bass sounds it was able to produce. A great synth underrated. Thanks again !
Great demo Alex!! Yamaha's synths have always had their own sound character. Not just the DX series. You got some pretty cools sounds out of that thing and put together a cools 70s sounding tune with it!! Fantastic!! The late Billy Preston would have liked it too!
Great demo Alex - I am fortunate to own one and love playing it. The CS-15 is criminally underrated and overlooked in favour of more famous American mono's. The tricks up this synth's sleeve are its modular-like versatility, control and the dual channel architecture that you demonstrated so well. It can be played as a pair of CS-5s layered, or as a 2 osc 2 filter beast or anything in between. The CS-15 can be played truly duophonically using a 2 channel MIDI2CV converter or a sequencer like a Korg's little SQ1. It has individual modulation depth controls like an ARP Odyssey, missing only envelope modulation of the pitch and PWM. The Glide can be used as an embryonic envelope to slur the pitch. The Dual Channel feature is something the Minimoog, Odyssey and Pro-One cannot do - layer a flute with a trumpet each with their own articulation. I've even had the SQ1 sequencer play the upper channel while playing the lower channel via the keyboard. Guitars/Voice can be processed through the external input. Loved hearing someone else get some great sounds. Yes you can put this through a Strymon Blue Sky and do Bladerunner on it! Awesome synth. I was heart broken when my white panel Odyssey died before Analogue restoration became fashionable again, but the CS-15 more than fills that gap. Keep 'em coming!
You still have amazing ideas when using yours synths. You know how to make them so expressive, so warm, so alive. Bravo, really good job with this baby CS, which is a boss finally!
A friend om mine has one of those elusive CS30’s back in the day. Man that thing was a beast. Would love to see you do your thing with one of those some time. Anyways, as always, premium content right here. Sweet tune at the end. Keep it up my man 👌🤘
That’s awesome and inspiring! Love that sound! I’ve got a few synths from the 70s, the Yamaha SY-2, Jen SX1000 and Korg MS10. Love all three and am considering adding one from the CS series! 😊🎶🎉
I have one, but I've not been using it much for some time. This video perhaps has given me some renewed appreciation for it. It certainly has a wonderful clear sound, and it fits into mixes very comfortably, without taking over. Time to turn it on again...
The “What Drum Machine?” sound is so great. Reminds me of the early Human League “drums,” although they most likely did that with their Roland System 100.
Whenever I get that awful nauseous feeling in my stomach that tells me I really ought to be getting creative - to at least in some small way, justify my possession of classic analogue synths (that others would do great things with) - I just watch one of Alex Ball's videos and feel that there's really no good reason whatsoever for me to even bother.
All those black panel synths are so pretty in such a functional utilitarian design style. There's something so interacting with early science fiction film machinery about them. This visual embodiment of applied mathematics.
A CS-15 + Roland RS.505 above a Fender Rhodes mk1 88 with a Lexicon Prime Time 93 and Dynacord VRS-23 (also on top of the Rhodes) is the core of my keyboard rig. The CS-15 is so good. I'll buy a second and mod/automate/CV-everything on it soon.
Awesome! I just bought a CS-10 a couple months ago. It’s a bit more basic than this but still has that classic Yamaha CS filter, envelopes so snappy they included 5x modes to slow them down to normal range, LFO that extends into audio rates, and springy keys that are really fun to play. Found the old guy at a second hand store for a really good price and thought I can always flip it if I don’t get on with it, but it turns out I like it a lot, and it’s staying.
@sneakydisco Funny. To me a synth with built-in speakers screams “crappy home keyboard” and I almost certainly don’t want it (ARP 2600 notwithstanding).
This is great. After seeing Bitchin Bajas use this synth and watching Marc Doty's videos a few weeks ago I found one on Ebay with case for a reasonable price. It sounds so good. It has a very clear tone which can sound modern while never sounding harsh. I really don't know why this synth is such a sleeper compared to the other mono's of the era. Thank you for all the patch ideas, I'm going to give them try.
I have one. Would never part with it. It pairs very nicely with my Odysey. You can have the top row playing a sequence AND external input and still play the keyboard independently for the bottom row. My favorite feature though is the Brilliance slider. It can be like a crossfader between the two oscs and it can be amazing for "morphing" of tones.
Really love the CS series. Those synths just sit in a mix beautifully and not hideously priced (thinking 5, 15, 30 not the CS80 of course) and as you say potentially a bit forgotten.
Yeah, dying to try the 30 and 30L in particular having played this. A friend has one funnily enough, so might happen some time. As you say, these lower CS monos are somewhat forgotten, especially given how they stack up against some vintage synths that people fight over.
Damn this is like an SH-09 with more functionality, This thing also happens to remind me of the Polivoks although given the CS-15 has two signal paths it's odd to see it isn't duophonic like the Polivoks.
Roland SH-09 , SH-2 and the 1978 SH-1 have a better bottom bass end than the CS-5, 10 & CS-15 range. CS-15 can do bass but can create great sounds in the mid to high register and is very, very good at lead lines that really cut through. Very different sound compared to SHs, Pro Ones and Moogs. More Bandpassy filtery than Low Pass filtery. Basically I’m saying the low pass filter on this is pretty weak but the Band Pass and High Pass filters are good on this. One thing is that the build quality is bloody strong as is the keyboard quality. Sturdy buggers these. Even the single VCO CS5 was very good at lead lines that really would cut through when I used to gig it in the early 80s.
Great chaotic feel to the demo track at the end Alex! I have no personal experience with the 15 myself, only the 15D, but I really like the kind of dirty texture, or grit, that seems to penetrate every sound it makes. Seems like a lot of fun to use as a add-on (at least in my world of production) synth here and there to offset more polished sounds. Cheers!
Thanks Espen. Yes, it's a pretty flexible synth and translates to modern styles well, particularly if you want a bit of nastiness. After this video I still had it in the studio for a little while and it was interesting to compare to some original ARPs and the SE MidiMini clone I recently borrowed because those sound a lot "better", but the CS-15 has its own charms I think and it can do things those synths can't. It's still relatively cheap too.
I have a CS15. I find the exact opposite. I don't find it 'dirty' at all. It's a very clear sound, and the filter is smooth and tight rather than aggressive. It doesn't generate a load of nasty frequencies. It's clear and a touch understated. This makes it distinctive and depending what you want, it can be a real strength. It slots into a track far more easily. I have a Moog Subsequent 37 which in comparison to the CS15 sounds kind of overcooked.
One thing demonstrated well is how the CS-15 is a really fun performance synth. It has it's own way and it works well. It's kinda like performing with a Juno 106 and it's modulation controller.
@@AlexBallMusic yes, I sold mine 2006 I think... It bugged me that I couldn't get both oscillators through both filters like on the Korg MS-20... but apart from that it was a nice synth with a superb basic sound
As I wrote below your demo of the 30, Alex, I almost got hold of one of these in the early 2000s. I would’ve grabbed at it, only I wasn’t attracted to some of the roadblocks thrown up by those who owned it.
Mine has various mods... Each line has a different out, there´s a CV to filter input with a switch to control VCF1, VCF2 or both, there´s a serial/parallel filter routing switch. There´s also a Stereo/Mono switch which I don´t remember what´s for. :)
I guess that Stereo/Mono switch is... In mono, both lines go to the same mono output, in stereo each line goes to its individual out. I don't have my CS-15 here at hand to check it.
You know I am an 'analog myth' warrior. (I grew up with analogs at a time you wasn't even born - but since many years happy happy digital) But it must be said : I love each piece of your music on the end of your videos ! (which can be done better 100% digital) :-)
Better is subjective. What do you mean by better? Better at what? Not better at being a Yamaha synth. Which is what this is.. better at being digital and non analog yes. Wider range of options? Yes..but different ones. It's like saying bread is better than apples. Pointless
Great video again - still haven't recovered from seeing Geert Van Schlanger last week though!!! Right at the bottom of the CS range was the CS01 (definitely in the entry level/hobby category - without a full size keyboard and all that) - guess which one I've got!!! Might do a video of it some time and keep dreaming of better things.........
Ah yes, the CS-01. I guess that's more of an 80s synth, although it is still analogue at a time when Yamaha were abandoning that for linear FM. Geert - yeah that guy is a card isn't he. 😉
Oh my Darwin! it really roars!!! I have the Yamaha CS15D but I haven't play it for years as I have been living in Japan for 16 years and my synth is back at my parents house in Mexico... I miss my Yamaha mono synth!!! You made it sound great! Great song!!!
I've always wondered about exactly this synth! Brilliant demo, as usual. This synth sounds really really good! Thanks for this enthusiastic presentation! I could feel the excitement in your voice when you said "I've got hold of one" 😋😆 P.S. The knobs and sliding switches look strangely similar in shape and design to the ones on the Korg Mono/Poly...
Yeah, I borrowed one a year ago briefly but not for a stand alone demo. Glad to have one in for a proper video. Makes sense that it has the same switches as the Mono/Poly because they were only two years apart and they probably used the same suppliers.
Just being able to trigger each VCO independently should be enough to secure its heavyweight status and there's a hell of a lot more to commend it as well! I had absolutely no idea this was even possible - it's the first time I've looked at my MS-20 and thought "why can't you do that?" (although I did immediately feel a little guilty for throwing shade at it)
The first few patches gave me so many FM vibes but it’s not even an FM synth. You can totally see why they went that direction in the not so distant future
Great vid as ever. I have this synth, bought if for 45 quid at Hatfield Boot sale. Not great for bass, doesn't really have snappy envelopes or as you said oscillator sync. But is great, as you demonstrated, for FX, has great squelchy, farty filters. I found it's best though is for endless prog rock widley solos... or my near approximation anyhow.
£45! That's a bargain and a half. I found it was capable of big bass sounds, especially if you use the high-pass filter with resonance to find a nice spot low down to give a bump too. Or even two oscillators with low pass sounded pretty beefy. It's certainly great for FX and dual sounds that other monos can't do.
@@AlexBallMusic Ok cool I'll give that a go! It was my inexperience rather than the CS 15 then. I've had some great finds but took about 6 years of religiously going to 5 or 6 boot sales every weekend and spending thousands of £s on petrol to get them, still a great feeling when you dig them out though.
0:00 - Intro (detuned sawtooths)
0:28 - Welcome to the CS Series
1:44 - Sound 1: Saw Sequence
2:03 - Sound 1: Explanation
3:01 - Sound 2: Overrated Distortion
3:31 - Sound 2: Explanation
4:01 - Sound 3: What Drum Machine?
4:33 - Sound 3: Explanation
5:38 - Sound 4: Oh Wow!
5:55 - Sound 5: Oh Wow Too!
6:16 - Sound 4 & 5: Explanation
6:35 - Sound 6: Ceetar
6:50 - Sound 6: Explanation
8:12 - Sound 7: Whistle
8:28 - Sound 7: Explanation
9:04 - Summary
9:46 - Performance
Absolutely stellar video from you as always. I haven't watched one single video from you ever, that hasn't been completely original, amazingly creative, enjoyable and well paced, and simply put; spot-on.
Cheers 👍
-H.B.
hey, this is a weird request but can you never make a video on this thing called the micro genie? Thank you
@synthmalicious Is that a Lowrey instrument?
Hi Alex where did you find this synth
@@willfomes406 It's borrowed. There's people behind the scenes who help tremendously with this channel.
I never watch demonstration videos of synths I've demonstrated because I am typically so frustrated by them. But yours is, of course, and as per usual, just absolutely wonderful. In such a short span of time, you have really hit on the major points of this incredible synth.
But I'd expect nothing else. Perfect!
Having two resonant band pass filters is really one of the most enormously wonderful things about this synth, and because so few people really engage in actual synthesis, the ability to employ formant synthesis to create vocal sounds is often missed. So many say "oh, this is some old monophonic analog synth... they're so limited." And yet, you can emulate the human voice with this one! I celebrated this aspect in a demonstration I did for a synthesis series I did for the Bob Moog Foundation that still, somehow, didn't make people realize that this synth makes an SH-101 or a Rogue, or so many others look like boring buzzers in comparison.
Yes, I'll gladly defend that assertion.
So, everyone... if you're interested in synthesis instead of having simple synthesizers that have status reputations, buy this... they're cheap, they're amazing, and they'll not only make you sound wonderful, but teach you how to engage in complex synthesis!
And you might know someone who has done a series of in-depth explorations of this particular super-model.....
Thanks Marc, I'm glad it came across OK!
It took you a full series of videos to _really_ explain what this synth is capable of and do it justice and so I was trying to find a way to draw people's attention to the fact that this synth is _so_ flexible but whilst making only half a dozen sounds for a 10 minute video.
I almost felt rude to the CS-15 by stopping there. It's like it was saying "play with me more, you'll be surprised".
I can't think of many synths in this category with two state variable filters with discrete modulation. That alone opens up a whole range of sounds, exactly as you say. Watching your BMF formant demo I think I basically did exactly the same thing you did, ha. I'll add some links and things in the video description because I feel a little dirty.
I think it's just what happens with the great and unique functionality of this synth!
Also, I think this was the first synth I ever played where you could adjust pulse width modulation independently on oscillators.
If you want to find a synth demo channel that's actually interesting, I'd recommend checking out Jexus.
@@quantum.9883 Thanks but no thanks!
Being a software engineer as well as a (very) amateur composer, I have always supported digital instruments, recording, and sampling since they became available. Appeals to the tech nerd in me, I suppose. But there is something just ALIVE sounding about good old-fashioned analog. I mean, the world (and music itself) is analog, isn't it? Amazing little synth. Thanks, Alex!
Yep, it's an instrument in a very real sense. Very much alive.
The electricity is Surging through the electrical components themselves, and Moving. Analog instruments are literally Breathing, and I think that's what makes them sound so Alive. In the software world they talk about Machine Learning and AI... but I think the closest thing a machine can do to emulate Life is to Breathe and provoke/evoke an Emotional response/interactivity where- in a sense- the human player and the instrument become "one" in the symbiosis. I believe this is the true appeal of Analog Synthesizers.
I agree with the other comments. i have also noticed that digital hardware effects
and VST effects sound better on Analogue synth as well they seem to compliment
each other especially reverbs and choruses and delays etc etc.
got mine early 2018, always wanted one! the greatest mono synth in the world (for me)
Yeah the synth is cool, but have you ever watched a video by Alex Ball!? That guy is amazing!
Prefer Geert Van Schlänger myself.
I second that. Alex seems to compose on-the-fly. Lots of people can do that, but very few with such high quality.
I heard he's a bit of a wanker, ;O)
Why, yesh! I have eard im. Sho what?
Alex who? I suggest Ken Danger instead - heavy metal synthesist whose only problem is he always drinks a wrong drink.
On the surface this looks like Just Another Synth From The Analog Era™, but hot damn. This seems to be closer to modular of the time with the way the oscillators, filters and amplifiers are set up. You even get CV inputs! What a beast of a synth this is inside, when it looks a bit unassuming on the outside. That sitar sound too, damn.
Cheers for the great content, keep it up!
Exactly that. Like a not-modular, modular synth.
The CS30 is even better, stacked with goodies and those super-smooth filters (not self-oscillating by the way). You can be processing drums and have them triggering basslines and adding other weird shizz at the same time
...and the Oscar for perfectly demonstrating one of the greatest forgotten synths ever goes to.... ;-) Awesome video! You make the best ones!
😉
It's just got that gritty post-punk quality that synths 10 years later (or before) just didn't have. I love it. I LOVE it!!
Wow. Your final composition from 10:00 on sounds absolutely fabulous! Headphones are mandatory!
Funky jam at the end!
Just wanted to let you know - I found this a really great intro to the sounds this synth can make. I am super excited as I ordered one yesterday off Reverb so have been scouring TH-cam for inspiration. I can't wait to pair it with some of my more modern analogues. I really like the Ceetar sound you made and the tune you did at the end is very inspiring.
Jaw-dropping... What a synth!😍
Excellent video, as always. Thank you 😊
I like two schignals at the schame time myschelf, if you know what I'm schaying.
Geert Van Schlänger I like my tracks to be schlonger than this
Double Dutch eh?
Never cross the schtreams though Geert.
@@dionysiaex5538 Maybe you're into that. I'm not judging.
HE SCHPEAKS
I sold mine a couple of years ago. Regret kicked in instantly. I bought another a few weeks ago. I will never make the same mistake again.
Great demo , thanks for taking the time to upload.
We’ve all done it. Huge regret in hindsight. Sold my TR-909 & TR-808 about 1991 after I sampled them into my Roland Sampler and just used the samples which were great btw. Just found them too big at the time. Also have sold two Roland SH-2s, Oscar, Korg MonoPoly and a Jupiter 4. Doh! Good job I held onto 303, CR-78, 707, CR-8000, JP6 and Pro One. Thing is at the time they weren’t cherished or valuable.
OMG spectacular sound. What a beast. It’s as old as me but sounds much better. Thanks for sharing
I'm blown away! This synth looks way too unassuming, given its abilities. Excellent demo, thank you.
A great demo thanks ! You always succeed in making each synth shinning, with this special and absolutely delicious 70's touch. I used a CS-15 when it was released on the market but I had forgot about the big bass sounds it was able to produce. A great synth underrated. Thanks again !
Possibly my favourite mono-synth. sounds amazing and the routing is excellent.
Great demo Alex, made me fire up the CS15 and have a play!
Great demonstration Alex. The CS-15 is a beast of a mono synth. It's on my wanted list. Thanks for going over it's capabilities
Great demo Alex!! Yamaha's synths have always had their own sound character. Not just the DX series. You got some pretty cools sounds out of that thing and put together a cools 70s sounding tune with it!! Fantastic!! The late Billy Preston would have liked it too!
Every time I hear a CS15 it just confirmed how much I love the sound!
Great demo Alex - I am fortunate to own one and love playing it. The CS-15 is criminally underrated and overlooked in favour of more famous American mono's. The tricks up this synth's sleeve are its modular-like versatility, control and the dual channel architecture that you demonstrated so well. It can be played as a pair of CS-5s layered, or as a 2 osc 2 filter beast or anything in between. The CS-15 can be played truly duophonically using a 2 channel MIDI2CV converter or a sequencer like a Korg's little SQ1. It has individual modulation depth controls like an ARP Odyssey, missing only envelope modulation of the pitch and PWM. The Glide can be used as an embryonic envelope to slur the pitch. The Dual Channel feature is something the Minimoog, Odyssey and Pro-One cannot do - layer a flute with a trumpet each with their own articulation. I've even had the SQ1 sequencer play the upper channel while playing the lower channel via the keyboard. Guitars/Voice can be processed through the external input. Loved hearing someone else get some great sounds. Yes you can put this through a Strymon Blue Sky and do Bladerunner on it! Awesome synth. I was heart broken when my white panel Odyssey died before Analogue restoration became fashionable again, but the CS-15 more than fills that gap. Keep 'em coming!
Now I really want to see you playing the CS-30🙏👍
You still have amazing ideas when using yours synths. You know how to make them so expressive, so warm, so alive. Bravo, really good job with this baby CS, which is a boss finally!
Thanks. So they do sound warm and alive by themselves to be honest, but it's nice to take the steering wheel.
The CS-15 is very underrated I think.
This synth sounds amazing. Great flexibility and a sound designer’s dream!
A friend om mine has one of those elusive CS30’s back in the day. Man that thing was a beast. Would love to see you do your thing with one of those some time.
Anyways, as always, premium content right here. Sweet tune at the end. Keep it up my man 👌🤘
OMG i like the sound of this synth !
Me too.
You see now, I never forget about the CS series.
That’s awesome and inspiring! Love that sound! I’ve got a few synths from the 70s, the Yamaha SY-2, Jen SX1000 and Korg MS10. Love all three and am considering adding one from the CS series! 😊🎶🎉
Always loved the mono CS's! Indeed very underrated.
Wondeful demo as always :).
Cheers Xavier.
Ahh yes another underrated synth, made easy for a noob like me by this video.
Another video that's on the ball, Mr. Ball!
Yeah, very underrated. Glad it made sense from a viewer perspective. 🙂
Your sound is soo goood. What a great track at the end. Me and my neighbors like it a lot. Best wishes.
Thanks Peter 🙂
That outro jam is.. too good man. Really, a welcome surprise.
So many cool synths I don’t know, thanks a lot for bringing them up! Great demo and explanations 👍🏼
Not forgotten at all - I was playing mine a few minutes ago :))) Great synth.
🤝
Man, was expecting it to get so funky at the end. Nice!
I have one, but I've not been using it much for some time. This video perhaps has given me some renewed appreciation for it. It certainly has a wonderful clear sound, and it fits into mixes very comfortably, without taking over. Time to turn it on again...
The “What Drum Machine?” sound is so great. Reminds me of the early Human League “drums,” although they most likely did that with their Roland System 100.
That was some stanky funky groove at the end, well done. Bootsy Collins approved.
I just love the Yamaha CS synths! Thanx for making another great synth video Alex!
Thanks Michael. Yes, the CS synths are a really cool range.
Everytime I watch a new Alex Ball video, I get inspired enough to work on a new track.
Please don't stop uploading, my creativity will run out :(
That's a really great thing to hear, thank you!
Whenever I get that awful nauseous feeling in my stomach that tells me I really ought to be getting creative - to at least in some small way, justify my possession of classic analogue synths (that others would do great things with) - I just watch one of Alex Ball's videos and feel that there's really no good reason whatsoever for me to even bother.
I'm legit in love with this synthesizer. Wish the SKs had some of that.
All those black panel synths are so pretty in such a functional utilitarian design style. There's something so interacting with early science fiction film machinery about them. This visual embodiment of applied mathematics.
Very nice sound. Like the CS series.
Yeah, very cool synths.
A CS-15 + Roland RS.505 above a Fender Rhodes mk1 88 with a Lexicon Prime Time 93 and Dynacord VRS-23 (also on top of the Rhodes) is the core of my keyboard rig.
The CS-15 is so good. I'll buy a second and mod/automate/CV-everything on it soon.
Awesome! I just bought a CS-10 a couple months ago. It’s a bit more basic than this but still has that classic Yamaha CS filter, envelopes so snappy they included 5x modes to slow them down to normal range, LFO that extends into audio rates, and springy keys that are really fun to play. Found the old guy at a second hand store for a really good price and thought I can always flip it if I don’t get on with it, but it turns out I like it a lot, and it’s staying.
Loved the presentation.
Always wanted one of these :)
Think this one is for sale...
CS-15s are pretty easy to find and usually not that pricey (relative to the rest of the vintage market madness).
@sneakydisco You got an amazing deal!
@sneakydisco Funny. To me a synth with built-in speakers screams “crappy home keyboard” and I almost certainly don’t want it (ARP 2600 notwithstanding).
Such an awesome synth!
Entertaining and informative as ever Alex, thank you.
This is great. After seeing Bitchin Bajas use this synth and watching Marc Doty's videos a few weeks ago I found one on Ebay with case for a reasonable price. It sounds so good. It has a very clear tone which can sound modern while never sounding harsh. I really don't know why this synth is such a sleeper compared to the other mono's of the era. Thank you for all the patch ideas, I'm going to give them try.
Amazing video as always, and a gorgeous piece of music at the end ! X🤘🏻X
I bought one of these and a moog source for 60 quid the pair around 1987. Cracking synth.
I have one. Would never part with it. It pairs very nicely with my Odysey. You can have the top row playing a sequence AND external input and still play the keyboard independently for the bottom row. My favorite feature though is the Brilliance slider. It can be like a crossfader between the two oscs and it can be amazing for "morphing" of tones.
Yes, that's one thing I thought about but didn't cover - a sequence and another line at the same time. I did the dual drum thing instead.
another great video Alex, thank you
I had one and loved it, chopped it in for a Juno 60 back in the eighties. Would love one again, but not at these current prices.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very cool Sounds!!!!!
Really love the CS series. Those synths just sit in a mix beautifully and not hideously priced (thinking 5, 15, 30 not the CS80 of course) and as you say potentially a bit forgotten.
Yeah, dying to try the 30 and 30L in particular having played this. A friend has one funnily enough, so might happen some time. As you say, these lower CS monos are somewhat forgotten, especially given how they stack up against some vintage synths that people fight over.
I bought a second-hand CS-5 back in 1988. And still have it. It sounds not bad for its size...
Damn this is like an SH-09 with more functionality, This thing also happens to remind me of the Polivoks although given the CS-15 has two signal paths it's odd to see it isn't duophonic like the Polivoks.
Would _love_ to try a Polivoks. That synth really fascinate me.
It is duophonic but only if via the cv/gate...you can sequence one path and play the other
Roland SH-09 , SH-2 and the 1978 SH-1 have a better bottom bass end than the CS-5, 10 & CS-15 range. CS-15 can do bass but can create great sounds in the mid to high register and is very, very good at lead lines that really cut through. Very different sound compared to SHs, Pro Ones and Moogs. More Bandpassy filtery than Low Pass filtery. Basically I’m saying the low pass filter on this is pretty weak but the Band Pass and High Pass filters are good on this. One thing is that the build quality is bloody strong as is the keyboard quality. Sturdy buggers these. Even the single VCO CS5 was very good at lead lines that really would cut through when I used to gig it in the early 80s.
Great chaotic feel to the demo track at the end Alex! I have no personal experience with the 15 myself, only the 15D, but I really like the kind of dirty texture, or grit, that seems to penetrate every sound it makes. Seems like a lot of fun to use as a add-on (at least in my world of production) synth here and there to offset more polished sounds. Cheers!
Thanks Espen. Yes, it's a pretty flexible synth and translates to modern styles well, particularly if you want a bit of nastiness. After this video I still had it in the studio for a little while and it was interesting to compare to some original ARPs and the SE MidiMini clone I recently borrowed because those sound a lot "better", but the CS-15 has its own charms I think and it can do things those synths can't. It's still relatively cheap too.
@@AlexBallMusic Yes, they WERE Alex, prior to 21/2/20.... thanks!
I have a CS15. I find the exact opposite. I don't find it 'dirty' at all. It's a very clear sound, and the filter is smooth and tight rather than aggressive. It doesn't generate a load of nasty frequencies. It's clear and a touch understated. This makes it distinctive and depending what you want, it can be a real strength. It slots into a track far more easily. I have a Moog Subsequent 37 which in comparison to the CS15 sounds kind of overcooked.
Great video - I like your sounds a lot!
One thing demonstrated well is how the CS-15 is a really fun performance synth. It has it's own way and it works well. It's kinda like performing with a Juno 106 and it's modulation controller.
The end song is very cool! Thank you. :)
I had one years ago! Nice vid!
Thanks Christian. I've seen your CS-5 and 10 demos (great as usual) but don't think I've seen you demo the 15? Is it long gone?
@@AlexBallMusic yes, I sold mine 2006 I think... It bugged me that I couldn't get both oscillators through both filters like on the Korg MS-20... but apart from that it was a nice synth with a superb basic sound
Wicked stuff! Great sounds from this little beauty. I had no idea it was so flexible and so unique. Thanks for the education!
Yes, somewhat modular signal path, but hard wired with switching.
Very cool.
Brilliant as ever
Damn that track at the end is so good, I've come back to listen to it many times..
Cheers!
As I wrote below your demo of the 30, Alex, I almost got hold of one of these in the early 2000s. I would’ve grabbed at it, only I wasn’t attracted to some of the roadblocks thrown up by those who owned it.
Mine has various mods... Each line has a different out, there´s a CV to filter input with a switch to control VCF1, VCF2 or both, there´s a serial/parallel filter routing switch. There´s also a Stereo/Mono switch which I don´t remember what´s for. :)
I guess that Stereo/Mono switch is... In mono, both lines go to the same mono output, in stereo each line goes to its individual out. I don't have my CS-15 here at hand to check it.
Sounds like a useful upgrade! I wasn't aware of mods to it but a few people have mentioned it which is really cool.
You know I am an 'analog myth' warrior. (I grew up with analogs at a time you wasn't even born - but since many years happy happy digital) But it must be said : I love each piece of your music on the end of your videos ! (which can be done better 100% digital) :-)
Better is subjective. What do you mean by better? Better at what? Not better at being a Yamaha synth. Which is what this is.. better at being digital and non analog yes. Wider range of options? Yes..but different ones. It's like saying bread is better than apples. Pointless
Great Video and an Awesome Break Down 10:46 😎😎
Great outro!
Thanks!
Cheers Alex, I had assumptions about the smaller CS synths, consider them reset. Chunky tune to finish, lovely, lovely stuff. :)
My work here is done.
Well done! More sound design demos on this would be awesome.
A happy CS-15, I can assure. Nice job!
I have a CS-5 and I love it!
Slicky and lushy performance !
Great animal !
Great animal indeed!
Incredible what was going on with the drums. Nice performance at the end. Subd.
Cool sounding synth. I like the track at the end as well.
Thanks Jon.
Great video again - still haven't recovered from seeing Geert Van Schlanger last week though!!! Right at the bottom of the CS range was the CS01 (definitely in the entry level/hobby category - without a full size keyboard and all that) - guess which one I've got!!! Might do a video of it some time and keep dreaming of better things.........
Ah yes, the CS-01. I guess that's more of an 80s synth, although it is still analogue at a time when Yamaha were abandoning that for linear FM.
Geert - yeah that guy is a card isn't he. 😉
@@AlexBallMusic Good point, the CS-01 was an 80s synth, guess I got mine in 1984ish
Amazing show again Alex, thank you! ;-)
Oh my Darwin! it really roars!!! I have the Yamaha CS15D but I haven't play it for years as I have been living in Japan for 16 years and my synth is back at my parents house in Mexico... I miss my Yamaha mono synth!!! You made it sound great! Great song!!!
Vertical crazy synth kkkkk awesome
Ops very
The sound of Alphawezen - A Yamaha CS mono is their main ax (songs like Electricity Drive, Wald 2, Frost)..
So funky, i love that :)
Two signal paths in one synth are pretty cool.
Actual synth used in Aphex twin's Selected Ambient Works 2 🤯
1:44 is so LCD Soundsystem-esque omg, love the sound of this machine overall
I've always wondered about exactly this synth! Brilliant demo, as usual. This synth sounds really really good! Thanks for this enthusiastic presentation! I could feel the excitement in your voice when you said "I've got hold of one" 😋😆
P.S. The knobs and sliding switches look strangely similar in shape and design to the ones on the Korg Mono/Poly...
Yeah, I borrowed one a year ago briefly but not for a stand alone demo. Glad to have one in for a proper video.
Makes sense that it has the same switches as the Mono/Poly because they were only two years apart and they probably used the same suppliers.
Really interesting synth thank you so much for sharing :D !!
Love those distorted grungy sounds!
Yeah, grrrr!
@@AlexBallMusic TRLOL. You're a character.
Great video of a great synth. Thanks!
Fab as always
Just being able to trigger each VCO independently should be enough to secure its heavyweight status and there's a hell of a lot more to commend it as well! I had absolutely no idea this was even possible - it's the first time I've looked at my MS-20 and thought "why can't you do that?" (although I did immediately feel a little guilty for throwing shade at it)
Yeah, man. Great synth.
Just got a CS5 today. Very different from my Axxe. Particularly like the audio range LFO.
The first few patches gave me so many FM vibes but it’s not even an FM synth. You can totally see why they went that direction in the not so distant future
Great vid as ever. I have this synth, bought if for 45 quid at Hatfield Boot sale. Not great for bass, doesn't really have snappy envelopes or as you said oscillator sync. But is great, as you demonstrated, for FX, has great squelchy, farty filters. I found it's best though is for endless prog rock widley solos... or my near approximation anyhow.
£45! That's a bargain and a half.
I found it was capable of big bass sounds, especially if you use the high-pass filter with resonance to find a nice spot low down to give a bump too. Or even two oscillators with low pass sounded pretty beefy.
It's certainly great for FX and dual sounds that other monos can't do.
@@AlexBallMusic Ok cool I'll give that a go! It was my inexperience rather than the CS 15 then. I've had some great finds but took about 6 years of religiously going to 5 or 6 boot sales every weekend and spending thousands of £s on petrol to get them, still a great feeling when you dig them out though.
gosh, this sounds awesome
Cool isn't it!