Yamaha CS-80

About

The Yamaha CS-80 is a legendary analog synthesizer introduced in 1977, renowned for its rich soundscapes and versatility. It features 8-voice polyphony with dual layers, allowing for complex sound creation. The instrument includes a 61-note keyboard with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch, enabling expressive performances. A ribbon controller provides additional control for pitch bends and glissandos. The CS-80 offers a range of waveforms, including sawtooth, square, and sine, along with noise and pulse-width modulation capabilities. The CS-80's architecture includes two high-pass and two low-pass filters per voice, with independent ADSR envelopes for the filter and amplifier. It also features chorus and tremolo effects, adding depth to its sound. Despite its initial lukewarm reception due to its size and cost, the CS-80 has become iconic, especially after its use in soundtracks like "Blade Runner" by Vangelis. Its influence extends to numerous artists across genres, cementing its status as a pre-eminent analog synthesizer.