Yamaha CS1x Synthesizer

July 12, 1996 -- Yes, knobs are back in style with the new Yamaha CS1x, a real-time synthesizer featuring analog-like voice editing control, but at a remarkable price - (list price) $799.95 - that will appeal to first-time buyers, desktop music hobbyists and serious amateurs.

In short, the CS1x takes the best of analog - simplicity of use, natural interactivity, thick sound, and knobs - and combines it with the best of digital-reliable pitch, plenty of memory, one-touch setting reconfigurations, hundreds of voices, MIDI, etc. The result is a powerful interactive experience in which users can simply turn knobs to control the sound in real time without steep learning curves, complex operations, or pages and subpages of hidden menus. And being that it's digital, data can be easily saved for future use.

"The CS1x has a very high initial fun factor," said Avery Burdette, product manager at Yamaha. "For example, when you turn it on, the first sound is a drum kit with the arpeggiator already programmed, so that you simply press keys on the keyboard, and it immediately responds by playing an extremely funky and addictive rhythm. This is just one of 256 performance experiences that makes the CS1x so engaging. If a musician is looking for the best first synthesizer to buy, we believe this is it. With it, they can learn more about how synthesizers work than from any other similarly-priced instrument on the market today."

An important feature on the CS1x is a "Scene Controller," which allows instant and dramatic shifts to be created in the atmosphere and timbre of the sound. "This instrument permits a kind of sound motion, movement and morphing that has never been available before at this price point," notes Burdette. "It can create an infinite variety of permutations of its exceptionally mellow and rich sounds. Not to mention the fact that you can simply reach up and grab a sound control knob and turn the sound into something else immediately. The musical possibilities are immense."

Other notable features of the 61-key, 32-note polyphonic Yamaha CS1x include 480 normal voices and 11 drum kits for Yamaha XG format music production and playback; 128 preset Performance programs, many of which are suited for Dance and Techno music, as well as 128 user Performance program memories; 30 versatile arpeggiator six real-time control knobs (including two assignable knobs) which provide intuitive voice editing control over up to 4 voices; versatile arpeggiator functions, and a TO HOST serial computer interface. There is even a Line Input for adding accompaniment or sampled sound; for example, from the Yamaha SU10 Sampling Unit or QY22 Music Sequencer, which can be conveniently placed on the built-in shelf atop the CS1x.

For more information on the Yamaha CS1x Control Synthesizer, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Audio, Guitar and Synthesizer Division, Digital Musical Instruments Department, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011. Visit their web site at www.yamaha.com.