Yamaha CS1x

Editing is fairly straight-forward, with parameters such as Attack ,Decay, Sustain, LFO, etc., and on-board effects displayed on a grid that can be selected with a rotary switch and a series of toggling buttons. The editing interface is very reminiscent of Sequential Circuits synths, with two of the six knobs to the left (assign 1 and 2) dedicated to adjusting each parameter - since I also have an SC Six-Trak, I can very readily note the similarity. Would have made more sense to me, however, to place the assign knobs nearer to the parameter selection interface (they're nearly on opposite ends), but otherwise its fairly intuitive.

Presets vary depending upon the type of sound. Bear in mind this is NOT a VA synth...its a digital sample-playback machine that has analog-style controls. That said, the pads and synth leads/bass are pretty solid, and with a little tweaking you can approximate classic analog sounds decently. The acoustic GM sounds are *OK*, but nothing extraordinary. The Pianos are fair, and one nice aspect is that you can emulate a sustain pedal using the real-time attack/decay knobs. Broadly speaking for acoustic instrument emulation, I think Roland and Alesis do a slightly better job than Yamaha. Organs are decent, but really shine if you apply some of the on-board effects, particularly rotary and distortion. One thing I do not like is the application of DSP hall effects on nearly every acoustic preset, but this can be easily tweaked out.

Manual's OK to get started, but can be tedious if too much attention is paid to it. Best bet is to skim it first, then tinker with the controls to gain hands-on experience with the editing.

I believe there is an open source patch editor available online, but I've never used it, and frankly, the user-friendliness of the on-board editing is decent enough that I'm unsure as to how valuable the software editor would be.

Polyphony is 32, easily enough for my purposes, and since this is not a workstation/arranger (and therefore, no sequencer), I feel its sufficient. The lack of sequencing and expansion are what bring my rating down in this category.

Built-in effects are a strength of this synth - they're superb IMO. In conjunction with the organs and synth patches, you can produce some really marvelous sounds. I've been able to emulate John Lord-style distorted organs almost to a tee simply with the on-board effects. The sound engineer at one of my band's gigs (about 10 years ago) was floored by this patch.

Since this was primarily a board I used for live performance, I can't speak much for the MIDI capability. Judging only by the features and the few instances where I've used the MIDI functions, it seems like it would make a decent controller.

Keyboard action is adequate, neither excellent nor bad in my view as this is obviously not intended to simulate the weighted action of a piano.

Reacts to velocity.

Although the synth was designed for techno/electronica, and works ideally for this as I've dabbled with recording in the genre myself, I beg to differ with anyone who doesn't believe its good in a rock band setting. It is a really fantastic and versatile live instrument, and is useful in both genres. I would, however, look elsewhere if Classical is your specialty.

See 'ease of use' for acoustic instrument emulation.

See 'features' for my take on the built in effects.

Rock solid..had this board in long-term storage for over 5 years, and it powered right up with the original battery. Banged the crap out of it in a padded gig-bad for live shows for 2 years, and it never complained. My only two qualms are with the plastic knobs themselves (I've had to replace one that broke) and the power supply was junk, but remedied with a replacement from the 'Shack'. Otherwise extremely reliable, enough for live use without a backup.

Have never dealt with Yamaha, so I couldn't say.

If it did die on me, I would probably replace rather than repair it given how inexpensive they've become over the years.

This is a great board to get a comprehensive palette of sampled analog, ethereal synth sounds at a bargain-basement price (they seem to run about $1-200 now). If you're looking for pianos, clavichord and harpsichord, however, its adequate...but nothing out of this world.

Its a very useful machine overall. Certainly contributes, rather than inhibits, recording.

VA's were too expensive for my budget at the time (97...I was therefore looking at JP-8000 and Nord Lead), so I got this instead. Too bad the Alesis Ion wasn't around at that time.

Recently I found tape recordnings which I did with my ex CS1X back in 1997. Almost 10 years later I am writing a review from memory, simply because the blue box deserves it.
Of course this is simple to use and even simple to program. There are not so many options which consume your time. More or less play and enjoy. Program editing means layering up to 4 samples and add some effects.

Compared to the budget synths you can buy today, e.g. Alesis Micron, MicroKorg or Xiosynth the CS1X virtually has no features. But at least it has...
- a decent filter
- some basic effects
- extremely cool design and high fun factor

Some - but not many - very good sounds (maybe 20 of 128 presets). At that time I was in love with these. Unfortunately the ability to create your own sounds is very limited. The drums and GM instruments suck, too. When compared to a Waldorf Microwave which was also very popular at that time the CS1X wasn't much of a synth.

nothing to complain - its built to last 100 years.

Time and again I feel sorry for selling the CS1X after only 2 years but at that time I needed some cash for a bass guitar or drum machine. Now I know I should have kept it.
In the end I got bored by the CS1X mostly because it was not that piece of gear that I really needed.
Nevertheless the CS1X was a very cool and useful instrument which I've been missing ever since although I own a much better VA synth today.
Long live the CS1X.

OK so... the presets sound cool. Some are great, some not so. Plenty of classic sounds are emulated
Editing patches is very immediate with the 6 control knobs, then a button matix for other edits. This is ok I supose

I use this as a live synth. For this it is great. I have found using the CS1X in a MIDI setup a real hassle. Only one voice at a time you see

Fantastic... Ten years of problem free use. It has had drinks spilt on it, was kept in a softcase for the majority of the time, no trouble. The only thing i would suggest is to have a spare power adaptor, these break quite easily

Yamaha were rubbish when I first got this and wanted some advice on useing it in a MIDI environment.

If it was lost or stolen, I would get another for the price you can pay now. I love this synth to bits, I have outgrown it's functionality now but love it regardless

CS1x was Yamaha's early responce for market demands for "analog" synthesizers- followed by AN1x. Aimed a "budget synth" it scored Synth of the Year for Keyboard Magazine and Future Music.

In few words: You get what you pay for, and in this case, that wasn't much.

Presets are really ok, they demonstrate every aspect of this machine, however they tend sometimes to be a little "dreamy" and tend to emulate various other synths like Prophets, Wavestation, SY...

Editing is pretty straightforward, however several parameters aren't covered by "matrix" on the front panel and need to be set explicitly by external editor.

New units came with ordinary, well written manual which briefli described everything important, but also with Blue Book, a really neat tutorial, introducing to "hidden" features of this device.

The engine is, like on most low budget synths from Yamaha at that time, taken from MU-50, enchanced by additional waveforms. Therefore it has a CS1x performance section, but is also a full featured XG engine- which you can use simultaneously. The polyphony is 32, but drops down pretty fast as most XG sounds use two waveforms. The nice addition is in form of 6 multipurpose knobs (by default defined as attack, release, CC95, cutoff, resonance, and CC96- but that's freely definable), and ability to store two settings of those in so called "scenes"+ seamless switching between them with modulation wheel.
There's also an arpeggiator, which does excellent job.

The effect processor is again shared with MU series, and it has 3 separate sections (Reverb, Chorus, Variation). They sound neither bad, nor extraoridinary: just ok.

As this was a "budget" synth, most care has been taken of the guts, leaving the exterior "cheap": therefore, you have a cheap plastic keyboard (hell to play, but still works, doesn't jam or squeak), rubber switches and plastic knobs. But it doesn't mean it's not reliable- my was working since I bought it in 98- without even changing battery. There's no patch storage (user patches)- everything must be edited by MIDI, or within performances. You won't be given any expansion option either.

As for MIDI, it's XG- any questions about that (out-of-the-box it responds to 14 CCs)? Regardless of mode you'll get 16 part multitimbral MU-50 compatible section too (in performance mode limited to 12; switching it off is tricky- you will have to actually switch off the parts).

As XG machine, it covers all sorts of GM/XG related timbres, and adding some twist to it in performance mode. As CS1x, it's really capable little beast.
So:
A performance consists of 4 layers=standard synthesizer blocks.
While pretty minimalistic, it's pretty enough: sample based oscillator, with 5 stage pitch envelope and realtime panning (also has random pan),
put thru 12dB/oct digital filter with ADSR envelope (buggy, I might add). Then there's an ADSR amp envelope and fx (in performance mode variation effect is only switchable, and cannot be used in multitimbral section). You also have a single LFO section per layer/patch, with really good sync and ability to modulate pitch, amp and filter. There's S&H too.

It does respond very well, even too well, to velocity. Aftertouch is worse, there's a choice of velocity curve, but because of poor quality of keyboard, doesn't do any good.

Output quality is really good, noise level is low (S/N 85dB), it does tend to be a little to muddy in the middles but you can easily correct it with EQ. The quality of samples spreads from excellent to rather average- but still does much of a punch. The quality of playback is good, however you will notice aliasing noise pretty often here.

Looks fragile, but isn't. Went on vacation with me several times and still works great.

Hadn't had a problem, people at Yamaha were very helpful.

Definitely a musician's friend, it's cheap, it has that bang for the buck. I'd love to keep it for all times. It's still, the second being the Wavestation, the main engine in my music.

Very simple synth - that's both a good and bad thing. I got this one used without a manual but didn't really need one. I downloaded one from Yamaha eventually. If you ever used a real synthesizer before you can figure this one out. I like the real time controls. When it came out this was one of the only "analog" style synths with this many knobs at a bargain price.

Cheap, chinsy keyboard - action is non-weighted and springy. This keyboard is not very flexible as a controller. No expansion capabilities. No sequencer, basic arpeggiator presets.

This keyboard is only good for electronic synth sounds. The general MIDI sounds are not any better than a cheap sound card. The pianos, strings, brass, drums, etc. are all terrible. However the analog and electronics synths are great and you have some real-time control with the knobs. The electric pianos are good and you can get some great cheesy organ sounds. Effects are good for a unit of this caliber.

It's easy to loose knobs, and the pots for volume and control are starting to get scratchy and hard to move now after a few years. The whole thing is plastic and feels like a portasound keyboard, but I love it for the few synth sounds that are good. This is a cheap, semi-disposable board.

Yamaha is a very good company to deal with. They have many authorized service centers.

I had used this board before when it forst came out. When I needed a cheap synth for some fusion gigs I bought a used one, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if it died and I had to buy something else.

I own the Cs1x Editor , but I can use my Blue Baby blind. Got it since 3 Years...
The Matrix looks at first a little confusing , but after working with the Manual , it all becomes clear.
the Manual is worked out for me.....

32 voices , wich usually is okay , except you Layer up some bigger String sounds with long Release. But usually I can work with the 32 Voices.

The Effects are kinda the Synthesis of this Sample based Synthesizer.
Usually the Sounds suck without using the effects.
As example , I Layer 4 different Strings and put Chorus4 on it wich
makes it thicker. The Delays are actually not bad.
It got some more specialized Effects like Rotary Speaker , WahWah
and a very decent Phaser.
Like I say , the Effects should be seen as Synthesis.

No expansions like on the EMus or the new Yamahas.

The Keys are not hammer weighted , but for Techno/Trance Producers that should not be a big deal.
I think for starters the Cs1x is awesome for controlling Software Synths like Native Instruments Pro5 , the Waldorf PPG or whatever
VST Synth you got. Plus you get a a decent Samnple based Unit , so
when you get fed up using the Computerscreen you can go Nuts with your Synth...plus , it got some Drumkits wich are helpfull when nothing else is available...

Realistic ? This is not an Sampler , Korg Triton or Yamaha Motif...its an TECHNO-TRANCE-HOUSE Performance Sample Unit.

So , when your starting out making Electronic Music wich is more Happy then you should maybe get the Cs1x.
For Drum & Bass , Hardcore or 2Step you maybe should look for something different , becouse the Cs1x got a pretty Warm happy Sound
to it , its very hard to make the Cs1x sound Undergroundy.
When you own some good Outboard Effects or DX-PlugInns like Waves Gold Bundel ( wich I own. ) then you can make , with some work , the Cs1x even sound hard & experimental.
But like I say , its good for Trance or Housy Happy Techno stuff.
I will give it a six for stand alone , with some Outboard Effects I would give it a 8.

It has a nice look to it and it seems build very good...

I just EMailed Yamaha once , and they actually EMailed me back with the Info I needed.

I might would get a different Unit , the Yamaha Cs2x or the An1x.
I got very use to my Cs1x do , and I would miss it. I use it to play my VST Synths , my Yamaha DX 200 and the Roland SH 32 on the Cs1x Keys...so its kinda my Dance Masterkeyboard.
I still use it for some Stringsounds...
I rather do would like to have the Yamaha An1x since its an Virtual Analog and the Keys are better.

But still , for the Money you get an good deal. When you produce Trance Music , this Synth would be a good start for your Setup.
Add for example a Korg Electribes Model , a Yamnaha Dx200 and a Yamaha AN 200 and you got an good Trance/ Techno Setup.

Its an awesome starter Synth , and Expierenced Producer with good Outboard Effects CAN make the Cs1x Sound decent.
Its a good Extra to every Dancefloor based Project....

I bought this unit second hand. Two of my friends got one and I liked the synth for its simplicity and small size.

The synth is very easy to use. It has very few knobs. Also, editing does not go deep. I won't go into details on how easy it is. Just a brief description:

You can edit all parameters with just a few buttons. All editable parameters are written as text on the right side of the synth. You can select groups of parameters and edit them +1/-1 easily. You've also got a numeric keypad to enter values.

There's one user bank with 128 sounds, one preset bank with an equal numer of non-editable sounds. The arpeggiator can be switched on and off with a button press. This button is yellow and cannot be missed.

Still not convinced? Try it yourself.

Ployphony is 32 notes. Enough, because you won't use it as a soundgenerator attached to a sequencer. This is mainly a dance oriented machine. Use a sampler for the main song structure and this synth to play over it. Just leads and pads.

The keyboard is rather flimsy, but adequate. Not as good as a semi-weighted board, which I like more. It does have effects, but they are average. Good enough for the sounds though. You could always add an external effects processor.

This synth is not expandable. No ROM cards can be used and there's no way to save sounds on disc. It has MIDI in and out though. There are also three pedal inputs to use. The keyboard is touch sensitive, but not to after touch.

There are some great sounds in it. Most of them are unusable for me. So I use it more as a masterkeyboard with external modules. Great thing that it's just as expensive as a cheap MIDI controller but has its own sounds.

The arpeggiator tend to be boring. The one in, say an E-mu XL-1, is much better.

This synth appears to be great for dance music. I don't create that kind of music. I make rock, pop and metal. And this is not the machine for that kind of stuff.

I won't throw it off the stairs, as it is plastic. But so far no problems with it. No weak keys or crashes. Great unit.

Not dealt with them.

Great value when bought cheap. Still much cheaper than a second hand CS2X. Great when you need a portable masterkeyboard but won't use the features of a real one (like the new Evolution MK-461C). It's just as big and it has it's own sounds, which is always handy.

I'm a bass player myself and do synths to create compositions or add some extra depth to a gig (live). I use only a few sounds from the CS1X and the other sounds come from Korg Wavestation SR, Korg 03R/W, E-mu Proteus 2000 and E-mu XL-1 modules. So I do not need a fancy synth as a masterkeyboard. That's why I value the CS1X highly.

Pretty easy to use, a lot easier than some of the older Rolands and synths. The printed matrix is very nice.

It's got it all...I can make this thing do just about anything other synths out there can do. The real time cut-off,res,release... knobs are essential.

This thing sounds amazing. Effects processing built in can ussually do the job, altho I would use a reverb send on the mix. Even the GM sounds are awesome. Sound 100% more real than a lot of synths out there for this price.

Had ONE problem with it overheating. Never had the problem again, owned it 2 years.

Never dealt with

Buy it. It will amaze you, I would definately recomend this to a first time synth buyer. Its not expensive at all, and it will not hurt you to have one around. Might even become your main controller. I fell in love with mine.

When I first bought this keyboard back in '98, it took me only a few minutes to learn all that was needed to learn. Just a great keyboard all around.

For the price (esp. back when I first bought it), this thing was loaded. 32-note polyphony. Multiple tweak knobs that can send and respond to MIDI. It would be nice to have more features - such as expansion and more polyphony, but at this price, it might be asking too much.

I like the way the keys feel - not weighted. Also, the sounds are more than adequate. Despite their lack of realism, I like how the piano and string sounds have a bit of warmth to them.

The only problems that I have with it are the arpeggiator lacking modification and the distortion getting too "hot," but both problems can be easily worked around.
As you can tell, this keyboard was made for Electronica.

Let's see...my ex-wife took a baseball bat to it, and I was still able to use it as a tone generator/knob box.

Yamaha support was found lacking. Luckily for the public, they are rarely needed.

I put my money where my mouth is - I bought another one when my ex-wife put a baseball bat to it. And, I've been happy with that investment ever since. For the small price that I've paid for it, it works wonders. All the problems that I run into with it can be easily worked around.

After a day or two most functions are easy to find without the manual!

Enough polyphony for me. Effects within the synth is enough for my needs.

Some sounds could be better. But I think most sounds have a very nice feeling to it anyway! They fit my needs.

I think the synth is made of too much fragile plastic, but I've dropped it accidently a few times and it still works fine like an atomic clock.

I owned this synth for about a month now and now I'm deeply in love with my blue box and I will NOT sell it soon.