The CS-30 is a large, knob infested, black analog synthesizer with traditional features. It is a monophonic synth with extensive analog control and shaping. It has two oscillators with separate outputs, two VCF resonant filters, two VCA amplifiers and three envelopes. It also features a ring modulator, external audio triggering and a simple but useful 8-step sequencer for use as a sketch pad, pattern or arpeggio effect. The CS-30 does not have any on-board effects, memory nor MIDI. Although the CS-30 is just a monophonic synth with a short 44 note keyboard it offers a lot of programming flexibility, and plenty of knobs.

Extended information

The CS-30 is a classic subtractive, analog synthesizer. The sections of the synth are those that will be familiar to anyone used to analog programming. However, Yamaha didn't make it easy for the beginner. The layout of the synth is less than intuitive, and you often lack some sort of visual guidance to figure out what is going on. Eventually you get the hang of it. You can see for yourself now.

The CS-30 is a synth that has a dual set of everything, beginning with the oscillators and ending with two separate outputs. Therefore the synth may be played as two synths in one box, if you desire so. This opens for some very interesting stereophonic patches, based on for instance slight differences in envelope times, or on the use of different modus operandi of the filters.

But the two sets of synth modules also interact, in interesting, unexpected, and sometimes illogical ways, and this is where it becomes really interesting. There is a wealth of modulation possibilities. Some of these are unusual, and have tremendous effect.

Also, the modules of the two sets are not entirely identical, meaning that each set of modules has its own quirks, and when the two quirky sets interact, you just get something even quirkier. If this isn't enough, the CS-30 has a number of control voltage and trigger inputs and outputs, as well as an external signal in. And if this isn't enough yet, then there is also an internal 8-step sequencer to make things even more exciting. You sure have a lot of goodies in this package!

It seems that Yamaha decided to use a system that enables audio outputs to be used as modulation souces. A very good decision in my humble opinion. This means that you will often see the traditional LFO and envelope modulation sources side by side with audio sources. This is a very fascination aspect of the synth, as some of the most complex sounds usually come from modulation of audio with other audio frequencies. This synth has it galore. One thing I have heard people do is to take the audio output and run it back into the external input. This may create anything from feedback and distortion to ring modulation, depending on how you apply the external input.

Another interesting design decision was that properties of signals are not decided at the source of the signal, but rather at the target of the signal. This means, for instance, that you can use more than one oscillator waveform, that you may use both polarities of envelopes, or you may use any LFO waveform anywhere. Cool idea. It also explains why there are so many knobs on this synth!

Technical specifications

# Polyphony - (1) Monophonic
# Oscillators - 2 VCOs
# Arpeg/Seq - Sequencer (Only 8 notes, 1 pattern)
# Effects - None
# Keyboard - 44 Keys
# Memory - None
# Control - CV/Gate, External Trigger

Information above is courtesy of www.vintagesynth.com