Looks Like a Toy - Sounds Awesome!

A look at the Yamaha CS01 Micro-Monophonic Synthesizer from 1982. This was one of Yamaha's last analogue synthesizers and was part of an affordable range called the "Producer Series".
It looks and feels like a toy, but looks can be deceiving...

[@aleksamrkela831]

"Even the smallest synthesizer can change the course of the future." - Galadriel, "The Lord of the Ring Modulators"

[@AlexBallMusic]

Frodosynthesis.

[@rozzgrey801]

You shall not low pass!

[@rachelar]

😂

[@TheLarryBrown]

If we make cheap synths, then every no talent would have one. It would be like a schmee for all.

[@Danny-nm9sn]

Oh my precious CS01. Don't laugh at My precious

[@dervishcapkiner6679]

This is a great example that it's the creativity and expertise behind the instrument that counts.

[@AlexBallMusic]

That and the ability to control one's laughter.

[@MrMisterMist]

Polishing turds is a craft, Alex can make turds sound like a golden nuggets.

[@fender1000100]

@@MrMisterMist The greatness is in this synth already Mr. As it is in its modern counterpart. The CS reface. The problem is the idiots who think something has to be huge and heavy. And very expensive to be any good. Try making a complete synth pop track on a CS80. If it can stay in tune long enough. I've done that on my CS reface. Including all the drums and percussion. Label hogs never make any great music. They just talk about old synths and who used them.

[@FridayNightPosse]

My music teacher at school had one of these (late 1980's) was the first analog synth I ever used. He let me borrow it. I borrowed it, a lot! 🤣

[@AlexBallMusic]

Awesome! School of synthing?

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

I thought for sure the CS01 would show up on Bad Gear before landing here. Glad to see this little gem being celebrated. I added MIDI to my CS01 and, wow, just wow.

[@MePeterNicholls]

How does one even begin to add midi?!

[@AlexBallMusic]

It's RAD gear!

[@botany500kojak]

@@MePeterNicholls There used to be a mod board you could add to these. They don't make them any more, last time I checked - about 5 years ago.

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

​@@AlexBallMusic RAD GEAR needs to be a thing!

[@wouterdesmedt1736]

Same here. Somehow I managed to add the MIDI board without sacrificing the internal speaker. This really is a secret weapon synth.

[@rars0n]

I love your musical creations. So many people get stuck in trying to recreate specific sounds or styles of music, however you seem to be able to artfully blend all sorts of things together to make stuff that sounds familiar but unique. This is the stuff that I really love to listen to!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you! The joy of synths is that you can quickly move through lots of timbres until something works with your other parts. Really liberating.

[@XavierRadix]

One of my favourite synth/keyboard artists Jean-Phillipe Rykiel is a master on the CS01. He can really make this little synth sing using the breath controller. Highly underrated little mono synth, I'd say!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ah thanks for the tip Xavier. I've now heard some rather impressive breath controller demos as a few have posted them. Shame I haven't got the breath controller.

[@rosssmethurst6942]

You're so right! Jean Phillipe Rykiel is the absolute master of the CS01, especially when he uses the breath controller for expression control. I've seen him play it live on several occasions and was amazed how brilliant he made it sound.

[@mamakuproject]

do you know more about the breath controller he uses? JPR made me interested in this synth

[@fburton8]

Every time you said "Stop laughing" I started laughing. 😄

[@h2o1969]

Totally

[@ivanlozano2019]

We've got a badass over here watch out!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Stop laughing!

[@AJDIYNetwork]

I love it!

[@TheLarryBrown]

That's not funny.

[@francoisbasquin6974]

My first synth, which I still have 40 years later. I used it a lot, and as a tradition, it's the first synth I use when I test a new effect or piece of audio equipment.

[@HattmannenNilsson]

Now this is the absolutely brilliant content I keep coming back for. 😀 Hilarious, informative, and good music. You've positively outdone yourself once again, Mr. Ball.

[@AlexBallMusic]

😀

[@trumjohannsmancave]

He always does😊👍🏻🎹

[@DeG969]

I hate when people says: It`s a toy! There is no toy instruments. If you a creative person, EVERY instrument is relevant. I saw so many people with very powerful equipments, but even such equipments did not help them to conjure up the magic! At the other side, I saw some persons which are capable to present a miracle almost on everything what is finding in their hands! So if you want to own some gear, it`s OK, but it is more important to work on YOUR creativity, elegance and the other skills. The better skills almost always lead to the possibility to choose! Alex, great work!

[@DrLoverLover]

Nobody did

[@spiralizer]

Another superb and entertaining demo, brilliant stuff. This was actually my first ever synth when I was a kid so I assumed that all synths had pulse width modulation that sounded this good, but despite the Junos and Jupiters that followed I never heard anything else that matched the richness of this little fella's PWM, it's just gorgeous

[@PL-px3gw]

You had me at Schmangelis

[@ednasdiscomachine6049]

I bought one in mint condition last year and retrofitted MIDI to it [top tip: use a TRS socket rather than a DIN socket]. The PWM is a beast!

[@djGreenALERT]

I think the real talent here is you Alex. You could probably get a good sound out of a toilet seat!

[@h2o1969]

I'm still waiting on my blender video, but, Hainbach had Alex a bit stumped with the Ciat-Lombardi. But, to be honest, it was not a fair test. Given a minute or two, I'm sure Alex would make that sing too.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Bog n Roll is a new genre I'm working on.

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@h2o1969 I just used it to chop fruit in the end. Way better.

[@djGreenALERT]

:)) Oh gawd.. what have i started 'ere.

[@rozzgrey801]

@@AlexBallMusic Is that like Out-House?

[@Danny-nm9sn]

Wow loved when you played music - those two little blasts of creativity were just what I needed after a hard work day. That second bit of music, any foxy females and handsome dudes wanting to get on the dance floor would never be able to get off as long as something that funky was playing. Keep it up!

[@spoonie1972]

Borrowed one for about 8 years until my guitarist remembered I had it. Dammit. It was so good.

[@AlexBallMusic]

A guitarist having an 8-year memory lag sounds right. (I'm a guitarist)

[@carriersignal]

Alex probably made that little cs01's day. It probably longed to be in a cool piece of music, but getting to meet and play with an iconic synth like the system 100m was the icing on the cake. Could be the highlight of its life.

[@midimoog]

A friend had one, and that was my first encounter with a synthesizer. Back then the borderline between the electric organ and the synthesizer was not so clear, but the CS-01 had a distinctive PWMish sound that screamed SYNTHESIZER. It set a standard in me for what a synthesizer should sound like.

[@pgpete]

my first synth. - I don't remember it ever sounding that good.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Some mighty fine PWM for your first time.

[@Death_By_Media]

@@AlexBallMusic Some therapist will help Nick Batt to remember having had one as a wee lad one day it will all make sense .

[@AlexBallMusic]

Batt Man origins.

[@Death_By_Media]

@@AlexBallMusic 🤣

[@rachelar]

A lot of techno heads first like Bomb the bass etc

[@NeilVanceNeilVance]

As a teenager, This was almost going to be my first mono synth shortlisted with the Jen SX-1000, then the Roland SH101 came out and I bought that instead.

[@schore69]

good choice! sh101 go beep boop shrrrrz

[@audioartisan]

Love the mighty little CS01. You make that little thing sound BIG! My old DX100 had strap pegs too ...Good times ...great presentation!

[@outerspacebass]

Dude! I can’t believe you just published this video! I’ve been watching reface Cs videos all day ! 😍

[@Peter_S_]

It's a rather amazing line with so many sleepers.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Wasn't reface a film with Travolta and Cage?

[@outerspacebass]

@@AlexBallMusic I want to insert animated face-off gif here

[@TheLarryBrown]

​@@AlexBallMusic No, you're thinking of "Face Time." :)

[@apislapis]

Agreed Alex. Dismiss it at your peril, it's a mini monster. I love mine, great at slow filter sweeping stuff. Glad you brought it to the attention of those who were unaware of this little beauty. Entertaining as ever. Thank you.

[@rainesynth]

nearly bought one of these a few months ago, beginning to regret that now that the prices are inevitably going to skyrocket 😂

[@morphoice]

Freur used this in their live performances a lot. It sounds so awesome

[@steviewondek]

Yay!!, the first synth I ever bought in 1981, a guitar strap and the breath controller (cost almost as much as the synth) took it to another level, eventually traded it for a deposit on a jx3p, would buy one for nostalgia's sake, but people want such silly prices for these things now.

[@davidm3569]

What a powerful little beast. Back in the eighties a workmate had a band, their keyboard player had one. I still remember seeing them play live with this hung on a strap like a guitar. Ah memories 😁

[@morrinsville23]

I played one years ago and loved it!! Uli!! Pick this bad boy up!!

[@scottbakermedia2457]

The reface CS is also worth looking into if you want sounds like this, but some polyphony and midi features mixed in :)

[@unclemick-synths]

I love my Reface CS - so quick to dial in great sounds and great mojo. If disaster struck it's the keyboard I'd grab on my way out (and not just because it's light).

[@kaitlyn__L]

The whole reface series is really good! And sadly underestimated by some because of their toylike appearance (much like the CS-01 I suppose).

[@retro-dademusic6403]

Yes. Very cool little synth!

[@unclemick-synths]

@@kaitlyn__L yep, they're great - I _love_ the YC and I use the CP a lot though it's a great pity they didn't give it a "Mrs Mills" upright piano instead of the toy piano (they'd have sold zillions to Beatles fans if they'd done that because good upright sounds are scarce). The only Reface I don't have yet is the FM but that's because I already have more FM synths than I need for my type of music.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@unclemick-synths I’ve lusted after the reface DX since its release but now I think I may end up getting the Korg Opsix instead… after all, it’s two Volca FMs stuck together with the Minilogue’s screen and a few analogue filters added too. As cool as the reface DX is, six operators beat four… and the ergonomics of the control panel seem better.

[@matt_phistopheles]

I think all the CS mono syntbs are pretty underrated. They all sound great and they all have some unique features. But I guess that's life if you've got the CS-80 as bigger brother.

[@dtnjnq]

Bought the CS01 about 22 years ago for $50. Great little synth.

[@chiefbucknell]

20 years ago, vintage synths were more affordable (less insanely priced, anyway), yet CS01 and mkII (and an HS-60) were the most I could justify. My AIRA-looking mkII is still kicking-limited uses, but plenty of fun, and as well demonstrated here: these multitrack well and pair well with effects (yay, pedals)! Quick to adjust, WYSIWYG, and I’ve even got the 2nd version breath controller (TRS expression pedal seems to work for that breath control port, too).

[@neilturner9587]

I've still got mine! It was given to me by my music teacher some 25 years ago, I dropped it on the floor and cracked the pcb. Years later, I came back with the soldering iron and rescued it. Its a true underdog and sounds like a beast! Great vid as usual Alex! Thanks! 👍

[@stupidnamegenerator]

Love mine! Apparently you can controll the breath with CV.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I'll have to try that with the old phone exchange.

[@annother3350]

@@AlexBallMusic do it

[@ednasdiscomachine6049]

@@AlexBallMusic Careful with that. I think the breath controller works with negative voltages...

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@ednasdiscomachine6049 Thanks!

[@_mickmccarthy]

Just dropping in after picking up BabyAudio's newly released soft synth inspired by this little beast. I picked up what's probably the modern version of this in the Reface CS as one of my first synths. Another instance of a little Yamaha CS that was probably overlooked due to its appearance!

[@TheOnlyRiktor]

Jean Phillippe Rykiel still uses this neat little synth! He utilizes the breath controller and makes some very unique and gorgeous sounds. Look him up!

[@Peter_S_]

And just like that, the resale price has gone from £ to £££££.

[@h2o1969]

Yep

[@thebadterrorists5323]

Actually its just gone from ££££ to £££££.

[@AlexBallMusic]

From p to pp.

[@naram.riddim.section]

These are already hugely sort after in the reggae world - as they pretty much defined the digi era basslines in Jamaica from the mid 80s to early 90s.

[@samlatone1763]

@@naram.riddim.section any good vids of people playing one through a Jamaican soundsystem?

[@martywhiskersdoggity9392]

I have a CS01-2..(thrift store find for $5 , one partially cracked key).. I keep it in my bathroom and fire it up everyday...love the PWM, Wind, EG, everything about it.. takes a few minutes to warm up... :)

[@dijjidog]

Well done for referring to the mc4 and the system 100m as the phone exchange and taxi meter, I enjoyed that.

[@jackodonnell3463]

You made my day in the first 3 seconds of this video.

[@HootHinge]

skweee dudes and Dorian Concept ain't laughing when it comes to cs01 noodles

[@AlexBallMusic]

So I've heard. Need to go check that out.

[@olleygillespie5541]

Got one of the first in the country, with the breath controller, and still have both. The PWM is amazing. Will never sell it just sounds so good!!

[@subtension]

Oui le PWM est monstrueux!

[@olleygillespie5541]

@@subtension C’est magnifique

[@thebkstank2095]

I feel like i looked these up last year at dome point and they seemed cool but cost prohibitive for what they were. Pretty sure there's some Japanese jazz fusion clips out there featuring some sick solos with this

[@AlexBallMusic]

Someone sent me a clip of James Taylor in the late 90s and his keyboard player does a breath controller solo with one of these. Actually sounds surprisingly good.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

This really is the Susan Boyle of synths.

[@AlexBallMusic]

What, Scottish?

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@AlexBallMusic I could imagine Simon Cowell’s pretend ‘shock face’ when hearing the first few notes.

[@althejazzman]

I agree the PWM on these is really fat, but I sold mine to replace it with a Reface CS. Chords, more range, other synthesis types, effects.

[@AlexBallMusic]

There's some love for the reface in this comments section!

[@cepheid4288]

Reface CS is an underrated little synth. It can get a bit muddy in the lower registers with chords at times though.

[@PocketUnv]

@@AlexBallMusic The Reface DX is well worth a look too, it's remarkably comfortable for such a small synth, and the built in speakers are absolutely adequate in a pinch.

[@marksmadebyrobots]

I love my CS01 - first synth I ever bought. I’ve also got the breath control, which is odd, but kind of works. Basically changes the volume/envelope. There’s probably a video of someone playing one on TOTPs in the early 80s.

[@lineriderrulz]

I was lucky enough to find one of the MkIIs a few years ago, they have full VCF resonance control, these work well as a budget SH-101 alternative (ok, until the market was flooded with clones). There's a lot of modding potential for those inclined, to add MIDI and even hybrid waveforms!

[@AMOKIAN]

Those rock, I had one and MR-10 that came in the set with monitors, mixer etc. My wife has the 2nd version with breath controller.

[@artisan002]

Ooohmygod. The intro broke me for a sec. Rising up on the synth noise while making that face, and then just immediately gazing elsewhere to discuss the setup to this installment... LOL!

[@AlexBallMusic]

It's how I appear.

[@artisan002]

@@AlexBallMusic Seriously, I already enjoy your work. But, all these extra, campy bits just seem appropriately "you" and make it all that much better.

[@timkoelln3826]

I love Moogs and classic Roland synths, but I’ve noticed more and more that I REALLY like 2 pole filter synths. OG ARP, Oberheim, this thing…all sound awesome!

[@zbdot73]

Pretty sure this guy could make even a 90s touch tone home phone sound awesome.

[@atarkus8]

That was an awesome jam! But whom are you kidding Alex, I bet you could make a song with samples of a toaster, and it would still sound good ;)

[@AgsmaJustAgsma]

0:18 Now this is the humor that I look for in your videos.

[@MattGreerMusic]

I like all the Yamaha CS synths. I have a CS5 that sounds absolutely fantastic. Not many controls. Really rather basic subtractive synth architecture with one oscillator but it sounds great. So much character. Great video. I was hoping to grab one of these at some point too but now the price is going to go up. ;)

[@DiscoStringHit]

Have two CS5s and decades and dozens of synths later, they're still my absolute favorites and get used in every track.

[@Mark_Ocain]

Love this little jigger.. I played around with one of these in the early 80's - Tons of fun and great sounds to be found here. Thanks for doing this demo, Alex - it brings back fond memories!

[@samplequence]

that intro was amazing

[@kaitlyn__L]

“The old phone exchange” hahah. But yeah, that’s a nice juicy monosynth indeed. Your first demo track reminded me of the Read Only Memories/ROM2064 soundtrack, not so much in instrument texture (they’re more FM-y) but in key and atmosphere.

[@fatkev1983]

This was a very slow burn, but 8 months later, I decided to buy a CS01 because of this video. Oh, and a UMR2 kit as well to give it basic MIDI functionality.

[@peterstanchion3197]

The Philip of the CS range.

[@peterldelong]

Alex could make toast with yesterday’s jam sound incredible

[@AlexBallMusic]

This sounds like a challenge. How do you mic up toast?

[@Chefproll]

Had been the very first synthesizer I got back in time. Loved that tiny little thing. Today, the Reface CS does the same magic and more. :)

[@ZenMountain]

Ok.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I've got a small collection of old Yamaha and Casio synths from the 80s and they're pretty dang cool.

[@davidpetersonharvey]

Every time you said, "stop laughing," I lost it. LOL!

[@mu_zines]

The first "real" synth I used (as opposed to home keyboards) - we had two at school - a black/red/gold MKI, and a black/green MKII. I used to stay after school and noodle with them. I always liked them, but you know - today, not just silly money, but ludicrous money... I always liked them though.

[@AlexBallMusic]

A red one?! Didn't know there were different colours. Yep, fun synth with a surprising sound. Overpriced now, like everything.

[@timodeboer8229]

Im pretty sure they only released a grey, white and black version of the mk1. Ive got grey and black and never seen the red one.

[@timodeboer8229]

Actually scrap that just found out theres A RED ONE WTF

[@mu_zines]

@@AlexBallMusic I was unclear, sorry - I actually meant the MK1 which is black, with red (and gold) trim, as opposed to the MKII, which was black with Yamaha DX green trim. Those were the two we had at school - sorry for the confusion. (The grey one is the dullest of them all!)

[@BarbieChaite]

My first analog synth, found in a garage sale for 2 euros, in 2000.

[@unamacarana]

Those first 5 seconds are absolutely brilliant. Thanks for posting!!!

[@macronencer]

"Phone exchange and taxi meter." Hahaha! You're one of my favourite KZbinrs. Also, when you said "stop laughing" was exactly when I STARTED laughing. Every time.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Stop laughing!

[@macronencer]

@@AlexBallMusic 🤣

[@Romans-Channel]

Already the first 10 sec of the video are a masterpiece for the senses!

[@marksangster6690]

My first synth was a CS01. Loved it! I had the breath controller, too, which helped with expression. Pity the pitch bend only went up and not down.

[@mubakka2642]

Loved that little end jam Alex.. sending u some love and positive vies from australia.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers! Positive vibes back to you. Just watching the Australian GP qualifying funnily enough.

[@trumjohannsmancave]

I love this little bastard!! Grew up with it😍🤘🎹 So glad to have found another one🎶

[@mackadresse6095]

Thank You Alex, Great Video. You always make me discover something New!

[@greatheightsu]

I am EXTREMELY disappointed that you did not demonstrate those nifty guitar strap pegs so that you could in fact look as cool as those dudes. HOWEVER, your songs were really cool and this thing is a beast!

[@JobimSynthMusic]

will youtubers ever run out of little toy-like things to show how great they can be and then make everything horribly expensive? nice video as usual :)

[@TheLarryBrown]

Wow you just summed up capitalism for our Chinese friends.

[@hundovir]

Oh god! I HAD one - secondhand in a Brighton junk shop in about 1995 for £20. Loved it. I lent it to someone and they "lost" it. Bastards!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Did it come with a stick of rock and a seagull?

[@rachelar]

Track them down. NOW

[@hundovir]

@@rachelar :-)

[@briankehew579]

Had one since the week they came out. Back then, nothing came close for the money. Used it live in my first band.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Hey Brian. Ah, very interesting to know where you started!

[@crochambeau]

A brand spanking new Yamaha CS-01 II was my introduction to the world of synthesizers at the ripe age of nine. Only difference I can tell between versions is the resonance is variable on the II instead of a low/high selector switch, and of course case color.

[@Death_By_Media]

I literally had one as a kid from a yard sale , but I’m pretty sure I gave it to good will a year later because i was an OG hater of small keys lol and was so young I had no idea what it was really. Damn it . Killer tune as per usual . Cheers

[@modgrip805]

The CS01 was part of the add ons to The “Producer Series” which included The MT44 tape deck, the MM30 mixer and PB44 patch bay. There’s also a drum machine, the MR10 and some speakers, headphone amp etc. I have them all if you want to jam it all through tape 🕺🏻

[@jeffevansmusic]

Its a fully analog synth. I have got one and yes it sounds awesome. Especially though with the Yamaha breath controller BC1 connected. Then it gets way better. Huge amounts of expression can be added to the sounds. BC1 can control level and brightness of course after the note is played. You can actually shape your own (amp and filter) envelops using your mouth embouchure and BC1 combined to create amazing expressiveness. The BC1 can go from short attacking pitz type notes to long sustained slow and release type sounds. The are worth quite a lot too now.

[@stevesmithson]

I had one of these with the breath controller. Brilliant little keyboard. Wish I'd kept it.

[@Scottzilla1970]

I mucked around with one of these in audio school in the early 90's and used it on a track. It didn't ping that it was part of the CS family probably cause I was just beginning to learn about synthesizers at the time and the CS80 was yet to be a part of my memory. I thought it was a nifty little thing at the time.

[@wallmenis]

Alex: "Stop laughing" Me: *starts laughing* Me later: has to go back and play the video again to catch up with what I didn't hear while I was laughing therefore giving more watch time to Alex. That's genius.

[@tomscheutzlich736]

same here :D

[@Gainn]

That first track gave me tingles in places I didn't know I had.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Your appendix?

[@TheLarryBrown]

​@@AlexBallMusic An abnormal nodule on the back of his pituitary. Lucky for him. Some urgent surgery took care of it. You're a life saver.

[@mightyV444]

The keybard player in my very first band was given a black CS-01 temporarily by the music store he'd ordered a Korg Poly-800 at, while he was waiting for the latter's arrival, in 1984; Very cool little synth indeed! I actually liked it better in some ways than the Poly-800. Interesting that both had strap pins! Yamaha has been a favourite brand of mine for a long time anyway! I had a CS-1x for several years which I'd bought in the late 90's, and I loved that thing! I'd always come up with new ideas after noodling on it only for minutes! 😀 I left it at my Sister's house when I moved from Germany to NZ in 2001; Eventually, her daughter would use it for a while for piano practice 😅 *Edit:* Only 1 day later, and I somehow made my way to The Style Council's 'Walls Come Tumbling Down' video clip, and their keyboardist pretends to be getting the organ sounds out of a Korg Poly-800 😄

[@dziwic]

Alex Ball: releases the video. CS01 prices:

[@Cryo837]

My first synth was the Casio CZ-101 in 1986. Small, portable, MIDI, programmable via dedicated knobs, sliders, and buttons, and sounded pretty good. But gotta say the CS01 sounds even better. Then I got the Roland Juno-106 which was a very good synth. But when I got the Roland D-50, the Oberheim Matrix 1000, and the Yamaha TX-81Z, I finally sold the CZ-101 and Juno-106.

[@kylew706]

Your sense of humor just lands perfectly with me 😅 love it

[@StephenMcLeod]

That jam at the end is brilliant. Love it.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks!

[@messiermartin5760]

Really amazing Alex ; along w/the eu_rack. Keep it going

[@BendApparatus]

Funny story...I got my hands on one of these for $75 non-functional. I had recently purchased a circuitbent/modified dr-55 from a semi local (FL) custom amplifier shop called "Class A electronics" the circuit bending process had somehow damaged the sequencer on the dr-55. Or maybe it was damaged from before. Either way I caught it and they knew it so they asked if there was anything they could do to make it right. I sent them the cs01 and they looked at it and repaired it free of cost... By the way the dr55 still functions the only thing is is that pushing the sequencer advanced button causes a double trigger making programming it a mental math game making it impossible to do live. Not that the dr-55 is something you want to program live anyway. There is a Black version with green accents of the cs01 that has a resonant filter with a proper slider instead of the three position switch.

[@AlexBallMusic]

A two-step DR-55! That is quite the challenge. Glad you got the CS01 going, nice to hear these instruments are kept alive.

[@budfoon]

Mine sits next to my desk - always ready for a quick jam!

[@NOWtheband]

That is a good synth. I use it a lot for recordings. Nice video & tracks. ;-)

[@Anamnesia]

I heard a story years ago, that a guy at MOS technologies saw someone playing with a Yamaha CS-01, which led to the development of the 6581 SID chip in the Commodore 64...

[@TheLarryBrown]

Oh yeah, I know that guy. Later he saw Keith Emerson and designed the sound chip that went into the Amiga. (joke).

[@wingflanagan]

How did you know I was the one laughing? 😀 All right. I'm going to throw down the gauntlet: I want to see what you can do with one of the old Casio toy keyboards from the 80's. The cheesier the better. I bet you can't make a cool demo song with a PT-80 or a VL-Tone. Or a chorus of different Casios (seems like there were dozens of models!). Who's with me? Who else wants to challenge our friend Alex?!

[@markpeters284]

Defo one that I would watch for sure. Come on Alex you up for the challenge?

[@Jeroen74]

There's a channel called 'Keen on keys' that reviews old keyboards, and has a three part very in-depth video series on the VL-Tone.

[@AlexBallMusic]

The first time I saw it, I laughed. It's the preset reaction. 😉 I am up for a damn good Casio-ing. I'll get writing the theme.

[@ivorydungeon909]

Great idea! When I was a kid, my sister had a Casio keyboard that played a rendition of Rick Astley as the demo - single touch Rick rolling seems pretty advanced for the late 80s and so I definitely think this warrants further investigation.

[@wingflanagan]

@@ivorydungeon909 Don't Alex any ideas! 😀

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Sounds so good, adding the oberheim drum machine and a well made layered composition does not hurt either.

[@danrkelly]

Good choice of subject matter, nice tunes and all round itch scratching stuff. Thanks Alex.

[@pysgodfish]

Ive got one, plus breathe controller. Its great for teaching simple synthesis to my students

[@stevie-ray2020]

The Australian Salvos (Salvation Army) Store eBay store listed an untested Yamaha CS01 a couple of weeks ago, but it sold for more than double my quite respectable bid, which goes to show how much of collectible synth it is!

[@Zahgurym]

That was beautiful... *checks ebay prices*... I'll keep an eye for one at pawn shops, thrift stores, and yard sales.