Synth Wizards Episode 9: Holy Grail: The Yamaha CS-80

The Synth Wizards located the holy grail of polyphonic keyboards: a Yamaha CS-80. But the last time it was turned on, it smoked instead of made music. Did we pay thousands of dollars for a pile of parts, or will we end up with a magical music machine?
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For music tracks created for this episode, visit:
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[@microsci]

Hi - In 1977 and 78 I was Stevie Wonders electronics engineer. I had the privilege of working with the Yamaha GX-1. Stevie had seven CS-80's. When I left Stevie and went to work at David Abel's piano store in Beverly Hills, I was tasked to make mods to CS-80's. Abel's was a premier dealer for Yamaha. Many musicians and composers came to Abel's to buy their instruments. I designed an interface for a Imsai Z80 computer as a CS-80 programmable controller. Clark Spangler was a salesman and studio musician. The CS-80 was his go to machine for many movie/television/commercial soundtracks. Brian Banks used the CS-80 on many movie scores. Seeing your video brought back many memories. The CS-80 did have an issue with staying in tune, so I designed a fan box that would blow air through the bottom vents to keep all of the voice cards at a stable temperature particularly during live performances in clubs . Richard Lubbing was our keyboard tech and would rework the keyboard of the CS-80 for better touch and action.

[@MrLFerM]

uau, amazing reading it

[@nobodynoone2500]

Anywhere I can get info on these fixes and mods?

[@harshvardhan4771]

Well good day to you sir, and nice to meet you. I am currently a 20 yrs. old Undergrad student majoring in Electronics Engineering. May I ask you if I want to work in the music industry designing circuits used in musical instruments, eg. In Yamaha and Casio etc., what qualifications do I need?

[@KUPHSER]

Fascinating. I love that story so much, that would have been so much fun. I’ve never even seen a cs-80. I did own a cs15 years ago, regret selling that little synth

[@jimfischer4703]

Whatever happened to Clark Spangler. I think I knew him in portland, or

[@ChrisDN]

"I'm even more excited than Cody is" Cody's excitement: -14/100

[@mikalrain]

"Attack ships on fire off the sholder of Orion." That's how to describe the magic of CS-80.

[@dipling.pitzler7650]

RIP Rudger Hauer.

[@Acid42]

I have a deep and healthy respect for hardware but don't own any (anymore) since focusing on software synths, so to sit and watch a 43-minute long video on repairing the CS-80 seemed a particularly strange thing to do on Christmas morning. But, man, I found myself gasping at the gunk and broken parts and wondering if it would ever make a sound, and rooting for Syntaur, and marveling at the synth's rich history. Fantastic job, gentlemen. Well worth the hundreds of miles and thousands of dollars in time and manpower it must've taken to repair. Good luck on selling that gem! I'm sure you'll have a lot of takers.

[@NuisanceMan]

Right now, one's selling on reverb for 69 grand.

[@Acid42]

@@NuisanceMan Nice!

[@jameswilson4426]

This video was more entertaining than 90% of modern day T.V. Such a pleasure to see your enthusiasm and skill at work. From a pinball enthusiast who collects and restores machines (with help of course) I'm very happy to see you looking after these easily forgotten treasures.

[@supermonkeycollider]

James Wilson the guts of this thing totally reminded me of vintage pinball machines!

[@DanielEvansMusic]

Agreed, great work guys!

[@jaycrall69]

The CS-80 is far from forgotten

[@drewfinn2]

two amazing and expensive analogue habits...nothing like the real thing...

[@bigred7271]

It just auto played for me as I was about to shut down my machine. Watched the whole thing. Great stuff!

[@phxfunfly9083]

I am not a musician and don't own a synthesizer, I just like watching craftsmen at work. Cool stuff!

[@retsmej]

OMG ! this must be the longest repair video i've watched and it feels like a movie with a happy ending ! you're level of script writing and editing is superb ! it has drama, comedy, action, musical, etc...

[@RWulff007]

Spoileralert!!! :)

[@malthus101]

I bet you love a good happy ending, don't you? 🙃

[@To-mos]

The solder iron gag during the doctor sequence was sublime.

[@marcosantacruz9086]

Whoever directed this (not sure if it's just you or your team of 3), did such a great job, as it draws you into the story.

[@Michael_Geyre]

Hi, Cs80 owner here thanks for saving one of these beasts they're definitely fantastic and unique instruments they need to survive and keep being played!!

[@jeffrogers210]

I got my CS80 in 1979. Most playable keyboard instrument ever.

[@Michael_Geyre]

@Spud Chuffington jones a toy, you can possibly have fun with it but definitly not the same league

[@ronparcke-wms2146]

@@jeffrogers210 is it safe to say the CS 80 from '79-'80 can still play well without need for circuitry replenishment to even to 2020? I'd imagine of handled well, that maybe only those felt pads and fuses might be only thing needing replaced and contacts cleaning.

[@briefcasemanx]

I own 9 of them

[@fender1000100]

@@jeffrogers210 No that would be the DX7. The CS80 was too expensive and too heavy. Its was an elitist instrument.

[@bxtrc1341]

This is the synthesizer reality tv show I never knew I wanted! Gerald is the man!!!

[@BrianTylerComposer]

This was awesome in every way.

[@peterbrycen1680]

InstaBlaster...

[@PonzWasTaken]

The fact you so casually called up one of the Thriller keyboardists is amazing

[@HazeAnderson]

King Arthur: [in awe] CS-80! Sir Galahad: [in awe] CS-80! Sir Lancelot: [in awe] CS-80! Patsy: [derisively] It's only a model!

[@willmich1]

SHHHHH

[@InSurrealtime]

Here in Phoenix at the castle ahhhhhh....

[@robertbrowne7880]

That's not a proper rhythm section, you're just banging two coconuts together!

[@DubAssassins]

Haze! There you are.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

That's a good one Haze lol

[@HambertHM]

This is golden content. All the rareness in one place, from rare synths to the most important people linked to them, all in one episode!

[@tshenolomotlhala7667]

I'm so inspired by your passion. I do not know the words to say "THANK YOU" adequately...

[@mvoproject]

Oh! Another Yamaha CS-80 is reborn! Great movie and thanks for sharing!

[@theotherdj1]

I got chills when he finally played the repaired machine.

[@RudySlute]

This is like watching actual tv. It's incredible

[@electricrabbits]

B C actual tv doesn’t even come close..

[@retsmej]

better than most...

[@drifter402]

Actual TV is rubbish

[@renegadefunkstar]

Like watching what TV should be....

[@DavidBoura]

Minus the propaganda, cringy emotional piano musics, toxic and mostly childish ads, violence, and stupid voice-over.

[@GroovBird]

I hear you guys are in talks with Netflix for a show called "Synth King"?

[@williambrasky3891]

They don't have time for love triangles or murder, and arson is out of the question. So I'm not sure how it's going to play out. They are definitely "mystical doctors." So I guess they got that going for them. #FreeJoeExotic

[@Syntaur]

Haha, I wish! But we'd definitely have to create a lot more drama!

[@InSurrealtime]

Instead of Love Triangles, they Love Triangle Waves. Sorry.

[@catfunt5744]

i cannot believe i went 21 minutes without checking the time, this type of content is amazing, thank you

[@GASH_one]

I sine up for this!

[@alveydoug]

What an education in being methodical when doing repairs, of anything!

[@Songwirer]

OMG you reminded me of my child days. An SK30 synth and CP30 piano were my best friends as a child!! Loved the video

[@keyboardmusician6914]

This is the greatest synth channel ever. I’m sharing with everyone!!

[@YourFreeBeats]

I just came across it and low and behold....I'm only an hour away from it.

[@lovelysweetdream323]

Your videos always save me, when i'm feeling down and depressed. Something about the pure passion, radiating from your work makes me so happy and at peace. I would love to visit some day, but i live on the other side of the planet... I'm currently in school to become an electronics engineer, and i have to find an apprenticeship soon. I wish my country had businesses like Syntaur... Or anything synth-related at all.

[@crnkmnky]

If people in your country love music, then there is hope for starting a synthesizer business. 👍

[@lovelysweetdream323]

@@crnkmnky There's loads of synthheads in my country. Mainly techno enthusiasts. Grooveboxes and other small boutique synths like Elektron are widely popular.

[@shpongled587]

This planet needs more people like this!

[@davidl8094]

You really do deserve an award for this video imo. What an amazing synth the cs80 must be to play with. Your shop and crew and your approach to your work make me feel a tad bit better about humanity.

[@robjones8733]

Yup excellent work on the vid!

[@RegebroRepairs]

I can sympathize with the stress of trying to fix unique synthesizers that might easily die on you if you make a mistake. I fixed my OSC OSCar recently, because I couldn't find anyone willing to take it on, and almost killed it in the process. Luckily I already have loads of gray hairs, so the new ones aren't so noticeable. :-)

[@supermonkeycollider]

Glad it turned around for you!

[@ronparcke-wms2146]

LOL

[@mattiefee]

32:10 The lost sessions of the Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here album! Amazing sounds!

[@ricmahurin7535]

Fixing a CS-80 videos are even more rare than videos demonstrating the CS-80. Great work.

[@buckrogez87]

This has got to be one of the greatest videos I've ever watched. I'm a gear head and besides being a lead guitarist I'm also a massive synth head. I'm also a blade runner fanatic so this is right up my alley!

[@marklondon2008]

So, i'm not the only one. Vangelis' soundtrack is the best of the best. nice one bro

[@saladdays180s9]

I am on my second go around restoring my two CS-80's. Over 700 recaps, three voices, and a ring modulator later and I'll get another two or three years out of them. I have the stands for both of them, one of which I had to sort through a pile of wood and garbage at the far end of the guys yard to unearth. I bent it back into pretty reasonable condition. Phew! Had to buy a minty donor CS-60 just for the hard to get parts. There is a reason one that is fully working is so valuable. The restore videos only tell part of the story. lol Anyhow, your appreciation for the Blade Runner soundtrack and your reverence for great videos is shared by many. Here is a personalized tidbit just for you. Hans Zimmer used another little known synth for some of the remake for Blade Runner 2049 and Interstellar. It is the next great synth IMHO, and there is very little showing its capability to make amazing and musical sounds. Its called the Knifonium. In the batch of six available, Hans purchased two of them, as only 18 will ever be made. I have one and can say its sound profile has the same it factor as the CS-80. Just my opinion, but if you like fringy high end synths its hard to beat the Knifonium as a future classic to keep your eyes on. Cheers.

[@holyjaguar]

YAAAAHH, !!!Me Too,I`ve set up my DW-8000 with E. Krafts Vangelis Patches,Very nice Video,Kept me up Wayyy past Bedtime.

[@buckrogez87]

@@saladdays180s9 I don't know whata going on with KZbin but I didn't even know there were responses to this comment. I will certainly check this synth out, I appreciate the input and wish I saw this when you first posted it rather than a year later.

[@encomeslack]

I enjoyed this episode! Good stuff! KZbin needs more content like this popping up in people's algorithms. Thank you for the time you spent on the videos!

[@jeremyfrancispiano2]

I thought I was a keyHoarder... My wife needs to watch this if only to convince her that my "problem" is benign.

[@hughjohnston5082]

well spoken! This from a guy with 8 boards in his bedroom, and an uncounted plethora of boards and rack mounts in storage just waiting for a studio... Hope springs eternal! And... I keep thinking if I just acquire the right board, I'll be able to play (insert slightly obscene sound effect here...)...

[@Phoebedumplings]

Love Cody’s enthusiasm

[@CallousCoder]

Guy like Gerald, are priceless! Jaded geezers, that been around the block and can fabricate anything on a whim!

[@supermetroid56]

I didn't realize Billy Bob Thornton was an 80's synth enthusiast.

[@Hankvdb]

Got a MAJOR Fargo vibe aswell when he introduced his face lol.

[@danielphillips5229]

lol the guy they pranked is him in sling blade

[@etpslick100]

…AAHHH! The CS-80! Steve Porcaro’s baby!! Never realized how powerful those filters were until I saw TOTO live and Steve was playing it! OMG! Those sounds in ‘Africa’ were mesmerizing! Then I heard “Hawk” Wolinski from Rufus feat. Chaka Khan had a CS-80. Great synth!!😌🎶❤️🎹👍🏾

[@jatmachado]

What a gold ending you managed to work it in the video!!

[@moonmourner3593]

43 minutes never passed so fast, in awe of your passion.

[@andinbriwel1092]

“We’re here in an undisclosed location...” (Discloses location) 😂 Awesome video, guys!!

[@walrusinanus]

Was the guy stoned or something?

[@michaelm3149]

24:48 He's got "The Pleasure Principle" on the wall! Great to see Gary Numan playing a revered background role in this fantastic documentary. Could have had "Films" in the background.

[@jeffbecker4882]

Watched this last evening... I ditto most of the comments I'm seeing... this video was well produced. Also, it turns out you and I graduated the same year, and with similar interest in synthesizers. It wasn't long after purchasing my microMoog in 1977, I opened it up to deal with the "double" key trigger issue. Fortunately, Moog Music was in operation near me just outside of Buffalo, NY, where I was handed some new "J" wires over the counter from one of the techs. I still have that synth. It waits for me to retire --- when I can completely overhaul it, and play with it again! Anyway, just love watching this stuff. Keep up the good work Sam!

[@jasonmcgary]

That filter sweep sounds so mystical.

[@gdayal9]

Always look forward to these episodes!!! keep em coming please! Appreciate all the effort you make with the story telling... it makes all the difference

[@soniquest]

The more I see of you guys the more I appreciate the effort that goes into these videos

[@wimvanseventer5924]

This stuff is absolutely magnificent. I love it! Keep the synth blood flowing

[@dougplate8234]

Living Synth Wizards! Keep it coming!

[@darrenplace5562]

Love this show so much!! Keep it up guys :)

[@scandinavianserialki]

I love this channel. I would love to see more content!

[@lancerben4551]

This was amazing to watch. I had a big smile on face when I started to hear the sounds out of that wiring maze of a beast. Just incredible how much engineering and love went into creating this piece. You can tell it was a lot more than just the money. Playing that synth on year of my birth in 1977 must have felt like being transported into the future. I'm blown away. Also amazing work fixing that thing it didn't look simple.

[@AndrewBeveridge461]

I love that the scene with the "treasures" is a gesture over a stack of patchbays.

[@justinwillismusic]

This video had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, awesome.. totally awesome, love everything about it.. thank you

[@GODZINACOMA101]

Awesome video as always guys! Just what I needed during lockdown, love how much you guys put into these wonderful machines and always great to learn more about this one in particular. Hope you're all doing ok in these crazy times 👊

[@fallingmanuk]

Just found this - thank you for sharing your hard work and passion for synths old and new. So glad you got this awesome beast back up and running after so long!

[@Pichuscute]

I repeatedly had to look down in the comments to double check that this wasn't actually a TV show at some point. The production quality here is absurdly good (hell, probably better than a lot of TV these days). Was extremely fun to watch!

[@roland4507]

The synth, the myth, the legend.The most iconic and best sounding poly synth ever for me. I love to see that you got it back to life. I envy the person who will own it. Great video. :)

[@SimoneStar]

Gorgeous machine!

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

The Smchidt for me. The Yamaha is iconic yes I'd agree, because it's been around for decades. If the Schmidt had been around at the same time as the Yamaha then I doubt the Yamaha would be so iconic. Just my opinion. But I'd take the Schmidt over anything Yamaha has ever done all day long.

[@jackisgallant]

Are you THEE Roland?!?

[@roland4507]

@@jackisgallant If you mean the Company, no. Roland is just the name my mother gave to me at my birth.

[@TheNiklas23]

that video was beautiful, I enjoyed every second of it! so much work u put in there (the video and the cs 80) haha keep it up! :)

[@Kyle-wb7wx]

This was seriously the best thing i've seen on youtube all year! Thank you so much for making this video! Incredible everything!

[@Luraka1978]

5:30 less than 100 are still operating today. what a beautiful machine!

[@graphene1487]

This is wonderful. You're a wealth of knowledge. Cheers from Austin, TX!

[@austinseeger3305]

I jumped for joy when I saw this upload, keep up the awesome work. Best channel on youtube

[@SilverPaladin]

I really appreciated the little jam at the end! More of that in the future!

[@derek7676]

Awesome stuff. Thanks for putting so much effort into your videos.

[@PrimitiveBaroque]

Quite possibly the best synth video I've ever seen. Truly epic and great editing.

[@mikegeeguitarman8991]

OMG you guys know how to make a nostalgic geek happy. Love and respect from the UK

[@shop970]

This is so special ! What a resource Center for the great history of synth sounds! Awesome job here!

[@brandondecarlo8619]

This is a GREAT SHOW!!! Well done and I hope you keep doing these.

[@chriskelvin248]

Sam, thank you for providing the synth community with another epic chapter. I love Syntaur's unique style- much appreciated content!

[@xis10s14]

i need the seven deadly synths as a poster- that is sick

[@ChrisSonic]

It's amazing to see when so many skills and enthusiasm come together. Great synth, great story, amazing insights. Thank you!

[@andrewford80]

This is truly amazing. The production quality is top notch

[@peasoldier5264]

i love this channel so much omg it's the most wholesome thing on youtube

[@ottam]

As much as I admire the work you guys do, and the appreciable quality of a hardware synth, I'm very glad that I have access to the VST versions of these hardware machines, as well as the fact that the gap between the two is getting narrower every year.

[@greenman2601]

Absolutely brilliant job, guys. Really enjoyed this one.

[@markusfuller]

So nice to watch you dedicated craftsmen bring such an iconic synth back to life.

[@tory6733]

Great vid guys. Production was top notch, seemed like a show that could have been on TV

[@dumpygoodness4086]

I THINK these dudes are SUPER-HEROES!! Superheroes Of SOUND should be the name of their channel! (They should also do videos where they all make LOADS of music and sounds with these rare keyboards BEFORE they sell them!) (Document it as much as ya can, and make trippy 5 hour jams! etc!)

[@dr.feelicks2051]

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe....

[@snoopdoggdankkush9285]

Like?

[@brendanbiele2736]

snoop dogg dank kush, that is a Blade Runner reference. The CS80 is all over that movie.

[@earthman6700]

Me too. I owned one of the 700 or so CS80's. All I have left are cool memories and the manual. I was sooo damned scared of it going out of tune (it's such a beast to move), I sold it. 😭

[@dr.feelicks2051]

....tears, in the rain🕊

[@earthman6700]

@@dr.feelicks2051 best part of the film. Truly memorable. And sad. And appropriate to my loss.

[@jettsom]

This is probably the best synth ever made. So ahead of it's time even 45 years later! It was well worth restoring!

[@crowsynth]

Great video. Amazing quality. Thanks a lot!

[@MrFatshit6]

My wife was just asking me this morning why I need 22 guitars...haha. Love these videos! I've actually learned quite a bit. I'm not a huge synth collector or anything, as I only have a few but love learning about any musical equipment and it's history. Blew through this whole series so far in one night! Sidenote: My dad had a Chevette when I was a kid. It was my favorite car because I could see out of the windows even as a toddler.

[@marcelmaes5275]

200 lb of nowhere avaliable electronic and mechanic parts and you had the guts to buy, open and restore it. Wow!!

[@sbove]

280 lbs. ;-)

[@denshi-oji494]

Wish they where only 200lbs... Would have been much easier to move!

[@cy6412]

This was absolutely amazing. Bravo!

[@danielbrown1724]

This is awesome, thanks so much for sharing this CS-80’s journey to rebirth. I just bought the Arturia V-9 collection and they did an amazing job with the emulation of this legend.

[@ErichWK]

I want this guy to be my dad so i can play with the synths :(

[@jasonleescott754]

Ask him to adopt you :)

[@ronparcke-wms2146]

If he would, I hope you're willing to handle the adult guided discipline which goes along with it. 😁

[@bveracka]

I'm 32, so my first synth was a Korg MS-2000B, but boy did I love that thing. Wish I'd have kept it!

[@georgekempson670]

I had the MS2000R, same here so i've bought a Minilogue and a MicroKorg to make up for my stupidity of selling it some years back.

[@bveracka]

@@georgekempson670 I'm curious to know: I can understand why you'd want a rack synth if you were a modular guy, but with the MS2000 synths being stand-alone and fully self-contained (as far as I remember), what are the advantages of the "R" over the "B" model? Saving space in the studio? I wondered about this when I bought my "B" years ago.

[@georgekempson670]

@@bveracka It's some 20 years ago nearly, 2001 when i bught the equipment for the studio. I think my way of thinking at the time, was that i already had the CS1x control synth which i bought in 1998, so the MS2000 Rack, the Emu Proteus 2000 and the Roland 2080, also rack modules were as you say, probably more convenient space wise, as the studio wasn't very large. Most of the above gear, except for the CS1x and the Proteus was sold around 2010 as i had just moved over from the PC platform to a Mac Pro, which i had Logic and Final Cut bundled with it. I felt i had enough with the software syths etc within Logic, plus the CS1x and the Proteus, so the keyboard was used as a master for the software synths and for the next several years, that set-up suited me fine. In answer to your question, of course the rack gear will obviously give you more room in the studio but now that i'm more into hands on, the desktop synths are just much more easier to work with.

[@DjSquatter]

What a great video, good job guys! Really enjoyed this

[@GAMLAPATTE]

What a wonderful documentary ❤️ Thanks so much for sharing this journey with us 🙏

[@jugglerjoe]

CS80 is my favorite synth. My second favorite synthesizer is the Alexis Andromeda.

[@AlexT1212]

This was awesome! I have the Arturia version but wow, that thing sounds so good!

[@SpencerHuston]

Great video! So informative and educational! Thanks for taking the time to do this one.

[@MartinDHayes]

Excellent video and history lesson! You guys rock, and I appreciate all you do!!

[@supermonkeycollider]

Spend weeks editing... then tune in when it goes public again just to see it one more time, it's like hanging around work after your shift!

[@samscott54]

sometimes I would just like to see a list of what is in storage - that would be fascinating

[@simon_jakobsson]

These videos blow my mind. Thank you for making them!

[@Grandtarkus]

What a nice series, it has so much quality!!!

[@Hainbach]

New Braunfels? I was there for two weeks for a school exchange in 1994. My old hometown is still a partner city I think.

[@Syntaur]

1994! Thats amazing! New Braunfels is a very interesting place. Very glad to hear that you visited here. Hopefully that won't be the last time you visit! Thanks so much!

[@herrrastakrautpasta1599]

And I lived near (old) Braunfels in Germany, near Gießen, where a nice castle is

[@ALIASZARDOZ]

You forgot Eddie JOBSON on UK albums. He is one of the Best Keyboards players on the World.

[@soweird7899]

Great video, glad you guys could restore this amazing instrument!

[@bencatman9963]

Great! Thank you for this entertaining piece!

[@theaudioeng]

Eeeeasily the best YT drop since my lockdown Sam & co. - I'd love to be able to both just play one for a day and of course own one! (Yes, yes, I know......). Perhaps I'm becoming delirious now due to cabin fever! More please Synth Wizards be safe!! 🖐😷🎹🇬🇧👍 🔅🤢

[@WalteRaM70as]

Este video es un tesoro, no hablo muy bien el inglés pero entiendo algunas cosas y me pareció interesante. Esa máquina Yamaha me parece que aparece en el vídeo "confusion" de Electric light orchestra . Una banda extraordinaria de los 80.

[@derekglasspool946]

Wow that was wonderful. Thank you Syntaur I loved it - Nerd heaven!

[@MyNameIs-vo1wh]

i love this episode thank you very much guys!