Yamaha CS-40M

To operate the CS-40M you need a good knowledge of Analogue Synthesis. Its no good as a first Analogue Synth and is a serious piece of kit. If you are experienced its easy to operate though it can be confusing at first.

This is the most versatile Analogue Synth i own. There is so much to tweak. Here are the main features:

4 VCO's - 2 VCO's per voice in Duophonic mode and 4 VCO's per voice in Unison mode. Each VCO has a huge range (64' to 2') and there are Waveform controlls for each VCO. There is a huge amount of modulation available on each VCO. There is also PMW / PW controlls and tuning for each VCO.

20 MEMORIES - The CS-40M needs memories because its very complex. As on other Synths of the time (eg Roland's Promars and Jupiter-4) you can not tweak saved sounds. You can tweak some things. The knobs that have white tops can be tweak. The Brilliance knob alters the cut off frequency of the filter.

UNISON - You get 4 VCO's per voice in this mode. Unison creates extreamly fat Basses and huge Leads. This also makes the keyboard response Monophonic.

MULTIMODE FILTER - Yamaha's switchable LPF, BPF and HPF filter. The filter is versatile and yet again there is tons of modulation available here.

2 ENVELOPES - You get 2 full ADSR envelopes, one for the filter and one for the VCA. The envelopes are controlled by sliders.

RING MODULATOR - This is a nice bonus. This is probebly the best Ring Modulator ever made and sounds like a CS-80.

GREAT PERFORMANCE CONTROLLS - There are Pitch and Modulation wheels and switchable Portamento and Glissando. The Modulation wheel is very sensitive. You only have to touch it and the Synth goes crazy. There is also a Sustain slider. There is a Brilliance knob for the filter.

The CS-40M has a lot to offer. Its full of features and is a very versatile Synth.

This thing sounds amazing. The Ring Modulator sounds very CS-80 like and so do lots of other sounds at times. I think the CS-40M is one of the best Lead Synths ever made. The wheels make the leads very expressive. The Basses are also great but can sometimes sound a bit too huge. I use a CS-10 for Bass. Of course the CS-40M is great for FX. Thats why the BBC used it.

The CS-40M is very stable in tune. It never seems to drift. I do not have to worry about Gigging my CS-40M. Its a bit heavy (21kg) but is worth lugging around.

Not needed any yet.

This is one of the finest Analogue Synths out there. Its very versatile and leaves other Synths a mile behind when it cones to Leads and Modulation.

If you ever see one, buy it.

There is no learning of this instrument - all functions available
on the front panel as knobs, sliders, buttons and switches.
Completely natural musical instrument with _no_ frustrating
features at all!

Incredible versatile - huge VCO range(2 of the classic CS type),
fabulous filter, along with excellent LFO, LFO modulation and ADSR
features. The Ring Modulator is one of the best ever made. The left
hand realtime controls are fantastic - playing it's modulation
and pitch bend wheels are pure joy to use - a true performance
instrument. It's a complete cliche but they don't make them like this
any more.

If you've wanted the sound of the classic CS80 but can't get your
hands on one, seek out a CS40M - a complete steal for the 2nd hand
price these days.

Truly incredible analog sounds - from fat bass to lead to LFO
and Ring Modulated effects, this instrument leads the way
(no pun intended). I have found this instrument a curious match
for the Roland Jupiter 6 - inadvertnetly I've found myself using
both of these instruments for the main lead sounds on several
tracks needing personality in the lead melody line.

Built like a tank. Has never failed

Online yamaha manual service means all manuals 9for all yamaha
synths) are free to everyone. I find yamaha-kemble in londond
and yamaha Ireland (where I live) to be truly exceptional.
I also own a CS80 and have found on ringing yamaha london their
support engineers remember me - and even gave me key news recently
about new pitch stable VCO's available for the CS80, without actually
having to ask!

10 out of 10.

a true musical instrument with a personality all of it's own.
Completely over looked because it seemed a bit dated when it
came out, but benifited from Yamaha's refined experience of
building the GX1 an CS80, just before they went digital with the
DX7. A truly sophisticated and powerful instrument not to be
ignored. If my one were lost I'd have to buy another one.

This is your typical-Minimoog-design synth, with lots of frills. It has lots of knobs that are rather easy to use, and anything you could possibly want to do is immediately evident from the front panel, with the possible exception of loading/saving to tape, which is still pretty easy.

2 voice, 2 VCOs per voice (Sine, Saw, Tri) with PWM, FM, EG, Noise, VCF (lo, band, hi) with ADSR, VCA with ADSR and sine wave generators, Ring Mod, LFO (sine, saw, rev saw, tri, s/h), brilliance, portamento, sustain, unison mode. 20 patches. Once you write to a patch, however, you can't edit the patch again. To edit a patch, you have to dial in the patch in panel mode. Nice modulation routings, though i personally could go for a few more as well.

Excellent Analog Lead Synth. When in Unison mode, i think it's got one of the best sounds of any monophonic i've ever heard. Extremely Big sound. (especially for a Yamaha) The filters are nice, but they are a bit thin (Yamaha poking through again) It has a very warm yet bright character.

This synth is built like a tank. Solid wood case with heavy gauge metal face. They don't make 'em like this any more. It weighs about 50 lbs or so. The only thing unreliable about it is that (mine, at least) tends to drift a little. But hey, don't they all.

From what i hear yamaha will send you a copy of the manual for free. You probably won't get any other support from them, but did you really expect them to support a 20 year old synth?

If you find one of these, and need another mono (okay duo really) buy it. It's a great deal, and kicks alot of way-overpriced synth's butts (can we say MINI?) I'll take this one to my grave.