Yamaha CS2x

After reading the manual I understood what the functions where for and what kind of effect each settings has. Example AEG means applitude ,envelope ,generator. After learning what each function does it is much easier to use them to enhance the sound. Settings can be recorded on paper in the order I programed the keyboard settings in and this way a new voice is recorded for all time. Settings can be stored to U1(user 1) or U2 also.

The panel edit settings can enhance the sound of a selected voice very well if I use the right settings. Putting different sounds togethere in the layer function can create very good sounds. There are up to four layers of different sounds that can play at the same time when you press the keys or notes.

I have tested the sounds that I have put togethere from far away and at low volume. There is very good sound quality in the keyboard. I have created up to seven very good and clear and usable sounds and I am very happy with them. I put togethere a sound that sounds like high qualtiy strings like in the orchestra and I have a synthesizer sound that is very energenic and can play all kinds of very inspiring melodies. I also named the sounds. The sounds have a lot of energy. I have put togethere sounds I can use in any music style.

I could play on the cs2x very well without back up. The sounds that can be created are strong and add well to any playing style I trust.I play the synthesizer sound that I put togethere to sound like a band by itself. The sound that the keyboard can make is very good. If a good synthesizer sound is wanted the CS2x can produce it if you use the right settings on the right voice. On this keyboard the keys do not stop working and the keys always work well.

If I needed parts or even to replace the casing I could order them from yamaha. They have good support.

The CS2x is a professional quality keyboard that cost a noble amount of money. I can make dozens of music tapes with energenic jams on them with the CS2x.

This thing is real easy to use. Real time controls plus the easy to read editing matrix make it fairly intuitive. The presets are pretty crappy, and this can be a handicap when cooking up new patches. I think with the editing allowed you should ge able to get whatever sound it is you want from. I for one am coaxes the analog out of this machine. It takes work, but i've got some pretty modern sounds. The manual is also fairly helpful, but not as helpful as the Silver Book, which i would heartily reccommend.

OK,so the polyphony is at an impressive 64 notes, which is just great. The keyboard action is squidgy, but i really really like it. Can make some real punchy sounds from it. The MIDI implementation is kinda archaic and hard to use, but it works all the same. What really shines here is the arrpegiator which has 40 patterns. This thing can put people on the dance floor real quick. I still am really upset with the amount of presets on here that are crap,because then it limits the amount of cool patches you can make.

Ok, yes the CS2x has "real" instruments on it, but i refuse to acknowledge this part of the synth. If you are buying a synth, making a bright piano patch should be on the bottom of your priority list. Like i said before, it's taken patience, but i have made some awesome unrealistic synth tones. It sounds like a blending of analog and digital. They say this is a dance music keyboard and the arpeggiator certainly lives up to it. But then again, if you just want to loop patterns and arpeggios then just buy a groove-box sequencer. I look at the CS2x like an affordable performance synth. This thing is mean to played. Screw hitting the arpeggio hold button. I think it could fit in a rock band quite nicely, and this is what i aspire to do. Give the kids at a rock show a heavy dose of cooked up analog.

I can totally depend on it. The thing that's flimsy are the knobs, and these can be glued. Solid construction, and i would use it without a backup.

Never had a problem worth seeking help.

If i had this guy stolen, i would probably not get it again. I would buy the Yamaha An1x simply because that is a full blooded synth. No crappy organ or glockenspiel patches. But that's just me because i'm interested in synth sounds, not realistic emulation of acoustic instruments. That being said, i do value my Cs2x, and i wouldn't want it to get stolen. I really dig the layered synthesis. There's something about the bass patches that also impress.At this price, it's hard to find a 5 octave synth capable of making a crackling lead that can really add to a show.

This product is very easy to use, when you want simplicity, However when you want to actually go in and tweak around with sounds, it gets to be a little complicated. But it's nothing that can't be explained with a little browsing of the manual.

So many sounds, you won't know what to do with all of them. The arpeggiator is especially a great feature, because you can do many different speeds and versions. There's alot of EQ-ing that you can do with each sound, and there are 2 scenes that each sound has, making even more versatility for this board.

The piano sounds aren't very realistic, neither are the string effects. I mainly use the Cs2x for effects and pads, which are awesome. The keys aren't weighted, which is typical when dealing with synths, so you should probably select another keyboard for piano and what not.

I have used this board for 3 years, constantly gigging and it has never failed me. THis thing can last longer than Sting on an all out sexfest. It's definitely a top of the line gig keyboard

I've never had to call the peeps at Yamaha, so i can't give any insight on this one

THis is one of my most treasured instruments that I've ever bought, and i have a whole slew of them. I would never think twice about replacing it. I love the sounds and it's easy to use. The only thing that i don't particularly like is the non-weighted keys. Plus the knobs do tend to fall off if you aren't careful. It's definitely a crowd pleaser and it's versatility is unmatched in my eyes.

Easy to use once you get familiar with the options. The combine analog and digital options is a plus.

Action is above average. Programming and using effects varies among samples and sounds. You'll have to spend time to understand the layout but you'll be rewarded with lots of cool things on this little keyboard. This synth works well using a seperate sequencer. Nice looking instrument with silver color body.

Sounds seem to be above average. At this price range, you can't beat it. If you liked the cs1x, you'll like this machine. Better piano sound than the roland keyboard at this range. Keyboard has limited analog sounds but has some impressive samples and string sounds. Defintely use some uploaded roms to fully utilize the power of this keyboard. Decent piano sound for the price.

SOlid yamaha. I would recommend you get a hard case and glue the flimsy knobs.

Great people at Yamaha. THey answer both phone calls and emails.

I've compared this to a alesis and roland (can't remember which keyboards) and generally the cs2x offered more and sounded better. At this price range, it really is a great keyboard. I haven't found another keyboard with this price range that can produce overall great sounds.

The presets are generally good, and quite varied - laid out in a fairly sensible manner, in clumps of 20 or 30 from each category. Editing is pretty easy, as there are no hidden submenus - the button matrix on the top means that there's a label for every available parameter (except for the FX Variation params).
However, setting up split zones isn't easy (when is it ever easy?), and it would be nice to be able to set key high/lows by actually pressing the key...
Still, the Assign 1 / Data knob is very handy as it allows you to set parameters and zoom through banks / programs without having to press the + / - buttons hundreds of times.

I love the action on this keyboard - very accurate, good for punchy chords (especially as you can roll off the release with the dedicated knob). 64 note poly, so it's very hard to run out of notes!
The effects are easy to use, with the button matrix working very well (e.g. with the knob in the bottom position, you get separate buttons for Reverb send, Chorus send, and Vari on / off).
No expansion capabilities, although it does have inputs for Sustain pedal, Volume pedal AND Expression pedal.

One very nice feature is that the two standard assignable knobs (& expression pedal) can be set to a whole range of parameters - and this gets saved with the patch. On top of that, all of the knobs & pedals etc can be reassigned to different global parameters...

Beautiful organs, good pianos, nice Wurlitzer, decent clav... and lots of pads / synths etc.
The envelope & filter knobs are excellent if you like to adjust the sounds while you play - I think every keyboard should have a release knob on the front panel!
Some of the effects I never use (the reverbs aren't great, and I never use overdrives), but the Touch Wah is great, as is the Echo & Rotary Speaker. Not much in the way of dirty phasers, though.
I've always liked the action on this keyboard - not too light, so you can slap it when you need to; and very quick, so it's great for funky riffs and stabs.

This is the perfect keyboard for the gigging musician who takes public transport! It weighs only 5.7Kg (you can lift it in one hand), and despite the wobbly knobs it's actually very well built. No problems with mine, and it's been to hundreds of rehearsals and gigs (in a good hard case). No glitches in the OS or any signs of crackle - I can and do depend on it! When I went out to play some gigs in Germany I just took my CS2x in its case, and I had a great time :)

Never had to talk to Yamaha...

It's not state of the art any more, so there may be other keyboards out there that do a better job... but I haven't seen any! It's very adaptable, with lots of ways to get at the sounds. The presets strike a good balance between quality "traditional" keyboard sounds (Piano, Clav, Organ etc) and exciting synths (nice fat resonant filters, too). I like the overall sound - bright, but not tinny and klangy like Roland & Korg can be.

This is a real gem. I own 7 keyboards - apart from my Rhodes :) this is the most like a 'real' instrument.

The CS2x is fairly easy to get going, although if you really want to edit the patches you will need to read the manual and have a little patitence.
But don't be put off, after all if Yamha has something to do with this synth you know it can't be all too bad.

It has an impressive 64 voice polyphony was the main reason I purchased mine when it first came out and oh yeah.. one of my work mates kept raving and ranting on about his CS1x and how brilliant it was for producing dance music. Expansion capabilities you ask? I haven't a clue but I heard its pretty crap on that front. The CS2x has full midi support for all of you midi freaks out there, so it definately scores highly on the midi side, if you are seeking a decent midi controller for those software synths and were also considering to purchase a budget sound module then this is an excellent alternative.

OK here we go.....
I produce dance music and use the CS2x sounds in some of my work, although please note, you will need decent effects and maybe some eq'ing once they are in your sampler/pc as the sounds can sound alittle flat. The real time control knobs are a real blessing as you can tweak the sounds with lovely sounding resonance and high pass & low pass filters, not to mention attack delay and release. Oh yeah.. The appregios are simply awesome, with loads of different patterns and styles. The fact that you will have to boost the frequencies or even add effects to the sounds afterwards is really 'small fries' as most producers/enginers do that to nearly all samples anyway.

Well....

The only problem I have had is one of those daft knobs falling off within the first month of buying my CS2x, but nothing a drop of super glued couldn't handle.
If you need this synth for playing live make sure you handle it carefully.
Apart from that, I have no complaints.

I have never had any reason to call them :)

If it were lost or stolen I would definately be gutted as I paid #500 for mine and do like the sounds that I get out of it, but as is human nature, I would go seeking for a newer, better alternative, maybe a Korg Triton or a Yamaha motif or something with a really 'awesome' sound.

Real-time programming is excellent on this synth. Everything is right in front of you, not buried in menus. You select a parameter in the matrix on the right, and tweak it with a knob on the left. Easy. But layering, or even changing sounds on the presets- I still haven't gotten my head around these things. The manual is useless regarding that: it has very basic, beginner information, and nothing beyond that. The Silver Book is much more helpful, but it wasn't included. Bad Yamaha. 10 for the front panel editing, 2 for layering parts averages to 6.

GM-compatibility is fine, but it's not really this synth's strength. I can understand that they're aiming this at people who might not be able to afford more than one keyboard, and so need 64 voices of polyphony, but the difficulty in setting up performances defeats that purpose. I don't mess with effects much, but they're easy to use, again being accessible right there at the front panel. Another sign of a beginner's board is lack of expansion. I like the onboard sounds, but I wish there were a way to add to them, and not having a card slot or floppy or anything to store patches to is bad. Scene morphing is a nice touch. The arpeggiator is a lot of fun. I especially like that scene changes and the arpeggiator are transmitted as MIDI. The keyboard has a light but snappy feel, and aftertouch is a nice bonus in this price range. The easy front-panel access makes this an excellent controller, but lack of modulation routings becomes very limiting after a while.

Again, GM really isn't the strength of this machine. So, it has pianos and brass, and they're okay, but this is better at electronic sounds, especially weird or aggressive ones. So much so that it's easy to forget that this is a sample-playback synth and not a virtual analog. Synth sounds are very punchy, organs are good, pads and sequences are also very good. Strings come off pretty well, though you wouldn't want to try to imitate a string quartet with this: it's more of a (good) artificial sound. As much as this is marketed for dance, it would make an excellent solo synth for prog and rock. Looked at that way, the pianos and things add versatility. This is a much better second synth than first synth. And you can get some very rough and scary sounds out of this, too: it would go very well with industrial, or with horror film scores.

Haven't gigged with it and can't answer, but the knobs keep falling off. I'd want to glue them on if I took this anywhere.

My only experience with Yamaha was good, but it was with another synth and doesn't count.

Considering how good a control synth it is for softsynths and modules, I don't think I'd want to be without this, unless it were replaced by something a lot more potent like a CS6X or Andromeda. The price I paid for a new unit was a good value at the time; nowadays that would be too much but they're a good buy at current secondhand prices. My other synths are sample-playback types, but this fills a different role and blends in very nicely. If it had expandability and a mod matrix, it could be a desert-island synth.

The presets sound ok, in paticular the modern sounds, nice for producing house or trance style of music.
When I first got my cs2x I just looked at the patch editing knobs and thought shi... damn yamaha's made it a pain in the butt with all of these functions, but its not really that bad it just looks complex, just use the ones you understand. The manual for this synth is OK but you wont learn too much from it, best to just play around with it.

The built in effects sound quite nice but the reverb lacks depth & that certian quality. I like the appregiator as it is not bad, you get to mess about with existing sounds.
To tell the truth I mainly use this keyboard for midi... so :(

The instruments are quite realistic sounding, but they just don't hit the spot for me. This synth will do well for live musicians or for people into electronic music, but bare in mind you will need to put these sounds through some heavy signal processing units/software (that is what I have resorted to lately)to get that meaty sound as the sound lacks that depth & quality which korg owners are not deprived off.

I have not had any major technical issues with my cs2x accept for that bloody knob falling off as it cracked, but super glue is made for this purpose, Yamaha should include a few tubes of glue with their keyboards. I feel that I have to be very careful around this keyboard :( in case it falls into peices.

No probs at the moment :P

If I could turn back time, I would have bought another keyboard as I don't feel this unit is value for money. I have been producing electronic base music for a few years now & will probably use this keyboard till it breaks down then go and buy a korg :)

Quite easy to use. I would like to see however bigger lcd screen - not comparable to my trinity's large touch screen...

Two effect slots is quite little and if I use vari I can use only them together...not too handy. No sequencer either although I wouldn't even use it as I have a pc seq up and running. Midi ports (in/out/thru) and this yamaha's own PC-host connection that I have never seen anywhere used...Midi works quite well although I had to download a software which I used to configure arpeggio to send each arpeggiated note to recording sequencer - you can't do that without external software. Arpeggio doesn't work well with all external midi keyboards though (i.e. Roland's)

Sounds seem to be somehow "dark" if you know what i mean...the high treble seems to be lost somewhere. If I compare the sounds to my korg trinity one must say that korg has treble and cs2x doesn't. You shouldn't put up the high eq though - the thing gets noisy quite soon. Arpeggios are quite allright but not modifiable as far as i know...works best as a dj companion or in studio creating trance...

We used this thing with our band in studio, gigs and training...very reliable although the knobs have a tendency of loosing themselves...buy few spares if you go out on the road.

Yamaha's website doesn't give too much and not too well supported synth...wish I bought either CS1X or AN1X - they have at least some sort of support in the net...

I bought this bastard back in 1998 and been using it since. I wish that I had the money to buy better one but not yet. Use it in studio and try to use bass sounds - all sounds that contain treble sound lacks of them...

The surface editing is fairly simple, but the layering is a pain in the ass, and not at all intuitive. The knobs make doing the basics on the envelope and filter pretty immediate, so it's gets an 8. without those knobs, I'd give it a 4.

The polyphony is 64 notes, which is more than adequate. The built in FX range fro mvery good to very poor. The delays are extremely good, and the chorus efffects are also very nice, but the reverb is thin. I then to take reverb off of it, and use an external cheapy lexicon. It has zero expansion and the MIDI is REALLY REALLY weak. No sequencer, but I have a computer to do that...

the arpeggiator has 40 patterns, but only a few are intersting and none of them are editable.

The sounds vary. the reeds and brass are evil. The pianos are adequate, and the strings and pads are very nice. Because editing is fairly easy, it doesn't take a lot of work to tweak the presets into something useful. It gives you bascially 4 banks of sounds, but only 2 are editable. It would have been niceto have ALL presets editable.

It works. I've never had a serious problem with it since I got it in 1999. One of the knobs fell off, but I glued it back on. fixed.

never dealt with them.

I got this for $525 *new* in 1999 from zzounds because they mistakenly put it in the place of the CS1x at the price of the CS1x. It should have cost me $650, but it didn't because zzounds was new and clueless back then. So, Bang for the buck, it's still a great synth. I don't think I'd buy a new one, though (for $650 I can buy a cheap PC and load REASON onto it and still have money for a controller keyboard...)

What I like: I like the playability of the keyboard - it has the basic ingredients and features to do some very interesting synth sound work. It's basically a very good synth for the money I paid.

It's the only synth I own. I also have an ancient Korg DSS1, but it's in a box and rarely gets used anymore.

I don't know what I'd compare it to - maybe the cheap EMU synths or the Alesis 6.1. They're both more expensive, though.

I figure it this way - if you need a keyboard and don't have much money, this is a very good choice.