StarskyCarr Unleashes the Vintage Powerhouse: Yamaha CS-15 Review

Ah, the Yamaha CS-15, a forgotten hero of the vintage synth world. Remember when Moogs and Arps were stealing the limelight? Well, the CS-15 was in the shadow, quietly brewing its own magic. This quirky piece of gear from 1979 stands out not just for its sonic capabilities but for its budget-friendly tag compared to its more famous counterparts. Starsky Carr kicks off by diving straight into what makes this synth a bit of an underappreciated genius. Despite its overshadowed reputation, it turns out to be two independent monosynths neatly packed into one package. You can trigger these synths independently using CV and gate inputs. It’s like having a pint with two old geezers who can still hold their own in a rave. Notably, the pitch CV is hertz per volt, requiring a specific type of MIDI to CV converter.

We venture further into the intricate inner workings of the CS-15, a nostalgic nod to simpler, albeit quirky digital times. Starsky Carr breaks down the top and bottom panel configurations in detail, showcasing how each section boasts its own VCO, VCF, and VCA. The top panel, for instance, feels like a standalone synth with VCO1 heading into VCF1 and VCA1. It’s a bit like an audio puzzle – where each wrong turn can lead to unexpected auditory surprises.

Carr points out the distinct modulation routes, especially noting the single LFO that rules them all, creating that classic pulse-width modulation and other modulation effects across the VCOs. But you can’t help feeling like you’ve worn your favourite leather jacket inside out – good, but missing that extra punch. Starsky handles it with the care of a craftsman seasoned in decades of knob-twiddling wizardry. Thanks to this modest yet powerful setup, nailing those classic sawtooth basses becomes child’s play – even if it doesn’t quite reach the juicy self-oscillating heights of other vintage giants.

Now, if you’re wondering about the price of nostalgia, Starsky Carr sheds light on the economics of owning a vintage synth. $900 to $1600 might sound steep unless you’re familiar with today’s sky-high vintage market. Imagine trying to find a deal at a vintage shop only to stumble upon a deranged masterpiece lost in time and space.

Starsky paid about £600, but with some minor issues – notably with its second VCA. Those were soon remedied, although a bit of crackle remains – something Starsky cheekily samples for his patrons. For your ear’s pleasure, a glorious crackle that adds that perfect broken quality to your VSTs. Owning the Yamaha CS-15, it appears, isn’t just about making music – it’s about cherishing every sound artifact from its storied past, crackles included.

Ever wondered what auditory bliss sounds like? Starsky Carr unveils the CS-15’s ability to create lush, complex tones that resonate like a fine wine. Using both panels, he crafts more intricate timbres as if summoned by synth sorcery. It’s almost like hearing the gears of time ticking along the realms of audio magic. He dabbles with the filters, exploring both resonant and non-resonant settings to achieve a palette ranging from subtle to downright aggressive.

Carr even manages to conjure up legendary formant tones, as if to taunt today’s digital iterations. Navigating through the various filter modes – from low pass to high pass and band pass – Starsky’s adventure unfolds like the plot of a gripping novel, slowly building up to a crescendo of pure synth euphoria. And just when you think you’ve grasped its potential, Starsky introduces the CS-15’s unique dual glide envelopes on its VCOs, a feature that leaves room for copious amounts of sonic experimentation.