Yamaha CS1X Owner's Manual page 4

perform and listen to music.
Global design standards ensured that music hardware and software
products made by different manufacturers could work together
seamlessly.
But alas, digital did not create a perfect world.
Chaos reigned over the land...
As convenient, dynamic and accessible as digital synthesis was, still
it was not perfect. It had certain limitations, though different ones than
analog synthesis.
Streamlined panel layouts and the demise of the knob meant that
all those hundreds of great new features had to be organized and stacked
in pages and subpages of hidden menus—which might mean several
presses of one or more buttons just to find a feature, and several more
to actually manipulate it.
And the steep learning curve of many digital synthesizers became a
legend unto itself. Alarmingly, the synth was on its way to becoming a
thing of science, rather than an intuitive musical instrument.
It was, therefore, inevitable that many would come to mourn
nostalgically for the days of simplicity—for the knob. For those warm,
fat, wonderful analog sounds. For fewer hidden features.
And for a simpler, easier to use electronic instrument.
There was a definite need for an analog-style digital synthesizer
that would have intuitive knobs plus all the benefits of digital memories
and other convenient—especially interactive—features.
One that could satisfy even the most die-hard advocate of analog or
digital synthesis.
A perfectly versatile synthesizer as attractive to first-time synth
owners as to desktop music hobbyists, serious amateurs, and even
seasoned professionals.
A powerful stand-alone performance instrument with hot dance
music and other versatile voices, as suited for the cutting edge as for the
classics.
An ideal multitimbral MIDI component which could fit right into
even the most sophisticated expanded system.
One with extremely modest pricing for such powerful utility.
It was only a matter of time before the thunder of analog would
unite with the lightning of digital to once again challenge convention
and ultimately change the landscape of music possibilities yet once more.
And Yamaha heard their cries...
Fortunately Yamaha recognized that something new and significant
must be created to bring together the best of both analog and digital
worlds.
The result was the Yamaha Control Synthesizer CS1x.
The CS1x takes the best of analog—simplicity of use, natural
interactivity, thick sound, and, of course, the knob—and unites it with
the best of digital—reliable pitch, plenty of memory, one-touch setting
reconfigurations, hundreds of voices, MIDI, and much, much more—
to begat a truly unique "control" synthesizer.
One with all the familiar concepts loved by both analog and digital
afficianados. One destined to satisfy even the most meticulous purist in
each camp.
Nothing to hide...
Perhaps the most striking—certainly refreshing—aspect of the CS1x
Control Synthesizer is the way it wears its heart on its sleeve.
What you see is what you get: all features are self-evidently displayed
on the panel.
A collection of six rotary Sound Control Knobs are irresistible to the
touch—and provide instant sonic results when turned.
Between the Sound Control Knobs, the clearly labeled panel switches,
and the back lit LCD, the current status of the CS1x is always crystal
clear.
The numeric keypad and other buttons—including Scenes, or
"snapshots" of knob positions—give you quick and easy access to any
parameter or setup you need, the moment you need it.
As such, the CS1x is an unprecedented realtime performance
instrument.
The hundreds of great sounding AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory
2) instrument voices (created from high quality recordings of actual
instrument and other sounds), three digital effects units (with 11 Reverb,
11 Chorus and 43 Variation type effects) and scores of other parameters
can be configured in an almost unlimited variety of ways and stored in
memory for instant recall.
Performances, or complete configurations of up to four Layers
(voices) playing simultaneously, plus effect and other parameters, and
Multis, or a configuration of up to 16 Parts and other parameters for
multitimbral play (using an external sequencer or computer), provide a
unique array of options which make the CS1x a handy synth for literally
any type of music situation.
Thirty-two notes of polyphony ensure that you always have enough
available notes to play even the most demanding arrangement.
The on-board arpeggiator which can generate various types of
automatic arpeggios or be controlled by an external MIDI clock provides
an extremely useful tool for spicing up your masterpieces—or setting
the dance floor on fire.
Go forth and multiply...
As simple—yet powerful—as the CS1x is on its own, it has also
been specially engineered to easily fit right into any type of expanded
music system you wish to create.
General MIDI (GM) compatibility makes the CS1x an ideal
multitimbral tone generator for accurately playing any of the many
Standard MIDI File or other commercially available GM music data using
an external sequencer.
XG compatibility makes the CS1x completely state of the art—
conveniently able to take advantage of the expanded sound and
expressive capabilities that this exciting new format will offer in the
coming months and years.
A TO HOST terminal and HOST SELECT switch provides for direct
interface with either PC and Macintosh computers, thus enabling you
to easily jump right into the "desktop music" revolution without the
need for any additional peripheral interfacing equipment.
If you're a first-time synthesizer owner, the CS1x lets you expand
your music system at your own pace.
First you might want to add an affordable Yamaha QY series
sequencer and take advantage of the CS1x's powerful multitimbral
capabilities. With a QY sequencer you can record and play back up to
16 music "parts", each on an independent MIDI channel—just like a
multitrack recorder, but with virtually unlimited editing capabilities.
Next you might want to add the compact, low-cost Yamaha SU10
sampler which lets you capture music phrases and other sounds to add
an entirely unique dimension to your music.
Finally you might want to add a computer which will let you take
advantage of the many different types of music software products now
available plus those yet to come.
With the CS1x at the heart of your system, you're ready to grow
your own unique music system and take your musical capabilities as far
as you want—naturally.
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