Yamaha CS80

Hi everybody! 
I just want to wish you a very merry christmas...
And I  want to let you know that my CS-80 will be on the market in 
2009, so i'll get back to you with more details soon. 
so bye for now
François

Looking for CS-80 --location must be Australia or New Zealand--will  
pay a good price
I own a  CS-50 and Im stunned at the sound so I want to go all the way

please email me off list
David

Hey all, 

Happy xmas.. 

My CS80 isnt responding to initial or aftertouch, i have kenton midi 
installed, im wondering if the midi kit could cause this to happen somehow? 

If not then i guess my cs80 has some problems. Is it unusual for initial/ 
aftertouch to go on all voices? 

The sub osc works as an LFO... 

:( 

Rob.

Hi Rob,

Merry Christmas.. although it was exactly a year ago that I had my
initial/after touch fault surface, and I know how you feel.. it kinda
ruined my Christmas last year.

But I only just recently, finally fixed it. In a way I suppose my
symptoms were a little harder to evluate that yours will be - I always
think when something don't work at all then as soon as you find a lead
it's gonna be simpler to trace.

Mine was all over the place, intermittent and strange interacting
symptoms. In the end I had a combination of faulty TKC board chips and
broken wires. Hope you find it soon...

Cheers,
TOM


--- In yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com, blchrr@... wrote:
>
> Hey all, 
> 
> Happy xmas.. 
> 
> My CS80 isnt responding to initial or aftertouch, i have kenton midi 
> installed, im wondering if the midi kit could cause this to happen
somehow? 
> 
> If not then i guess my cs80 has some problems. Is it unusual for
initial/ 

> aftertouch to go on all voices? 
> 
> The sub osc works as an LFO... 
> 
> :( 
> 
> Rob.
>

Dear CS group
Can you recommend a list of parts I should hold to keep my CS-50 running
Any particular chips etc

thank you
David

Dear CS Group
Can anyone recommend a list of CD's I should buy these holidays  
featuring CS-80
I have

1: ENO -Before and After Science
2: Blade runner
3: Benge 20 systems

I know of no other titles that particular feature the CS-80

thanks in advance
David

David wrote:
> Dear CS Group
> Can anyone recommend a list of CD's I should buy these holidays  
> featuring CS-80
> I have
>
> 1: ENO -Before and After Science
> 2: Blade runner
> 3: Benge 20 system
>   
Great question. We had a thread a few years ago: 
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahacs80/message/133 
Good list here: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahacs80/message/138
We need to put this in Files on the Yahoo site!

UK: UK - tons of CS80. The song Nevermore is practically a CS80 demo.
Eddie Jobson (keyboardist in UK) - Zinc/The Green Album.  Tons of CS80
Vangelis: China, Spirals, Soil Festivities
Jon & Vangelis: Friends of Mr. Cairo
Renaissance : Azure d'Or , John Tout 1979
Patrick Moraz:  Patrick Moraz  III 1978
Cozy Powell: Over the Top (especially track Over the Top)

Yes good question. There is an astonishing list of artists on the
Wikipedia, but not specific tracks. 

Also the new bassline for the British Scifi 'Doctor Who' theme in
season 18 was recorded from the CS-80. And the entertaining
soundtracks for the Doctor Who seasons 18-21 do sound like they could
have the  CS-80 there also, but it's difficult to know how much:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_fifth.shtml

Wow, how could Stephen forget the "Cluster+Eno" first album? It's a CS-80 feast!
M

By the way: HI ERNEST, WELCOME TO THE GROUP!!!

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Rogoff 
  To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 9:59 PM
  Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] Best CD titles to get featuring CS80


  David wrote:
  > Dear CS Group
  > Can anyone recommend a list of CD's I should buy these holidays 
  > featuring CS-80
  > I have
  >
  > 1: ENO -Before and After Science
  > 2: Blade runner
  > 3: Benge 20 system
  > 
  Great question. We had a thread a few years ago: 
  http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahacs80/message/133 
  Good list here: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahacs80/message/138
  We need to put this in Files on the Yahoo site!

  UK: UK - tons of CS80. The song Nevermore is practically a CS80 demo.
  Eddie Jobson (keyboardist in UK) - Zinc/The Green Album. Tons of CS80
  Vangelis: China, Spirals, Soil Festivities
  Jon & Vangelis: Friends of Mr. Cairo
  Renaissance : Azure d'Or , John Tout 1979
  Patrick Moraz: Patrick Moraz III 1978
  Cozy Powell: Over the Top (especially track Over the Top)



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi David,

I know my blatant type of self-promotion is becoming a bit of an old hat now, but have you got my own "Hoellenengel" album? It´s basically my adaptation of what a sequel to "Blade runner" would sound like, and yes, it was performed almost solely on a CS80. The rest was a Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus, Mini Moog, Rhodes Piano, and a humble old Prophet 2000.

Browse the net for some reviews, e. g. bladezone.com or radio2019.blogspot.com :-).

Stephen

____________________________________________________________________

"Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android") 

Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.

Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux, reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more info please check www.parsick.com

For legal downloads please check:

http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen+Parsick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David 
  To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 9:46 PM
  Subject: [yamahacs80] Best CD titles to get featuring CS80


  Dear CS Group
  Can anyone recommend a list of CD's I should buy these holidays 
  featuring CS-80
  I have

  1: ENO -Before and After Science
  2: Blade runner
  3: Benge 20 systems

  I know of no other titles that particular feature the CS-80

  thanks in advance
  David


   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Thanks very much guys I think DFA are also using a CS-80, Also Cut  
> Copy
>






> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David
> To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 9:46 PM
> Subject: [yamahacs80] Best CD titles to get featuring CS80
>
> Dear CS Group
> Can anyone recommend a list of CD's I should buy these holidays
> featuring CS-80
> I have
>
> 1: ENO -Before and After Science
> 2: Blade runner
> 3: Benge 20 systems
>
> I know of no other titles that particular feature the CS-80
>
> thanks in advance
> David
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tomita's album "Daphnis et Chloe" also known as "Bolero" or "The  
Ravel Album" in various countries has quite a few CS80 leads. That  
was basically the first album of his to use a CS80, the only one to  
use it a lot and the last Tomita album to be all analog. There was a  
small label CD reissue recently but the sound is said to be far  
inferior to the not very expensive Japanese cardboard sleeve  
remasters released multiple times since 2004.

Irene Papas' album "Odes" features Vangelis playing all the music. It  
has some of his most articulate playing and tends to have the parts  
more exposed than his solo albums.

Vangelis' often argued about album "Beauborg" is apparently 100% CS80  
though it's lack of conventional melody and suspiciously contract  
fulfilling recording of an improv isn't well received by many.

As already mentioned, "Spiral". That's his first album to play CS80  
and is his most sequencer-oriented.

Vangelis' "Opera Sauvage" has a lot of CS80. "Chariots of Fire" of  
course. It's funny the official music  video has him pretending to be  
playing synths not heard on the track. I've always wondered if it was  
to just be more photogenic or not reveal his trade secrets. His  
"1492" soundtrack still has a fair amount and more recent "Alexander"  
has a little bit.

-nick

Thanks guys again for detailed responses
I understand Eno and Cluster both albums was all CS-80
Also Lemon Jelly last album was mostly CS-80
I would love to what DFA/LCD System are doing with there collection of  
Yamaha CS50 /80??

Cheers David


On 28/12/2008, at 1:54 AM, zaum wrote:

> Tomita's album "Daphnis et Chloe" also known as "Bolero" or "The
> Ravel Album" in various countries has quite a few CS80 leads. That
> was basically the first album of his to use a CS80, the only one to
> use it a lot and the last Tomita album to be all analog. There was a
> small label CD reissue recently but the sound is said to be far
> inferior to the not very expensive Japanese cardboard sleeve
> remasters released multiple times since 2004.
>
> Irene Papas' album "Odes" features Vangelis playing all the music. It
> has some of his most articulate playing and tends to have the parts
> more exposed than his solo albums.
>
> Vangelis' often argued about album "Beauborg" is apparently 100% CS80
> though it's lack of conventional melody and suspiciously contract
> fulfilling recording of an improv isn't well received by many.
>
> As already mentioned, "Spiral". That's his first album to play CS80
> and is his most sequencer-oriented.
>
> Vangelis' "Opera Sauvage" has a lot of CS80. "Chariots of Fire" of
> course. It's funny the official music video has him pretending to be
> playing synths not heard on the track. I've always wondered if it was
> to just be more photogenic or not reveal his trade secrets. His
> "1492" soundtrack still has a fair amount and more recent "Alexander"
> has a little bit.
>
> -nick
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ok guys, I've created a table under Datebase for CS80 discography. I 
added one record as an example. Start filling in the table!!!

 David

Max Fazio wrote:

> Wow, how could Stephen forget the "Cluster+Eno" first album? It's a CS-80 feast!
> M
>
> By the way: HI ERNEST, WELCOME TO THE GROUP!!!
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: David Rogoff 
>   To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 9:59 PM
>   Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] Best CD titles to get featuring CS80
>
>
>   David wrote:
>   > Dear CS Group
>   > Can anyone recommend a list of CD's I should buy these holidays 
>   > featuring CS-80
>   > I have
>   >
>   > 1: ENO -Before and After Science
>   > 2: Blade runner
>   > 3: Benge 20 system
>   > 
>   Great question. We had a thread a few years ago: 
>   http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahacs80/message/133 
>   Good list here: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahacs80/message/138
>   We need to put this in Files on the Yahoo site!
>
>   UK: UK - tons of CS80. The song Nevermore is practically a CS80 demo.
>   Eddie Jobson (keyboardist in UK) - Zinc/The Green Album. Tons of CS80
>   Vangelis: China, Spirals, Soil Festivities
>   Jon & Vangelis: Friends of Mr. Cairo
>   Renaissance : Azure d'Or , John Tout 1979
>   Patrick Moraz: Patrick Moraz III 1978
>   Cozy Powell: Over the Top (especially track Over the Top)
>
>
>
>    
>

For me, "Beaubourg" is one of my top 10 albums of all time.


I first heard the snippet of it on "The Best of Vangelis" compilation, which I'd gone out and bought with my Christmas money exactly 30 years ago this week.  I remember lying in bed at my parents' house with these weird and exciting sounds playing through headphones and that was the start of my love affair with the CS80.

I've never owned one (though I have a recording of me using a borrowed one live at a gig), though I did own a CS50 which I used to try and make Beaubourg-like tracks with.



Bill

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: zaum 
  To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:54 PM
  Subject: [yamahacs80] Re: Best CD titles to get featuring CS80


  Tomita's album "Daphnis et Chloe" also known as "Bolero" or "The 
  Ravel Album" in various countries has quite a few CS80 leads. That 
  was basically the first album of his to use a CS80, the only one to 
  use it a lot and the last Tomita album to be all analog. There was a 
  small label CD reissue recently but the sound is said to be far 
  inferior to the not very expensive Japanese cardboard sleeve 
  remasters released multiple times since 2004.

  Irene Papas' album "Odes" features Vangelis playing all the music. It 
  has some of his most articulate playing and tends to have the parts 
  more exposed than his solo albums.

  Vangelis' often argued about album "Beauborg" is apparently 100% CS80 
  though it's lack of conventional melody and suspiciously contract 
  fulfilling recording of an improv isn't well received by many.

  As already mentioned, "Spiral". That's his first album to play CS80 
  and is his most sequencer-oriented.

  Vangelis' "Opera Sauvage" has a lot of CS80. "Chariots of Fire" of 
  course. It's funny the official music video has him pretending to be 
  playing synths not heard on the track. I've always wondered if it was 
  to just be more photogenic or not reveal his trade secrets. His 
  "1492" soundtrack still has a fair amount and more recent "Alexander" 
  has a little bit.

  -nick 


   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This has been a very interesting thread!  I'm learning a few that I was 
not aware of.  For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said about the 
first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that got me 
hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!

One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen mentioned 
yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw them in a 
small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they performed most 
if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an ARP 
Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string machine 
(ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his CS-80 
quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X"  and "Western 
Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a 
percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the CS-80 
low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the violin 
solo in the title track.

Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and find 
the edition with the original European track sequence, which makes for a 
much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the instrumental) 
"Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S. 
release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them at the 
time but  the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that way, IMHO.

-Tim S.
<Twin Cities, MN>

On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string synth  
and a Roland CR-78
David


On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:

> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few that I was
> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said about  
> the
> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that got me
> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
>
> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen  
> mentioned
> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw them  
> in a
> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they performed  
> most
> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an ARP
> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string machine
> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his CS-80
> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and "Western
> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the CS-80
> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the violin
> solo in the title track.
>
> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and find
> the edition with the original European track sequence, which makes  
> for a
> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the instrumental)
> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them at the
> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that way,  
> IMHO.
>
> -Tim S.
> <Twin Cities, MN>
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80  
strings?
I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for  
example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands down

David

On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:

> On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string synth  
> and a Roland CR-78
> David
>
>
> On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
>
>> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few that I  
>> was
>> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said about  
>> the
>> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that got me
>> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
>>
>> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen  
>> mentioned
>> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw them  
>> in a
>> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they performed  
>> most
>> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an ARP
>> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string  
>> machine
>> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his CS-80
>> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and "Western
>> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
>> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the  
>> CS-80
>> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the  
>> violin
>> solo in the title track.
>>
>> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and find
>> the edition with the original European track sequence, which makes  
>> for a
>> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the instrumental)
>> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
>> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them at  
>> the
>> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that  
>> way, IMHO.
>>
>> -Tim S.
>> <Twin Cities, MN>
>>
>>
>> 
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

They´ve got nothing in common. It´s like comparing a Mini Moog with a, say, Vox Continental. A totally different sound generation, completely different signal paths... all the SS30 and the CS80 have in common is a very high standard of engineering and build quality.

I´ve got both of them here, SS30 and CS80, and they couldn´t be more different timbrally. I for one would never use a CS80 for string washes.

Stephen

____________________________________________________________________

"Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android") 

Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.

Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux, reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more info please check www.parsick.com

For legal downloads please check:

http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen+Parsick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David 
  To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:02 PM
  Subject: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String presets


  Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80 
  strings?
  I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for 
  example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands down

  David

  On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:

  > On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string synth 
  > and a Roland CR-78
  > David
  >
  >
  > On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
  >
  >> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few that I 
  >> was
  >> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said about 
  >> the
  >> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that got me
  >> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
  >>
  >> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen 
  >> mentioned
  >> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw them 
  >> in a
  >> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they performed 
  >> most
  >> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an ARP
  >> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string 
  >> machine
  >> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his CS-80
  >> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and "Western
  >> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
  >> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the 
  >> CS-80
  >> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the 
  >> violin
  >> solo in the title track.
  >>
  >> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and find
  >> the edition with the original European track sequence, which makes 
  >> for a
  >> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the instrumental)
  >> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
  >> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them at 
  >> the
  >> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that 
  >> way, IMHO.
  >>
  >> -Tim S.
  >> <Twin Cities, MN>
  >>
  >>
  >> 
  >

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Stephen
What do you use for string wash's--the SS30 I bet?
String No 2 preset on CS50/60/80 records really well----I like the  
sound better than the strings on my old ARP Omni 2 and JP8

David

On 29/12/2008, at 8:34 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:

> They´ve got nothing in common. It´s like comparing a Mini Moog with  
> a, say, Vox Continental. A totally different sound generation,  
> completely different signal paths... all the SS30 and the CS80 have  
> in common is a very high standard of engineering and build quality.
>
> I´ve got both of them here, SS30 and CS80, and they couldn´t be more  
> different timbrally. I for one would never use a CS80 for string  
> washes.
>
> Stephen
>
> __________________________________________________________
>
> "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little  
> piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
>
> Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th  
> of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
>
> Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,  
> reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more  
> info please check www.parsick.com
>
> For legal downloads please check:
>
> http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen 
> +Parsick
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David
> To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:02 PM
> Subject: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String presets
>
> Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80
> strings?
> I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for
> example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands down
>
> David
>
> On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:
>
> > On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string synth
> > and a Roland CR-78
> > David
> >
> >
> > On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
> >
> >> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few that I
> >> was
> >> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said about
> >> the
> >> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that  
> got me
> >> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
> >>
> >> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen
> >> mentioned
> >> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw them
> >> in a
> >> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they performed
> >> most
> >> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an ARP
> >> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string
> >> machine
> >> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his CS-80
> >> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and "Western
> >> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
> >> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the
> >> CS-80
> >> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the
> >> violin
> >> solo in the title track.
> >>
> >> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and  
> find
> >> the edition with the original European track sequence, which makes
> >> for a
> >> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the  
> instrumental)
> >> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
> >> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them at
> >> the
> >> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that
> >> way, IMHO.
> >>
> >> -Tim S.
> >> <Twin Cities, MN>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi David,

I use a Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus for these typical "string synthesiser" sounds, plus these wonderful chorus sounds. As nice as the SS30 is, it´s got too many shortcomings to really make it my first choice, e. g. too short attack and decay times, ensemble not continuously variable, generator detune not effective enough. It´s certainly one of the nicest string synthesisers around but not the be-all and end-all. 

After all, I get the best results from layering sounds, for instance VP-330 strings with CS80 bass to get that full-bodied, meaty bass drone with a nice contrast in the treble range. A little bit of Prophet VS, Prophet 5, or Korg Wavestation adds further dimensional depth.

Stephen

____________________________________________________________________

"Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android") 

Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.

Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux, reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more info please check www.parsick.com

For legal downloads please check:

http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen+Parsick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David 
  To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 11:18 PM
  Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String presets


  Hi Stephen
  What do you use for string wash's--the SS30 I bet?
  String No 2 preset on CS50/60/80 records really well----I like the 
  sound better than the strings on my old ARP Omni 2 and JP8

  David

  On 29/12/2008, at 8:34 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:

  > They´ve got nothing in common. It´s like comparing a Mini Moog with 
  > a, say, Vox Continental. A totally different sound generation, 
  > completely different signal paths... all the SS30 and the CS80 have 
  > in common is a very high standard of engineering and build quality.
  >
  > I´ve got both of them here, SS30 and CS80, and they couldn´t be more 
  > different timbrally. I for one would never use a CS80 for string 
  > washes.
  >
  > Stephen
  >
  > __________________________________________________________
  >
  > "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little 
  > piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
  >
  > Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th 
  > of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
  >
  > Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux, 
  > reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more 
  > info please check www.parsick.com
  >
  > For legal downloads please check:
  >
  > http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen 
  > +Parsick
  >
  > ----- Original Message -----
  > From: David
  > To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
  > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:02 PM
  > Subject: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String presets
  >
  > Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80
  > strings?
  > I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for
  > example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands down
  >
  > David
  >
  > On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:
  >
  > > On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string synth
  > > and a Roland CR-78
  > > David
  > >
  > >
  > > On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
  > >
  > >> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few that I
  > >> was
  > >> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said about
  > >> the
  > >> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that 
  > got me
  > >> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
  > >>
  > >> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen
  > >> mentioned
  > >> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw them
  > >> in a
  > >> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they performed
  > >> most
  > >> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an ARP
  > >> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string
  > >> machine
  > >> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his CS-80
  > >> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and "Western
  > >> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
  > >> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the
  > >> CS-80
  > >> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the
  > >> violin
  > >> solo in the title track.
  > >>
  > >> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and 
  > find
  > >> the edition with the original European track sequence, which makes
  > >> for a
  > >> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the 
  > instrumental)
  > >> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
  > >> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them at
  > >> the
  > >> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that
  > >> way, IMHO.
  > >>
  > >> -Tim S.
  > >> <Twin Cities, MN>
  > >>
  > >>
  > >>
  > >
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >
  >
  > 

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Stephen
Shock Horror surely not a digital synth --Korg Wavestation!!!!!

Just kidding ---I  use an EMU Emax 2 (I have several) to sample CS-50  
and use with the built in sequencer of Emax2---it has supermode so you  
dump your sequence from your DAW and you can clock it to a drum  
machine with clock in and out
Actually the Emax 2 is a sounding wonderful sampler for synths --adds  
its own character to the sound

David

On 30/12/2008, at 7:48 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:

> Hi David,
>
> I use a Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus for these typical "string  
> synthesiser" sounds, plus these wonderful chorus sounds. As nice as  
> the SS30 is, it´s got too many shortcomings to really make it my  
> first choice, e. g. too short attack and decay times, ensemble not  
> continuously variable, generator detune not effective enough. It´s  
> certainly one of the nicest string synthesisers around but not the  
> be-all and end-all.
>
> After all, I get the best results from layering sounds, for instance  
> VP-330 strings with CS80 bass to get that full-bodied, meaty bass  
> drone with a nice contrast in the treble range. A little bit of  
> Prophet VS, Prophet 5, or Korg Wavestation adds further dimensional  
> depth.
>
> Stephen
>
> __________________________________________________________
>
> "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little  
> piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
>
> Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th  
> of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
>
> Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,  
> reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more  
> info please check www.parsick.com
>
> For legal downloads please check:
>
> http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen 
> +Parsick
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David
> To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 11:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String  
> presets
>
> Hi Stephen
> What do you use for string wash's--the SS30 I bet?
> String No 2 preset on CS50/60/80 records really well----I like the
> sound better than the strings on my old ARP Omni 2 and JP8
>
> David
>
> On 29/12/2008, at 8:34 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:
>
> > They´ve got nothing in common. It´s like comparing a Mini Moog with
> > a, say, Vox Continental. A totally different sound generation,
> > completely different signal paths... all the SS30 and the CS80 have
> > in common is a very high standard of engineering and build quality.
> >
> > I´ve got both of them here, SS30 and CS80, and they couldn´t be more
> > different timbrally. I for one would never use a CS80 for string
> > washes.
> >
> > Stephen
> >
> > __________________________________________________________
> >
> > "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little
> > piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
> >
> > Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th
> > of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
> >
> > Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,
> > reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more
> > info please check www.parsick.com
> >
> > For legal downloads please check:
> >
> > http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen
> > +Parsick
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: David
> > To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:02 PM
> > Subject: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String  
> presets
> >
> > Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80
> > strings?
> > I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for
> > example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands down
> >
> > David
> >
> > On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:
> >
> > > On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string  
> synth
> > > and a Roland CR-78
> > > David
> > >
> > >
> > > On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
> > >
> > >> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few  
> that I
> > >> was
> > >> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said  
> about
> > >> the
> > >> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that
> > got me
> > >> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
> > >>
> > >> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen
> > >> mentioned
> > >> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw  
> them
> > >> in a
> > >> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they  
> performed
> > >> most
> > >> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an  
> ARP
> > >> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string
> > >> machine
> > >> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his  
> CS-80
> > >> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and  
> "Western
> > >> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
> > >> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the
> > >> CS-80
> > >> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the
> > >> violin
> > >> solo in the title track.
> > >>
> > >> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and
> > find
> > >> the edition with the original European track sequence, which  
> makes
> > >> for a
> > >> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the
> > instrumental)
> > >> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
> > >> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them  
> at
> > >> the
> > >> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that
> > >> way, IMHO.
> > >>
> > >> -Tim S.
> > >> <Twin Cities, MN>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is also an album by Steve Harley circa 1978 called "Hobo With a  
Grin". There is some serious CS80 on a few tracks by Duncan Mackay I  
believe. I don't think it's available on CD. I have the album. Maybe I  
can get a track up. Anybody have it?


Stephen Teller
s.teller@...

Stephen
Do you have any service tops to keep SS30 in good shape--any hard to  
get I/Cs parts like in CS80
The SS30 has actually got 4 voice cards and two VCOs per card so I  
think it is sort of a hybrid 4 voice poly with further divide down  
circuitry?
This will link may be of interest to see the voice cards and to see  
how well built the SS30
http://ss30m.blogspot.com/2004/10/pictures.html

cheers David

On 30/12/2008, at 7:48 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:

> Hi David,
>
> I use a Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus for these typical "string  
> synthesiser" sounds, plus these wonderful chorus sounds. As nice as  
> the SS30 is, it´s got too many shortcomings to really make it my  
> first choice, e. g. too short attack and decay times, ensemble not  
> continuously variable, generator detune not effective enough. It´s  
> certainly one of the nicest string synthesisers around but not the  
> be-all and end-all.
>
> After all, I get the best results from layering sounds, for instance  
> VP-330 strings with CS80 bass to get that full-bodied, meaty bass  
> drone with a nice contrast in the treble range. A little bit of  
> Prophet VS, Prophet 5, or Korg Wavestation adds further dimensional  
> depth.
>
> Stephen
>
> __________________________________________________________
>
> "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little  
> piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
>
> Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th  
> of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
>
> Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,  
> reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more  
> info please check www.parsick.com
>
> For legal downloads please check:
>
> http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen 
> +Parsick
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David
> To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 11:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String  
> presets
>
> Hi Stephen
> What do you use for string wash's--the SS30 I bet?
> String No 2 preset on CS50/60/80 records really well----I like the
> sound better than the strings on my old ARP Omni 2 and JP8
>
> David
>
> On 29/12/2008, at 8:34 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:
>
> > They´ve got nothing in common. It´s like comparing a Mini Moog with
> > a, say, Vox Continental. A totally different sound generation,
> > completely different signal paths... all the SS30 and the CS80 have
> > in common is a very high standard of engineering and build quality.
> >
> > I´ve got both of them here, SS30 and CS80, and they couldn´t be more
> > different timbrally. I for one would never use a CS80 for string
> > washes.
> >
> > Stephen
> >
> > __________________________________________________________
> >
> > "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little
> > piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
> >
> > Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th
> > of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
> >
> > Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,
> > reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more
> > info please check www.parsick.com
> >
> > For legal downloads please check:
> >
> > http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen
> > +Parsick
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: David
> > To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:02 PM
> > Subject: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String  
> presets
> >
> > Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80
> > strings?
> > I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for
> > example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands down
> >
> > David
> >
> > On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:
> >
> > > On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string  
> synth
> > > and a Roland CR-78
> > > David
> > >
> > >
> > > On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
> > >
> > >> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few  
> that I
> > >> was
> > >> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said  
> about
> > >> the
> > >> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that
> > got me
> > >> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
> > >>
> > >> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen
> > >> mentioned
> > >> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw  
> them
> > >> in a
> > >> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they  
> performed
> > >> most
> > >> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an  
> ARP
> > >> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string
> > >> machine
> > >> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his  
> CS-80
> > >> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and  
> "Western
> > >> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
> > >> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the
> > >> CS-80
> > >> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the
> > >> violin
> > >> solo in the title track.
> > >>
> > >> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and
> > find
> > >> the edition with the original European track sequence, which  
> makes
> > >> for a
> > >> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the
> > instrumental)
> > >> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
> > >> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them  
> at
> > >> the
> > >> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that
> > >> way, IMHO.
> > >>
> > >> -Tim S.
> > >> <Twin Cities, MN>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi David,

I´m no technician and have no schematics for the SS30 around but I would say it´s safe to assume that the SS30 makes use of custom component parts like the other Yamaha instruments from that era. To my (limited) knowledge the SS30 uses divide-down circuitry with two sets of top-octave generators which can be detuned against each other, plus an Ensemble section which tries its best to get close to the blurriness of the Solina but not quite making it. Also, the SS30 only has fixed settings for attack and sustain, both are not very useful so you have to use the SS30 with a volume pedal and some external delay line in order to "thicken" the sound a bit (Ultravox used an E1010 delay line, I think).

Like I said, it has absolutely nothing to do with the CS80 string presets. The CS80´s sound thin and weedy -- not very realisitc by any accounts -- while the SS30 has the same quality as a Solina/ARP String Ensemble, i. e. making synthesised strings sound as realistic as possible. Also, the SS30 has an airy quality to it (others would call it "thin" or "anemic") which the CS80 can only achieve with extensive EQ tweaking. All in all, as much as I like my SS30 (which was formerly owned by Barbara Dickson, btw) I always find myself using the VP-330´s strings (or those of the Korg PE-2000) a lot more often.

Being no tech, all potential failures I know of would be tantalum caps going bad so these should probably be replaced. As for the rest, I´d leave it untouched unless necessary.

HTH,

Stephen.

____________________________________________________________________

"Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android") 

Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.

Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux, reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more info please check www.parsick.com

For legal downloads please check:

http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen+Parsick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David 
  To: Wavecomputer360 
  Cc: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:25 PM
  Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String presets


  Stephen
  Do you have any service tops to keep SS30 in good shape--any hard to 
  get I/Cs parts like in CS80
  The SS30 has actually got 4 voice cards and two VCOs per card so I 
  think it is sort of a hybrid 4 voice poly with further divide down 
  circuitry?
  This will link may be of interest to see the voice cards and to see 
  how well built the SS30
  http://ss30m.blogspot.com/2004/10/pictures.html

  cheers David

  On 30/12/2008, at 7:48 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:

  > Hi David,
  >
  > I use a Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus for these typical "string 
  > synthesiser" sounds, plus these wonderful chorus sounds. As nice as 
  > the SS30 is, it´s got too many shortcomings to really make it my 
  > first choice, e. g. too short attack and decay times, ensemble not 
  > continuously variable, generator detune not effective enough. It´s 
  > certainly one of the nicest string synthesisers around but not the 
  > be-all and end-all.
  >
  > After all, I get the best results from layering sounds, for instance 
  > VP-330 strings with CS80 bass to get that full-bodied, meaty bass 
  > drone with a nice contrast in the treble range. A little bit of 
  > Prophet VS, Prophet 5, or Korg Wavestation adds further dimensional 
  > depth.
  >
  > Stephen
  >
  > __________________________________________________________
  >
  > "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little 
  > piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
  >
  > Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th 
  > of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
  >
  > Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux, 
  > reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more 
  > info please check www.parsick.com
  >
  > For legal downloads please check:
  >
  > http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen 
  > +Parsick
  >
  > ----- Original Message -----
  > From: David
  > To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
  > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 11:18 PM
  > Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String 
  > presets
  >
  > Hi Stephen
  > What do you use for string wash's--the SS30 I bet?
  > String No 2 preset on CS50/60/80 records really well----I like the
  > sound better than the strings on my old ARP Omni 2 and JP8
  >
  > David
  >
  > On 29/12/2008, at 8:34 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:
  >
  > > They´ve got nothing in common. It´s like comparing a Mini Moog with
  > > a, say, Vox Continental. A totally different sound generation,
  > > completely different signal paths... all the SS30 and the CS80 have
  > > in common is a very high standard of engineering and build quality.
  > >
  > > I´ve got both of them here, SS30 and CS80, and they couldn´t be more
  > > different timbrally. I for one would never use a CS80 for string
  > > washes.
  > >
  > > Stephen
  > >
  > > __________________________________________________________
  > >
  > > "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little
  > > piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
  > >
  > > Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th
  > > of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
  > >
  > > Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,
  > > reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more
  > > info please check www.parsick.com
  > >
  > > For legal downloads please check:
  > >
  > > http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen
  > > +Parsick
  > >
  > > ----- Original Message -----
  > > From: David
  > > To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
  > > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:02 PM
  > > Subject: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String 
  > presets
  > >
  > > Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80
  > > strings?
  > > I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for
  > > example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands down
  > >
  > > David
  > >
  > > On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:
  > >
  > > > On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string 
  > synth
  > > > and a Roland CR-78
  > > > David
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
  > > >
  > > >> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few 
  > that I
  > > >> was
  > > >> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said 
  > about
  > > >> the
  > > >> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that
  > > got me
  > > >> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
  > > >>
  > > >> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen
  > > >> mentioned
  > > >> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw 
  > them
  > > >> in a
  > > >> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they 
  > performed
  > > >> most
  > > >> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an 
  > ARP
  > > >> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string
  > > >> machine
  > > >> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his 
  > CS-80
  > > >> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and 
  > "Western
  > > >> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets in a
  > > >> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses the
  > > >> CS-80
  > > >> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the
  > > >> violin
  > > >> solo in the title track.
  > > >>
  > > >> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try and
  > > find
  > > >> the edition with the original European track sequence, which 
  > makes
  > > >> for a
  > > >> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the
  > > instrumental)
  > > >> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The U.S.
  > > >> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them 
  > at
  > > >> the
  > > >> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that
  > > >> way, IMHO.
  > > >>
  > > >> -Tim S.
  > > >> <Twin Cities, MN>
  > > >>
  > > >>
  > > >>
  > > >
  > >
  > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  > >
  > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  > >
  > >
  > >
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >
  >
  > 

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Stephen
The SS30 does have variable sustain setting for both cello and violin  
--there are two knobs on the front panel
Apparently the SS30 can have a much larger sustain by making an  
internal adjustment inside the machine---I don't know how but I have  
heard one with this adjustment and it sounded better than my stock one
i would like to track down a service manual to see exactly where the  
trim pots are
Finally Tomita  only two Yamaha Synths are
http://www.isaotomita.net/recordings/daphnis.html
CS-80
Strings SS-30

cheers Dave




On 10/01/2009, at 1:45 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:

> Hi David,
>
> I´m no technician and have no schematics for the SS30 around but I  
> would say it´s safe to assume that the SS30 makes use of custom  
> component parts like the other Yamaha instruments from that era. To  
> my (limited) knowledge the SS30 uses divide-down circuitry with two  
> sets of top-octave generators which can be detuned against each  
> other, plus an Ensemble section which tries its best to get close to  
> the blurriness of the Solina but not quite making it. Also, the SS30  
> only has fixed settings for attack and sustain, both are not very  
> useful so you have to use the SS30 with a volume pedal and some  
> external delay line in order to "thicken" the sound a bit (Ultravox  
> used an E1010 delay line, I think).
>
> Like I said, it has absolutely nothing to do with the CS80 string  
> presets. The CS80´s sound thin and weedy -- not very realisitc by  
> any accounts -- while the SS30 has the same quality as a Solina/ARP  
> String Ensemble, i. e. making synthesised strings sound as realistic  
> as possible. Also, the SS30 has an airy quality to it (others would  
> call it "thin" or "anemic") which the CS80 can only achieve with  
> extensive EQ tweaking. All in all, as much as I like my SS30 (which  
> was formerly owned by Barbara Dickson, btw) I always find myself  
> using the VP-330´s strings (or those of the Korg PE-2000) a lot more  
> often.
>
> Being no tech, all potential failures I know of would be tantalum  
> caps going bad so these should probably be replaced. As for the  
> rest, I´d leave it untouched unless necessary.
>
> HTH,
>
> Stephen.
>
> __________________________________________________________
>
> "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little  
> piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
>
> Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th  
> of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
>
> Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,  
> reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more  
> info please check www.parsick.com
>
> For legal downloads please check:
>
> http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen 
> +Parsick
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David
> To: Wavecomputer360
> Cc: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String  
> presets
>
> Stephen
> Do you have any service tops to keep SS30 in good shape--any hard to
> get I/Cs parts like in CS80
> The SS30 has actually got 4 voice cards and two VCOs per card so I
> think it is sort of a hybrid 4 voice poly with further divide down
> circuitry?
> This will link may be of interest to see the voice cards and to see
> how well built the SS30
> http://ss30m.blogspot.com/2004/10/pictures.html
>
> cheers David
>
> On 30/12/2008, at 7:48 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:
>
> > Hi David,
> >
> > I use a Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus for these typical "string
> > synthesiser" sounds, plus these wonderful chorus sounds. As nice as
> > the SS30 is, it´s got too many shortcomings to really make it my
> > first choice, e. g. too short attack and decay times, ensemble not
> > continuously variable, generator detune not effective enough. It´s
> > certainly one of the nicest string synthesisers around but not the
> > be-all and end-all.
> >
> > After all, I get the best results from layering sounds, for instance
> > VP-330 strings with CS80 bass to get that full-bodied, meaty bass
> > drone with a nice contrast in the treble range. A little bit of
> > Prophet VS, Prophet 5, or Korg Wavestation adds further dimensional
> > depth.
> >
> > Stephen
> >
> > __________________________________________________________
> >
> > "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci little
> > piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
> >
> > Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany), 13th
> > of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
> >
> > Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,
> > reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more
> > info please check www.parsick.com
> >
> > For legal downloads please check:
> >
> > http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen
> > +Parsick
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: David
> > To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 11:18 PM
> > Subject: Re: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String
> > presets
> >
> > Hi Stephen
> > What do you use for string wash's--the SS30 I bet?
> > String No 2 preset on CS50/60/80 records really well----I like the
> > sound better than the strings on my old ARP Omni 2 and JP8
> >
> > David
> >
> > On 29/12/2008, at 8:34 AM, Wavecomputer360 wrote:
> >
> > > They´ve got nothing in common. It´s like comparing a Mini Moog  
> with
> > > a, say, Vox Continental. A totally different sound generation,
> > > completely different signal paths... all the SS30 and the CS80  
> have
> > > in common is a very high standard of engineering and build  
> quality.
> > >
> > > I´ve got both of them here, SS30 and CS80, and they couldn´t be  
> more
> > > different timbrally. I for one would never use a CS80 for string
> > > washes.
> > >
> > > Stephen
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________________
> > >
> > > "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking squealing Gucci  
> little
> > > piggy." (Thom Yorke/Radiohead -- "Paranoid Android")
> > >
> > > Stephen Parsick live in concert: Bochum Planetarium (Germany),  
> 13th
> > > of December, 2008, 08:00 pm.
> > >
> > > Finally available: Stephen Parsick -- Traces of the Past Redux,
> > > reissued with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. For more
> > > info please check www.parsick.com
> > >
> > > For legal downloads please check:
> > >
> > > http://www.musiczeit.com/directory.php?artist=296&title=Stephen
> > > +Parsick
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: David
> > > To: yamahacs80@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:02 PM
> > > Subject: [yamahacs80] SS30 Yamaha string synth vs CS-80 String
> > presets
> > >
> > > Which brings me to question is the SS30 strings nicer than CS-80
> > > strings?
> > > I use Strings 2 preset on my CS-50 all the time and it beats for
> > > example my old ARP Omni 2 strings, Ro;and RS 202 strings hands  
> down
> > >
> > > David
> > >
> > > On 29/12/2008, at 6:58 AM, David wrote:
> > >
> > > > On the actual track Vienna Ultravox used an SS30 Yamaha string
> > synth
> > > > and a Roland CR-78
> > > > David
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 29/12/2008, at 12:57 AM, Tim Siefkes wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> This has been a very interesting thread! I'm learning a few
> > that I
> > > >> was
> > > >> not aware of. For me, I'd have to echo what David Rogoff said
> > about
> > > >> the
> > > >> first UK LP "practically a CS80 demo". That was the album that
> > > got me
> > > >> hooked and made me decide I HAD to get one of these beasts!
> > > >>
> > > >> One more I'd add to the list that I don't think that I've seen
> > > >> mentioned
> > > >> yet... (apologies if it has...) is "Vienna" by Ultravox. I saw
> > them
> > > >> in a
> > > >> small club here back in about, oh 1981 or 1982, and they
> > performed
> > > >> most
> > > >> if not all of the "Vienna" album. Billy Currie had a CS-80, an
> > ARP
> > > >> Odyssey (his signature sound), the CP-30 piano, another string
> > > >> machine
> > > >> (ELKA?) and what else I can't remember right now. He used his
> > CS-80
> > > >> quite a bit. Two tracks that come to mind are "Mr. X" and
> > "Western
> > > >> Promise" where he uses what sounds like the "Funky" presets  
> in a
> > > >> percussive manner with a bit of echo. I think he's also uses  
> the
> > > >> CS-80
> > > >> low strings as the descending cello counter line underneath the
> > > >> violin
> > > >> solo in the title track.
> > > >>
> > > >> Recommendation - if you should decide to get this album, try  
> and
> > > find
> > > >> the edition with the original European track sequence, which
> > makes
> > > >> for a
> > > >> much better listening. The album SHOULD start with (the
> > > instrumental)
> > > >> "Astradyne" which is also how they opened their concert. The  
> U.S.
> > > >> release starts with "Sleepwalk", a bit of a hit single for them
> > at
> > > >> the
> > > >> time but the LP lost some flavor when they re-sequenced it that
> > > >> way, IMHO.
> > > >>
> > > >> -Tim S.
> > > >> <Twin Cities, MN>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Finally Tomita only two Yamaha Synths are
> http://www.isaotomita.net/recordings/daphnis.html
> CS-80
> Strings SS-30

minor qualification, only two Yamaha synths in the 70s or only two  
Yamaha analog synths.

Since the 90s he's used a Yamaha VL-1 fairly prominently.

-nick kent