YAMAHA CS-60 - Polyphonic Magic with a Ribbon Controller

The Yamaha CS-60 is a polyphonic analog synthesizer, introduced in 1977 as a smaller and more affordable variant of the legendary CS-80. Although it doesn’t offer the same extensive capabilities as its larger counterpart, the CS-60 gained popularity thanks to its rich analog sound, flexible modulation, and unique control features.

Yamaha CS-60 Sound Architecture

The CS-60 features 8-voice polyphony, allowing full chord playing and rich sound layering. Its single oscillator per voice, combined with an independent filter, produces warm and organic analog tones, making it ideal for ambient textures, film scoring, and experimental synthesis.

Key Features:

•  Polyphony: 8 voices
•  Velocity-sensitive keyboard with mono aftertouch, enabling dynamic control over volume
   and modulation.
•  Ribbon controller – a long, smooth touch strip that allows continuous pitch changes and
   expressive modulation.
•  Ring Modulator – produces metallic and dissonant effects, ideal for experimental sounds.
•  Two filters: Low-pass and high-pass with resonance, which can be combined into a
   band-pass mode.
•  Two ADSR envelopes – enabling precise modulation of the filter and amplifier.
•  LFO with various waveforms – sine, square, saw up, saw down, noise, providing rich
   modulation possibilities.

Yamaha CS-60 Controls

The Yamaha CS-60 is equipped with a comprehensive set of physical controls, allowing precise manual adjustments to all aspects of the sound.

Total number of control elements:

•  Rotary knobs: 22
•  Slider potentiometers: 14
•  Buttons: 16
•  Modulation wheels: 2
•  Ribbon controller: 1
•  Switches: 18

Thanks to this extensive system of physical controls, the Yamaha CS-60 remains one of the most flexible analog synthesizers, offering detailed control over sound design.

Yamaha CS-60 Filter – Smooth, Flexible, and Expressive

The Yamaha CS-60 features a resonant low-pass and high-pass filter, which can be combined into a band-pass mode. This filter is built around the unique Yamaha IG00156 chip, giving it a smooth and musical character, distinct from typical Moog ladder filters or Curtis filters. Thanks to its resonance, it enhances harmonic richness while maintaining subtlety and natural tonal balance.

With modulation options including LFO, envelopes, and aftertouch, the filter offers expressive control over sound dynamics, making it perfect for ambient textures, cinematic scoring, and experimental synthesis.

Tone Selector – An Analog Predecessor to Modern Presets

The Tone Selector section on the Yamaha CS-60 functions as an early preset system, similar to today's patch memory in digital synthesizers.

How Tone Selector Works:

•  Each switch activates a different sound profile, allowing instant switching between various
   tonal colors.
•  Preset sounds include Brass, Strings, Flute, Bass, and others, akin to today's preset banks
   in modern synthesizers.
•  Tone Selector acts as an analog preset system, where each switch adjusts specific parameters
   of oscillators, filters, and envelopes without requiring manual fine-tuning.
•  It enables quick sound changes, which is ideal for live performance, where fast transitions
   between different tonal characteristics are essential.

Tone Selector vs. Modern Presets:

•  Digital synthesizers today allow saving and recalling patches with exact parameter values.
•  CS-60 offers fixed analog presets, which cannot be modified or saved, but provide fast
   access to essential sound profiles.
•  Modern synthesizers offer deeper editing and saving options, whereas CS-60 relies on
   manual adjustments after selecting a preset.

The Tone Selector is thus a historical precursor to today’s patch memory systems, enabling quick sound switching before digital storage became common in synthesizers.

Schematic Diagram – A Visual Guide to Signal Routing

On the left side of the Yamaha CS-60, there is a schematic diagram, designed as a visual aid for understanding the signal flow within the synthesizer. This diagram helps users quickly grasp how components interact, which is key for effective sound design.

What the Diagram Illustrates:

•  Signal path from oscillators to filters and amplifiers – shows how sound is generated and
   processed.
•  Modulation routing – displays how LFO, envelopes, and the ring modulator influence various
   parameters.
•  Filter configurations – helps users understand how low-pass and high-pass filters can be
   combined for unique tonal shaping.
•  External inputs and outputs – indicates how CS-60 can be integrated with other analog
   instruments.
•  Ribbon controller and aftertouch – illustrates their expressive influence on sound manipulation.

This schematic diagram is an invaluable tool for musicians who want to explore the CS-60’s signal architecture in depth and fully utilize its potential.

Expressive Control for Live Performance and Experimental Synthesis

On the left side of the keyboard, the Yamaha CS-60 features an expressive control section, allowing manual modulation of pitch, volume, and other parameters during play. This section is crucial for live performance, as it provides intuitive sound manipulation without needing adjustments on the main panel.

What’s Located on the Left Side of the Keyboard?

Ribbon Controller

•  A long touch-sensitive strip, enabling smooth pitch changes.
•  Functions similarly to pitch bend, but allows continuous, unrestricted gliding.
•  Perfect for glissando effects, expressive vibrato, and dramatic pitch shifts.

Pitch Bend Lever

•  A mechanical lever, enabling manual pitch bending up or down.
•  Used for fine-tuning or dramatic tonal shifts.
•  Unlike modern pitch wheels, this lever returns to a neutral position after release.

Sustain Lever

•  Extends note duration, similar to a sustain pedal on a piano.
•  Allows smooth transitions between notes without abrupt sound cutoffs.
•  Ideal for ambient textures and long sustained tones.

Portamento/Glissando Control

•  Enables smooth transitions between notes, creating a gliding effect.
•  Portamento adjusts transition speed, while glissando allows stepped pitch changes.
•  Great for synthetic lead lines and expressive melodies.

Ring Modulator Control

•  Controls the ring modulator, generating metallic and dissonant tones.
•  Enables experimental sound shaping, ideal for sci-fi and avant-garde music.

This section on the left side of the Yamaha CS-60 keyboard provides extensive expressive control, making it essential for live performance and experimental sound design. With its ribbon controller, pitch bend lever, sustain, and portamento, it allows musicians to achieve unique sound effects that would be difficult to reproduce on other analog synthesizers.

Kenton Retrofit Kit – Bringing Yamaha CS-60 into the Modern Era

The Yamaha CS-60 can be upgraded with the Kenton retrofit kit, allowing real-time control of modulation parameters via MIDI. This modification significantly expands the instrument's capabilities, making it fully integratable into contemporary studio and live setups.

Key Features of the Kenton Retrofit Kit:

•  MIDI control over filter, portamento, sustain, and volume.
•  Velocity mapping to various parameters for enhanced dynamic expression.
•  Pitch bend and modulation wheel functionality via MIDI.
•  Programmable MIDI channels and preset switching, allowing seamless integration with
   modern MIDI environments.

Thanks to this upgrade, the CS-60 becomes a powerful hybrid, combining its classic analog sound with modern digital control.

Materials, Weight, Dimensions, and Transportation of the Yamaha CS-60

Materials and Construction

The Yamaha CS-60 was built with a solid metal chassis, ensuring high durability even under intense use. Designed to withstand long-term live performance conditions, it became a reliable instrument for professional musicians.

•  Chassis: Sturdy metal frame with a durable coating.
•  Knobs and potentiometers: High-quality plastic with a metal core, ensuring smooth
   operation and longevity.
•  Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity-sensitive mechanics and mono aftertouch.
•  Switches: Mechanical toggle switches with a clear click, ensuring reliable control.

Weight and Dimensions

The Yamaha CS-60 is a large and heavy synthesizer, requiring proper protection during transport.

•  Weight: 46 kg

Dimensions:

•  Width: 1108 mm
•  Depth: 527.5 mm
•  Height: 255 mm

Due to its size and weight, the CS-60 was challenging to transport, which is why it was more commonly used in studios than on tours.

Live Performance Use

Although the CS-60 is large and heavy, its expressive control features made it ideal for live performances.

•  Velocity-sensitive keyboard provided dynamic control over volume and modulation.
•  Mono aftertouch enabled additional parameter manipulation after pressing a key.
•  Ribbon controller allowed smooth pitch adjustments and expressive modulation.
•  Color-coded switches allowed quick preset selection, making the CS-60 perfect for concert use.

Transport and Protection

Due to its size and weight, the CS-60 required specific precautions for safe transport.

•  A sturdy case was essential for impact protection.
•  Foam padding inside the flight case helped absorb vibrations.
•  Standard 220V power supply meant a stabilized power source was necessary for stage use.
•  Its robust construction made it resistant to standard wear and tear, but its weight and
   dimensions made transport challenging.

Despite these challenges, the CS-60 was built to last, offering unparalleled expressive control for live performance.

Musicians Who Used the Yamaha CS-60

The Yamaha CS-60 was embraced by experimental musicians, film composers, and producers, who valued its rich analog tone and expressive control capabilities. Among its notable users were:

•  Page McConnell, keyboardist of Phish, who incorporated vintage analog synthesizers into
   his sound.
•  Kurt Vile, known for his experimental music, integrated the CS-60 into his instrument
   collection.
•  Junkie XL, a film composer who used the CS-60 when crafting epic soundtracks, including
   Mad Max: Fury Road.
•  Forgotten Future, an electronic project utilizing analog synthesizers for ambient and experimental
   soundscapes.

The CS-60 remains a beloved instrument across genres, from experimental electronics and film scoring to progressive live performances.

Conclusion

The Yamaha CS-60 is a unique polyphonic analog synthesizer, combining expressive control, flexible modulation, and a rich analog tone. With a velocity-sensitive keyboard, ribbon controller, and ring modulator, it offers exceptional sound design possibilities, making it ideal for film music, atmospheric textures, and experimental synthesis.