Synopsis

Yamaha Conventional Comparisons

Synopsis	Media	Physical	Interface	Architecture	Components	Resource

Conventional Family Picture

Released	MSRP	Synopsis	Ebay Description
1974	Y210,000	The SY-1 is a simple preset analog monosynth with velocity sensitivity and a member of Yamaha's first analog monosynth line.	The Yamaha SY-1 is a 37 key (velocity sensitive), monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring 28 presets, portamento, vibrato, auto-bend, resonant low-pass filter which shares auto-bend (AS) envelope, and (AR) amp envelope.
1974	?	The SY-2 is basically an SY-1 with an expanded EG and filter	The Yamaha SY-2 is a 37 key (velocity sensitive), monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring 28 presets, portamento, vibrato, auto-bend, resonant low and high pass filters which share auto-bend (AS) envelope, and (ADSR) amp envelope.
1977	Y86,100	Single VCO monosynth with a flexible filter	The Yamaha CS-10 is a 37 key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring an oscillator (noise, saw, and pulse waveforms), resonant low/high/band pass filter, dedicated filter (IAADSR) and amp (ADSR) envelopes, an LFO (saw and sine waveforms), external filter input, and CV/gate IO.
1977	Y194,250	Contains the functionality of two CS10 audio paths (with various cross-over points), adding a sequencer and more modulation (FM, expanded LFO, third EG, ring mod)	The Yamaha CS-30 is a 44 key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring dual signal paths (oscillator/filter/amp), an LFO (external, saw:down\|up, sine, square, S/H, waveforms), ring mod, 3 envelopes (IAADR, dual ADSR), external filter input, an 8 note single track step sequencer, and CV/gate IO. Each signal path features an oscillator (saw and pulse waveforms) with FM and portamento, noise, and resonant low\|high\|band pass filter.
1977	Y225,750	Basically a CS30, substituting the sequencer for more performance controls (portamento, sustain, filter pedals/sliders).	The Yamaha CS-30L is a 44 key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring dual signal paths (oscillator/filter/amp), an LFO (external, saw:down\|up, sine, square, S/H, waveforms), ring mod, 3 envelopes (IAADR, dual ADSR), external filter input, and CV/gate IO. Each signal path features an oscillator (saw and pulse waveforms) with FM and portamento, noise, and resonant low\|high\|band pass filter.
1977	Y404,250	Simple polysynth with aftertouch and preset memory	The Yamaha CS-50 is a 49 key (aftertouch sensitive), 4 voice polyphonic analog synthesizer, featuring a single oscillator (sine, saw and pulse waveforms), noise, resonant low and high pass filters, dedicated filter (IAADSR) and amp (ADSR) envelopes, LFO (saw:down\|up, sine, square, S/H, external waveforms), ring modulation, and 13 presets.
1977	Y614,250 ($4950US)	Expands the CS50 functionality with 2x polyphony, ribbon controller, foot switch, a user memory (mini-sliders), filter key scaling, and 5 octave keyboard	The Yamaha CS-60 is a 61 key (aftertouch sensitive), 8 voice polyphonic analog synthesizer, featuring a single oscillator (sine, saw and pulse waveforms), noise, resonant low and high pass filters, dedicated filter (IAADSR) and amp (ADSR) envelopes, LFO (saw:down\|up, sine, square, S/H, external waveforms), ring modulation, ribbon controller, and 13 presets (1 editable).
1977	Y1,344,000($6900US)	Expands the CS60 functionality by adding velocity and being duo-timbral (2 full signal paths).	The Yamaha CS-80 is a 61 key (aftertouch and velocity sensitive), 8 voice polyphonic analog synthesizer, featuring a dual signal paths, an LFO (saw:down\|up, sine, square, S/H, external waveforms), ring modulation, ribbon controller, and 26 presets (4 editable). Each signal path contains an oscillator (sine, saw and pulse waveforms), noise, resonant low and high pass filters, and dedicated filter (IAADSR) and amp (ADSR) envelopes.
1978	Y65,100 ($485US)	Similar to a CS10, with one less EG	The Yamaha CS-5 is a 37 key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring an oscillator (noise, saw, and pulse waveforms), resonant low/high/band pass filter, an (ADSR) envelope, an LFO (random, saw, and sine waveforms), external filter input, and CV/gate IO.
1978	110,250 ($835US)	Simplified CS30 (no sequencer, EG3, or ring-mod and fewer modulation and signal routing options) or 2x CS-5.	The Yamaha CS-15 is a 37 key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring dual signal paths (oscillator/filter/amp), an LFO (saw:down, sine, S/H waveforms), 2 envelopes (ADSR), external filter input, and CV/gate IO. Each signal path features an oscillator (saw and pulse waveforms) with FM and portamento, noise, and resonant low\|high\|band pass filter.
1979	Y155,400 ($1095US)	Duo-timbral preset (only channel 2 can be programmed) synth, similar to a CS-15 (multimode filter swapped for dedicated EGs)	The Yamaha CS-15D is a 37 key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring dual signal paths (oscillator/filter/amp), an LFO (sine, square, S/H waveforms), 29 presets (ch1:15, ch2:14), and CV/gate IO. Each signal path features an oscillator (saw and pulse waveforms) with portamento, resonant low pass filter, and dedicated (ADSR) filter and amp EGs (channel 2 also has noise).
1979	Y220,500 ($1595US)	Expands CS10 functionality with dual oscillators and a RAM based memory	The Yamaha CS-20M is a 37 key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring dual oscillators (pulse, sine, saw and triangle waveforms), noise, resonant low\|high\|band pass filter, dedicated (ADSR) filter and amp envelopes, LFO (saw:down\|up, sine, square, S/H waveforms), CV/gate IO, tape interface, and 8 editable presets.
1979	Y336,000 ($2195US)	Similar tow a duophonic CS20m, adding ring mod and 12 additional presets, while swapping glide (auto-bend) for a VCO EG	The Yamaha CS-40M is a 44 key, duophonic analog synthesizer, featuring dual oscillators (pulse, sine, saw and triangle waveforms) with dedicated (AR) envelope, noise, resonant low\|high\|band pass filter, dedicated (ADSR) filter and amp envelopes, LFO (saw:down\|up, sine, square, S/H waveforms), ring modulation, CV/gate IO, tape interface, and 20 editable presets.
1981	Y934,500	Dual VCO (second VCO is detunable, but not programmable), microprocessor controlled (vs. CV/Gate) polysynth with elements of several CS series synths. The last major analog synth before Yamaha goes digital.	The Yamaha CS-70M is a 61 key, 6 voice polyphonic analog synthesizer, featuring dual oscillators (pulse, sine, saw waveforms), noise, resonant low\|high\|band pass filter, dedicated (ADSR) filter and amp envelopes, LFO (saw:down, sine, S/H waveforms) with dedicated AR envelope, ring modulation, CV/gate outputs, memory strip interface, split point (duotimbral), and 30 editable presets (15 per split).
1982	Y33,600	Very simple analog monosynth	The Yamaha CS-01 is a 32 mini key, monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring an oscillator (pulse, saw, square, triangle waveforms), noise, resonant low pass filter, an (ADSR) envelope, an LFO, breath control input, and a speaker.
1979	Y115,500	Simple organ/string/brass ensemble synth	The Yamaha SK10 is a 49 key, 7 voice analog ensemble synthesizer, featuring organ, string, and brass sections, brilliance, attack and release buttons, volume pedal input, and vibrato. The organ section features 3 stops.
1981	Y155,400 ($1395US)	Swaps SK-10 brass section for programable polysynth section.	The Yamaha SK15 is a 49 key, 7 voice analog ensemble synthesizer, featuring organ, string, and poly-synth sections, brilliance (organ and string sections), release, tremolo, sustain and volume pedal inputs, and vibrato. The synth section also features a slow attack button and a resonant low pass filter with dedicated ADSR envelope. The organ section features 7 stops.
1980	Y231,000	Adds presets and more programmability to SK-15	The Yamaha SK20 is a 61 key, 7 voice analog ensemble synthesizer, featuring organ, string, and poly-synth sections, dedicated organ and string/synth brilliance, tremolo, vibrato, string and mix volume pedal inputs, and dedicated Polysynth, Organ, and tone cabinet outputs. The synth section also features a slow attack button, release, and a resonant low pass filter with dedicated ADSR envelope. The organ section features 7 stops and an (AR) envelope.
1980	Y409,500	Adds monosynth section and external control (Gate/CV)	The Yamaha SK30 is a 61 key, 7 voice analog ensemble synthesizer, featuring organ, string, and poly-synth sections, dedicated organ and string/synth brilliance, tremolo, vibrato, string and mix volume pedal inputs, and dedicated Monosynth, Polysynth, Organ, and tone cabinet outputs. The Polysynth section features a slow attack button, release, and a resonant low pass filter with dedicated ADSR envelope. The Monosynth section features a resonant low pass filter, ADSR envelope, LFO, portamento. The organ section features 9 stops and an (AR) envelope.
1980	Y619,500 ($3875US)	Adds lower (preset only) and bass organ sections and dual manuals	The Yamaha SK50D is a 61 key, 7 voice analog ensemble synthesizer, featuring organ, string, and poly-synth sections, dedicated organ and string/synth brilliance, tremolo, vibrato, string and mix volume pedal inputs, and dedicated Monosynth, Polysynth, Organ, and tone cabinet outputs. The Polysynth section features a slow attack button, release, and a resonant low pass filter with dedicated ADSR envelope. The Monosynth section features a resonant low pass filter, ADSR envelope, LFO, portamento. The organ section features 9 stops and an (AR) envelope.
1982	Y161,000	Last analog synth (only released in Japan).	The Yamaha SY-20 is a 44 key (aftertouch sensitive), monophonic analog synthesizer, featuring 20 presets, portamento, LFO, resonant low or band pass filter, dedicated filter and amplifier (ADSR) envelopes, and a speaker.
1997	Y148,000	Digital (analog modeling) subtractive synth with scene memory (and 4 parameter recorder).	The Yamaha AN1x is a 61 key, (velocity and aftertouch sensitive) 10 voice polyphonic (bitimbral) analog synthesizer, featuring dual oscillators (pulse/saw mix waveforms with sync, FM, and PWM), noise, ring modulation, resonant multimode (low\|high\|band pass or band reject) filter, dedicate (decay) pitch and (ADSR) filter and amplifier envelopes, dedicated pitch LFO (multiple sine, triangle, square, saw-down, saw-up, random waveforms), shared LFO (triangle waveform), extensive modulation control, arpeggiator, 16 step sequencer, effects, and MIDI.