Drum AtlasYamaha CS-80
Eight voices, two sound layers and expression shaped by your fingers.
Yamaha introduced the CS-80 in 1977.
- Voices
- 8
- Keys
- 61
- Sound design
- 2 layers
- Introduced
- 1977
Sound & character
The CS-80 combines two sound layers per played note. Keyboard and ribbon make expression part of the sound: pressure can change individual notes while the ribbon bends pitch.
Model & versions
Yamaha introduced the CS-80 in 1977. This dossier covers the original eight-voice synthesizer. At about 82 kg, it needs careful transport and a suitable setup.
How the sound works
Choose a section and discover what it does.
Sound layers
Two separate sound sections are blended with MIX.
What to checkListen to each layer separately.
Open the manual ↗Explore in depth
Two layers in dialogue
Listen to layers I and II separately. MIX combines their timbres and contours; pair a short layer with a sustained one to hear the difference.
Yamaha · CS-80 Owner’s Manual ↗ · Yamaha · Innovation Road · CS-80 ↗
Pressure as musical movement
Polyphonic aftertouch responds to pressure per key. The sound must be set up for it. Hold a chord and vary pressure on one note to assess the response.
Yamaha · CS-80 Owner’s Manual ↗ · Yamaha · Origins of the Synthesizer ↗
The ribbon is not a wheel
The long ribbon enables continuous pitch movement. Try a small bend and a long glissando. Check response across the entire surface.
Yamaha · CS-80 Owner’s Manual ↗ · Yamaha · Origins of the Synthesizer ↗
Memory with physical sliders
Four sets of small sliders sit beneath the upper-left panel. They retain settings physically rather than as a modern digital patch list. Assess transport and service needs with a specialist.
Yamaha · Innovation Road · CS-80 ↗ · Yamaha · Origins of the Synthesizer ↗
Try listening yourself
A short listening exercise on the instrument. Use a copy of your sound and change one setting at a time.
- Blend two clearly different layers with MIX.
- Hold a chord and vary pressure on one key.
- Compare a phrase without ribbon and with a small pitch bend.
An editorial exercise, not our own listening test or a built-in audio demo.
Specifications & sources
- Keys
- 61
- Voices
- 8
- Sound source
- 2 analoge lagen per stem
- Aftertouch
- Polyfoon
- Speelcontrole
- Ribbon
- Memory
- 4 paneelgeheugens
- Gewicht
- 82 kg
Sources checked: 7 October 2026.
This dossier covers the original hardware. Controls and technical data are based on manufacturer documentation; buying checklists are our editorial suggestions. No in-house listening test or valuation.
Experiences & questions
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