The art
of sound design
Cybernet
Jeremiah Savage
The CS-80 excels at rich evolving pads that evoke science fiction motifs. Cybernet utilizes a function envelope release assigned to pitch that is reminiscent of Vangelis'92 synth style. And playing with the brilliance Macro control gives you realistic control over string volume dynamics.
Jeremiah Savage - on CS-80 V
I feel the modulation functions really gave this version of CS80 something special that transforms one of my favorite vintage synths of all time into a great sounding powerful sculpting tool, allowing you to marry vintage analog tones with modern sound ideas.
Whenever I use CS-80 V it’s like a time capsule bringing me into a period in the early '80s with people like Vangelis painting soundtracks with a diverse and atmospheric palette of sonic textures. I can’t help but get into that mood when designing sounds with it. So I had early '80s sci-fi in mind while creating many of my sounds and let that be a sort of path to follow in my approach. It’s interesting how the new advanced features gave those ideas a fresh vibe.
Ascend To Five
Sonar Traffic
It was an adventure to go in deep into the CS80's possibilities. I found myself discovering new goodies all the time, for instance the ring modulator that when use sparingly provides a lovely tremolo and when used extreme gives wonderfully gritty metallic character. And with the added modulation sources you can even make it do sonic sequences, if your are precise, even melodic. Aside from using aftertouch and mod wheel for expression this pad has this fluttery tremolo that slows down over time thanks to the ring modulator.
Sonar Traffic - on CS-80 V
I love how there's many subtle things going on, the pitch shifter delay in the effects section gives it an extra dreamy quality.
Release Falling Pad
Katsunori Ujiie
CS80 V4 has innovative improvement on not only in sound quality but also awesome functions. Especially the behavior of analog feel is almost perfect compared with the real CS80. This sound has cool analog sound of rich and fat atmosphere, and I programed very sensitive and dynamic polyphonic aftertouch. And most specific point is Pitch facing down when you release key. This magic is made by Pitch-envelope in modulation section. You should check how to work it.
Katsunori Ujiie - on CS-80 V
Release Falling Pad has a cool analog sound, with rich and fat atmosphere, and I programed very sensitive and dynamic polyphonic aftertouch - specifically the pitch falling down when you release key. This magic is made possible by the pitch envelope in the modulation section. Try it out!
Deckards Heating
Tobias Menguser
This beautiful pad shows the unique filters and the great ring modulator of CS80V4 in a very musical way.
Tobias Menguser - on CS-80 V
I was always a big fan of CS80 and Blade Runner, and bought a real CS60 a few years ago. The new version of CS-80 V with its great filter emulations comes closer and closer to the original hardware.
I was clearly focusing on the unique filters and the ring modulator, but also used the new effects quite heavily.
Sweep VCA
Jean Michel Blanchet
The "Sweep_VCA_" preset highlights the rich harmonic range of the original synth with, in particular, the volume modulation of the two synth lines as well as the numerous possibilities of real time controls of the instrument: after touch, Ring Mod in tremolo mode, modulations using the Sub Osc...
Jean-Michel Blanchet - on CS-80 V
As soon as I tried it out when we received it at Arturia, I was immediately very impressed by the very wide sound and the exceptional expressiveness that matched the original CS80. The configuration of the sound control parameters and the quality of the polyphonic aftertouch make it a unique musical instrument.
I always prefer to start from an 'init' sound to create a new preset. At the beginning of a sound design period, I try to imagine what kind of sounds I should have in my bank, for example, if it should have a specific style or if it should be a Factory bank. After that, I start to create my sounds, taking into account the specificities of the synth and what we need to show to be as close as possible to the color of the original synth. Or on the contrary, to move away from it by using additional settings or modulations in the advanced panel. Then, I start to classify them by type, I progressively build my bank, and I finish with the details (comments, creation of macros, volume settings, and so on).
Aftertouch Surprise
Michael Geyre
Let's take at "Aftertouch Surprise" - a simple preset, but with sounds you can play and use on various recordings. That's what I aimed for: making playable sounds, not impressive ones...
Michael Geyre - on CS-80 V
Arturia has finally managed to nail the specific sound from this instrument, even though it's quite a complicated instrument with an unusual architecture. I am very happy about the sound of the new version, as I can get identical sounds to my original CS-80. As the original instrument is crowded full of obsolete and rare chips, I know that I will always manage to get its sound using this plugin, and that's pretty reassuring. Also, when working on some short recordings, or when the weather is too hot, I'd prefer not powering the CS-80 on in such conditions, so using the plugin even makes sense for me, even if I do have the original instrument.
Despite using the original instrument almost daily, making presets was pretty difficult for me, as, in my opinion, it is a musical instrument, not a research synthesizer. I could get even a single sine wave, and play it with great pleasure, as, to me, the main point of the instrument is playability. Using a good keyboard controller (especially featuring polyphonic pressure), it is possible to get a similar experience using CS-80 V. Let's take "Aftertouch Surprise " or "Meadow Flute " as examples; they're both very simple presets, but they're sounds you can play and use on various recordings. That's what I aimed for, making playable sounds, not just impressive ones!