|
The CS1X was the first synthesizer that I purchased. For the price that I paid (825$ CDN - around 600$US, New) there was no other synthesizer that came close to offering what the CS1X offers. I am extremely pleased with it and do not intent to ver sell it. Very controllable synth. There are 6 knobs that can be assigned to any XG parameter. Performance voices are very controllable. Standard drum kits are fair, but if you tweak around with the parameters a bit (or a lot if you want to ) and you can create some unique sounding drum sets. There are about 1500 base voices which can be layered together and modified.
You must be willing to experiment with this machine. My friend, if you want to learn how to program voices and understand the MIDI protocol, you're in for a good time ( although sometimes frustrating). I think the reason why many people complain about the MIDI interface is because the CS1x let's you control any parameter through MIDI messages. There are a lot of parameters, so you have to understand MIDI in order to benefit from this feature. Some people write it off because they don't take the time to learn of the CS1x's capabilities.
For example, erik wrote:
the only good things about this synt is that you get 6 assingable knobs even though you cant assign it to anything important.
This is simply not true.
Alex Baumann wrote:
with the GM voices you are only allowed a few controls, and it would be nice to be able to use all of them, including decay, effects, portamento, etc.
You CAN actually control these parameters ( and many others ), but you need an external sequencer (cakewalk for instance) that can send sysex messages in real time.
Ralph Muller wrote:
For self made sounds you need in a the midi channels
1, 2, 3 and 4 in a external sepuencer. All other midi channels con only be used for GM sounds!
This is also flase. ANY Material voice can be used for parts 5-16. There about 1000.
The list goes on.
Factory presets are fine, ( some are great and will give you instant gratification!! ) but some are less than perfect immitations of sounds available on other synths (ex, some of the analog replicas, 808, 909 drums, hammond organ). You'll have to tweak them to give them character.
You also get decent XG sounds. I know a lot of people don't like the idea of using industry standard voices, but they're there and you can always tweak them to the point where they sund completely diffrent.
There are some limitiations. To begin with, some of the parameters for the performance voices are controlled via system exclusive MIDI messages. These messages aren't sent by the CS1x in real-time and therefore some parameter changes cannot be recorded by a MIDI sequencer/recorder in real-time. There are ways around this (software utilities such as CS1x EDIT or designing your own PANEL layout for cs1x sysex messages in Cakewalk) but you will need a computer (which I must assume you have since you are reading this review).
Also, you cannot apply the variation effects to parts 5-16 in performance mode. (you can in Multi mode).
It's difficult to get good bass sounds from the cs1x. It's possible, but you are limited. You may want to get a bass module like a novation bass station to compliment the CS1x.
Admitedly, the guitar and brass sounds are poor. They're good if you want to create totally different sounds ( that don't sound like guitars or trumpets ) but I was dissapointed with them overall.
Cutoff and resonance filters are good for the price, but I've seen better. The ADSR enveloppes are also somewhat predefined, depending on which voices you apply it to.
Please keep in mind that this is by no means an all in one synth. It's an amazing starter synth though and the control you have is impressive. If you want to sound conventional, you'll definitely have to get a drum machine at some point ( if you plan to make techno ).
I strongly suggest you listen to the cs1x before you buy it. It's marketed as a dance techno synth, but I think for some it falls short of their expectations. If you don't have the money but have the time and are curious, I believe you can work around it.
You can also get an AN1x, CS2x or Nord Lead which are similar in concept but is significantly more versatile. More expensive though.
Aside from the synth itself, there is support for the CS1X if you have a computer . (CS1X mailing list, CS1x web page, CS1X edit etc.)
There is also something called the BLUE BOOK which is a thorough tutorial about the CS1X and it's capabilities. It is an excellent compliment to the manual. The manual itself gives you all the technical data but falls very short of explaining how to use all of it. The BLUE BOOK in PDF format on the internet.
|
listings
