CS-5 is a monophonic, one-VCO synthesizer created by Yamaha. The only VCO offers pulse or saw waves as well as features a noise generator. The LFO section offers sine, saw, sample&hold. The filter section comprises 2-pole high pass and low pass modes as well as a 1-pole band pass.

There is no effects section onboard. The 37-note keyboard offers no memory.

CS series developed by Yamaha is definitely not a high end product but is a pure analog voice which keeps it as simple as that. You get classic filter and modulation control with which you can achieve some vintage sounds generated by a single oscillator keyboard the price of which is surely affordable. There’s an external audio input the signal from which can be routed via filter and amp sections.

CS-5 features no patch memory, no MIDI but allows for receiving some warm basses and agreeable synth effects with some modulating moves.

The instrument was used by Siouxsie and the Banshees, Depeche Mode, Richard Barbieri and the Sneaker Pimps.