CS-80 V
by Arturia · Synth · Polyphonic analog synth emulation
vst3s Score 8.5/10 · rated #8 of 10 synths
CS-80 V is Arturia's model of the 1976 Yamaha CS-80, the dual-layer polysynth known for Vangelis's brass and lead sounds.
It keeps the two parallel synthesis chains, ribbon controller and touch response, and adds multi-segment envelopes, effects and MPE support.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Electronic & EDM, Pop.
Keywords: analog, hardware emulation, brass, polyphonic, 70s, leads, MPE support, pads, cinematic, CPU-heavy, film & game audio, heavy, resizable UI, sound design, subtractive, vintage, warm.
What it does
CS-80 V is Arturia's "Animoid articulate synthesizer," built on the Yamaha CS-80.
- Dual layers: two complete parallel synthesis chains, each with oscillator, filter and amplifier per voice.
- Expression: touch response for velocity and aftertouch, and a ribbon controller for bends and modulation.
- Tone: high-pass and low-pass filters in series, a sub-oscillator and a ring modulator.
- Modulation: three multi-segment envelopes with three destinations each, and dedicated LFOs for pulse width.
- Effects and extras: three effect slots with 15 effect types, more than 200 presets, MPE and MTS-ESP microtuning, and a resizable GUI.
When to use it
CS-80 V is one of two CS-80-style instruments on the site, with Softube Model 77 Dual Layer Synth. Like u-he Diva and Spectrasonics Omnisphere 3, it can cover lush analog brass and pads; it makes sense over them if you want the CS-80's two-layer architecture with its ribbon and aftertouch, or MPE control, for expressive cinematic sounds.
- Best for: expressive brass, soaring leads, warm pads and Vangelis-style film sounds.
- Genres: ambient and cinematic, synthwave and electronic, and 1980s-style pop.
- Look elsewhere if: you mostly need basses and punchy mono leads; Mini V or MiniBrute V are more direct.
- Standout: performance expression through touch response, the ribbon and MPE.
What producers say
Reviewers found version 4 a big step over earlier versions; users praise the sound, with some CPU complaints.
- Sound On Sound (2022) called V4 "markedly superior" to its predecessors, though the Jup-8 V4's oscillator technology "appears not to have made the leap fully to the CS‑80."
- Sweetwater users rate it 3.9/5 from five reviews; one (2022) called it "my favorite of all the retro soft synths."
- KVR users (2003–2007, early versions) said it "reeks of class" but noted heavy CPU use.
- Gripe: a Sweetwater reviewer (2016) said it "can be taxing on the CPU at times."
Where to buy
- Arturia: $149
- Sweetwater: $149
- AudioDeluxe: $149
Tutorials and reviews
- Arturia CS-80 V: Preset Demos and Programming Basics
- Arturia CS-80 V4
- CS-80 V - Arturia V Collection Review
- Domina el sintetizador de la leyenda- Arturia CS80 V
- Yamaha CS-80 vs. Modern Clones: Arturia CS-80V and Cherry GX-80
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