"Black Cat in Space" by Raymond Castile (Sequential Prophet 5, Yamaha CS-60, Roland Juno 60)

video upload by Raymond Castile

"Electronic synthesizer music composed and performed by Raymond Castile.

Instruments used are the Sequential Prophet 5 rev. 4, Yamaha CS-60, Roland Juno 60, Behringer VC330, Logic Pro X Alchemy and sampled instruments, Spitfire Audio and VProm percussion samples."

Exploring the Yamaha CS-60 Polyphonic Synthesizer

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video upload by Raymond Castile

"A walk-through of the Yamaha CS-60, with a lot of improvised noodling along the way. This is my first 'walk-through' video, and probably my last. It's pretty rough and clumsy, but I think the beauty of the synth comes through."

via this auction

"Classic Yamaha CS-60 Polyphonic Synthesizer. See a Walk Through video: [above]. If really has beautiful sounds.This is a vintage synth in need of repair. The unit does have power, but does not produce any sound. This is reflected in the discounted price. You may submit your Best Offer for consideration"

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Yamaha CS-60: "For Nothing" by Raymond Castile

Published on Oct 10, 2017 raycastile

"I've been kicking around this melody for a few months. Finally I decided to do something with it.

The two main instruments are the Yamaha CS-60 and Reface CP, as you see in the video. The strings are a combination of the Elka Rhapsody 490 and the Ensoniq ESQ-1. The Roland Juno 60 is making some of the effects sounds, along with the CS-60. There's a bit of Roland D-50 and XP-30 at the beginning, plus some VST digital effects throughout."

Casio VL-Tone improvisation by Raymond Castile

Published on Aug 25, 2017 raycastile

"My very first electronic instrument was a Casio VL-Tone (or Casio VL-1, both names are on the instrument). I was just a little kid and already in love with Vangelis, Wendy Carlos, John Carpenter and other synth players. So my parents bought me this little toy synth, either for my birthday or Christmas. I played with that thing night and day. I made avant-garde tape recordings, thinking I was Vangelis recording Beaubourg. That was the only electronic instrument I had until I turned 16, when my grandmother bought me an organ.

The Casio VL-Tone in this video is the very same one from my childhood. I dug it up last night to see if it still works. Yes it does. I plugged it into my mixer, added some effects, and was surprised at how good it sounded. So tonight I recorded this.

The only two instruments are the Roland Juno 60 providing the arpeggio and the Casio VL-Tone providing the lead. I've got some Lexicon and Valhalla effects to fill out the sound and add some texture.

I doubt I will use the VL-Tone again for a recording like this, but it was fun to do this time."

Roland SH-1000 synthesizer improv by Raymond Castile

Published on Apr 18, 2017 raycastile

"My Yamaha CS-60 is undergoing its third round of restoration (hopefully the last round). So while it's gone, I'll occupy my time getting to know this Roland SH-1000 that I recently purchased.

The SH-1000 was introduced in 1973. It was the first synthesizer produced by Roland. This is a historic synth! You can hear it in the early music of Vangelis and Mike Oldfield. It has been said that Blondie used it for the baseline in Heart of Glass, but I think that has been proven false. It's a primitive synth, but has a unique sound. I'm using a vintage Roland FV-1 foot pedal to control the filter. (It doesn't seem to work with modern pedals.) The pedal really makes it come alive.

This is my first monophonic synthesizer! Yes, I've owned nothing but polys until now. I must say, playing a mono synth takes some getting used to. I've read that audio levels on monophonic synths tend to run hot. That's definitely the case with this one. You can hear it clip and distort here and there in the video. I'll have to learn how to deal with the levels. There is an art to it. I have another mono synth on its way, so I should have plenty of opportunity to practice learning to play and mix them properly."

Yamaha CS-60: "Around and Back" by Raymond Castile

Published on Feb 11, 2017 raycastile

"This piece has six parts. If you don't like what you're hearing at any given time, wait a minute, because something different is coming around the corner.

Lots of CS-60 on this track. Most of the effects sounds, the brass sounds, bass, "guitar" sounds, flute sounds, and more. The arpeggios are the Roland D-50 and Ensoniq ESQ1. Novation MoroderNova is playing some 303-ish filter sweeping arpeggios. String pads are the Korg M1 and XILS V+. The ESQ1 also does the repeating string stabs toward the end. Drums are a combination of the Roland XP-30 and Emu Proteus I.

This is the first time in years I have incorporated a drum track. I'm not big on drums. But this piece started as an attempt to do an Italian disco-style track, then evolved into something very different. The drums are a vestige of the original idea.

This is also one of the few times I've used a compressor. I usually prefer a looser, more organic sound. But because of the dance-like quality of the second half, I thought it needed the compressed sound associated with dance music. I'm not experienced with compressors, so it's probably not the most elegant example of audio compression you've ever heard. I might upload an uncompressed version in the future.

The video splices together many takes. During the outro, when you hear the brass sound, you are not seeing the same take you are hearing. The video of that take got deleted, or was never shot. So I had to use video of a different take and dissolve out of it before it became obvious. That is why that shot seems to end prematurely.

During the intro and outro, when it seems like I am staring into space, not playing anything, it is not because I'm drunk, stoned or insane. I am performing the rising and falling glissando effects. See my fingers at both ends of the keyboard? I'm actually playing something, honest."

Yamaha CS-60: "The Beast Must Die" by Raymond Castile

Published on Jan 8, 2017 raycastile

"An eerie John Carpenter-inspired piece. The CS-60 is not the star this time. It plays a supporting role backing up the Yamaha Reface CP on the main melody. A more flamboyant use of the CS-60 are the jarring stingers that punctuate the piece. I haven't experimented much with the CS-60's noise generator, but it is capable of some powerful effects.

This piece has nothing to do with the Peter Cushing movie, 'The Beast Must Die.' I just thought it made a good title. I imagined something supernatural going on, probably in the woods, maybe witches meeting for a sabbath. But that seemed too passive. I thought the music sounded more urgent and dire, like a hunt, maybe the hunter becoming the hunted, tracking down some creature, maybe a werewolf. Maybe the stingers indicate the werewolf is picking off members of the hunting party. Maybe witches are involved somehow. Who knows.

The piece also has nothing to do with 'Pickman's Model,' even though I used the Night Gallery painting from that episode. I just thought it captured the mood of the piece."

Yamaha CS-60: "Shimmer" by Raymond Castile

Published on Jan 4, 2017 raycastile

"I was having some tea Wednesday morning and decided to record something. I had just read an online tutorial about jazz chord progressions, and I wanted to try out my new Valhalla plugin. So I just hit record on the computer and started playing. This is what came out! An improvisation on the Yamaha Reface CP using the CP-80 piano sound, with the Yamaha CS-60 providing a "flute" solo dancing around on top. Virtually no thought or planning went into this. I just started recording and moving my fingers. If I had put any thought into it, it probably would have ruined it.

Maybe someone here can help me with a technical issue. You hear that buzzing hum? It's in all my recordings. It's coming from the CS-60. It's a very noisy old machine. Is there a plugin or a pedal that can get rid of that hum without diminishing the character of the sound? The CS-60 has a very delicate, precise sound, and I don't want to lose that. But I do want to lose that hum. Logic Pro X has a de-noise effect, but it only works for hissing, not for this kind of noise. If you have any suggestions, post it in the comments. Thank you!"

Yamaha CS-60: "Carry On" by Raymond Castile

Published on Jan 2, 2017 raycastile

"Hello. Here is another entry in my series of Yamaha CS-60 videos. Once again, no video of me playing. Instead, you get a mesmerizing cloudscape. This piece required a lot of multi-tracking and a lot of takes, so it didn't lend itself to a live performance video.

I called it 'Carry On.' Reminds me of British things, like the 'Keep Calm' slogan and the Carry On film series. But it's not deliberately referencing those things. I was thinking of how someone carries on despite setbacks and disasters, when it would be easier and less painful to quit.

The path ahead is dark and mysterious, portending doom, but you walk forward, unsteady and unsure, but you keep moving and hoping. Then another setback hits you, knocks you down, laughs at you as you tumble. You sit there a bit, gathering the nerve to continue, then you start again. But this time, you're more sure of yourself. The setback gave you strength. Finally, you are striding confidently into the future, though secretly there is still a little doubt. Listen to the piece with this description in mind and you will see how it matches step by step."