I’ve owned (2) SK30s. Starting in the early 80s, I toured for about 6 years using the SK30s. I had one of the SK30s modified to separate the polysynth and string section. Since I now had (4) separate outputs, I could stereotise each tone section separately using all kinds of effect processors. Though, I primarily used the SK30 for its organ. I ran the organ out directly to a Leslie 147. But to be able to layer all 4 tone sections, made this synth sound huge. At that time, my keyboard rig also included a Prophet 5 and an OB8. But, my favorite was the SK30. Only downside was that it was not programmable. Upside,, the SK is built like a tank, was extremely faithful, never ever needed servicing… unlike the P5 and OB8 that visited the service department about ever 6 months.

I swear that I left a comment earlier. I see SK30 and clicked straight away. It's my most used vintage synth in my studio. I love it

Thank you!!! Im trying all the years to comment everywhere that this technology is pretty much an early version of analog DCO approach (not FM!).Couple things to mention. Included VCF on Poly and Solo are the same as on CS serie and hence they are state variable with lo / band / highpass. For solo its hardwired to LP only and on Poly there is still little feature that on 8 SAW it switches to bandpass. Also to mention - the brillance slider is another (non resonant) bandpass filter. So technically Poly section have two filters in serie (strings use only static filters and brillance). All components on solo are same as on CS series and that whole section resembles CS-5 (with added aftertouch features). Anyways. I have used this beautiful machine in all my recent albums. Its amazing joy to play it and listen to it. Awesome job showing it like this.

You have slowly become one of my favorite presenters of synths ! Damn fine job , Zach !

This is the best demo I’ve seen of this keyboard. This is the first time I’ve thought, gee, I’d like to have one of those. Very sweet sounds.

I thought the Jup4 was a mono synth,,,hmm. Anyhoo, I happened upon a SK30 at a pawn shop back in 2007. I knew little about it and couldn't coax any sounds that I wanted out of it so I passed up the $375 price tag. Couple of months later I met a guy at the bar at Ruby Tuesday who was wearing a Moog soccer shirt, so I started up a 2 hour long conversation about synths (as we all do) and he said that he ended up buying it for $300. Interesting story 😎

@jaywood5831

2 жыл бұрын

God I wish I could be back to the days where you could get a nice vintage analog synth at a reasonable price. 300$ is a steal today even adding inflation.

Zach, the SK-30 has a few other not-so-obvious tricks up it's sleeve. If you jam the solo synth footage slider between selections the monosynth will pitch up a perfect fifth -- which has some interesting effects when played over the poly/string/organ chords and it's tracking the top note. In a similar vein, if you jam the polysynth footage slider between selections you will combine waveforms (8' saw and 16' square is especially striking and powerful). Unfortunately you can't combine the low pass and band pass filter footages. An expression pedal (Yamaha FC-7 works great) sweeping the polysynth filter brilliance makes the poly section come alive. Light portamento and getting the mono section settings just right (especially the aftertouch vibrato rate) results in an eerie theremin-like female voice sound that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up -- the only other synth that does that layered over strings/poly is the Farfisa Syntorchestra. Aftertouch works on the monosynth, even if the notes are pushed to the low keys or the bass pedals (you can activate it with chords played with the right hand). I just recently found a set of the rare-as-hen's-teeth BP-2 bass pedals that work with the SK-30 and it's like I'm rediscovering this synth all over again.

@deemarr9151

Жыл бұрын

I have one but needs work..im happy I kept it even though it's so heavy

I could have sold my SK30 and grabbed a Trident... I decided against it. The SK30 has some really interesting features that I just don't think the Trident can compete with (despite it being a 'real' poly analog synth). The fact that the SK30 has a solo (i.e., monophonic) synth section that can play on top of the synth/string section really adds a lot of dynamic that I can't really get out of any of my other instruments (unless I set up multi-timbral patches, which I find can often be a pain). Then you can turn on 'brilliance' aftertouch and really get some interesting sounds from the mono synth section. The organ sounds great as well. Honestly, I think it's a lot more interesting of a synth than people would typically think, especially given the 'paraphonic' nature of it. Big pluses for me: Awesome dynamics with 4 different parts (solo, organ, synth, string) that can be played in a variety of ways. Excellent filter, even if a single one for the synth section. The organ sounds amazing, IMO Solo section is incredible on top of the other sections and the aftertouch aspect is key to this. Keybed is very very nice. Some of my dislikes would be: Not a lot of controls on the synth section. I'd love to be able to do PWM or other things, but honestly, it sounds good as is and there is the section that adds some sort of LFO to the pitch. The levels for each part when mixing are very 'off' the solo section is WAY louder than the other parts. I don't understand why they didn't do a better job matching levels, but could just be my unit. Would love more controls for the solo section as well. I think some people said it was equivalent to a CS-5, but I think it's lacking at least a few features from that. I've heard elsewhere (I think VSE) that it's like an SH-101, but it doesn't really sound at all like the SH-101 to me. Buttons kinda suck, if it's colder than 60F (my studio is very cold in the winter), the buttons do not release properly... Really, this is my own problem. Nice video.

@RoomAtTheTopStudio

2 жыл бұрын

Great to see your input here MIDERA. I decided against getting a Trident as well because I preferred my SK30 too. It does have PWM though. Check the controls properly and you will see it. I think it's on the solo section controls. The difference between the CS-5 and the mono synth on the SK30 is the SK30 has aftertouch and the CS-5 has sample and hold, otherwise they are basically the same. That's why I passed on getting a CS-5 as I have the SK30 and a CS10. For sample and hold I use a KARP Odyssey. I think the filter on the CS-5 may be smoother as it's a knob not a slider. I can't really tell as I don't have the CS-5 but the filter is amazing on the CS10 so I assume that they are similar. On my SK30 the filter sounds good but I prefer the smoothness of turning the knob. For me the slider doesn't do as great of a job so I don't use it live as much as I would on the CS10. I've not experienced any problems with the buttons but I will make a note not to let me studio get too cold. I'm looking forward to more content from you on your Yamaha SK30

@MIDERA

2 жыл бұрын

@@RoomAtTheTopStudio Hey - good to hear from you! I was recently offered like $1800 for my SK-30 and I almost took it... but decided that I can always come across $1800 by saving or something, but grabbing an SK30 may be a challenge for years to come, so I declined. Regarding PWM: Yes, it does have it for the SOLO section, but not the SYNTH section, which I was referring to. There is no PWM on the SK-30 in that section. The CS5 does appear to be similar, I had thought it had two EGs, one for the filter and VCA but it doesn't. It does seem to have noise as another source. But on the surface they appear similar. My studio gets very cold. However, it is currently being updated with insulation, so hopefully this winter will be different!

@RoomAtTheTopStudio

2 жыл бұрын

@@MIDERA You are smart. That's great logic you used there. Finding a SK30 is like finding a needle in a haystack. It's possible but it's not easy. When you do you grab it and keep it. They rarely break down, they are built like tanks, they sound awesome and when I got mine they were relatively cheap. They aren't now because word is out. I doubt that there is enough interest for Behringer to clone it, but even if they did that craftmanship of how it's made couldn't be replicated in today's day and age. I was very lucky to find mine, and at a store that I knew well so I take it as a blessing. The CS5 and the solo synth on the SK30 only differ with sample and hold on the CS-5 and after-touch on the SK30. I think you can add an external source to both, can't remember if the SK30 has noise, I'll have to look when I get back to the instrument studio. Like you I'm renovating the studio but I'm making a new studio at my other residence which is mainly for vocals and mixing where as my big studio is where my synths and drum machines are. Hopefully mine will be finished before winter as well.

This episode was a joy to watch. Beautiful sound and very unique. The demos were awesome Zach! Great showcase.

I fell in love with the sound of this machine and had to buy one myself a year or so ago. It has its sweet spots, and you may not gain an appreciation until you figure out how to get the most out of it. Once you do though, what you can get out of all the layered and split keyboard sounds, is really something else. It is a players synth though, and how much you can get out of it is limited in part by how well you can manage playing leads and chords at the same time with your right hand, while playing bass with your left, etc. If you are a keyboardist that likes neo prog at all, this thing totally nails those sounds. combining the string and polysynth sections, and throwing them both through the built in ensemble makes for what are probably my favorite ever string machine sounds.

I totally forgot about that synth.

@dustincassidy

2 жыл бұрын

LOL

Hey Zach. Thanks for checking this one out. I've had my SK30 since the 80's and I've had some great gigs with it. In the later years I used it mainly as an organ going through a Yamaha RA100, which was Yamaha's version of a leslie. As well I put it through an old tape delay unit. Got some pretty amazing sounds of out it. Not a B3 by any stretch, but a heck of alot easier to move around. Cheers and keep up the great work!

The sound palette right around 22:30 or so is fantastic.

Sound great. I’m so intrigued of the vintage gear. It’s the up keep that becomes a barrier.

I grew up from the very beginning of synthesis in the 1960s and I can remember this synth and its clean smooth tonality! It's hard to find any edginess to it! But for a difference as a keyboardist myself I might use it here and there! It sounds pretty good. Glad you demonstrated it, good job!

Really nice video and lovely synth organ.

It's also a blast to hook the monosynth to a sequencer and go ham with the other sections on the keyboard

Lovely smooth transitions between sounds. Nothing seems out of control.

I owned one back in 2003. Sold it the same year unfortunately due to financial difficulties. Went to a musician out in San Francisco (I was in SE Texas at the time.) You’re correct, it’s truly a beast but had so many nice qualities. Wish I still had it. I wonder if mine is still alive and well? Speaking of the Yamaha PASS technology, they also used it in their first portables in 1980 (PS-1,2 & 3.) Great channel by the way. Love the content!

Wow, that sounds fantastic! Still doesn't compare to a Trident, but it absolutely punches way above its weight value wise. I think the sounds are extremely usable today; each section fits very well with the others sonically. You've definitely placed it on my radar. Thanks Zach!

@infindebula

3 жыл бұрын

It doesn't sound lush like a Trident, but I think this has some more interesting sounds.

@RoomAtTheTopStudio

3 жыл бұрын

In todays market if you have one or the other then you are very fortunate. If you have both then smile as you are a lucky rare person. Yes the Trident is more popular but some of the things that the SK30 can do can put some shade on the Trident melodically IMO.

The SK30 is a beast (literaly). Too bad it was shadowed by more advanced synths and even by Yamaha's own releases at the time. However this is a wonderful machine in its own right. Has unique features and capabilities that makes it sound quite strange and ethereal (seriously, add a good reverb or tape delay and it's Heaven). Behriger needs to revamp this synth, add some noticeable (and needed) improvements and bring it to the 21st century. IMHO, it's far more usable than a Quadra or a Solina. Especially when all sounds are combined.

Excellent video

Thanks for the demo, brings back old memories. The first real synth I played was part of a huge home church organ, it had sound presets on punched cards!

Q: is this the basis of the tone generation on the CP35 as well? Likewise, I've read incorrect information about it being FM, about it being digital tone generation with analogue processing, and (from Yamaha) vague information about 4 pulse wave ICs (2 in the CP25) generating square waves, and therefore entirely analogue. Also, I notice the same switches in the front panel (also shared with the GS2).

Behringer NEEDS to create a clone where you can switch between Arp Quadra, Korg Trident and Yamaha SK30 mode....or even better...adding an option to layer sounds from all 3 machines above each other!

@jumpingman8160

2 жыл бұрын

I've been pestering Behringer about a revamped SK30 (correcting the filter, adding more stuff where they can...) and it seems promising.

@RoomAtTheTopStudio

2 жыл бұрын

@@jumpingman8160 I'm sure that a real one will be coming your way soon. I don't think there is enough demand on the SK30 for a clone. If you can find one for sale they still go for a reasonable price

@jumpingman8160

2 жыл бұрын

@@RoomAtTheTopStudio maintenance issues bother me. But I'm hopeful.

@RoomAtTheTopStudio

2 жыл бұрын

@@jumpingman8160 I've had mine for 3 years and I've been working it. Maintenance isn't a problem. They were made to last unlike the modern synths. Just keep searching online as you will find one

I've been slowly rebuilding one for the past year now.. I had to replace the Solo Synth's LFO chip.. (man that HURT to buy). Replaced 5 slider pots for the solo too.. orig. sliders had broken stems and they used TOOTHPICKS for stem replacements. It's come a long way and I'm down to tracing a slight distortion issue with the Ensemble(Chorus) effect that apparently is only used for the Mixed output. My segregated outs are all clean thought. ;-) Love the synth, but eventually I need to put it on the market and let it go.. just not enough room in my small home to keep it forever :( I think these instruments do very well to do Keith Emerson (ELP) covers with and the strings have a Dream Weaver/Shine On You Crazy Diamond sound to it. By the way.. the Solo's Sine Wave LFO Chip in these have unused Sawtooth and Triangle Outputs... it could be possible to do a mod to patch them in.. It's the exact same LFO Chip found in the CS series synths.

The coolest thing about these synths and the seperate outs is not really the stereo possibility. But use pedals to make to use the organ more as an extra waveform on top of the poly, make the poly more interesting. Also pedal the mixed out but different, It doubles the synth so you can make It sound a lot more powerful. It sounds very Yamaha and musical with the lovely filter. And It's a good way to get poly CS sounds. I have the SK20. If you do some nice sound design with pedals and the outputs. I can make a lot of blade runner type sounds. The SK30 can make even more complex sounds, with the detune and the mono synth. I got a CS 10 and CS 30 for more Yamaha. Put the organ through the CS 10 to de organ It. And Yamaha Poly's need reverb ... lots of It. You can make It sound very Vangelis, and that It is 7 notes Poly, can really help to faking the CS 80. But yeah basic ... like a Juno 6/60 does the basic Jupiter 8 sounds pretty well. It's a pretty bad string synth. It's a very cool ensemble synth from the SK20 and up. Using the individual outs with filters and fx, and layer It with the mix that uses the internal FX, the seperate outputs don't, and that is very cool. If you don't do that, It's sounds dated and isn't very useful today. But if you have good pedals, fx you can make a super polyphonic spacemachine with these synth. SK 30 is the most interesting, but really big and really heavy. SK 20 is also really big and really heavy already. SK 50 is total overkill. And the lower models are just to weak.

love this guy

thats a really trippy synth i like it

I own a Yamaha electric organ with a leslie speaker from the same era.It looks very similar in design. Tank! sounds amazing>

Great to see some sk30 content! Although: The string/poly section is NOT divide-down tech. It´s 7 note polyphony, last note priority. And for that many string machine-purists will not include the SK in that family, wich may be part of it´s extra obscure status. I´ve heard that the organ section was an early implementation of FM. Don´t know that for sure though. However, it IS a much better "hammond clone" sound than the electones, so theres definately is a difference. /Long time sk30 owner (and also several electones. Not a space-effective hobby :) )

I play mine into a Roger Linn Adrenalin III for stereo out and more🙏🏻 mono in Wild Outs

I used to have a Moog Opus 3 that's pretty much in the same category.

I wonder if I could get the same strings as the vp330 out of a sk30/50.

I had one of these for many years. Bought it for $800 used in 1983. It was just a little too early to have MIDI, which I soon moved on to. It was a brick to gig with. I sold it in '96 for $200.

@toyland12

2 жыл бұрын

I realized after posting I had the smaller SK-20 which was similar, but without the lead synth. Great for big orchestrated pads, etc.

Great demo. Reminds me of the classic Hal Hartley soundtracks.

Had a chance to get one of these new in Dallas for like $200 when they were being cleared out. The sandwich keyboards were going the way of the dinosaurs when patch storage became a thing. The CS40D had a little of it, but lordy, that thing was a bear to maintain.

@jakelawson1

3 жыл бұрын

Also, if memory serves, the 10, 20, 30, and 50 all used the same sound generation tech. The 15 came out a year later and was an attempt to find a sweet spot, taking the best of the others, but the circuitry was reworked so the sounds were significantly different.

I've had mine for over a year, it's sometimes referred to as a poor man's CS80, doing the Vangelis mono aftertouch while using an expression pedal for the poly filter is so lush sounding. I'm a huge fan. I'm still not 100% certain about the polysynth technology in this. Is it just 2 osc divide down but doesn't sound like the string synths of the time? Honestly the string section on the sk30 sounds just like a thin 1 osc version of the poly section (as you mentioned same architecture). I've read the SK has some technology from the GX-1 in it, any idea which sections if not all? And if the organ isn't FM like the internet likes to claim, any idea what it is? Sorry for all the questions, I've been really enjoying it and trying to find out as much as I can about it. Thanks!

@asoundlab

2 жыл бұрын

I think the mono synth uses the same vco found in the GX1, CS80 and SY1. I still need to confirm this but I read an article from someone in the comments that had opened it up and found that. The poly synth and string section use the same voice generation and I believe it is divide down analog sound generation with a lot of microprocessors that digitally control the keyboard and the clock. This, from what I understand, was an innovation from Yamaha. It may account for the difference in sound between it and other stringers. In general, Yamaha synths sound unique because they feature a lot of Yamaha proprietary chips and technology that didn’t make their way into other companies or synthesizers. Other companies made use of shared tech such as Curtis and SSM VCO’s and Filters. This is what I’ve been able to find so far - if you come across anything else please let me know!

@RoomAtTheTopStudio

2 жыл бұрын

@@asoundlab the mono synth on the SK30 is basically a CS5 with aftertouch instead of sample and hold. It's a one oscillator VCO mono synth but different to the CS10 in the same ways as the CS5 with only one envelope where as the CS10 has two.

To me it sounded really great.

My kind of sound 👌😀

You should have mentioned when you said “people say this is the one to get” that this model introduced a CV interface not found on the sk20. I have a sk20 here and i really want to mod it to add CV.

@cdwhiley

3 жыл бұрын

Ahhh you mentioned it later sorta yea. Big difference here imo

@AnalogAudio1

2 жыл бұрын

The reason the SK-30 has CV and Gate is, because it has a monophonic synth built in, which the SK-20 does not have.

@cdwhiley

2 жыл бұрын

@@AnalogAudio1 at first i wanted to yell about how wrong you were. Then I realized you're totally right. There is a dedicated VCO chip inside that SK30 that the SK-20 doesn't have. Furthermore there are two tone generators in the SK-30 (digital PASS chip) whereas the SK-20 only has one for the poly section. So the SK-30 is such a better instrument across the board. Since I have no hope of adding CV to mine to trigger that thing I'm gonna mod a keyboard matrix midi interface on mine to add rudimentary MIDI control. Wish me luck :)

@kenzieprice6745

Жыл бұрын

@@cdwhiley Did you ever make the mod?

@cdwhiley

Жыл бұрын

@@kenzieprice6745 not yet. But now Tubbutec has a mod kit for sale for it. Called “organ donor”. Will be going this route.

Almost forgot I had one long ago. Hearing it now reminds me why I sold it. It did not suit my style of music at the time, nor today. Same reason I sold my PolySix, not to mention they where huge haha!

I kinda like it ngl

Gotta ask: what is making that chord repeat on every melody note you play? It's really nice, but it doesn't seem to be any obvious thing that you play. As I said in your SK-15 vid, I have been lusting after the 30 for some time. One day I'll get one, but first I need to clear out some other keyboards I love to make room. It is a tough (but admittedly enviable) position to be in.

@asoundlab

3 жыл бұрын

There’s some percussion parameters in the organ section. I believe it causes harmonics (a mixable blend of 2nd, 3rd, 5ths) to be played with organ notes. Theres a decay parameter for this as well. It’s a nice effect.

@infindebula

3 жыл бұрын

@@asoundlab it certainly is!

hey guys, could anyone recommend me some modern synths for this kind of mellow, creamy & (kind of) cheesy sounds? i was thinking about getting a matriarch, but it's out of my budget for the moment... thanks!

Nostalgy is a good thing. But I love it to live in a time when Montage and other modern synths are invented an on the market.

Is it worth it?

Give me a Yamaha sk30, cs-15D, and cs-40 and I'd be a happy man

I've had my SK30 for about 6 years now, wouldn't part with it!

I love the SK30. Always sounds like 70s french soft porn music. And I like french soft porn music a lot. :D

@asoundlab

3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha! Love it

Great synth, but pretty redundant if you also have an sk50d. You don’t have an sk50d? Oh.

The Atari equivalent of the Nord stage if the Nord is a PS5

i really wonder how you even got one of these. They are not easy to just buy today like you would other vintage gear.

@asoundlab

2 жыл бұрын

I had to keep my eyes out :)

Great vid Zach! I have the even more obscure SK50D with dual manuals. Love how these sound. Some people thing they are very good but I'm convinced they simply don't know how to use them. I grew up around old organs and keyboards and I can tell you that you can get a lot from the SK series. See this link for one example when I first tested mine out: kzread.info/dash/bejne/oqRkzsqcaJycfso.html

The organ and ensemble sound nice, the strings are not so good imo

@sierpeman

3 жыл бұрын

Ensemble helps

@DestroyER82

2 жыл бұрын

Detune, vibrato, ensemble and right amount of bandpass filter (aka brillance) and they are awesome and lush.