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The Eighty is a groundbreaking synthesizer inspired by the legendary CS-80, delivering unmatched warmth and expressiveness.
It features three synthesis lines : two that faithfully recreate the linked high-pass and low-pass filters that defined the CS-80's iconic sound, and a third line, seamlessly blendable through an innovative 2D mixer for expanded sonic possibilities.
With its rich analog character, extensive modulation capabilities, and intuitive interface, The Eighty offers sound designers, producers, and musicians the tools to craft everything from lush pads and soaring leads to deep, textured soundscapes. A modern tribute to a timeless classic.
To faithfully recreate the essence of a synthesizer, the journey begins with its oscillators and filters. The oscillators and filters have been meticulously modeled to capture the unique characteristics of the CS-80, including its distinctive SAW wave generation with short pulses, delivering unparalleled tone and texture.
Each synthesis line features zero-delay 12 dB resonant high-pass and low-pass filters, designed to preserve the warmth and richness of analog sound while eliminating digital artifacts. The filters' resonance has been carefully calibrated to ensure smooth sweeps without introducing distortion in the low end, even when the cutoff frequency aligns with the oscillator's frequency.
Equally essential to the authenticity of the original instrument is the Chorus—a defining feature that adds depth, movement, and character to the sound.
This meticulous attention to detail ensures a faithful and inspiring recreation of the legendary synthesizer.
Reviewed By Akedah [all]
April 11th, 2025
Version reviewed: 1.02 on Mac
Several decades ago, I had the privilege of playing a little on Yamaha's flagship, the CS-80. The price made it impossible to buy, but in connection with a recording session, I was given access to a copy for a few days. My experience was the CS-80's musical softness, an almost magical shimmer while at the same time it could be somewhat brutal, especially certain bass sounds.
There are several nice software emulations of the CS-80 - but there is some harshness in some bread and butter sounds in most of them. When XILS-Labs' version came out, I downloaded the trial version and fell in love with it immediately. Almost perfect!
In short - this is IMHO currently probably the best emulation of a CS-80, especially when it comes to the typical shimmering sound. Unfortunately, it's not that cheap (but significantly more affordable than the original!), but if you're looking for the typical CS 80 sound, you should definitely lend it an ear.
So some final thoughts - very nice GUI, crystal clear, five stars.
But the positive also comes with a price in terms of computing power. I have a pretty sharp Mac Pro, but if you don't have plenty of RAM and a good processor you should definitely test before buying.
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