Yamaha CS-5 vs Arturia miniBrute

[kraku]

If the CS-5 ends up on most of your tracks, it would be insane to sell your best tool.

You can always buy the MiniBrute and see which one you'll end up using the most: CS-5 or MiniBrute.

[djugel]

I'd say do it.. you'll always wish your CS-5 is a CS-10.

At least I did.
I can't get down with one ADSR anymore.. I get really bored... even tho it really doesn't matter.. just a mental block I have now..

[adsr500]

Originally Posted by kraku

If the CS-5 ends up on most of your tracks, it would be insane to sell your best tool.

i wouldnt call it my BEST tool...that would be the VirusTI. but the CS-5 always seems to provide something the Virus or the micro-Q cant...

[Rob Ocelot]

A lot of us are getting a Minibrute for it's non-synth capabilities like the ability to act as a portable CV/MIDI controller (with aftertouch!), USB to MIDI and USB to CV conversion as well. The Yamaha monosynths don't really play with CV well -- there's no input for the filter unless you modify it and the CV Hz/V is a big limitation.

While on paper the CS-5's multimode filter seems similar to the Minibrute I think in practice you'll find the Steiner-Parker filter to have a very different flavor from the Yamaha 12db filter. There's also a band reject (notch) filter mode in the Minibrute which is somewhat unique. Filter feedback (aka Brute Factor) is built into the Minibrute which means you can potentially feed external signals in *and* take advantage of the feedback. You can do feedback on the CS but to replicate what the Minibrute can do you'd have to play around with a mixer or two.

Of course in the end all these extra features and conveniences will mean nothing if the Minibrute doesn't make sounds that are useful to you. Another way to look at it might be in terms of the possibilities the Minibrute opens up in addition to filling the role the CS-5 played in your setup -- stuff you never thought possible because of the way the CS-5 presents things. Something as simple as a different UI can make a big difference in your creative flow.



You don't come across a CS-5 every day. If the Minibrute is as successful as the preorders seem to indicate it won't be very difficult to find one once the initial lust for it has died down. I'm sort of in the same boat as you, I have a CS-10 and an MS-20 -- there is going to be quite a bit of overlap between the three synths. Something's gotta go but I'm loathe to get rid of anything vintage for fear I wont be able to find one cheaply or even at all if/when I do actually need one.

[ahmo]

Keep the CS-5 and get the minibrute, see what happens and get rid of it later. You could stack them and use the CS as an extra osc and filter for the Minibrute, sort of a CS-15...

[phosfiend]

hmm, just joined the forum for a similar reason. I'm getting back into writing music, and was hunting for a CV controller for my CS-15...

Was considering the Kenton, but at the prices they are I could stretch it and get a Minibrute and get a new synth on top of a CV controller (assuming it plays nice with the CS-15).

Looks like a cool bit of gear

[verve92]

Dude you have a CS-5? Hang on to it at all cost and sell it only if you are getting evicted.
Get a MiniBrute too, why not?