5 Sound examples of the hardware CS80 versus the Arturia CS80V. Can you hear the difference? 

Being a Drum & Bass artist I'm a huge fan of Subfocus who is very big on the ME80 emulation by Memory Moon. In one of his RU-vid videos he explains that he used to have a studio next door to the band Nero who purchased and original CS80 like yourself. They spent some time comparing the various VST emulations to the real thing and decided that the ME80 was much closer to the original than any other emulation. Personally I like using both the ME80 and the CS80V-3 and CS80V-4. Cheers!

Thank you for your insightful synth knowledge! I love these videos when they come out!

A comparison that I'm sure many, many people will greatly appreciate. As a CS80 fanboy and CS80V owner, I've been wanting this for a long time. Would love to see more.

Thanks so much for doing this video!

Really enjoying just listening to the sound bytes. Did have trouble working out which was which.

The Yamaha Montage has an incredible sounding CS80, particularly the cutoff and rez filters.

Thanks so much,I always wonder a closer comparison between the two ,but it's very difficult in this days to see it ,in of course cheers

Great video, and great idea to make us interact with the form! I’m curious to see the results

The original CS80 was well known for having unstable tuning. Apparently there was uneven heating between the voice cards. This alone will make quite a difference between the two- difference, not necessarily better mind you!

The differences between the two could likely be made much smaller with a bit of additional processing on the VST. Analog signal paths have natural eq, saturation that you can most definitely add in. Arturia also makes some great vsts for this!

Great videos on the CS80, thank you! There was one in my local music shop when I was in high school, and the owner was cool about letting us hang out and play it. It became a weekly thing, everyone loved it! They told us that Stevie Wonder had been using the one we were playing. I'm going with A B A A A, or all the ones with the low/low-mid warmth. Curious to see how my memory serves me.

Emulating the sound of analog synths in plugins has reached a point of maturity where the differences are slight if not imperceptible most of the time. However, the thing that really sets analog synths apart… and this is especially true of the CS80… is the interface. The immediacy of controls and knobs and sliders, etc is what makes analog synths so expressive and fun to play.

Both sound great, but the real hardware has some raw unruly power to it that CS80V (and very few plugins at all) does not provide. Great times for synthesiser enthusiast. And it will only get better ;-) Even polyphonic aftertouch are becoming more usual. Thanks for the videos!

The benefit of the software over the hardware is that when the software goes wrong you don't have to ship it off half-way across the world for a year, only to get a five-figure repair bill when it finally comes back. PS I think your subs have almost doubled in the last 2 weeks, so congrats. I found you though your vid with Doctor Mix BTW.

Great .. its as if you read my mind

Great video thanks. I’m sure we’ll get “I knew it” from people who didn’t vote. Starsky done one, analog vs digital and nobody got them all right. Comment section did though 😅

Excellent video! Please do a similar one with the GX-80.

I have both the Arturia and the Cherry Audio CS80 emulations and, whilst a real CS80 would be pretty cool to own (and I am deep into electronics repair, so would be a dream to work on it), there is no way I could fit it in my current studio. Both VSTs are pretty good IMO

Last evening I listened to the 20 mn Arturia, had a good time, amazing being able to explore such an Instrument. So I was able to have in mind it's print, little behind and some confusion using the two layers with exact same settings. The Arturia have a color, perhaps depending of the driver, or inherent of a numeric transition. I can compare only analog to what I Have, an original Juno 6, and a Deepmind 12 (to use first without effects!). So I've this little signature I can compare , the direct analog is more rich, powerful, with subtile resonances. That's why I stand to analog rebuilts of those instruments I was not able to play years ago, but, pluggins are very important too, because that's time you can spend to understand the instrument, listen results and think about to buy a replica, then use the two wich are complementary as the plugging is useful to memorize settings things you can't do with old instruments without presets. As for my Juno 6, I have a vsti, useful to save presets (not a Juno 60 !) I use also a web cam, this is more subtile. So the last example remind that with effects, and in an ensemble, Hat you hear is the resulting stereo wave your daw registered and leveled and decoded in your computer by YT, the sound is an average of sometimes opposed frequencies, it's like a landscape an artist is painting.

The Hydra does a surprisingly good job.

I have the Cherry Audio GX-80 and its pretty decent. It cant replace hardware though as everyone knows deep inside, the emulation is not the same as the tangible product.

thank you.Just note that you permit evaluate fot what YOU HEAR: hardware version / soft + YOUR dac used at output of your computer. For what WE can hear on this video the software/ hardware + YOUR preamp used for record the cs80 sound. But in this case i think the sounding is really different apart of that.

I started up a little home-studio for less than $1500 and Arturias Lab V X is a real treasure, that u can rent-to-own it is just insane. I shouldve done this sooner!

Would love to see you do the same with the Jupiter 8 and Jup-8 V plugin! Especially that Jupiter patch from your previous CS80 video - comparing basic tones

Hi Jose, I'm new to your channel but really enjoying the content. this was a great comparison. I have filled out the form and I think I am either completely right or completely wrong as I feel like I heard similar timbre differences in each test and I'm familiar with the Arturia synths. Either way I'm looking forward to the correct answers!

The roll off makes this an easy one

For me the software has finally become quite close to the original, but the most important thing is not there. Indeed, the CS80 has a very expressive keyboard, what could be more frustrating than using the software with a KEYSTEP for example. The KURZWEIL midiboard then seems ideal. Finally, the important thing will always be what we do with it.

definitely hear a difference with the brass. (i'm typing as I listen. I prefer the first example whatever it may be)

In the second example there is PWM on the hardware CS80 and non on on the plugin and you can hear the modulation and non modulation.

I LOVE that noise piano patch on the CS-80............shame i can't better replicate it on the plug-in......yet.....

Great stuff! ANOTHER VIDEO IDEA: It would be great if you could compare the 3 iconic Vangelis sounds programmed on the CS80 (that you did on another video) with the CS80V letting us see the settings as you do on this. (I thought I had already made this comment but I don't see it here).

When in doubt, apply the *Law of Diminished Returns*

Somehow it seems like the curve how the filter responds to different control signals seems different. In the first example I actually thought that the difference came from using aftertouch (which would be tough to replicate exactly on a different keyboard). This makes me wonder if the two could be made sound closet to eachother by just tweaking some settings. This reminds me of a lot of guitar effect pedal comparisons where some expensive original is compared to a clone... They tend to match the settings by turning the knobs so they match visually. In real life the potentiometers (be it rotary or slider) have horrible tolerances and even if the compared pedals were exactly the same circuit with all other components matched exactly, they could sound different when the knobs are matched visually. Better match can usually be achieved by tweakin the settings just a bit.

Cool comparison. Examples 3 and 4 are somewhat difficult to compare because noise levels are pretty differing in example 3 and the filter cutoff does not seem to be at the same position in example 4. Otherwise nice work and CS80 showoff. My guess for 'the real thing' CS80 are: 1B, 2B, 3B, 4A, 5A The software sounds way more shallow without effects, digital precision. ^^

Looking at the results, it looks like there is around 1/3rd or at least 1/4th of people who think the answer is the other way round than the majority.. in one of the answers is was almost 50% even.. this tells me that people really can't tell the difference and liking either one or the other is just a matter of taste

I scored zero, so I could consistently tell them apart!

I'm really 8nterested in running vsts hosted in cubase vst32 and os9 9n my mac g4 and the CS80V is a very nice plugin to use on that platform. 😊

So we have real CS80 owner in the Netherland! OMG. I represent two fans (me and my son). would't it be great to visit your studio actually listen and look at it ;-)

what Genelec studio monitors models are you using ?

I didn't keep a copy of my responses, and neither they nor the correct answers are indicated on the results page, so I don't know how well I did. I'm guessing about 50%, though, since there doesn't seem to be a consensus in the results. I'm not surprised. In each case the two options sounded a little different, but I (like most people) can't tell whether those differences are the results of actual circuits doing what they do or emulations of that.

Nothing beats the hardware in the end. If money and space is not an issue, no one will choose a vst over a hardware synth

from my understanding listening on headphones, vst has that uneven sizzle and shallow sound, it would be this 1: A CS80 B VST 2: A VST B CS80 3: A VST B CS80 4: A VST B CS80 5: A VST B CS80

I wonder how a couple of other alternatives hold up to the real thing. 1) The free Arminator vst. & 2) The Hydrasynth deluxe. While not a CS80 clone or emulation the latter gets recommended as a CS80 alternative, because it has a CS80 like touch strip and poly aftertouch. Any chance for a comparison of either?

Great video. I had the opportunity to play a cs80 in Austria this summer. Amazing machine. I filled in the form. I am curious how I have done. When will you reveal the answers? Groeten uit Emmen 😊

While I think there are differences to be heard I also think much of that comes from EQ and some dynamics differences which can be addressed. For me it does not matter since the real thing is made of unobtanium.

I honestly don't know which is which. I do know that I consistnty and strongly preferred the "A" version. It sounded much fatter and better mixed, especially on Alaska, where the high note just screamed in a nice way. B sounded kind of thin and uninteresting by comparison. The only one that was very close was Stranger Things. I still preferred A, but the B version was also pretty nice. Like some others, I recommend trying the Cheery Audio GS-80. It's not expensive and regardless of whether it's more or less autentic, I find that I prefer the sound of it to the Arturia one.

Always an interesting exercise but for me I like the physical interaction of hardware synths - even menu diving on my DX rather than using Dexed. Because I don't want to make my influences too obvious, I'm not hung up on particular gear - I use what I have rather than what I wish I had.

I wish I could import all the presets from CA GX-80 to my Arturia CS-80.

All of these examples sounds better without FX!

I compiled the Google form but I was not returned with the results... So where can I find the results please?

I’d be curious to know the signal path for each. B sounded noticeably brighter, which is often the case with software emulations. When I route VST audio through my mixer and my UA Volt interface, it always softens the edges of that brightness and the overall tone sounds much more like my analog hardware.

I was wondering, were the patches created using identical settings between the two? Generally speaking, it is often possible to closer match the sounds of hardware synths, but often the settings need to be tweaked a bit to come closer, so they settings used generally won't identically match to make the closest possible sound to the hardware. As I was hearing these examples and listening to what I felt was the weaker of the examples, I couldn't help but think, it is certainly possible to closer match that in software wither with the Arturia CS80 or some other VST synth. For example, the low end of the Alaska patch is much weaker in one of the examples. Yet, I've heard patches a lot closer to that in software. Or..maybe the better sounding one was the software??

Legitimately the hardest synth to emulate

Not sure - but expasmples show hardware operational panel photo's and screendumps of software - when the hardware and when the software produces sounds - can you re-work the video with a flashing brand name Y (hardware) - vs A (software)? etc.? TH X in advance.

did you buy your 80 in Belgium? I sold mine some 20 years ago (still regret it) ;)

Eddie Jobson did the UK reunión with two controllers and two Mac Books. They sounded like rhe records

first like and comment 😄🤗 i just recently got the GX-80 VST from Cherry Audio and it's insane...well worth it and perhaps you might compare it as well 👍🏻...edit: the Arturia version was released in 2003 (?)

Nice job what reverb did you use?

This kind of comparison is very difficult to make, as the choice of sounds has a major influence on the result. For example, I regret that the Ring Modulator was not used, as the CS80's is incomparable. I also regret that the ribbon was not used, because it's a strong point of the CS80, or I regret the string comparison, because any synth is capable of making "vintage strings" and whether it's a prophet, an oberhaim or anything else, they almost all sound the same when set to do so. In short, when it comes to producing traditional synth sounds, the CS80 doesn't necessarily shine any brighter than any other good synth. But if you use it at its best, as Vangelis did, no VST or even hardware synthesizer can compare. On trivial sounds, comparisons are almost impossible (trivial not in the sense that they're badly programmed, but in the sense that they can be remade with any decent synth). Thanks for the video!

Cs80 weight a ton. So my back takes the arturia.

Treating the CS-80 like a sound module, like in this video is just like comparing the open string sound of a Stradivarius violin to a virtual acoustic violin sound. The CS-80 is a whole with its performance capabilities.

The plugin really needs a full hardware controller of some sorts. It's just too hard to use with a mouse.

Especially in mixdowns its extremely difficult (or impossible) to distinguish difference, but within music. Its easy. Aftertouch, dynamics and response, all hands controls (pedals, gliss switches, ribbon, ringmod) are not simply approachable with software and hence you cannot use software as real CS-80. Deckard's Dream have same issues, tiny faders ok for sound design but not performing...

V failed on brass right away

The first time I heard the CS it was on the first UK album. A beast. Does the Arturia respond to PA?

By the time everything's bounced to RU-vid audio its hard to tell. First hand i can easily tell the difference between my analogs and software.

There must be a difference : I got 0 (zero) match in the quiz. So I am proud to have consistently heard something. Or to have won (lose) a game with a probability of 1/32th

Omg I selected the plugin in all cases. It sounds much better. Less aggressive high and more body. Does your Cs80 need service or do my ears need it?

What version of CS-80V are you using in this video? It sounds like a older version, the latest is V4 wich is greatly improved and quite nails the sound. Earlier versions were crap to be honest.

I submitted my responses BUT I need to hear the CS80 more to know how the things sounds like it. There are sounds that can be good on VST.

Cool comparison. I filled out the form and I won't lie, I was basically guessing. As much as a real CS80 is a holy grail, and analog is obviously superior, Arturia have really managed to capture the essence of this synth. I could tell there was a difference, but was struggling to sonicly identify what it was. Very curious to see the results

I find it's not so much the internal sound of the cs80 but the interface that defines the sound. Most people for example would be using a generic USB keyboard but the cs80 is meant to be played with aftertouch and the keys wobble for vibrato. Add the ring mod sliders and pitch ribbon and you have a great performance synth. Someone should make the interface for the VST.

A is arturia and B is the harware synth. My guess.

I think the difference is clear. It is surprising that the arturia on some sounds seems to have some tuning issues and it's digital rather than analogue

What seems to be missing from the comments is that everyone else who is not a devotee of the hardware or has had a lot of experience living with the hardware will certainly not know the difference and the emulations will sound more than adequate to everyone else at 1/100 - 1/1000th of the cost. It's just where we are.

No idea what is real and what is emulated, as I have no point of reference. My assumptions are that the hardware would sound a bit more unstable, and have a lot of raw power, probably in the bass. But the sounds with the most bass are the more stable ones. 🤷🏼‍♂️

The form is down, dont open for me. Id say Instrument A is hardware purely based on the warmth and depth. I don't know the characteristics of this particular synth, but I prefer Instrument A.

cs80 V4 is completely rewritten by Arturia and sounding so far better than V3. it has a distribution voices algorithm witch give it a pure analog sound compared to V3

I think A: plugin B: hardware A sounds more “complete” (like someone made a plugin that sounds like an already-mixed like a record synth). B sounds like a hardware synth (that sounds flatter than you expect when you get it until you BEEF it up with a good mic preamp & channel strip). I must say, I do tend to think Arturia’s VST emulations have the best attention to actually making them sound “complete already”. …& maybe I’m totally wrong🙄 lol

Please share the answers

So... I sent my choices... where can I see the right answers?

I will when Arturia is honest about it and displays Yamaha instead of Arturia on the software.

VST is very close!

to be fair . The settings on the comparisons by far NOT equal. some envelopes and detunes are way off. So, it's hard to compare if you can't match the settings. They will always sound different. And the one you like more might just be that small difference in settings.

ABBBB 😎

I'm guessing the narrower frequency response from B corresponds to the real CS-80, as one would expect from aged circuits. Both sound lovely, but I prefer the emulation (gasp!) ;)

Still rather get the real thing, software is only useful if you have a computer to run it. And it’s not the same .

Nobody will work on a cs80 in the United States. There’s that. So, I have to ship it to Kent Spong in England. It’s kinda like a Jupiter 8. For me the Oberheim obx sounds better than both of these. The Minimoog will never be replaced by a computer. I have 4 of them. Same with the ppg, and the Taurus 1 bass pedal. Moog is out of business, so the Minimoog will bring 20,000 now.

I had zero points iam happy because i thought instrument A had the best sounds and was the fattest and fullest sounds of the instruments and it was really the hardware CS-80 I thought the arturia would be better of the both so price matters of does it. Thanx from TAO from Sweden

I noticed a less precision from one. No doubt it's the hardware. And I am an expert. test results : 0/5

the real one provide some "mecanical with raw resonnance" the VSTs doesn't have. But I presume, with a good EQ it would be manageable. $50 000 you said... hmmm....

I scored zero, so at least I was hearing the synths consistently as they were! (rather embarassingly, I have the Arturia CS80V plugin).

Kate Bush there in the back ;D

GX-80 sounds better with a good MPE controller

I have Arturia and Cherry audio . The CA is way better and cheaper

My guess: Original CS80 is B A B A A. Link doesn't work. (Edit: now it does work )

honestly theres no comparison. the weight if the hardware is unmatched, subtle smoothness, even the portamento is more organic and smoother. Theres always a certain whiny sound to software synths that give them away to me. sure its in the ballpark range but sorry the hardware is so much better

Don't care how good a software synth sounds, they all lack the three eyes - immediacy, inspiration and involvement.

Who in their right mind would pay so much for a CS80? I do not understand that at all.

Don't buy a PORSCHE...just get Grand Turismo