Cats

Ansel and Yamaha QX3

Ansel the cat sits to the right of a Yamaha QX3 sequencer on its side.

The handsome Ansel poses next to a Yamaha QX3 sequencer in mid-repair. From our friend Charles Whiley.

The QX3 features the distinctive Yamaha industrial design that they used for most if not all of their instruments in the mid-1980s. This look holds a special place for me as it was the time when I started exploring synthesizers and electronic music. The QX3 also has those vintage computer-style keys, which is a very nice touch. As a sequencer, it is less convenient than many hardware sequencers, but still quite powerful, especially in an era where analog sequencers with short step counts have enjoyed a renaissance.

Saruman plays the Casio SK-1

Remember Saruman from last week? His human, hdgenis, shared this reel with us where he “plays” the Casio SK-1.

My cat with his first synthesizer

We see a Strymon Timeline delay pedal – it sounds like the SK-1 is playing out through it; a Maschine (Native Instruments) sits nearby as well.

Saruman, Yamaha CS-30, Casio SK-1

Cat on top of a Yamaha CS-30 synthesizer, pressing two keys. A Casio SK-1 keyboard sits below.

Saruman the cat plays a note or two on a vintage Yamaha CS-30 synthesizer. Below we see a Casio SK-1. From hdgenis on Instagram.

My cat on Yamaha CS30 🐈‍⬛🎹

The Yamaha CS-30 is a fully analog subtractive synth with two VCOs, to VCFs with lowpass and hi-pass, as well as VCAs, envelopes, etc typical of analog synths. What is interesting about it is the ability to route the various elements in a semi-modular fashion. The SK-1 is of course a rather coveted sampling keyboard from the early 1980s.