yamaha

Shiro and Yamaha SK50D

We close out a week of white cats with Shiro playing a tune on a Yamaha SK50D. From hdgenis in Mexico City via Instagram.

The SK50D is a two-manual beast of an instrument, an ensemble synthesizer with a drawbar organ, strings, a mono bass synth, and more. It was released in 1980 and is quite rare. Shiro is demonstrating the organ section for us, along with a one-note vocal.

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, 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.

Black Cat with Roland, Kawaii, Yamaha, Korg, and more

A beautiful black cat with green eyes (like our beloved Luna) sits atop an impressive stack of modules. We see a Yamaha TX81Z (which we also have), as well as a few offerings from Roland, Kawaii, Korg, alases, and more Yamaha. From endmusik_studios via Instagram.

New art for the studio, but it’ll have to wait until the intern finishes recabling everything

Borat the kitten and Yamaha EZ 200 Keyboard

Borat, an adorable black kitten, jumps up on a Yamaha keyboard (which we at CatSynth identified as the EZ 200) and plays us a song. Found via Borat’s Twitter feed.