CS2x

Analog realtime control oner your sound nothing compares to being able to grab a knob and change a sound in realtime - especially when it comes to the type of intricate and evolving synth sounds used in today's dance music productions. That's why the CS2x has 8 Sound Control knobs which give you direct access to key sound parameters like envelope (attack, decay, release), filter (high pass and low pass), and resonance. Two extra assignable knobs can be assigned to control the parameter of your choice, whether it be stereo panning, Arpeggiator tempo, effect send level or one of many others. You can store your favorite knob positions in the two Scene memories for instant recall as you play. With the CS2x, you're guaranteed direct control over your sound at all times.

Handy "Scenes" and Realtime Scenne With the infinite variety of sounds you can get out of the CS2x using the Sound Control knobs, you'll be glad you can store your favorite knob positions in the two Scene memories. Simply pressing a Scene button as you play will recall the sound you want, which makes Scenes handy for quickly changing the sound between verses and choruses and lead breaks. A Scene Control function lets you use the Modulation Wheel or a connected Foot Controller to "morph" between the two Scene sounds in realtime.

The CS2x comes with a comprehensive collection of phat "state-of-the-street" dance sounds and killer emulations of classic "retro" analog synths specially selected for today's electronic music production scene plus a selection of instrument Voices for a wide variety of contemporary music styles. The 256 Preset and 256 programmable User Performances and easy-to-use panel editing functions are another reason the CS2x is such a powerful synth capable of sensationally rich and highly complex sound textures. A Performance is comprised of up to 4 individual voice Layers that can be played simultaneously or that can each be assigned to play only in specified Velocity and Key Ranges. Also included in each Performance are the Arpeggiator settings, Sound Control knob positions and two stored Scenes ("snapshots" of the knob positions), plus all other panel edit parameters – including Reverb, Chorus and Variation effect settings.

What's more, Multi Play In Performance Mode lets you use your Performances along with 12 other XG or GM sounds driven by an external MIDI sequencer. So while your sequenced backing tracks are kickin' the groove, you can play the keyboard and manipulate your sounds in realtime using all the great Performance mode features like the Arpeggiator, the Control Knobs and morphable Scenes.

Want to have some real fun? Then switch on the Arpeggiator and play a chord. The CS2x will create automatic arpeggiated chords based on the notes you play. With the 40 arpeggio types and 10 timing resolution subdivisions available, you can literally get carried away for hours on end creating a vast array of arpeggios. An Arpeggiator Hold function lets the arpeggios continue to loop even after taking your hands from the keyboard, and an Arpeggiator Split function lets you play the arpeggiated chords to the left of the split point while playing normally to the right. The Arpeggiator works exceptionally well with an external MIDI sequencer, as the CS2x can either control or be controlled by the clock of the external device. What's more, since the CS2x's Arpeggiator data can be output via MIDI, you can record its note and timing events into a track of the external sequencer, or have it "trigger" the voices of other MIDI synthesizers or external tone generators.

The CS2x also has a Multi Play mode with 779 XG normal voices and 30 drum kits (including TG300B compatibility). You can play any of the XG voices from the keyboard as "1 part", or you can assign up to 16 of them across "16 parts" for multitimbral desktop music production using an external MIDI music sequencer. A built-in TO HOST terminal eliminates the need for a special MIDI interface between the CS2x and a computer. And since the CS2x is designed for XG and GM formats, you can easily control all voice and effect selections as well as individual parameter settings via MIDI program change, control change and system exclusive messages programmed in the sequencer tracks of the song. (It's also great for playing back commercially available SMF type Standard MIDI Files.) The CS2x is so versatile it can be connected to various types of other MIDI and audio components to create an expanded system.