Baby Audio revives Yamaha CS01 synth as a soft synth
Baby Audio goes back to 1982 and revives Yamaha CS01 synth as a plugin, the BA-1 analog modeled synth. The BA-1 is so authentic that you can even drain the batteries and use the built-in speaker.
Having made its name with a range of intuitive effect plugins, Baby Audio has now released its first synth, the BA-1. This is a “modern re-imagination of a cultish 1982 analogue synth,” known as the Yamaha CS01.
Yamaha CS01, a compact, almost toy-like keyboard, it was a simple single-oscillator monosynth that could be powered by batteries and had a built-in speaker.
For the BA-1, Baby Audio’s first task was to model the CS01 as accurately as possible, but that was just the start. There are plenty of additional features, like a second analogue-modelled oscillator, FM and polyphony, for example.
Fittingly, there are also some quirky elements. This may be a plugin but you can still drain the battery, bend the circuits and ‘use’ the built-in speaker. These features can help you to achieve the kind of lo-fi sound that you’d associate with vintage hardware.
In addition, there are some suitably retro effects – all inspired by budget ‘80s rack hardware – and more than 500 presets. The ‘Re-Gen’ algorithm enables you to create new patches on the fly.
BA-1 runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats. It is currently available for $49, but you can also download a trial version (regular price will be $99).
Find out more on the Baby Audio website.
