expressive · emotional · evocative
Inspired by the pinnacle of analog synthesizers, UNSTABLE takes on the legendary Yamaha CS-80 — and gets closer to the real hardware than anything else out there. Soulful, organic, and with a mind of its own!
A modern go at the famous Yamaha CS-80 Synthesizer.
UNSTABLE features two synthesis layers, each offering a noise, sawtooth, and pulse wave oscillator, with adjustable pulse width and variable speed pulse width modulation. Unlike the Yamaha CS-80, the level of each oscillator is adjustable, allowing for free mixing of the waveforms, which are closely modelled after the original.
Waveform comparison across octaves: real Yamaha CS-80 (grey) vs UNSTABLE (purple)
The CS-80 features two state-variable filters in series, which allow for a unique subtractive sound synthesis, unlike most common synthesizers. In UNSTABLE, the high-pass filter is modelled after the original; I put a little more beef into the low-pass filter, however, providing a vaster range of musical harmonics.
The Yamaha CS-80 features the most musical ring modulator ever built, and I did our best to model it as closely as possible, with its own analog-style attack and decay envelope modifying the modulation speed.
Use the innovative on screen ribbon controller to pitch bend your sound up to an octave.
UNSTABLE supports full polyphonic aftertouch, just as the original hardware did.
UNSTABLE features a sophisticated 16 step arpeggiator with variable note and modulation values.
A dedicated drive circuit adds analog warmth and subtle harmonic distortion for loudness and crisp presence that cuts through your mix without sacrificing dynamics.
UNSTABLE features the popular effect engines of DarkStar Reverb and Delay, as well as the luscious WingMen Chorus, to bring your sound to the next level. Imagine a CS-80 with something along the JUNO-60 Chorus and Blackhole reverb.
All demos are UNSTABLE only, no external effects!
Ring Modulator
Blade Runner Lead
Soft Bells
CS-80 Guitar
Pulsed Organ
Smooth Mover Arp
MAC:
macOS Ventura (13.6) or higher
(Apple silicon Macs supported)
64-bit only
PC:
Windows 10 or 11
64-bit only
VST3 (PC/MAC), AU (Mac only)
Recommended minimum screen resolution is 1920x1080 pixels.
Plugin size is 1580x900 at 100%. GUI zoomable from 50% to 200%.
UNSTABLE is fully functional for 10 minutes per session — no features removed, no watermarks. Load it up, play it, and hear what it can do. When you're ready, unlock unlimited use with a license.
Current version: v1.1
Please note updating from v1.0.12 or earlier requires redialing the LPF in your saved presets, as LPF envelope mapping was moved to hardware accurate exponential octave domain
MAC Users may have to confirm the use of unsigned software in their system settings for the plugin to work. Please refer to this guide on the Apple website or this YouTube tutorial. If you are unsure or unable to run unsigned software on your system, please refer to your system administrator and don't buy, as I cannot provide any support or refund in this matter.
To download the factory presets click the button below and put them into the preset folder. You can get to the preset folder by clicking on the top left button "MORE" in the preset browser. Have fun!
Download Factory PresetsIf you are running a decent YouTube Channel and looking to review the plugin, I may be able to provide a free license. Please contact me at morphoice@gmail.com with your channel details and review proposal.
v1.1
- Greatly improved physical model of the original Yamaha CS-80 oscillator voice cards, including nonlinearities and instabilities, based on intensive measurements of the original hardware.
v1.0.15
- New highly improved DarkStar Reverb / Delay engine
- New Chorus engine
- Fixed an issue where arpeggiator time would not change
- Fixed an issue where LFO would not control VCA
v1.0.14
- Fixed an issue where SIN oscillator would blip when turned to zero
- Fixed an issue where SIN oscillator wouldn't react to Initial Pitch Bend
- Fixed an issue where VCA Level Slider would not workflow
- Added Compressor Dials to Effect section
v1.0.13
- Fixed LPF envelope mapping to be hardware accurate exponential octave domain, filter envelope sweeps are more musical, but existing presets will sound darker at mid filter settings and may need their LPF level/envelope re-dialed.
- Fixed an issue where the sustain pedal would behave weird
- Minor bugfixes
v1.0.12
- Fixed pitch bend
v1.0.11
- Added polyphonic aftertouch
If you wish to contribute presets please feel free to send them to morphoice@gmail.com. I am happy to have a listen and add them to the factory content if suitable.