Deckard's Dream MK2 History — Black Corporation

Deckard's Dream MK2

2019

Deckard's Dream MK2 is Black Corporation's modern reimagining of the legendary Yamaha CS-80, one of the most coveted polyphonic synthesizers ever created. Famous for its use by Vangelis in the Blade Runner soundtrack, the original CS-80 is exceedingly rare, heavy (over 100kg), and notoriously difficult to maintain. Black Corporation has distilled the soul of this iconic instrument into a compact, reliable, and more affordable format while preserving its essential character. The MK2 revision represents a significant evolution from the original Deckard's Dream. It features a slimmer, lighter chassis with no cooling fan required, an elegant aluminum front panel with included wood side panels, and locking voice card connectors for improved reliability. The instrument maintains the CS-80's distinctive dual-layer architecture, allowing each of the 8 voices to have two complete layers (effectively 16 VCOs), creating that rich, immersive sound that made the original famous. Available as both a DIY kit ($999 for PCBs) and a fully assembled unit (~$3,749), Deckard's Dream MK2 makes CS-80-style polyphonic synthesis accessible to a new generation. The DIY route has become legendary in the synth community, with builders worldwide sharing their build experiences and modifications. The comprehensive documentation and supportive community make this ambitious project achievable for experienced DIYers.

Black Corporation, founded by Roman Filippov in 2017 in Tokyo, first released the original Deckard's Dream as their flagship product. The MK2 version, released later, addressed several areas for improvement based on community feedback and manufacturing experience. The most significant changes include a completely redesigned enclosure that eliminates the cooling fan (the original required active cooling), a thinner and more elegant case design with wood sides, improved voice card connectors with locking mechanisms, and firmware enhancements.
The original Yamaha CS-80, manufactured from 1977-1980, was used by Vangelis, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and many other legendary artists. Only approximately 2,000 units were produced, and surviving examples now command $30,000-$60,000 on the used market. Black Corporation's recreation captures the essential sonic character—the unique multi-segment envelope generators, the resonant high-pass and low-pass filters, and the lush chorus—while adding modern conveniences like MIDI, USB, preset storage, and polyphonic aftertouch that the original lacked. The DIY community has embraced Deckard's Dream as one of the most ambitious and rewarding synthesizer build projects available.