Yamaha REFACE DX Portable FM Synthesizer

Here’s the skinny on this little keyboard.If not for the keys on this instrument, what would you have? A MIDI module the size of a Mac Mini, perhaps? Maybe a Focusrite Clarett 2i2? I’d buy that in a heartbeat, too! But, the designers at Yamaha must have considered that, and to provide more “fun”-ctionality, they made this a very portable, playable, sonically capable keyboard. Sure, the keys are small, sure there’s no velocity or after touch. So? Are you REALLY going to use that keyboard every day? EVERY DAY? Maybe in a mobile setting, yes, but not while you’re MIDI’ed to an 88-key controller. That’s really where the Reface series shines. With an inexpensive 88-key (73, or 61, perhaps), and the YC / CP Refaces, you’ve got your classic organ and e-piano tones in a very portable package. Integrate the entire series? Eh, why not? It’ll make my rehearsal rig so much lighter (and fun to tinker with) and versatile.Now - about the YC!1. The VoicesThe Reface YC features five classic organ tones you know and love:- Hammond (H)- Vox (V)- F (Farfisa, 60’s Italian transistor organ)- A (Ace Tone, 60’s Japanese transistor organ)- Y (Yamaha’s classic transistor organ)I’m a Hammond fan, so I’ve been spfending most of my time tinkering with the draw bars and other settings with this voice. I think I’ve got a good tone reminiscent of Jon Lord’s organ tone in Highway Star.Each voicing sounds accurate enough to my ears, although I’m sure purists will point out the error of my ways for imagining a Hammond B-3 sound coming out of this keyboard.2. FeaturesKeyboard - 128-note polyphony (can you hit 128 keys on this guy? Sure, just glissando up and down about 4 times with the sustain pedal connected/depressed). Seriously though, if you’re MIDI’ed to an 88-key, then what are you worrying about? Also, the keyboard can be used to manage the settings of the keyboard itself (see User Manual).Effects - Percussion (adds click noise to tone) / Distortion / Reverb / Vibrato | Chorus / Rotary speaker with manual control of Slow/Fast/Stop/Off settingsMIDI - mini port requires custom combo mini-DIN MIDI plug Y-cable, with separate In/Out connections (provided); with the cable, you can run MIDI in and out (no thru), chaining multiple devices. My setup will use a single MIDI in to 4 MIDI port out, so I can use a single controller to manage up to four different modules (Hey - great idea to plan for additional Refaces! Yeah!).Speakers - Yes, this keyboard does have two tiny 3” speakers, and yes - it is stereo. Will you use them much? Maybe, maybe not - Yamaha did design the keyboard to turn the speakers off completely, effectively disabling them until you reset the keyboard. They do sound pretty good, considering their size.Power - Multiple power sources available to you: ultra-portability via USB-bus powered device (laptop, iPad with appropriate interface, USB “juice box” batteries for recharging cell phones), 6 AA batteries, or the included power brick.Ports - two 1/4” TRS audio L/R output; mini-DIN MIDI combo in/out; USB type-B (handy for connecting to computer DAW, for example, battery pack, etc.); 1/4” TRS expression pedal; 1/4” stereo headphone jack; 1/8” stereo AUX IN (play along with your MP3s, for example).Things I haven’t tried yet, but eventually will:- Connecting to my computer, linking to a DAW and using it to record/playback- Connecting to my iPad; there’s a handy app for that...to manage your keyboard’s tone settings and a whole lot of other useful things performing musicians will appreciate- Get the keytar kit for this, since it can run on batteries, and I can roam about the country wirelessly using a dual XVIVE U2 system- Contact Yamaha designers and petition them to build an AIO Reface, sans keys.I’d buy this again. Sure!

I've only had this synth (Reface DX FM synthesizer) for a few days, and I am stoked with it! I've not had much FM synthesis exposure in terms of use, my only experience being on Ableton Live's Operator software. I'm finding that going "hands on" with this hardware synth is teaching me so much more in comparison to a soft synth!Heck, even some of the preset tones sound awesome to me (especially the wobble bass patch)! I agree with a review I watched on Youtube though, the presets don't really do justice to this synth's capabilities. It did take a bit of getting used to for me; Not only do I have little experience in FM synthesis, but this synth's workflow is very unique.There's no knobs to turn here, all parameters are used via button presses and/or the touch sensitive encoders. While you do have to do a bit of menu surfing for some parameters, it's a simple as one to three button presses. In comparison to the Novation Super Nova and MicroKorg I used to own, this unit is far more true to the hands on approach. I'm still getting used to the touch sensitive encoders, but I'm certainly not unhappy about them.All it took was some reading and a couple of Youtube videos (I watched the videos for ideas and inspiration), and I started making some very unique tones, tones that I could never hope to make on a subtractive synth. I'm currently experimenting with running this in tandem with my Novation Circuit. This synth automatically switches to a External MIDI Clock setting when you connect a MIDI cable to it. Some gripe about this, but it's what I want from it, so I can't complain here. The looper is simple, yet effective, and it's quantization function works. Even with my terrible timing, I was able to sync some notes on this synth to drum patterns on the Circuit.So I'm really enjoying this synthesizer, and am waiting for the Reface YC organ I ordered to come in, I may even splurge later on for the Reface CS. I just really hope these units prove to be reliable. My previous two musical instrument purchases have both become defective within a week of receiving them. I'll be extremely sad and disappointed if this synth becomes a third to that list.

Llevo 6 meses con este pequeño sintetizador, soy entusiasta de los sintetizadores, y estoy totalmente satisfecho con este yamaha reface dx. Puedes usarlo de controlador vía cable midi o usb. Debido a sus bocinas integradas es totalmente portable. Para practicar o componer en cualquier lugar, en la sala, tu recamara o al aire libre. Las teclas son más pequeñas que un teclado normal, pero ello no representa ningún problema. Puedes bajar nuevas configuraciones de sonidos o subir los tuyos a la aplicación de Yamaha. Ampliamente recomendado!!

Uma decepção pra mim que esperava mais, por ser um teclado Yamaha. Tão ruim que só toquei uma vez e mais nada. Lixo!

It is an easy learning experience to play.It has good sounds on its own merit and working with other sinths it works even better.