Revisiting the Yamaha Reface Series | Popular Vintage Tones at a Great Price

SHOP YAMAHA REFACE SERIES at ALAMO MUSIC: bit.ly/38ynkzD
Years after Yamaha released the Reface series, we think it's worth it to revisit all 4 units and discuss the power, value, and versatility of these affordable audio modules. These keyboards (the CP, CS, YC, and DX) pay tribute to some of Yamaha's classic tones, and allow younger musicians and musicians on a budget to explore different sonic palettes and add them to their recordings and stage performances. Take a listen to each of these demos and let us know which you like the best!
REFACE CP DEMO - 7:09
REFACE YC DEMO - 17:04
REFACE DX DEMO - 26:34
REFACE CS DEMO - 36:20
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[@toddray2559]

As a totally blind person, found that the Reface DX was quite a bit harder than the CS, mostly because of how much the reface DX relies on the use of the print display. I love this series of boards, that's for sure. I've been a pianist/keyboardist since 1967. I have checked out the Reface YC and loved the stereo rotary sound on there. Indeed, it is truly awesome. They did a really, really nice job with these.

[@D.B..]

The Reface CP (black electric piano engine) also has a hidden grand piano sound. Now the sound selector clicks into position for each setting (RdI, RdII, Wr, Clv, Toy, and CP), but you can set the selector knob in between options before it clicks into a sound. While it's powered on, having the knob stuck between selections does not change anything, but if you do it BEFORE you turn the power on you will get the grand piano sound. You could also get the knob sitting between options while it's on, then toggle the power off and on again. The light indicator will be on the RDI setting for the grand piano, but all will go back to normal if you just let the knob click into another sound. Once the CP is back to the electric piano sounds, you would have to adjust the knob and toggle the power off and on get back to the grand piano again. I saw a video once of one guy who didn't use the Toy setting, so he opened his Reface up and desoldered the connection to "Toy" so he could get the piano sound without having to fiddle with getting the knob to sit at the right spot. I wouldn't do that with mine, though, ha - I don't use the Toy setting much either, but to me, more options are better.

[@yeahtheman]

Just tried that with mine after reading your comment. Thanks! That’s awesome.

[@D.B..]

@@yeahtheman Sweet! I find the adjusting the chorus effect can make it sound like an old-timey , slightly detuned upright piano, too.

[@kingofallwhites]

Does it stay in place?

[@kingofallwhites]

How do you make the Wonderful Christmastime sound on the cs?

[@D.B..]

It can easily settle into one of its notches with a slight twist of the knob, but I have not had it do that on its own while playing - you get a feel for a good position as you slowly turn the knob. @@kingofallwhites

[@rodmorrison47]

The Reface CS is an absolute monster of a synth. Glorious.

[@raul0ca]

You can feel like Vangelis sitting in front of it!

[@MrBenMcLean]

I got the CS just today. But I am thinking that I may eventually want to collect all 4. I recognize these as the exact sounds in many of my favorite old records

[@jessihawkins9116]

oh yeah? Which ones?🤨

[@thejustustrio]

I just completed my set with the DX.

[@classicfilms8071]

Then you should also get a PSS-A50, same keybed, same velocities but you get flutes, strings, drum kit etc.

[@philo3407]

It's hard not to want all of these. I just got a DX, my first FM synth, and this thing is no joke. I would actually say it's the most complex but that's because it's ridiculously powerful!

[@Terrible_Peril]

There’s a meme of a guy slipping on a banana peel and flying off into space, and that was me with FM synths. That Sega Genesis (Megadrive) just had such a spice to it, man! Haha I’ve got a volcaFM that I connect to an app on my iPad so I can load full DX presets, it’s pretty fantastic.

[@chrislee633]

Hi Mark.Are there any reasonable piano sounds in the dx

[@johnhawranick8097]

The CS was my first Reface purchase. I have a CP on order and will pick up a YC once it comes off of backorder. I took your advice and hooked the CS into my 88-key controller and WOW! I now have a CS-type synth with 88 keys and the octave switch is out of the circuit. I've also added some cheap pedals (Reverb and Multi-FX), and this thing just comes alive! I use the onboard effects as well, but now I can combine/mix/match effects nicely. I recently picked up a cheap EQ pedal, as sometimes I would like to emphasize or de-emphasize the bass. Yamaha has an app that allows you to save, recover, and share patches, so it's like having memory. I can't wait to receive my CP, as I suspect it will really perform nicely with an 88-key controller. The effects on board may be all I'll need, but I still have the pedals.

[@crasheffort]

If any of these interest you, they are worth it. I have all four of them, and I love playing them. He says the keyboard and speakers are just bonuses to the sound quality, but I disagree. Their portability, including the ability to be battery powered, is one of their best features. You can take them anywhere to practice or jam. Any of them are worth getting depending on your musical interests. My personal favorite is the CS subtractive synth because of how versatile and hands on it is. Dialing in a sound is quick with all functions mapped to their own slider. It may have no built in presets, but all of these can use soundmondo on your phone to save/load and share presets.

[@ruiresende84]

thanks! I've been considering the CS for a few months, and I'm gonna go for it, in part due to your input. are presets easy to use in a live setting? thanks

[@crasheffort]

@ruiresende84 I think it requires an internet connection for soundmondo, so that may have challenges at a live venue. I have used it in the studio mostly, so I can't attest to that. Honestly, I never use presets with it since it is so simple to get the sound I want.

[@JAY-tm7lt]

My mom is getting me a dx as ab early Christmas gift and I'm so excited, I only had a toy Casio keyboard so this will unlock an insane amount of new sounds.

[@garygrinkevich6971]

these keyboards are so cool, I love the interface on the cs, so many sliders... the red one is absolutely gorge, it took me years to get a one of the thr guitar amps yamaha secretly killing it in home audio gear.

[@unclemick-synths]

I now have the CS, the YC, and the CP. The only reason I don't have the DX is I'm already adequately FMed. Bags of mojo. I use my CP as a module through my Roland digital piano to make piano practice more fun.

[@unclemick-synths]

@Simon Archbold the YC (the red one). I find it a lot of fun. Unlike samples and synth patches which usually have just one tone I like tweaking the "drawbars" while I play. There are more expensive alternatives but the YC works for me. The mini keys are as good quality as my full size Yamaha synth. My only grumble is that there's not enough difference between the chorus and vibrato effects but I mostly use the rotary effect anyway.

[@drsamurai009]

I know a lot of keyboards these days have octave up and down buttons, but the levers on the reface are so cool. I wish synth makers would use them instead of buttons. The only one I don't have is the YC. I have a home organ so that one is a bit redundant. They're all great sounding, and the effects are really high quality. I wish they'd put out a module of just the effects, with the panel controls like the CP, CS and YC. The effects are a bit of a menu dive in the DX model, but it makes sense given the DX panel has a more complex engine to manage, along with being the only unit with built in memories for saving patches. My favorite is the CP, probably because being minimal, it's easy to tweak on the fly while playing, and except for the toy piano, the other sounds are immediately usable.

[@spaceman-pe5je]

it's so odd to me that they have the toy piano as a preset. believe it or not, there's actually a super high quality grand piano sound on the CP which is hidden but can be accessed, look it up on youtube.

[@drsamurai009]

@@spaceman-pe5je Yep. The "hidden" piano is really, really good sounding. Played from a weighted controller it's a high quality piano for sure.

[@lofimijo208]

i love the wurly on the reface cp ... such a classic tone

[@fredc3543]

Best explanation of the Reface series. Now I understand.

[@deanevangelista6359]

The CP has a hidden sound. With the instrument off, put the dial between two sounds, then turn it on. Voila, a grand piano!

[@matthewgaines10]

Now that the prices for these reface models are around $300, they represent a good value. Before then, it was a difficult proposition to make. I bought the DX Reface and sampled some of the iconic DX7 tones into a Casio MZ-X500 for compositional purposes. I agree that these are modules first, keyboards second.

[@PulledPurk]

one CP on reverb for 640

[@primtones]

CP and YC should've been one unit. I don't need that many el. piano and organ variations that each of them have, but I'd like to switch between those types.

[@donald2818]

Then get the CK61 :)

[@Phant0mK16]

Definitely get a CK

[@connors5694]

The CP and YC are both really tempting.

[@creamydistortion]

Dang, I was gigging with a DX-7 and a DX-12, in 2007!! I knew they were unpopular at the time and thus, cheap. I knew they'd eventually come back into vogue!

[@sanderblom]

I have the both the CS and the DX and they spectacular. I use them all the time in recordings, especially the CS which I don't think is hard to use at all. It's so incredibly hands on, and is instantly fun to play with. First I found myself just playing around with the slides until I found something I liked. And after a while I realized that I understood subtractive synthesis. Nice! (My toddler loves it as much as I do!)

[@payt01]

I have the CP, CS and the YC. Lovely little machines which provide lots of fun :) I especially love the CP end the CS. I'vce used the CS as my little vacation synth, so I can still have a little go on a synth when I'm somewhere in a forest in a bungalow :)

[@donaldswan1587]

Thank you for sharing your take and inspiring us with these little gems

[@michaels.ramsey7803]

i wish i still had all the yamaha KBs from the 80s and early 90s i grew up chunking across my room at my brother. kids have no sense of what things may be worth one day.

[@Diagonals_]

Dude, holy crap. You just sold me on the CS. Man alive you got some incredible sounds out of that thing. I had no idea it could do all that. Awesome video.

[@dwgraham22]

Excellent presentation! I plan to get all four. Cheers

[@sdbracht]

Thanks for the really well done review! I have the CP and CS on the way and can hardly wait 😁😁😁

[@69lespauls]

Fantastic video presentation of those instruments.. We can always count on Alamo Music to give us the best information to make a decision about gear! They are awesome with helping with questions and customer service!! 👍🏻👍🏻❤️

[@kencory2476]

I have the CP and the YC, and they are excellent. I finally have a drawbar organ! (I had a DX-7 back in the day, but it was super heavy and had absolutely no effects like reverb. I never used it on gigs.) I've done a couple of gigs on the CP, and though it's pretty easy to master the tiny keyboard, I find I often get lost, going from the sheet music to the keyboard and back. I think that's why all the Reface demos I've seen on KZbin are improvised. Just keep that in mind if you want to use a Reface on gigs where you need to read.

[@neonpop80]

Great presentation. I love my DX but the CS is so tempting. I feel these two combo to fulfill my itch for all synth sound.

[@migdaliaconvery8416]

the cs is literally amazing

[@neonpop80]

@@migdaliaconvery8416 Yes, I got it! I think I like it more than the DX!

[@brianhintze6440]

Great informative video...well done.

[@dekzan]

🎛🎛🎹🎹 good job !! Best of all Reface reviews. You made me want to play organ.🤯🤯🤯

[@MosEisleySpacePort1138]

The main concept behind the Reface series was portability. Being able to play a professional-sounding keyboard on the couch. And now, so many other companies have followed. Modal 5S, Roland Jupiter-Xm, Hydrasynth Explorer, etc.

[@karltraunmuller7048]

I think this product range is brilliant. I have a CP, and it’s one of the best sounding Rhodes and Wurlitzer engines out there, in my opinion.

[@pcuimac]

If I had 1800€ to spend, I would buy a YC-73 now. Has everything on board and a nice keybed. My Roland VR-730 does the job though.

[@godisbollocks]

I've had the CP for about 3 or 4 years. It's great but the velocity sensitive keys are a liability when plugged into a PA system. It's real easy to have a massive volume spike when hitting a key hard. This isn't really noticeable when you're just playing at home through the inbuilt speakers. I'm thinking I'll sell it and get the CS model.

[@rsherid]

Zach, I have the Reface CP but need help recording it. Attached to a 61 key master controller, the CP records VERY quiet (I can barely hear my sustain pedal on it) brittle-sounding and I can’t get it in stereo left/right, only mono. Should I use a different master controller? Run it through a compressor pedal then into the mixer? Thanks for any help.

[@AllenPalmer-eh4ht]

Really useful video, thank you!

[@PinoyMukbangPro]

The CS and DX is a nice tool for recreating retro video game music..

[@MatteaMazzella]

great in depth video, thank you. thinking of getting the cs and the cp

[@80iesDude45]

Klayton convinced me to grab a reface CS, and yes it sounds amazing.

[@liammurphymusic9962]

I just ordered a cp and I plan on getting the cs and possibly the yc. The dx is tempting but I have a vintage dx 7 so i have no excuse to get it lol.

[@shawnbruce6934]

Great Video! Thanks!

[@rot_studios]

Welp, I think I can replace all keys in my studio with just these four. And they take up about 10% of the space too (doesn't help that I have 2 organs haha). I think the only sound I'm missing from these is the Elka Rhapsody string synth sound, though the CS can definitely do nice strings.

[@livejay9062]

Thank you Alamo Music, for doing a deep dive on these! There are so many Bro reviews that assume we are all into their freak designer drug addicted, elitist lifestyle, that I just couldn't filter out the essential knowledge to make a purchase. They just didn't teach me anything, other than they were little baby men, with no dignity. End rant... Great work!

[@suntzu6122]

Omg they sound so beautiful O.o

[@lw1391]

Just in case its helpful, bookmarks for the demos ... CP 7:10 YC 17:03 DX 26:34 CS 36:19

[@Thallishman]

"nobody builds these anymore" 6:25, well actually there's the new Rhodes mk8, the Valente electric piano and Vintage vibe ep's 😍👍

[@garyt3hsna1l82]

I love the CS I feel like it has alot of the other sounds inside the synth engine, it can get a very convicning saw tooth organ, and the ring mod can do a whirlitzer and it will do that 90's hip hop portamento thing these keyboards are sweet.

[@wgaule]

The YC seems the least interesting yet they gave it the best colour!

[@gctechs]

Electric organ sound is so cool

[@crasheffort]

Its more interesting than you would expect having the drawbars on it. You can do some cool synthy creative sounds with it.

[@donald2818]

I like the CP and YC the best. Have the CP.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

Can you play these with a master keyboard (midi). While still playing a lead tone on the Yamaha mini reface?

[@teresaravenshaw5477]

I have a CS and would quite like a DX.

[@Phillyfast]

I have the Reface CS, and love the thing. I really wish I would've gotten my mitts on the DX before this shortage came along. You can't find the DX anywhere right now.

[@JozeatTxb]

Having religiously used the forerunner PSS Portatone Series (PSS480-780 in particular early 90's to date) which seemingly inform the new Reface, I would feel Yamaha still missed a one vital thing ie. MIDI controller/Synthesis/Sequencing functionality. Why this an issue? that (versatile functionality) is arguably the greatest strenght of the older series,, NOT the sound pallets. In a mnner of speaking, Yamaha would have instead reproduced the equivalent period sound modules (QY10-700,TX81Z, AN,CP or MOTIF sounds sampled, for example) that can (as in the old days) be operated by the mini keyboards. That oversight runs also to the fact that the Reface offer only 37 key beds (older equivalents had full 61 or 49!), and have nothing like live accomps/auto rythms, and all this somehow quite dims the picture for me.

[@ulrichkeller196]

Good job, mate Thanks a lot

[@desreb740]

Real life like "all" !!!!

[@elpmettsol]

Strings, pads, chior, bells, etc... which unit would be best suited for that?

[@timharris5393]

The sound of the CP and CS is MASSIVE.

[@miekwavesoundlab]

Does this have MIDI 5-fin input output? I only see one midi Jack. I’d like to get two of these, the CP and the Organ and control it with my Motif XF.

[@kiskadar69]

Unfortunately, Yamaha refaces only have a mini-DIN connector. You need to plug in a special Y breakout cable (one is supplied from the factory) to give the Yamaha refaces a standard MIDI In and MIDI Out connector.

[@dadduorp]

As someone that owns a YC45-D, I think Yamaha missed the mark by not including the cool features that make the YC so unique in their classic combo organ line. Namely, the Marimba and Vibrato effects. Otherwise, you can get these same “combo organ” sounds on many other brands of keyboards.

[@sandokan66]

Just bought the DX.

[@JamesDory]

Someone please answer me: Who will use these Reface?

[@JoergPelzer]

Is there any keyboard which has all 4 in one???

[@kingofallwhites]

Tine pianos are still made by Rhodes and Vintage Vibes. VV makes clavs too.

[@johnmaer]

Can a guitar player learn to play basic key/synth parts on these little gadgets, kind of like Eddie Van Halen did for the keys line in "Jump"?

[@AnthonyGargini]

I thought eddie was a classically trained pianist, but could be wrong

[@johnmaer]

@@AnthonyGargini Don't have a clue....but a guy who can shred on guitar doesn't surprise me if he masters a 2nd instrument.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

Please revisit this with usb into cubase. Because that is also owned by Yamaha.

[@hayimcohen]

Hey do you have reface co on stock now?

[@MountainBlade]

The YC and CP should have had preset banks. Other than that great machines.

[@amazeus1980]

How os that yamaha tuned? I need A-455

[@snowleopard9749]

These aren't as popular as they could be, because they're very expensive for a sound module in a toy keyboard box.

[@BathedInMilk]

Just discovered these keyboards today and am annoyed that these weren't better marketed. Am now desperate for a CP and a yC. Amazing keyboards.

[@payt01]

They came to market in a time when there was enormous demand for analog stuff. A lot of the synthheads kinda scolded Yamaha for these not being analog synths. I guess only later they were appreciated for what they actually are.

[@blablablablabittybla561]

Are they made in Japan or China?

[@champ1061]

I dig the CP but man I hate that toy piano. I mean, why, Yamaha? Why couldn't you have added a conventional upright piano or something. But no.....! Anyway, great show.

[@champ1061]

@Jan Olof Güldenzopf how cool!

[@soozrythmics]

Agree . That toy piano is awful. Should have given us a vibraphone voice and a cool jazz organ to go with the Fender Rhodes. Then it would be perfect for playing jazz in venues with only a small space.

[@shaft9000]

...how about a sustain pedal next time? It could go a long ways to curing the 'bass end goes on a temporary vacation' thing ;-)

[@robfriedrich2822]

Reface DX is a DX 100 with one octave less

[@kierenmoore3236]

Behringer will release a ‘CS-80’, long before Yamaha ever does again …

[@christopherstifel8211]

Wow, is it me or is the CP sound distorted as hell. Is that an effect he has on all the time?

[@GS-uk3ml]

Yeah he destroyed the demo by having distortion on all the time. Have no idea why he didn't turn down or mute the distortion effect to show how clean, warm and smooth this keyboard sounds. Massive fail.

[@johnmaer]

Hello Alamo, I need your guidance on which Reface model to look at or purchase to best emulate the keyboard tone in the 1980's hit by Canadian artist Jane Child in the hit known as "Don't Want to Fall in Love". Has a heavy synth rhythm part and solos by DX7 style tone with massive pitch bend added. Which of the little keyboards could make that keys sound? Please advise.

[@GS-uk3ml]

Just modules? Have you seen all the professional musicians using these both live and in studio as a stand alone keyboard? Time to make a new video with less distortion.

[@TheDungeonDive]

These are great little keyboards that were simply priced twice what they should have been.

[@hjorleifuringason2778]

why all this gain and overdrive on everything?

[@classicfilms8071]

It's a revved up PSS-A50. At 3 times the price. Nice Yamaha. Know how to make $$$$.

[@mootal2812]

Is PSS-A50 better than the Reface series? need some advice which to go for...Tks

[@chrisliddiard725]

First the sound quality of the video under-sells the quality of sound from these devices. Also to demo these devices as sound modules it would have made sense to play a midi file into these 'modules'. Then you could have demonstrated their other strengths which is the real time manipulation of their sounds. That said you managed to show these as very practical keyboards, not everyone has the space for a pletra of fullsize keyboard, which goes to the heart of so many japanise space saving designs.

[@shaft9000]

yes, it is not evident whether the unpleasant distortion is coming out of the YC or if he's overloading the DA converter on his DAW input.

[@tysonrichards2011]

Pity about the mini keys

[@scottptolomey3498]

It’s CP70 and 80 not 88 !!!! CP88 is a digital piano

[@johnnymongrel]

I found the information in the presentation great - like seriously good - but I didn't enjoy the actual demos; too much gain, too much constant random tweaking of knobs & playing was all over the place.

[@igorserranocarreras7798]

Let the music breath, please !

[@mgabrysSF]

No mention that they're virtual? They're VSTs in a box. A very nice box, I own a DX, but they're still virtual.

[@fairweatherfriends.]

Is there a difference in virtual to them being called a digital synth? Are you saying there’s no synth engine? Or are you just saying that they aren’t analog?

[@fortheloveofnoise]

@@fairweatherfriends. He is saying no synth engine, AKA VST.

[@kokopelli314]

Nobody demands fisher price keys.

[@cyberfennek]

Cs has no velocity a no go for me

[@MiloSatori]

So handsome

[@tramistfromhell]

Pointless demo of the CP, given that he had the Drive control up at least 40% most of the time. I want to hear the instrument, not it's distortion. Looks like he did it for the YC too. Bizarre!

[@michaeless658]

Too bad these are not full size 61 keys

[@MonsieurC64]

I think Yamaha had an interesting concept here but they screwed up a bit. The DX is nice but it's missing one or two essential functions and more memories (why only 32?). The YC is almost a joke. Yes, it looks cool, but it's not a good emulation. It is sample based, not really behaving like a true organ. On all of them the distorsion effect is nasty and synthetic sounding, which is disappointing especially on the CP and YC. The internal speakers distort a bit too easily. The keybed has a nice quality feel though. Also, Yamaha gave us only very few updates, which is disappointing compared too manufacturers like Novation.

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

The cp is my top 3 favorite keyboards, it’s amazing

[@geoffk777]

Ok, first off, I hate, hate, hate this form factor. I hate it when Korg does it with the WaveState and I hate it here. If I want a module, than I want to stick it in a rack, and having a keyboard on it is just a nuisance. As a Pro, I'd also like an internal power supply, balanced outs, and other features which don't appear on these toys. Also, if I'm just going to have to add an external MDI keyboard anyway (and I will--I can't use mini-keys and 3 octaves isn't enough for any polyphonic keyboard), than why do I need hardware at all? Analog synths, FM synths, organs and pianos/EPs are a dime a dozen in the VST world. Many of them are even free. I'd be far better off just buying the Arturia Collection. This isn't a case where you're buying hardware because it's analog. Even the CS is a virtual digital synth. So there's very little reason to go for these instead of a VST. Being more specific, a piano and EP is useless without a decent keyboard, so I'd just buy a digital piano that already has a usable keyboard and action. Casio, Korg, Roland and Yamaha are all good options. The same is true for organ, and I found the organ demo here to be unimpressive. The DX reface is only 4-op, which is pathetic. Dexed, which is free, is 6-op, as is the Korg OpSix (if you like this form factor and want hardware). Better yet, get a Yamaha MODX, which is 8-op, with different waveforms and tone morphing (plus a real keyboard, a great piano and EP, organs, analog synth, and many other sounds). Finally, the CS is virtual analog, with no presets or way of saving sounds. If you're going to get hardware, buy a real analog like a Behrenger DeepMind or Poly-D. Or just go with the many virtual analog VSTs. Cherry Audio has a bunch of powerful ones for $30 each. I especially recommend the MemoryMode and 8-Voice. These aren't just toys. But they're not professional instruments either, and you're better off buying instruments which are.

[@rogeliojaylon4477]

Good. I wait for love from you 💝💖

[@kierenmoore3236]

These are SO overpriced … !!!!

[@westbethkid]

this guy burps in every single video

[@fortheloveofnoise]

I shit my pants in every video.