Yamaha Reface CP FAQ - Everything you should know before buying it!

[@dachanist]

As a trumpet player for 30 years, I've always wanted a real piano. Two years ago I got a Reface Cp. Can you learn on this as your main instrument? I have. I'd like to own a Korg SV1 or SV2 as well but it just wouldn't get the same attention as my desk/couch Reface CP. The mini keys make it much easier to use my left hand to comp my trumpet playing. That's a skill I don't have down yet but it will come, and likely be a crowd pleaser. If you want an acoustic piano sound, this will do the job but you might prefer something else. If you want a Rhodes sound for $300 used that you can play on your couch or take with you - this is it. I would absolutely recommend this as a beginner first piano. Why buy a full size student instrument when you could have this - a miniature pro instrument. Whenever they get good enough to warrant a "real" stage piano - you can just buy one and not have wasted your money on the student cheap plastic toy that sits in the closet for the next 20 years. If you want to learn classical music, you probably want a full size e-piano that has a few other non grand piano sounds. If you want to learn jazz/rock/pop/etc - this is fantastic. Complaint about only 37 keys are valid and require that you learn to reharmonize your ideas... limited octaves is not strange to a trumpeter though.

[@UnitedPebbles]

nat geo million dollar ad PSS models 'd give you the similar experience, I d think? Plus more serious tones like guitar, strings, brass, etc.

[@jjacob25101]

The Reface series is great. I love the CP, but I like the others, too, for what they are. The mini keys is a challenge to adapt to, but playable for when you get used to it. The action is about the best you can get for lighter synth type keys. T he reface series is best for portability and compact spaces, especially if you have multiple reface keyboards, or like a Reface CP snd a PSS-A50, that makes a great companion for the Reface CP or a larger keyboard like the Casio CT-S1, for drums/rhythm, and preprogramed base or other parts/arpeggiator and playing other parts likes strings or other instruments. And yes, a full sized key keyboard with at least 61 jeys is better to learn on like you stated, or a weighted 88 key piano if you wantbto kearn traditional and formal piano playing. I believe the Reface CP was originally $600 US, but now sells for $400 US new. The PSS-A50 is a great keyboard with the same key action for $100 US that can do many things and is portable. Check out jazz pianist Masataka Kono's videos on KZbin who plays the Reface CP, PSS-A50, CT-S1 abd other keyboards with incredible arrangements and performances.

[@jlowrie33]

This was exactly what I needed. Small form factor digital piano and organ. If I need the proper size keyboard I can just get a controller and hook it up. Awesome video. Thanks.

[@JOULIEFOXvlog]

I was always amazed by you playing this little keyboard and making it sound like a real piano!

[@FrancescoNasone]

🙃🙏thanks!

[@President_Biglou]

Just saw you on Jinny's Stream! You're really good!

[@Filekeepers]

Loved you performance today! From Jinnytty's stream

[@paulhoffbaltzersen3304]

If you miss more octaves after some time maybe getting one more is an option? One for left and one for right hand? With different sounds also possible. Just a thought.

[@romanyel]

My preference is to use a dawless set up but to travel the CP and a laptop is an excellent way to go. A small synth like the Roland JX-08 is a cherry on top. Oh, loopers and effects pedals are small but fantastic additions.

[@evarsingersongwriter6228]

I think ✨The CP is great for practising , ideas and portability and using its great effects But get a full sized and weighted elect or acoustic piano ie elect budget but good quality like a Roland fx30 etc to learn piano . I have both roland and cp and am a learner this year and benefit and am inspired by 🎉both🎉 happy new year and thankyou for your wonderful formative utube videos and musicianship 😊

[@RjBenjamin353]

You are so cool to give us info on your instruments that you use. Thank you sir

[@FrancescoNasone]

Thanks! In time I received many question about this keyboard and I felt the need of make a vid to answer to all!

[@GarveyDalan]

Good job.. love your video.can i use it a band set up? I don't want to bring a computer on a gig.. i can put it direct to the amp,?

[@FrancescoNasone]

Sure

[@5INC33]

Saw you on jinny's stream at kings cross, great performance

[@danielmarcperrin]

Super! Thank you for your objective point of view!

[@FrancescoNasone]

🙏

[@ruscular]

I have a Honda Reflex 250cc scooter that I pretty much rely on and the Reface is the only keyboard that I have that can fit under the seat storage area. Also the dynamics of the key can be use on a Tone Generator of my Roland JV1010, even tho I don't have the after touch of the CS, but I can have it on the midi out to another sound source. So the Reface is also my favorite midi controller.

[@ruscular]

I bought one of your album and use it for my senior fitness class cool-down phase and it was a big hit in the class. They thought the trumpet impression was really good. They ask if I had actually see you play that part without a real trumpet. Which brings up a really good point that the way you play and sing is smooth like a real trumpet. How did you train to carry a note so smoothly? Have you taken voice lesson?

[@FrancescoNasone]

Haha great! Yes I studied jazz singing and that probably was useful with the idea of voice-instrument.

[@ruscular]

@@FrancescoNasone Jazz singing is that like lot of be bopping? Sounds interesting.

[@FrancescoNasone]

@@ruscular yes it’s singing related to jazz music, so improvisations, bebop, but not only...

[@ruscular]

@@FrancescoNasone I just purchase the used Roland Aerophone-10 wind synth, and one of the sound tone is called "Jazz Scat" that makes random scat voices. Bebop ba doo scat!

[@TheAtomicLich]

Its sad that everywhere is out of stock on all the Yamaha Reface Pianos

[@remowo_]

Thank you very much! I think that the hidden piano is the one used in pss a50...

[@GS-uk3ml]

I just got mine but the volume is so low I can barely hear it. Is there something wrong with it or are there some hidden settings that can fix this and increase the volume?

[@PeterPanQuails]

Wish yamaha will update the Reface products. 1. Should be USB-powered. 2. Put the acoustic panel as a standard sound alongside the toy piano sound.

[@FrancescoNasone]

Like the possible updates you say. But about the usb powered option, with the right cable and a power-bank you can do it.

[@kierenmoore3236]

USB power tends to have noise issues, tho’ … you see comments to this effect, all the time, eg with all the Roland boutiques … External battery bank not only gives you much longer playing time (and can be used for multiple purposes/with many different devices), but you can just get a new power bank when it *eventually* dies; rather than having to replace whatever limited, internal power source was used in your device 😏

[@kierenmoore3236]

I agree, acoustic piano sound should be more accessible … I heard it was a test sound that the engineers used, and just didn’t bother (it would have been extra work) to get rid of it … 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ Anyway, it’s a nice little bonus …

[@trikOsk]

Great content! Thanks!

[@FrancescoNasone]

🙃🙏

[@dimetriusrasul]

Great review. I do want to buy Yamaha Reface CP. From my ear the only minus is the clicky sound.

[@FrancescoNasone]

You mean the sound of the fingers on the keys? That it’s probably a bit better that what you can listen sometimes in my vids because I have a bit of long nails for the guitar and they obviously make the keys more noisy...

[@ruscular]

For a mini key its one of the nicest quality that I have played. If you want to make them quieter you could use a long shoe string as use it as padding on the keybed when you take it apart. and glue them in. But i think he was hitting them harder than normal. It's not that loud to me. being brand new I think the padding should still be good. The speakers on the unit is mainly good for the player, but not for the audience. You would want to hook them up for performances. The output is probably the best feature of the Reface, as it is rich and sounds like a $1000 unit.

[@FrancescoNasone]

@@ruscular well said!

[@nahlene1973]

Great video, thanks for making it. Though i really wishe you did some editing to cut out the hmm and pauses.

[@FrancescoNasone]

Thanks for feedback

[@danielbelik]

Thank you for the video Can you please point me where I can get that firmware update for the putting the secret piano instead of toy piano?

[@jonpaultucker]

I'm looking for this too, can't find any other info on it anywhere

[@EverHappyDude]

Dear Francesco, where can we find the firmware update to set the acoustic piano instead of the toy piano? 🙏

[@FrancescoNasone]

Hi! unfortunately for what I know there is no firmware to do this. I think you would need to open the keyboard and do something to the internal connections.

[@EverHappyDude]

@@FrancescoNasone Thank you so much for responding Francesco, much appreciated!! You mentioned the firmware option at 08:50 that's why I asked. Thanks for your answer, I can stop searching and agonizing now 😂 I hope you'll revisit posting songs with the reface somewhere in the future 🙏😊

[@MariaCalfaDePaul]

All you have to do to get the acoustic piano is to put the sound in between two sounds. It’s tricky because it wants to click to the next sound but it doable. And you do that while turning the keyboard on and there you have a really great acoustic piano and you can use all the effects too

[@danieladanidonatone4901]

hi Francesco, thanks for your amazing video! I'm buying this wonderful electric piano for my polinstruments live set. I've a question: how to download the acoustic piano sound at the toy piano set? is there a "secret" link for this too? :-) thanks.... D.

[@FrancescoNasone]

Ciao, grazie! Credo che non ci sia un modo di mettere il piano al posto del toy piano se non aprendo la tastiera e intervenendo internamente.

[@danieladanidonatone4901]

@@FrancescoNasone grazie per la tua risposta, mi era sembrato di capire che si poteva effettuare un aggiornamento e sostituire quel suono con il piano acustico! 😊

[@KledinhoOficial]

Hello Francesco, how are you? Do you use a sustain pedal on the Reface CP? Thanks!

[@FrancescoNasone]

Hey! Yes I use one

[@gordospeti]

Dear Francesco! I am planning to buy Reface CP and DX. I wanna purchase active speakers to them to make them louder. My first question is whether I should get a pair of speakers for stereo soundig? (Keyboard amps/combos are mono - there is only one speaker.) And what speakers do U suggest that I consider purchasing? Thanx very much!

[@FrancescoNasone]

Hi! I would choose in relation on what is the use you're gonna do. If you need something of quite light I could thing about one speaker. You sacrifice the stereo sound but the reface will still sound good. If you don't mind having the second speaker go fo it. I played many times with the reface connected to one only speaker and it was ok. The stereo sound add that something more, especially for the effects you can use on electric pianos.

[@FrancescoNasone]

about with speaker again it depends from the use. Gigging? Just connect the reface at home and enjoy a nice pleasant sound? For gigging every normal pa speakers that you can use for vocals will works good with the reface. Bose, Mackie, Alto ecc. there are many option in the market. If you are planning a home or studio use, you can always opt for some speaker as I said before but since you'll not need so much volume you can also use a nice pair of studio monitor. They can give you a clean sound and a pleasant stereo field.

[@FrancescoNasone]

last but not least you can experiment, using electric pianos like the Rhodes and use amp that you would use with a real Rhodes, like some guitar amps Fender for example. In that case you will look not anymore for something clear and transparent but for some speaker that "make" the sound. Fender Deville of Fender blues or deluxe some very nice.

[@gordospeti]

@@FrancescoNasone I need speakers for home use, so based upon your opinion I am going for a pair of studio monitors! I am not used to being helped this much, thank U so much! Rock on! :)

[@jonos138]

Dont know why they didnt make a 61 full size key version that would be ideal for playing the wurly.

[@robertsteinberger5667]

Most important question, is the secret grand piano option still working?

[@FrancescoNasone]

Yes!

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

What battery pack would you suggest to power this keyboard?

[@FrancescoNasone]

any battery bank is ok, if you stay max on 20000mAh you can also eventually carry it on a plane. I use one 20000mAh powerbank and this gives me more than 20 hours playing time

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

@@FrancescoNasone I just bought one with 40000 mAh

[@sabryan70]

Non essendo una pianista non ho trovato problemi nell'uso di questi minitasti. La serie Reface è tutta fantastica, ho scelto CP perché necessitavo di un suono classico M che fosse portatile. Per me è meraviglioso.

[@chofi1701]

Hola, cuantas tiempo duran las baterías ?? Gracias muy buenos videos

[@FrancescoNasone]

Around 4 hours, but using a power bank you can play a lot longer!

[@chofi1701]

@@FrancescoNasone muchas gracias!!! Me encanta ese teclado pero cuesta conseguirlo en Argentina 😞. Me encantan tus versiones de las canciones!! Muchos éxitos

[@FrancescoNasone]

@@chofi1701 🙏🙃

[@jorgeacuna3174]

Gracias por la informacion. me gustaria saber cual es el ancho en milimimetros de las teclas. gracias.

[@vandersonmarques4656]

Hi! What is the name of this cable you mentioned in the video? Can you tell me the link on the Amazon website?

[@FrancescoNasone]

Hi this is the amazon link to the cable: amzn.to/3yK0WO7

[@p-comme-pauline]

@@FrancescoNasone Hello Francesco, thank you for your help! The product is unavailable on amazon. I'm French, where could I buy it please ?

[@FrancescoNasone]

@@p-comme-pauline hi! Try to search on eBay or some online music shop, every brand will work the important thinks is the voltage 5v to 9v and the positive pole

[@ubsurd0729]

If you don't have an audio interface, can you just use the usb on the cp is that okay?

[@FrancescoNasone]

If you’re using the reface as midi controller yes

[@JoernR]

Additional info: No member of the Reface series outputs it's sound via USB, you need to use the regular 6.3 mm outputs. Thus with most computers you'll need to use an audio interface for eliminating the typical lag.

[@nicofranciulli5186]

Im a guitar player, I would use to play some chords, and get close to the idea of a keyboard ( will be happy to play Imagine from John Lennon haha ). It's possible to use whit the guitar pedal effects ?

[@FrancescoNasone]

I think that can be a great use of this keyboard. If you mean use guitar's pedal effects on the reface, yes sure!

[@nicofranciulli5186]

@@FrancescoNasone thanks

[@flex1862]

i was here pogu

[@lalaelien]

can you do elliott smith please 😦

[@miketheless8167]

Does it have built in speakers b

[@FrancescoNasone]

Yes!

[@lauradevries9242]

Here from Jinnytty pogu

[@plouf1969]

This is not for children, you can get much simpler keyboards for under $100 (this one's minimum $400) that will make no difference for them. If anything it's going to have rhythms / demos and other features that pros don't need.

[@jorgeacuna3174]

I'd like to buy this Yamaha for playing Ambient and experimental music. I've seen some videos of people that use external devices (delays and reverbs..etc). Do you think that with the internal reverb and delays incorporated in this Yamaha CP is enough for making and composing good Ambient and experimental music? Thanks for your help. Nice video.

[@FrancescoNasone]

I think there are many interesting sounds. You can start with that and after add other effects...

[@magnittho1975]

I love it can you give me one ❤❤❤cp

[@Lhommedeshautesplaines]

You speak too much