Yamaha drops the motherload (reface series)

MirEko

@Artmuzz said:
I visited my local music store and bought the Yamaha Reface DX and I am impressed. I see it as a DX100 mk2 with its mini keys. The sound editing possibilities are very good.

Dx is definatley the best of the bunch, those touch strips are cool

pichi

@Artmuzz said:
I visited my local music store and bought the Yamaha Reface DX and I am impressed. I see it as a DX100 mk2 with its mini keys. The sound editing possibilities are very good.

Cool! Have you tried connecting to iOS yet? Be interested to hear how well that works.

Artmuzz

I downloaded the Reface app from the Apple App store and will connect it to my iPhone 6 Plus when I find the camera connection kit. I will report back with my opinions of the app and what its like as a midi keyboard on my iPad Air 2 iOS.

I got the Reface DX reduced even further from the price of £289. Personally I think the price is worth it probably because I'm a big fan of FM synthesis and even though its only 4 operator compared to the DX7's 6 operator its got a lot of sound creation possibilities plus the built in effects makes the sounds better. Ive been having a lot of fun creating out of this world synth textures.

My only wish is that I would of liked to of seen a built-in LI-ion battery in the Reface synths not unlike the built-in battery in the Teenage Engineering OP-1 as I am a bit paranoid about leaving AA batteries in the synth incase they leak.

drelbs23

Looks nice, but I think I'll keep my DX7iiFD

Crabman

@Lurcher said:
Although they do sound good they are too limited and have mini keys - for the same money there are better options all over the place. Take the CS - why buy this when you could get an AN1x for less money (one of the best ever hardware VA's from which the CS's sound engine is taken). Why not just get a decent MIDI keyboard. I can see that there is some argument for the Reface DX - its more user friendly than the old DX range and has some unique options even if it only has four operators. If you are after a portable toy that does sound good then the Reface may fit but for that money there are definitely better options. I imagine that AN2015 (which I love) has a wider palette of sounds than the CS and is probably based on the same sound engine. Wish Yamaha would enlarge upon AN2015.

Have you tried the reface yourself?This are BY FAR the best minikeys i've ever touched.I'm not a mini key fan either but in this case it would be easy for me to forgive yamaha their decision.

Artmuzz

Even though I love my Reface DX my other synths that I own being the Yamaha DX7, SY99 and Korg Kronos (MOD7) are still king when it comes to FM.

I have been playing Sunrizer on my iPad Air 2 with my Reface DX and its awesome. Shame that the USB isn't powered USB.

JohnnyGoodyear

@Artmuzz said:
Even though i love my Reface DX, my Yamaha DX7, SY99 and Korg Kronos are still king when it comes to FM.

I have been playing Sunrizer on my iPad Air 2 with my Reface DX and its awesome.

Forgive me Mister Muzz, and I by no means disbelieve you, but could you tell us why it is or what it is that makes it awesome (for you)?

Artmuzz

It's the size, build quality, the graphic display, the compactness, the editing features and overall sound and with the size of the Reface DX I can take it anywhere is what I find awesome. However, the lack of powered USB and lack of built-in battery is a bit of a downer though but still its a good piece of kit IMO.

JohnnyGoodyear

@Artmuzz Thanks. Hope you make good stuff (in odd places with it.

Lurcher

@Crabman said:
Have you tried the reface yourself?This are BY FAR the best minikeys i've ever touched.I'm not a mini key fan either but in this case it would be easy for me to forgive yamaha their decision.

Too be fair no I have not tried the mini keys on the reface. It's a personal thing why I don't like them (mini keys in general). For over 35 years I have played synths mainly mono's and had no classical training at all.
After all this time I decided about 9 months ago I should learn to actually play a keyboard properly. I have weekly lessons and I'm not young anymore. I'm loving learning to play 'properly'. I have developed some muscle memory or whatever it is called but I went back to a Roland mini key midi controller and it totally threw me out. I guess were I already a keyboard player mini keys may be fine, but I'm not with it at this time.

pichi

@Artmuzz said:
It's the size, build quality, the graphic display, the compactness, the editing features and overall sound and with the size of the Reface DX I can take it anywhere is what I find awesome. However, the lack of powered USB and lack of built-in battery is a bit of a downer though but still its a good piece of kit IMO.

Does it have aftertouch?

Artmuzz

The Reface DX doesn't have aftertouch but it has velocity which the DX synths were good at. The built in speakers are surprisingly good and another reason for its awesomeness.