Yamaha Synths Official marks 10 years of reface: Compact Power, No Compromises

One of the standout points in Dom’s walkthrough is the emphasis on professional connectivity across the reface range. Despite their small size, these instruments feature quarter-inch jacks, sustain pedal inputs, and built-in speakers, allowing for instant playability without the need for adapters or extra gear. This makes them equally at home in a studio, a DAWless setup, or a spontaneous jam session on the go.

Battery operation and integrated speakers further enhance their flexibility, enabling musicians to compose, perform, or experiment virtually anywhere. Dom notes that these features remove the typical compromises associated with compact keyboards, making the reface series a practical choice for both seasoned professionals and mobile creators. The shared hardware philosophy across all four models ensures that users don’t have to sacrifice connectivity or tactile control, regardless of which instrument they choose.

The spotlight of the video lands firmly on the reface CS, Yamaha’s analog-modeling synth, which Dom selects for an extended performance demo. The CS is lauded for its immediate, hands-on interface—sliders for every parameter, no menu diving, and a workflow reminiscent of classic Yamaha synths like the CS80. This approach allows users to dial in basses, leads, pads, and experimental textures in seconds, making it a go-to instrument for spontaneous sound design.

Dom demonstrates the CS’s sonic range, moving from lush, organic pads to gritty 8-bit textures, thanks to features like oscillator sync, ring modulation, and onboard FM. The instrument’s architecture encourages live performance and experimentation, with the LFO and modulation options adding evolving movement to sounds. The absence of onboard preset storage is offset by the ability to visually recall slider positions or use SoundMondo for cloud-based patch management, reinforcing the CS’s role as a tactile, performance-first synth.

A key feature across the reface series is integration with SoundMondo, Yamaha’s cloud-based platform for sharing and discovering presets. Dom encourages users to explore the vast library of sounds available, including many of his own creations, and points out that even models without onboard preset storage (like the CS) can benefit from this collaborative ecosystem. SoundMondo extends the creative potential of the reface instruments, fostering a sense of community and ongoing sound exploration among users worldwide.