Yamaha Reface CSchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Many owners describe the sound as fat, smooth, and genuinely analogue-like, comparing it favorably to classics such as the Juno 60 and MiniMoog. Several say the sonic quality alone outweighs its feature limitations.

@andy2069

The CS and CP are incredible instruments. I say that as someone with 23 synths.launch

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September 10, 2023

@KiraSlith

The sound this produces is amazing, and it's so perfectly laid out! Everything is in almost exactly the order it applies in the chain of effects, and it's just so simple and clean, I love it.launch

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March 23, 2023

@robspaull

This is about as close as you can get to the perfect synth - had one for 6 years and still love it! It's so tactile, fast and sounds great! It's just fun! Sure there are so many more powerful synths and better sounding ones but this is just so immediate and exciting!launch

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March 1, 2023

@Answersonapostcard

What is lacks in features it makes up with in sound quality and sheer fun. This is a great sounding keyboard/synth that offers a large variety of easily accessible sounds.launch

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June 17, 2022

The simple slider/knob layout without menu diving is repeatedly praised as fast and inspiring for sound design and improvisation. Users say it invites creativity because you don't need to dig through submenus.

@KiraSlith

The sound this produces is amazing, and it's so perfectly laid out! Everything is in almost exactly the order it applies in the chain of effects, and it's just so simple and clean, I love it.launch

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March 23, 2023

@robspaull

This is about as close as you can get to the perfect synth - had one for 6 years and still love it! It's so tactile, fast and sounds great! It's just fun! Sure there are so many more powerful synths and better sounding ones but this is just so immediate and exciting!launch

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March 1, 2023

@utility507A

Full disclosure: I've longed to own this synth. I considered buying it after it was released, and again a few years later when Yamaha temporaroly slashed the price. Then I finally decided that, at all costs, I still wanted it after hearing so many of my friends rave about the Reface line (despite its lukewarm recemption). So one night after a tipsy (ok, let's be honest, drunk) bid on an ebay auction, I decided I wanted it, and I won the auction. From what I can tell, it was discontinued anyway. I paid only slightly above the MSRP for it (including shipping). Then, when it finally arrived in Ontario from the US, I got slapped with a $75 customs fee on the Wednesday when it arrived. I still didn't care. I joyfully carried it home on the rear rack of my bike from the post office. I popped batteries in it (it didn't even come with a power supply =|). I made some coffee and I finished reading the maunual before I finished drinking my cup of coffee. I tried the synth and I was overjoyed. It was everything I hoped it would be. It was simple and straightforward. It sounded great. It felt great. I was happy with it. \n\nA few days later, I was super busy on a Friday and grabbing lunch. It has become a ritual for me to grab food between teaching music and watching this week's episode of Bad Gear and eat lunch before my next lesson. Well, I saw the thumbnail for this week's episode (just two days after buying the synth!), and I could not stop laughing. No joke, I couldn't breathe. I also own a JP-08 so I have a pretty good idea of stupid rehash virtual analog bullshit cash grabs. \n\nI get all the criticisms. Lack of velocity sensitivity? Yep. It's a drag. No internal memory? Also kind of a pain in the ass. But eight voice polyphony and no stupid menus within sub menus? SIGN. ME. UP. I love this little thing for its simplicity. Hell, that's the reason I wanted it in the first place. I even considered buying the Reface DX on Kijiji for $350 (in Canadian dollars no less!), and the main deterent for me was the stupid menu dive. I'll take knobs and sliders over menus and memory any day. The way I see it, if you know the instrument well enough, you'll be able to dial in any sound you want efficiently enough. \n\nI love this little synth, and I'm glad to own it. Still, I have no disagreements with criticisms against it. I don't have any high end synths, and I most likely will never own any. The main sticking point as mentioned in the vid is the price. I feel like this synth might have done much better at an entry level price. My only guess as to why the Reface line cost what it did is R&D cost overruns. But what do I know?launch

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July 2, 2022

@umick-synths

If I lost all my synths, the CS is the first I'd replace. So quick to dial-in great sounds and lots of fun. Great for scratch parts too where the synth I am going to use is slow to program and I don't want to lose the muse.\nAlso it sounds very analogue like the MicroKORG. In contrast the Boutique JP-08 has that digital sheen you get when you've applied too many generations of math to a 16-bit signal.launch

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February 4, 2021

Battery power, built-in speakers, and a small chassis let owners take the CS anywhere and jam on impulse, from couches to cabins. Several call the form factor phenomenal or the best they've used for a portable synth.

@BoBeats

fun fact: i recorded this vid before me and the fam went to the summer cabin... and my daughter brought the Reface CS with her. She was skepitcal at first because she is a piano player. But she came around surprisingly quick. Sat there sound designing and came up with chord progressions and melodies. And even used the on-board looper! A new synthesist in the making!launch

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July 20, 2026

@neonpop80

LOVE my CS. Baffling the hate the Reface line gets. Perhaps it has limitations but that's where your expectations are. Judge it for what it is and it is a special little sized portable fun machine with beautiful sounds. Very inviting for entry level folk going into synthslaunch

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June 20, 2022

@haris300tt

The CS is lots of fun as a portable \"fun machine\" since it takes batteries. I wish the looper was some sort of step sequencer instead. They really should have put a reverb effect like on the CP. I will say the Reface keys are some of the easy mini keys I've ever used. Those final jams were really fun. Nice review.launch

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June 17, 2022

@Finetales

Great demo! One of the few really good ones out there that really showcase the CS's strengths IMO.\n\nGiven the disclaimer that Yamaha is my favorite synth company and I'm probably very biased, I am a bit obsessed with the Reface series and will sing its praises anywhere. The form factor is PHENOMENAL. In my opinion it might be the best form factor ever made for a portable synth. (I say \"portable\" because I think rack modules are the best form factor for exclusively studio use.) There are very few other synths for any price that have a very convenient small size and weight, a chassis and keybed of such high quality (yes they're minikeys, but they are one of the best-feeling keybeds I've played in any size), battery power, AND built-in speakers...not to mention that the Reface speakers sound really good (unlike many built-in speakers on synths) and you can even buy extensions to play a Reface as a keytar. Finally, with the included splitter, they have real MIDI in and out (in addition to USB) which a lot of cheap synths leave out these days.\n\nAll 4 of them sound awesome, and have really nice interfaces. I really can't think of a single downside. I wish Yamaha would make new Refaces and keep the line going, but it doesn't seem like they will. :(launch

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February 4, 2019

Multiple users describe the CS as their first synth and credit it with improving their playing and understanding of synthesis. It's recommended as a beginner-friendly entry point into synths.

@neonpop80

LOVE my CS. Baffling the hate the Reface line gets. Perhaps it has limitations but that's where your expectations are. Judge it for what it is and it is a special little sized portable fun machine with beautiful sounds. Very inviting for entry level folk going into synthslaunch

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June 20, 2022

@YearsOfLeadPoisoning

I LOVE my CS. It was my first synth and it still blows me away how good it can sound. More importantly, how easily it is to make it sound good which IMO is the most important part if you're actually making music.launch

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June 17, 2022

@HedgehogStudios1

This was my first synth. Three more, a digital piano, and six months later, my playing skills have improved dramatically, and this is still the instrument I reach for when I want to relax. It’s not a professional instrument. It’s not a toy. It’s the ultimate gateway drug into the world of music and synthesizers. I love this thinglaunch

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July 10, 2021

@pricejoss

I’ve been looking at what to buy for my first synth and I think I’m going to go with this. Sounds really capable and I like the fact it has no presets so that I can properly learn about synthesislaunch

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November 8, 2019

Commenters highlight 8-voice polyphony as rare and valuable at this price, enabling leads, pads, bass and atmospheres in one compact unit. Several call this a standout feature versus similarly priced mono synths.

@corncobjohnsonreal

I love this synth so much. Atomic Dog bass to brassy blade runner leads in an instant. The programing is so straightforward but it does not hold back with it's capabilities. Plus 8 voices is a must have for any synth owner and this will get you there affordability lollaunch

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March 23, 2023

@valdiskrebs566

Love my CS — great for Leads/Pads/Atmospheres! It has sooooo many sweetspots and is well-built.\nDownsizing home studio ... got rid of my Boutiques, Rocket, MiniNova, Volca Keys, MicroBrute and kept the CS. \nHighly recommended “first synth”. Also works as a great MIDI controller for my iPad synth apps(with midi-learn).\nYes, Arp instead of Looper — but I use CS for leads/improv.launch

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February 3, 2019

@sejtaridiss

I don't understand, why people are bitchin' about the Reface line... \"Small keys!, too expensive!, shitty sound!\". Show me ANY PRODUCT that delivers so many options in so small, portable and CHEAP package!\n\nWhere would you find anything similar to eg. CP? Native instruments Scrabee Vintage Keys - 150 Euros, than you have to add midi controller to your rack - at least 100 Euros, than you need laptop. And that's it. You can go this way, or you can just buy Yamaha CP, which gives you EVERYTHING you need in one, elegant, logical solution. No mouse clicking, no presets, no cables, just few knobs, intuitive layout and BIG sound. You can take it anywhere and in an instatnt you have pro sounds at your fingertips. Not to mention great sounding FX on board.\n\nRef CS? It cost about the same as MiniBrute. Well, Minibrute has normal-sized keys, but Yamaha has three octaves. Which, I think, you would prefer, if you had experience with POLY SYNTH! CS has 8-note polyphony! Show me 8-note poly synth with FM modulator and onboard effects. Show me anything that cheap with so many possibilities. MiniBrute, MS-10 and so on? Mono synths needing other stuff to just to turn it on, not to mention playing with it.\n\nDX? No comparison to anything on the market. Simple, small FM synth with amazing sound. Not understanding how FM synthesis works? No prob, just play with basic 4 sliders. Wanna create your own sounds from the scratch? Get a degree and then click Edit. Boom! What else could you get to have FM synth? NI FM8+controller+laptop+speakers. Again, you have to invest much more. And you don't have portability you have with any Reface product.\n\nReface YC? Again, nothing like that on the market. simple, small solution with 5 organ models, drawbars and onboard effects. 500 bucks? That's CHEAP. Wanna play Farfisa organs while taking a dump? No prob. Then wanna compose a track in your super-duper home studio? Plug it to your DAW via MIDI, plug outs to your soundcard and you have complementary, pro, studio solution.\n\nNeed bigger keys or/and more octaves? No problem, you have MIDI In. Just plug any midi controller and you're good to go. And then wanna go on vacation with some instrument to have fun with, compose while sitting on the beach? Wanna play with your guitarist friend at night by the fire? Try to do this with Korg MS-10 :)\n\nI think people forgot what's important in music. It is playability and creativity, not the way it looks on your desk. You don't need bunch of stuff to play music, you need complementary intrument, who cares how it looks? If it doesn't look like Doepfer Eurorack synth, it immidietely is bad? No. Who cares about looks, size, what's importatnt - what you can do with it. Basically, with any of Refaces you can do exactly tha same things you could do with much bigger and more expensive insruments, which probably wound never leave your hosue due to their size.\n\nI had chance to play these instruments. aNd I immidietely fell in love with these. It releases so much creativity, when you have simple, small and complete solution with you. These instruments have the same spirit as an acoustic guitar or any other acoustic intrument. All in one solution, just take it on your lap and play. It is so much fun, when you don't have to turn on your computer, than your speakers, than you DAW, than your virtual instrument.\n\nNo matter how much these products will be critisized, I think they will over time become legendary. Just like Yamaha DX7, Roland TR808/909 and so much more other instruments. At the begginning they were critisized, and then... they became legendary :)launch

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May 13, 2016

@fender1000100

+Slammah 2012\n\nIts analogue in nature plus a whole lot MORE. Thats why its so appealing despite lack of patch memories and small keys. Ive played alot of VAs and real analogues like the MiniMoog and Juno 60. They have nothing on this. And to be honest im old enough to know if you went back to 1981. put this in an EXPENSIVE CASING you know with wood panelling and shiny knobs like a prophet. Give it 49 full size keys and patch memories.People would worship it and it would have become an INSTANT ALLTIME CLASSIC. Because the sound of this synth and the sonic versatility leaves every analogue of yesteryear for DEAD. If has such a sweet smooth filter. Fat bottom end. It sounds incredible. Can do great analogue style drum kits, killer bass and lush, lush pads and amazing effects.\n\nAnyone who passes this by because of its size and lack of patch saving is a fool. Never, never, never will 500 dollars buy you a better 8 note poly analogue sounding synth. Thats so addictive and hands on. I couldnt stop playing this the first time I got my hands on one.launch

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March 31, 2016

Owners describe the mini keys as among the best-feeling they've used, with some preferring them over other mini-key rivals despite general skepticism about mini keys.

@haris300tt

The CS is lots of fun as a portable \"fun machine\" since it takes batteries. I wish the looper was some sort of step sequencer instead. They really should have put a reverb effect like on the CP. I will say the Reface keys are some of the easy mini keys I've ever used. Those final jams were really fun. Nice review.launch

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June 17, 2022

@davelordy

Has this channel no standards . . . the Reface CS is one of my favourite synths ever ! : )\nSo well made, easily the best quality mini keyboard ever, sounds great too !launch

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June 17, 2022

@Finetales

Great demo! One of the few really good ones out there that really showcase the CS's strengths IMO.\n\nGiven the disclaimer that Yamaha is my favorite synth company and I'm probably very biased, I am a bit obsessed with the Reface series and will sing its praises anywhere. The form factor is PHENOMENAL. In my opinion it might be the best form factor ever made for a portable synth. (I say \"portable\" because I think rack modules are the best form factor for exclusively studio use.) There are very few other synths for any price that have a very convenient small size and weight, a chassis and keybed of such high quality (yes they're minikeys, but they are one of the best-feeling keybeds I've played in any size), battery power, AND built-in speakers...not to mention that the Reface speakers sound really good (unlike many built-in speakers on synths) and you can even buy extensions to play a Reface as a keytar. Finally, with the included splitter, they have real MIDI in and out (in addition to USB) which a lot of cheap synths leave out these days.\n\nAll 4 of them sound awesome, and have really nice interfaces. I really can't think of a single downside. I wish Yamaha would make new Refaces and keep the line going, but it doesn't seem like they will. :(launch

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February 4, 2019

@SuperMegaWoofer3000

I have a DX and a CS. When I saw the CS I was like 'what's the bloody point?', then I played with one.\n\nI have quite a few synths, not a lot, but a few, and the CS is easily one of my favourites (the other being the Moog Mother 32). With both of these, there's just something about it, the sounds it makes, the way you interact with it. I think the CS is a really fantastic piece of kit.\n\nI have played a lot with the Arturia CS80 V and I'm convinced that the Reface CS has a bit of the soul in there. I am tempted to buy another and connect them so I can mix two synths like the CS80 :)\n\nI had some Roland Boutiques but I sold them, they seemed like toys to me. The Reface series are VERY WELL BUILT. And they keybed is the nicest microkeys I've played (I have a Korg Arp and a KeyStep, though I do like the keystep for it's utility, the reface keyboards are nicer).\n\nAnyway. Don't overlook this little guy. It makes nice noises and is really fun to play. I hate to say it but I enjoy it more than my Nord Lead 4.launch

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December 6, 2016

The built-in looper is praised as fun and useful for recording melodies and chord progressions, and can sync to a MIDI host for extended phrases.

@BoBeats

fun fact: i recorded this vid before me and the fam went to the summer cabin... and my daughter brought the Reface CS with her. She was skepitcal at first because she is a piano player. But she came around surprisingly quick. Sat there sound designing and came up with chord progressions and melodies. And even used the on-board looper! A new synthesist in the making!launch

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July 20, 2026

@rort1371

The looper is awesome. For people who prefer melody and chord progressions and not just blops and blips it’s extremely useful and fun.launch

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February 4, 2019

@Cepheid-IDM

I've had a Reface CS for about a year and a half. The sound is great, especially the Multi-Saw oscillator! Quick tip. Use the looper while synced to a midi host and you can record phrases in a loop with as many bars as you like. This way I can get 4 bars from my Digitone, but longer chord progression with the Reface CS. Only downsides to this unit are no patch memory, no velocity, no on board reverb. Other than that it's a great synth! Love mine.launch

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February 3, 2019

Several owners use the CS as a lightweight, responsive MIDI controller for other synths, modules, or iPad apps, praising its touch sensitivity.

@computethisinfo

As a aspiring game developer, I love this synth because it is amazing for sound effects of all kinds, as well as for making music for games and I just absolutely love messing with sounds, which is why I went with the cs over the dx since you can customised the sounds and also use as a powerful midi controller with all the sliders.launch

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August 21, 2019

@valdiskrebs566

Love my CS — great for Leads/Pads/Atmospheres! It has sooooo many sweetspots and is well-built.\nDownsizing home studio ... got rid of my Boutiques, Rocket, MiniNova, Volca Keys, MicroBrute and kept the CS. \nHighly recommended “first synth”. Also works as a great MIDI controller for my iPad synth apps(with midi-learn).\nYes, Arp instead of Looper — but I use CS for leads/improv.launch

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February 3, 2019

@spidergoalie33

So for anyone looking at this now, I've owned one since they came out. Here is a quick review with the benefit of having used it gigging and so on for some time.\nKeys: personally I find them a non issue. They feel quite nice and after a little time there is really no problem at least for me.\nSynth: I love it! I'm actually amazed at how much it can do and it is extremely intuitive. I've been playing analog synths since the 70s and I actually got this because I didn't want to take my old Korg Mono/Poly on stage. \nI tend to play it monophonically more than polyphonically, but it is great either way and has a nice fat sound.\nMIDI: I have also used it extensively as a MIDI controller with a Korg Kross giving me a very very light and portable 2 key rig. It responds well and when playing a touch sensitive sound/module is a very responsive keyboard. Admittedly I used it for a lot of Hammond sounds which are not touch sensitive, but also Sax and strings and things that are touch sensitive and it was excellent. I don't love the MIDI connection. It works fine, but I worry about it eventually failing and I've had a lot of trouble finding if I can get a back-up. Also a bit of a pain because I use an ultimate support apex stand...the old model, and sit an ipad behind the CS for storing CS patches, and sheet music, and between the MIDI connector and the USB there's a lot of stuff to get in the way of the ipad.\nPatch Storage: yes it is a bit of a pain it is on an ios device, but since many of us use ipads anyway, it is pretty minor. The app works great though!\nWould I buy it again?: Yes I would. I honestly like the keyboard action better than the minilogue. It is definitely not as deep a synth, but depending on what you are doing musically that may not matter. It is so intuitive that it invites improvisation involving the control panel, and that was a big selling point for me.launch

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May 14, 2017