Have you tried reface via MIDI?
Seriously: a MIDI cable to your favorite set of full sized keys is a viable solution. Use the front panel of the reface to control the sound, use the full size set of keys to enter your burning licks!

While the MIDI cable is a workable option - and, in fact, the one I use - it also means a decidedly less sexy look to your setup. You're pretty much resigned to using a two-tier stand. (OK, some controllers have just enough space that you can balance your Reface on the side of the controller, but this is neither the norm nor a great solution, especially if you're a performer of the more active variety.)

I've said it once and I'll say it again: A "Reface Pro" line would be a godsend. If you were going to do 4 separate ones, then I'd suggest putting room on top for a regular Reface to perch. Personally, I'd prefer you group the YC and the CP into a Reface YC-CP Pro organ/electric piano (64 and 73 full-size key models, although I'm sure there would be buyers for larger). Of course, you'd also then group the other two into the Reface CS-DX Pro synth.

I really think the vintage organ and electric piano people would love the YC-CP Pro. Full size keys and both organ and EPs in it...A dream.

Reface Pro !
You said it Blair ... couldn't agree more - Would be a great great piece of gear.

I wish for this more with each passing gig.

Dear Yamaha Corporation:

You should definitiely go for a reface PRO line! In my opinion the models should'nt been merged, the separate versions do make sense.
As mentioned before, every model should get an increase in size and some further features. Here are a few of my ideas for each model:

- full size 61 weighted keys
- a high resolution multitouch screen to control operators (such as the screen that comes with the AKAI MPC Live)
- touch strips like Native Instruments uses for accessing the pitch (I also love Korg's joystick solution which physically works great!)
- internal WiFi
- Soundmondo should be integrated into the internal system and should work via WiFi
- Soundmondo should be available as controller software for standalone and DAW mode (internal and external)

This way there is both a hardware and a software reface of each model. I like hardware synths to have an equal software version which allows you to use it in standalone or in DAW mode. This is very effective!

The reface line has so much potential and the idea is awesome. Please do not waste this by selling them as tiny children keyboards, that's how they look like, but not what they could be.

I would love you to relaunch the whole reface line in 2018 after modifying all models to make these four all time studio classics!
They have the potential and this will definitely pay off!!!

Best regards

Javi wrote:

Dear Yamaha Corporation:

You should definitiely go for a reface PRO line! In my opinion the models should'nt been merged, the separate versions do make sense.
As mentioned before, every model should get an increase in size and some further features. Here are a few of my ideas for each model:

- full size 61 weighted keys
- a high resolution multitouch screen to control operators (such as the screen that comes with the AKAI MPC Live)
- touch strips like Native Instruments uses for accessing the pitch (I also love Korg's joystick solution which physically works great!)
- internal WiFi
- Soundmondo should be integrated into the internal system and should work via WiFi
- Soundmondo should be available as controller software for standalone and DAW mode (internal and external)

This way there is both a hardware and a software reface of each model. I like hardware synths to have an equal software version which allows you to use it in standalone or in DAW mode. This is very effective!

The reface line has so much potential and the idea is awesome. Please do not waste this by selling them as tiny children keyboards, that's how they look like, but not what they could be.

I would love you to relaunch the whole reface line in 2018 after modifying all models to make these four all time studio classics!
They have the potential and this will definitely pay off!!!

Best regards

There are valid points to be made for merging vs not merging the lines when doing a Reface Pro model. If you merge the organ/piano module, you have to make a decision on weighted vs. non-weighted keys. And I'll admit that synths aren't my thing, so I'll leave that argument to others.

Personally, I'm very into vintage combo organs and electric pianos, which is why I own a number of each and why I own the Reface CP and YC. As someone who is tired of gigging with the heavy vintage keyboards - not to mention maintenance - I'd love to simplify. Right now, doing a gig with my current Reface setup means having both the current sized Reface YC and the CP, as well as a controller, because doing a gig with the mini-keys just isn't going to work for me. This gets rather unwieldy. I'd be so much happier with one Reface Pro YCP that incorporated both.

That said, I fully recognize that maybe this doesn't work for the synth gang. I just don't know. They're not my thing.

As to the multitouch screen - again, as an organ/piano guy, I don't really feel a need for it. I don't believe that I should be able to edit deeply on a Reface YC or CP simply because they are meant to give me the sounds of the various organs and electric pianos they have on them. Those instruments were not deeply editable. In fact, on the combo organ side, the Reface YC actually gives more drawbars than most of their original YC line...mainly so as to satisfy the Hammond crowd. But again, I can see why a synth player might want these things. I just don't need them on the organ/electric piano side of things.

My other issue is that I don't want this to become super expensive. I think it'd be pretty easy to do a Reface Pro YC/CP with 61 full-size keys for a retail price of $800. The research on the sound engines is already done.

I'll say this again: If the only way of doing this was as 4 separate Reface Pros, I'd still take that, although I'd implore you to leave space up top for the original Reface line to sit.

I too would like to see a full sized cs/dx combination. If that is not in the plans, how about just a keyboardless module with all of the knobs/sliders/controlls. A racknount unit would be great. Or a desktop module would work too.

I think the merge idea is good, especially for the CP and YC. Weighted keys may or may not be best. Pianists would love it but those who are primarily organists may not.

If Yamaha made a CP-pro that had 73 weighted keys, and exchanged the toy piano for an acoustic piano it would be tough for me to say no to.
Why 73 keys? Because typically, most 88's cannot fit across a vehicle. You have to start folding seats down and losing passenger space, and add some level of hassle.
73 keys, so long as there are no speakers, or pitch and mod wheels beside the keys to negate the advantage, fit perfectly across most vehicles, and unless you are playing classical repertoire, it is unlikely you will really miss the extra keys.

As for the reface as they are, honestly I find I adapt pretty well to the small keys. If I don't play for a week or so I need a little time to readjust again is all.
I always felt they should have used keys like on the old Yamaha KX-5 remote keyboard (keytar). I still have one. The keys are standard width, but are shorter, so they could have still maintained the portability of the reface series, given a nod to their own history (I think the top keyboard of Keith Emerson's GX-1 also had these keys) and had a much more playable instrument, for those unable to adjust to narrower keys.
But of course, even with normal full sized keys, three octaves still fits within the overall width of the reface series, albeit the side panels would have to be considerably more narrow. Honestly I think even adding a couple inches to the width and depth would have been worth it for the wider acceptance they would have gained.
Sadly some people simply cannot get used to the small keys, and don't want to be bothered with a midi cable...especially when the midi cable on the reface is a bit unorthodox and seems to be hard to find for a replacement or back up.
Even more sad, a lot of people listen with their eyes, and if an instrument looks like a toy, they hear a toy.

Don't get me wrong, I love my CS (I honestly think it may be the most intuitive "analog" synth I've owned!) and have been very tempted by both the CP and the YC, but I really think they would have been better received, even if they were a bit higher priced, if they had full sized keys.
I know competitors like Korg and Roland, and others are also making miniature synths, and for many, a desktop sized keyboard is ideal, but I still think virtually everyone plays better on standard sized keys.

I know competitors like Korg and Roland, and others are also making miniature synths, and for many, a desktop sized keyboard is ideal, but I still think virtually everyone plays better on standard sized keys.

Seems we are constantly having to mention that via MIDI you can control any of the reface CP/CS/DX/YC... Simply connect a 5-pin MIDI cable from the Out on your favorite full size Key controller to the MIDI IN of the reface' MIDI break-out.

MIDI is a protocol that allows you to play one set of keys while triggering the sounds of another. If you turn LOCAL CONTROL = Off on your external keyboard, only the reface will sound. Simply place the reface so that you reach its front panel... each reface has a real time controllable front panel interface which was a compelling part of the keyboard they are recalling/recreating/reinventing.

Until you've heard reface through a full sized stereo sound system, and until you play it from a full size set of keys, you have not had the full reface experience. Our market research says that 99.9% of the target customer for reface already own a full size keyboard with a MIDI jack (they may not all know about MIDI - sounds strange to say, but we are at a time when most everything is being built to be standalone or you have to connect to a computer via USB). Mini keys can only be played by a musician who can already play... players quickly make the adjustment... if you don't play, or are not at the level where you can adjust, you'll find it troubling. That is to be expected. Recognize that some players can't play Synth action keys, whether full size or mini... they are your "Piano players"... they are comfortable playing everything on a weighted 88 (others find this just as strange) - but with reface, the idea is, you can use your favorite set of full sized Keys! MIDI-up!

If your gigging, use MIDI.
If your sunning, funning, at the park or bar-b-q, or just watching baseball or soccer on the television (when I find myself in headphones doodling around on a reface), flying NY-to-LA, anytime you're on-the-go - that's the time you appreciate the size, the headphones/speakers... and it's not a toy, as everyone who has heard one know!

Midi may be 34 years old, so many millennials may never have had the experience of interconnecting devices via a MIDI cables. If you like weighted keys, fine. If you like Synth action keys, fine. Waterfall keys, fine... MIDI allows you to pick you favorite set of keys.

You may think I'm being funny here, but only if you already know about MIDI... Trust me, many musicians today have never owned a MIDI cable, have never MIDI'd two or more devices together. See how many people say we should make a rack mount... such a request means they don't really get that it already can be used as a module, there is no advantage to putting it in a rack unit.... you can play it via MIDI- in the rack you will not be able to reach the compelling front panel controls! The size makes it already convenient to transport.

Seems we are constantly having to mention that via MIDI you can control any of the reface CP/CS/DX/YC... Simply connect a 5-pin MIDI cable from the Out on your favorite full size Key controller to the MIDI IN of the reface' MIDI break-out.

I'm sure most of us understand what you are saying. But it's not quite the same:
If you already own a 19 inch rack, a Reface does not fit in it.
If you connect your Reface to a good full size keyboard that means having 2 keyboards. A standalone Reface Pro would mean having 1 keyboard.
My Reface DX fits perfectly on top of my Yamaha P70 digital piano - I love this combination. But a combination with most full sized keyboard synths would require a special keyboard stand.
Things will be more complicated if you want to connect two Reface keyboards with a full size MIDI keyboard. The Reface series do not have a MIDI-THRU connector making midi-daisy-chaining difficult. (Unless you have a PRO midi controller or patchbay with multiple MIDI out ports.)

I can understand why people ask for a rackversion, or a full size keyboard version. I can also understand if that will not happen.

MIDI is a protocol that allows you to play one set of keys while triggering the sounds of another. If you turn LOCAL CONTROL = Off on your external keyboard, only the reface will sound. Simply place the reface so that you reach its front panel... each reface has a real time controllable front panel interface which was a compelling part of the keyboard they are recalling/recreating/reinventing.

Hey guys,
I have a Reface cp and a Yamaha PSR E453, i'm looking to. use a midi hub in order to use the psr as the master keyboard, but im not. hearing anything ive tried to turn local control off on each and still not getting anything I can control the master key board (psr) but not the reface wondering if its the keyboard or if theres some other control that needs to be adjusted not really sure whats going on

The PSR-E453 comes equipped with a USB “To Host” port which you can use to connect to a Windows or Mac computer.

PSR E453 Owner’s Manual Page 36
Connecting the [USB TO HOST] terminal of this instrument and the computer via a USB cable allows you to transmit/receive MIDI and Audio data to/from the computer.

The TO HOST port cannot be used to connect directly to the reface. In order to control the reface with an external keyboard you would need to connect to the 5-pin MIDI IN on the provided reface MIDI breakout adapter.

You can connect the PSR to your computer via USB
You can connect the reface to your computer via USB
You can route the MIDI using software (like Cubase)