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Hey ReFace users! I wanted to get your "feedback" on an idea I had. As the current owner of a Yamaha "ReFace CS", I've often thought to myself: "How cool would it be to have a "ReFace-sized" workstation keyboard that I could bring on the road with me? You know, something really compact and lightweight ( -and conforming to the measurements, weight and three-octave "mini-key" keyboard and AC/ "AA" x 4 or 6-battery ethic of the current "ReFace" line-up ). After years of lugging around big, bulky 15-35 lb. "boat anchor" workstation keyboards I think such a keyboard would be a godsend for many touring keyboardists.
Yamaha has a great workstation history ( -with the MOTIF, Montage and MODX lines, etc. ) -so WHY not reflect this estimable workstation history in their "Reface" line-up? After all, Yamaha claims their "ReFace" line is intended to be a "re-imagining" of their past keyboards and technology. So, why not include some of "Yamaha's past workstation DNA" in a ( new ) "ReFace" workstation keyboard? Seems logical to me.
Here's my idea of what I'd like to see included in such a Yamaha "ReFace" model. I call it my "Grab & Go" Workstation Keyboard design. Click on the link below and scroll down the page to read about the features it would include. Tell me what you think! Do you think Yamaha should take my "Grab & Go" Workstation Keyboard design and turn it into a "ReFace" model? https://creativetechnerds.jimdo.com/synth-project/ https://creativetechnerds.jimdo.com/synth-project/ ). If Yamaha puts it into production -I want to get a FREE one for proposing the design!
*P.S: And for those of you who are skeptical that all of these features could be "fit" inside such a small "ReFace" footprint -remember the Yamaha QY-70 and QY-100? Those marvels of miniaturization managed to shoehorn an entire studio's worth of instrument sounds, effects processing, bass auto accompaniment, a guitar input ( -in the case of the QY-100 ) along with a multitrack sequencer -all into a paperback novel-sized case. And that was done using ( 30 ) year old ( -early 1990's technology )! What I'm proposing with the "Grab & Go" Workstation Keyboard design isn't anywhere near as small as the QY-70 and QY-100's were. So, I'm sure Yamaha is up to the challenge. Unless of course, they've lost there technical "mojo" since the 1990's!
Posted : 19/11/2021 12:48 pm
I buy non-Yamaha gear as my "laptop" / "portable" rig to accomplish a similar goal. I'd prefer a better approximation of my Montage than I can get using a small 3rd party ("dumb" ) MIDI controller plus a laptop for the tone generator used to approximate my Montage Performances.
I wouldn't use it to replace the Montage at gigs but I would use it for sound design while on the couch or on the go or just while my Montage is in its case from a gig/practice. Also to work out parts slowly. Something other than show-performance-oriented-practice/play (due to key size).
The competing force here is cannibalism (decreased sales of Montage by a mini-reface-Montage). If done, it may be a fairly expensive box to prevent someone from seeing the workstation reface + 61 key MIDI controller as a cheap alternative to a Montage 6.
Although I wouldn't mind a promotion for existing MODX/Montage users to get the non-inflated anti-cannibalism price (still allowing for profit on Yamaha's side) as a way to promote more sales up-side.
Since my usage would be primarily for sound design/programming - I see the computer as being an important extension of the interface as I do not think the editing features would be satisfactory with a reface sized device (small screen, limited buttons, etc). I have some amount of concern about this side of the proposed device given recent walk-backs of provided editor features and capabilities.
So yes, I'd love a device that fits my particular wishes in this form factor. The parts I have concerns about are not if the design can fit in that footprint. More around the resulting pricing, feature set, and software ecosystem.
Current Yamaha Synthesizers: Montage Classic 7, Motif XF6, S90XS, MO6, EX5R
Posted : 19/11/2021 1:20 pm
