Yamaha Reface

Yamaha Reface CS | Reviews
87
likely want to line up a few patches/
setlists, you’ll need to connect the CS
to an iPhone or iPad.
From left to right, there’s a pitch
stick (+/- 1 octave) which feels great
and is still controllable for smaller
bends. It’s also easy to add modulation
wobble with as it’s nicely sensitive but
unfortunately there’s no mod stick –
the workaround is to use the LFO’s
depth slider to bring in pitch or fi lter
mod. Next up is the master volume,
then an octave slider and the looper
mode slider.
Following on, there’s a global tempo
control that sets the looper tempo
internally (or externally via MIDI/USB)
and a MIDI-syncable LFO which goes
into audio rates for ring mod-like/crazy
textures. The LFO can be sent to four
destinations with variable depth but to
speed up workfl ow, each oscillator type
also has its own preset LFO mod
function which includes PWM on the
pulse/square wave and Osc 2 pitch on
the sync wave. Further LFO
destinations include oscillator pitch,
plus the fi lter and amp. Only one
destination can be selected at a time
but further wide-ranging modulation
can be added with the ‘texture’ and
‘mod’ sliders which are integral to the
CS’s versatility. Next up is a mono/poly
mode slider (eight-note polyphony max)
which also controls the portamento
amount in mono mode.
On fi rst glance the CS appears to
have just one oscillator but this isn’t
the case as it depends on the osc type
selected – the system is powerful/
fl exible/intuitive, providing sounds
beyond your initial expectations.
Multi-saw (like Roland’s Supersaw)
gives the option of one or several
detuned saws via the mod slider (with a
sub oscillator via the texture slider).
Pulse is a dual pulse/square wave
oscillator with ‘texture’ changing the
pitch of the second wave and ‘mod’
changing the pulse width, while Osc
Sync provides classic sync tones with
Osc 2 synchronised to Osc 1. Ring Mod
is great for random effects/metallic
noises and the FM mode effortlessly
enables DX-esque tones without the
usual FM programming headaches!
Notably, the sound quality throughout
is truly excellent and the CS is
thoroughly versatile, with a sound
that can run from warm and very
analogue-like, through to nasty, digital,
delicate and bright within just a few
minor slider tweaks.
Characterful fi lter
No synth is complete without a decent
fi lter and the CS’s self-oscillating
18dB-type is also versatile, providing
enough guts for subby or defi ned
basses but also enough aggression for
upfront sounds. The CS easily delivers
TB-303-style basses, classic CS-type
brass sounds, string ensembles,
evolving pads and cutting leads and
there’s a vocal-like quality to the
resonance too. Also, as the resonance/
fi lter is so characterful, it’s great for
making crazy effects and interesting
drum/percussion sounds, particularly in
combination with
the LFO and the
great onboard
effects. To top
things off, there’s
a snappy ADSR
which is shared
between the fi lter
and amp and,
although separate envelopes for fi lter/
amp would have been more desirable,
the implementation works well in
practice with some cool effects possible
using the EG blend slider. Above all, it
sounds great and very Yamaha!
The Reface CS, while looking
simple, is actually way greater than the
sum of its parts. It’s addictive and
inspiring to use and, despite some
shortcomings, has really whet my
appetite for the (hopefully) inevitable
bigger things that Yamaha has planned.
To sum up – a delicious starter, bring
on the main course!
Sound quality is excellent and the
CS is very versatile – it’s way more
powerful than you’d initially assume!
VERDICT
BUILD
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VALUE
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EASE OF USE
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VERSATILITY
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RESULTS
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A unique sounding synth that is
way more powerful than you think,
plus a great size to take anywhere.
SPECS
37 mini-keys
128-note polyphony
Engine: AN (modelling)
2 x 2 Watt speakers
Battery life approx 5 hours
(6 x AAs)
MIDI in/out via USB and
breakout cable
5 OSC types
Effects: Distortion, VCM
Chorus/Flanger, VCM
Phaser, Delay
Real-time Phrase Looper
(with MIDI Sync)
LFO with 4 destinations
(with MIDI Sync)
I/Os: Aux Input,
Headphones, L/R jacks
Dimensions:
530 x 175 x 60mm
Weight:
1.9kg
ALTERNATIVES
Arturia MicroBrute
£216
Powerful yet compact synth.
25 keys, analogue sound
engine with Steiner-Parker
multimode fi lter, CV ins/
outs and sequencer, plus
the ‘Brute Factor’, Metalizer
and Ultrasaw. Big bang,
small bucks!
www.arturia.com
Korg ARP Odyssey
£728
Like the Reface CS, Korg’s
new compact Odyssey has a
three-octave smaller
keyboard, a slider-per-
function ethos and no
preset memory. A modern
vintage classic.
www.arpsynth.com
Korg MicroKorg XL+
£299
It’s due for replacement but
the XL+ still has a lot to
offer including VA and
digital waves, effects and
vocoder. A solid all-rounder.
www.korg.com
but further wide-ranging modulation
thoroughly versatile, with a sound
that can run from warm and very
inspiring to use and, despite some
shortcomings, has really whet my
appetite for the (hopefully) inevitable
bigger things that Yamaha has planned.
To sum up – a delicious starter, bring
on the main course!
on the main course!
BUILD
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VALUE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
A unique sounding synth that is
way more powerful than you think,
plus a great size to take anywhere.
FMU298.rev_reface_cs.indd 87 07/10/2015 09:28