Yamaha has recently identified various fake E-Commerce sites which use our brand name. Reface CS/DX/CP/YC Owner's Manual — 3.4MB Smart Device Connection Manual for iOS (iPhone/iPad Connection Manual). Decksaver Yamaha Reface. Yamaha Reface CS. Yamaha Reface YC. You can always store sounds in the iPhone/iPad apps) Considering that it was a blind purchase, I'd never tried the instrument before, I am quite happy I did buy it and can easily recommend it to you. Yamaha Reface DX.
Reface connection to DAWThe reface can be connected to your computer via USB (direct) or standard MIDI jacks, if you are using an external MIDI interface.If your computer does not recognize your reface unit right away, you may require the Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver available fromRefer to page 41 of the reface Owner's Manual for details about setting your preferences. If you plan on recording MIDI data to your DAW, for example, you may wish to turn LOCAL CONTROL = OFF, turn MIDI CONTROL = ON and turn the SPEAKER OUTPUT to Off.LOCAL CONTROL is the setting that determines whether the key presses (note-ons) and controller movements are sent to the reface tone engine directly (ON), or sent OUT via MIDI to the DAW for routing (OFF). It is typical to set Local Control OFF when working with an external sequencer.MIDI CONTROL is the setting that turns specific parameters to CONTROL CHANGE (cc) MIDI messages. These can be documented to your sequencer track as MIDI messages. This setting turns on both transmit and reception of MIDI control messages.SPEAKER OUTPUT is the setting that allows you to monitor the reface through settings determined in your software. When Speaker Output is OFF you must connect the main L/R outputs to your computer's audio interface for monitoring control.F2 Local Control = OffE2 MIDI Control = OnD2 Speakers Output = OffThe settings are made by holding down the KEY indicated and powering ON the instrument.
Repeat for each setting you wish to make. For example, hold D2 (lowest D) and power On to turn Speaker Output Off. Then hold down E2 and power On to turn MIDI Control On, and so on. Your settings will remain until you either Factory Set the instrument or you manually change them. So if this is how you plan on using the reface, it will power on ready for work next time you need it.You can power On while holding C#2 to verify the condition of your setting following the guide in the Manual. In general when you power ON holding the highest key (Factory Reset) you can return all setting to Factory default conditions.reface DXThe reface DX is the exception to the rule.
Because it has a screen and internal memory, the Local Control and MIDI Control parameters can be set from the front panel by pressing FUNCTION repeatedly to select Function screen #2 'MIDI'. Advance to screen #3 to set the Speaker Output as desired.
Using the corresponding red 'button' in the touch area, you can toggle the settings.If you are going to play the reface from an external MIDI controller, use your DAW's ability to route MIDI signal to each external device. Most DAWs will automatically channelize incoming MIDI signal so it will not be necessary to set the MIDI Transmit Channel. You will want to configure your DAW setup so that you can record MIDI data from the reface itself, (even if you are playing an external controller) - each of the front panel controls sends CC (Control Change) messages OUT via MIDI (except the main Volume and Octave Transpose).
This means 'playing' the front panel is possible - every move will be available to be recorded and played back. (See the Data List booklet for details).And if you plan on using your computer setup to record audio, you will require an Audio Interface with at least two input channels to accommodate your reface (Left/Right) main audio outputs. The audio interface is responsible for routing the audio signal to the computer, and routing the audio output of the computer to your monitor speakers.
In such a setup you will want to turn the reface's speakers OFF.The reface instruments default to OMNI MODE ON - which means they are set to RECEIVE MIDI data on any (and all) MIDI channels. If you are in a situation where you would like the reface to play on a specific MIDI RECEIVE CHANNEL, you can turn OMNI MODE to OFF with a cc message placed on the MIDI channel set to address the reface. Enter the Control Change cc124 (also referred to as a CHANNEL MODE MESSAGE) into your MIDI data to set OMNI MODE OFF. Turning OMNI MODE OFF will automatically set the reface to MIDI RECEIVE Channel 1.
If you require a different channel (other than 1) you can send a Parameter Change (System Exclusive) message (see separate article on reface Advanced MIDI Functions).
Andy Jones looks through each new product in the Yamaha Reface range, beginning with the DXLet’s start with the reface DX keyboard – an easy FM synth is what Yamaha is promising here, if such a thing is possible FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis is based on a fundamental waveform modulated by other waveforms to produce new sounds.Both types of waveform are generated by operators, the fundamental by a ‘carrier’ operator, the modulating ones by ‘modulators’. Reface DX has four operators each of which can be a carrier or modulator. There are 12 possible combinations and you can easily change each preset’s algorithm and this will usually result in something dramatic – a great starting point to your FM synthesis adventure and done using the touch strips in the centre of the unit.You get four touch strips which act as the main parameter changes for pretty much everything on DX. They will adjust up to four parameters within the FM menus to the right of the screen: Algo for the operator algorithms; Freq (four sliders adjust the frequency of each); Level (adjusts each operator level); and FB (for feedback). So the main parameters of FM synthesis can be accessed easily, but press the Edit button and you can access even more operator parameters including envelope waveforms and LFO, and adjust these with the touch strips as well.
So using these strips is also key but after reading the manual they are actually very easy to use. Tap up or down for a small increment change in value. Hold for this value to repeat. Swipe for bigger changes either up or down. The strips are used further on a global scale for adjusting System, MIDI and note playing parameters and also effects.Overviewa: Main Controls – The pitch bend, Volume and Octave Up/Down sliders do as you’d imagine with the Octave slider graduated for accuracy.b: Touch Strips – The heart of controlling DX. Read the instructions using them. They are easy, and using them will become second nature (and essential).c: FM – The main menus for editing with the touch strips include frequency, level and the 12 algorithms for the four FM operators.d: Voice Select/Edit – Select the presets from the four banks and more operator parameters, again tweakable via the touch strips.e: Looper & Effects – Plug your mini jacks in here from the SQ1 and then the jack outs into the Patch Panel.
You can also process external signals here.SoundsThink bells, think pads and think pianos. Percussive sounds? Great atmospheres. Er, I’ll come to thatBack in the 80s the DX7 really set the scene for music; if there was an electronic keyboard that shaped music making this was it. Those bell sounds were made for the Cocteau Twins and the dark, atmospheric pads were the backdrop to many a student goth night. Stepping through the 32 presets on reface DX is like stepping back to this time to a point, anyway.The electric piano types are superb, the pads are amazing too. I can’t say – and I really don’t want to sound like my dad here – that I’m that enamoured by the more up to date and in your face presets though.You find yourself lost in a wonderful pad like GlassHarp and then step to the next one up, the aptly called Chopper, only for a searing electric saw sound to rip through your speakers.
There’s a bit of drum n bass swelling here, a bit of dubstep growling there all the sounds I really don’t remember the DX being good for back in 1988.Luckily the touch strips make creating something else from these easy and quick. Anyway just a quick finish on the DX and there are a couple of other features worth noting. The Phrase Looper lets you record up to 2,000 notes or 10 minutes worth of notes. It really is incredibly easy to use, again with the touch strips, but you do lose your looped phrases on power down.Finally you also get a couple of effect banks with eight effects each to chain together, again by using the strips. These really are excellent, the Wah and Distortion options being dramatic and personal favourites and you can easily shape a sound as much, if not more, as you can by delving into the (not so many) layers of FM on offer.
These are, along with the Looper, great additional features for DX.Of the four, features wise DX has it nailed. You can save on board, do loads with the screens and program FM. I said program FM! In real time! There is therefore much to admire here, but check the end of these reface reviews for overall conclusionsYamaha Reface.