Yamaha reface YC

A new mobile instrument generation
It started as a sketch of a young Yamaha design team: Under the concept name “reimagined interfaces of classic Yamaha keyboards” the group presented a series of four compact instruments, in which every single one celebrates the personality of a legendary Yamaha instrument – but with a character of its own reimagined for today’s ‘on-the-go life style’. The concept also integrates a web-based sound exchange between musicians and allows a cooperative sound design. With the introduction of reface, this vision becomes reality.

Inspiration guaranteed
At home, in a studio, in a park or on a train – the compact design and the powerful integrated stereo speakers allow inspiration in seconds – without any equipment to set up. Creativity can be realised anywhere: Thanks to the battery power, all reface Mobile Mini Keyboards are ready at any time – even when there is no power socket nearby. The setup is done in seconds, even the connection to notebook, iPhone or iPad for the recording and saving of sounds.

It’s (not) a toy!
All four reface models are presenting themselves as a creative toy for sound design. But despite their compact design, they are professional instruments that are inviting to play. All models feature Yamaha’s brand new ‘HQ’ Mini-Action keyboard with 37 keys (3 octaves). The user interfaces were designed separately for each instrument introducing features such as drawbars for the reface YC organ and the capacitive Multi-Touch surface on the reface DX.

reface YC: Electric Combo Organ
Rich, punchy sounds are its area of expertise: The reface YC offers additive synthesis paired with a unique power of expression using nine drawbars and virtual rotary speakers. The instrument combines five different models of organs, the sound is created using a special “Organ Flutes Tone Generator”. In addition to the possibility to carry around five organs in a single piece of hardware without breaking your back, the reface YC delivers the authentic spirit of playing an organ using the smallest user interface possible.

Discover and share sounds online
All four reface models offer a rich potential for creative sound design – and the opportunity to get in touch with the whole world: With Soundmondo, Yamaha created an online hub connecting the reface community all over the globe. Soundmondo offers creative possibilities to create, share and discover sounds. The connection is established intuitively using a special Web MIDI technology for Google Chrome. As soon as a reface model is plugged in, it offers the possibility of direct synchronisation. Voices and set lists can be stored in a private area as well as shared with the community.

reface iOS App for iPhone and iPad
Quick and easy storage as well as management of sounds with iPhone and iPad: The free reface iOS app for Apple mobile devices makes data transfer extremely simple. A name, a picture and multiple tags can be applied to stored voices; they can be sorted in different ways as well. Search functionality is also included. Using a set list, voices can be arranged in a specific order and recalled one after the other. Another impressive feature is the possibility to exchange voices using QR codes: A distinctive code can be generated from any stored voice and can then be shared using the different options available with iOS. It can for example be sent via email or read using the camera of another iPad to import it into the app.

Combo Organ Sound Engine with five vintage organ Waves
The five organ Waves are:

• H, American tonewheel organ
• V, British transistor organ
• F, Italian transistor organ
• A, Japanese transistor organ
• Y, Yamaha YC-45D

Organ Control
All the controls needed to play organ: Drawbars, Percussion, Vibrato and Rotary Speaker speed control with four values: fast, slow, stop and off.

Organ effects
Add character with two retro organ effects: Distortion and Reverb

128-note polyphony
Ensures dropout-free performance

Keyboard
Based on the FS action found on the flagship Motif XF, HQ (High Quality) Mini Keys provide premium feel and response for fast, accurate and natural playing.

Speakers
2W 3cm stereo speaker system lets you play any place, any time
Specially designed bass reflex port technology enhances bass response for full, rich sound

Battery powered
Uses six "AA" batteries with five hours of life

USB
USB "TO HOST" allows MIDI connectivity to your USB-equipped computer or iOS device

Audio output
Dual 1/4"unbalanced line outputs provide connection to mixers, audio interfaces, DI boxes and more

Audio input
A 3.5mm aux line input lets you connect and hear mobile devices, tablets and more through the instrument