Arturia MiniFreak vs Yamaha Reface CS
| Arturia MiniFreak | Yamaha Reface CS | |
|---|---|---|
| Key action | 37-note velocity-sensitive Slim-key keybed with aftertouch | HQ mini (High-Quality mini) keyboard, initial touch |
| Polyphony | 6 | 8 |
| Sounds / presets | 420 | — |
| Sequencer | 64-step sequencer (4 pages of 16) | — |
| Sound engine | 2 engines | AN (Analog Physical Modeling) synthesizer with 5 oscillator types |
| Effects | 3 FX slots | Distortion, VCM Chorus/Flanger, VCM Phaser, Delay; built-in Phrase Looper |
| Speakers | None (line out only) | 4 W |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| USB audio | Yes | No |
| Pads / faders | — | no |
| Weight | 2.94 kg | 1.9 kg |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | — | [530, 60, 175] mm |
| Battery power | — | yes (6 x AA batteries, approx. 5 hours) |
| Released | 2022 | 2015 |
| Status | current | legacy |
| Keys | 37 | 37 |
Which one should you buy?
- Choose the Arturia MiniFreak if budget is the priority — it is about $150 cheaper (approx.).
- Choose the Yamaha Reface CS if lighter to carry to gigs and lessons (2.94 kg vs 1.9 kg).
- Choose the Yamaha Reface CS if you layer sounds or use the sustain pedal heavily (6 vs 8).
- Choose the Yamaha Reface CS if you practise out loud without an amp (None (line out only) vs 4 W).
Full spec sheets: Arturia MiniFreak · Yamaha Reface CS. Rows with a highlighted background differ.