Recently I was scrolling through Instagram and saw pictures of my friend’s Yamaha Reface CP. It’s a modest mini-keyboard that emulates classic Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and Clav sounds. It doesn’t attract much attention with its drab exterior, but he brings it to every songwriting session. How could such a tiny keyboard be indispensable to a professional? I bought one for $300 on Amazon to give it a try and it blew my mind. Within days it had already paid for itself – but I’d never even heard of this keyboard. Why was a mini keyboard so useful and inspiring? Let’s dive in and explore the top 5 reasons to get a mini-synth.

Price

Mini keyboards span a wide range of prices – from $250 for the Yamaha Reface DX to a whopping $2000 for a Teenage Engineering OP-1. Some, like the ASM Hydrasynth Explorer and Korg Minilogue fall into the middle of the pack for around $600-800. There’s something irresistible about getting a synth for just a few hundred dollars, especially the Reface line which are about 50% off but there’s beauty in much more than the price. Korg’s Microkorg is one of the best selling synths of all time, and it’s still being manufactured 20 years later

Portability

Most small keyboards can be battery operated and many have built in speakers, which is strangely liberating. You can maneuver from room to room with different acoustics and ergonomic setups, place it in your lap, or easily stack next to other keyboards. The smaller footprint and the mini keys inspire a different style of playing, but many have breakout MIDI cables so you can connect to larger keybeds. The lack of cables is inspiring even if the batteries won’t last for long. You can always get an external rechargeable battery. Check out Fred Again using the Reface CS live on stage:

Simplicity

Since there’s less real estate to pack in features, these limits often make for a better overall workflow with less knobs and less menu diving. The Yamaha Reface CS stores no presets (unless you connect to the mobile app), and is entirely visual with lots of sliders. Less controls will often inspire faster and more creative results – the Yamaha CP has a delay setting that allows you to essentially turn it into a looping machine, and you can tweak multiple controls at once to perform the effects, like adjusting delay depth and time simultaneously.

Approach

Smaller keyboards are more playful and feel less serious. You don’t need a keyboard stand or even cables to get ideas flowing, and you’re more likely to bring a mini-keyboard on the road. When you’re creating with a more playful mood, you’re likely to work faster and surprise yourself with different results.

Repair, replacement, and modding

Many smaller synths allow for easier DIY repairs, custom modding, and since they are largely mass produced they are more available and easier to have backups on hand