Build Analogue Sounds On Yamaha Montage (Intro to AWM2 Engine)

On this video I am showing you the subtractive "analogue" side of the Yamaha Montage courtesy of the extremely powerful AWM2 Engine. Enjoy and share if you liked it :)
Intro & Outro Music by © Dom Sigalas
Facebook: / domenicosigalasmusic
Instagam: / dom_sigalas
Official Website: domsigalas.com

[@kiko1935]

Dom this is explained in such a clear and easy to understand manner. I had no idea the montage was capable of emulating analog filters like this, it actually sounds pretty good!

[@collinreagan9473]

I’ve owned my MODX for a year and have really enjoyed it so far but your videos have really helped me dig into it more and didn’t realize quite how powerful this thing was

[@billgrabbe9992]

It was taking me a while to warm up to my MODX, but between getting it ready for an 80's gig and seeing this straight-forward workflow for getting instantly recallable analog sounds, I'm pretty excited about it. The touch screen makes such a big difference in the user experience that I'm not nearly as hot to drop money on an old school analog synth as I was. Combine that capability with the light weight (MODX, not Montage) and this instrument becomes exceptionally powerful AND practical.

[@DarrenJohnMusic]

Great video Dom! Keep 'em coming.

[@Qba474]

Man, thank you for your videos! I just got my MODX6 yesterday and you're really helping me out and inspiring me with these videos. Thank's a lot!

[@jaybeetdown]

I used to be a Korg guy, the M3 was great and I made a lot of sounds on it! But now, I have the MODX 'cause Dom has made it look so dope!

[@MFlieger2]

Thank you Dom! Yery clear and impressive explanations, it helps me a lot to create my own sounds.

[@geoffreymerrifield5666]

Phenomenal video Dom. This is one of the key reasons I got a Montage- to play some killer analog type sounds. Thanks Brother!!

[@DomSigalas]

Thanks Geoffrey! :)

[@chriskopinski1136]

I

[@rafaelhernandez5550]

After been user of Ableton live, Reason and Cubase for a long time. Now I can see how much powerful is the Yamaha Montage that is my upgrade for my studio. Thank you very much Dom I just learning the keyboard now.

[@sliezsky]

Super video Dom, thank you :)

[@MaGorSeven]

wow! that is just mind blowing...I was actually disappointed with my MODX for having only the Fm synthesis engine but this really opens a whole new world of possibilities. Very well done! I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO A VIDEO ABOUT THE MODX AS REMOTE CONTROLLER OVER CUBASE

[@Mangoplak]

Thank you so much! The Montage is a huge machine, so this tutorial really helps!

[@geoffreytchew]

Great video! Thanks!

[@take942]

Dom, I have been following along with my MODX8. Very helpful instructions, thank you.

[@shahbhavs75]

That was amazing bro,u made it so simple n easy to understand...God bless u...!!!

[@dimitribanton2732]

Great video thks a lot !! So much clearer now

[@obwanz1921]

Absolutely great video! I’ve been trying to decide on a Montage vs a Kronos, and I believe this video pushed me over to the Montage. Thanks again, and please keep the videos coming!

[@Theicon600]

Get one of each, I did you will have best of both worlds!

[@basspig]

I bought both because there are some things one or the other can do much better.

[@OriginOfSmallPoxisEgypt]

@@basspig which one do you like better?

[@basspig]

@@OriginOfSmallPoxisEgypt It depends on the application. For acoustic grand pianos, the Kronos is hands down the closest sound to the acoustic grand in my daughter's piano class. But I like the complex spacey sounds of the Montage. And the guitars and flutes are best on Montage.

[@Keyboardnut99]

Great video Dom!

[@DomSigalas]

Thanks man!

[@SriharshaaPrabhakar]

You are amazing. I just happened to find you very late on KZbin!

[@fundementalroast7002]

Very cool video. I hope a lot of people see it and hear the sound design capabilities on Montage.

[@DomSigalas]

Thanks Tone!

[@WARDISWARD]

You can do this on any Rompler ., altough there are differences . I have a ymma sampler , I can do the exact asame thing ..it's the awm2 engne . I allso have a roland integra 7 , roland romplers are great becaus ehtyehave the strucure view , you can do ring mod / booster strucures., it doesn't have 8 layers like the yamaha romplers , only 4 but you can do stereo samples per layer . Both great romplers , montage wins because of the user interface . But do not undersetimate roland romplers , they are great too ..;check out the xv 5080 ..real powerhouse .

[@tobiastersigni8960]

Thanks a lot for this video! Until now I didn't find to many videos creating AWM2 sounds from scratch. I just followed your explanations and now I have a really expressive and playable bass sound as a starting point! Really great! If you could do a vid about creating pads on the Montage this would be super interesting for me!

[@DomSigalas]

Hi Tobias, really happy to hear that that's why I make these videos :) I will try and do one for pads as soon as I can :)

[@GeorgeDimopoulos]

Greetings Dom very informative!!!! thank you

[@DomSigalas]

Cheers George :)

[@Micouniverse]

Thank you very much for your very informative video. 🙏🍀

[@cwelchgrapes]

Awesome tutorial man

[@squadronbe6140]

Still works pretty much the same as my 20 year old Yamaha CS6X. My CS6X only has 4 elements though, not eight but I can still use it like you did in this vid :)

[@rajukbd29]

great infomation dom

[@dukeprodigy]

perfect video!

[@rustyonn70]

Very nice lesson Dom. The way you explain makes it even more easier. In future, could you help out on the synth sounds of "I want to break free"

[@massimocesareAnnaloro]

Sei un grande!

[@silverqumera]

Man, Dom really knows how to explain this stuff: charisma, speed, hand movements, great sounds and music.. Also, the best part of this video is that it may apply to many other workstations! I think it is even possible say on the Korg Wavestation app :p the quality of the sounds shouldn't be this good, but still!

[@IroLidorikioti]

Keep up the good videos Dom :-)

[@DomSigalas]

Thanks you De Lido :)

[@StefanoMilanesio]

Thank you very much!!!

[@erickrincon7215]

damnn you build a cool sound Dom

[@joonglegamer9898]

These videos should be linked from Yamaha as instructions how to actually use the instrument, the manual explains nothing. Thanks so much DOM!

[@naveenwickramathunga7237]

Thank you 👍

[@Moessieurs]

Easy AWM2 by Dom, brillant video Dom, i know what i will put on Moessieurs Facebook page tomorrow ;)

[@DomSigalas]

Thanks a lot Moessieurs!

[@flightsimmer7410]

Very informative. The user manual have room for improvements👍

[@RayyMusik]

Thank you so much, Dom. You really saved my a**, for I couldn’t figure out how to create basic analog parts on my new MODX7. The manuals aren’t very helpful in this regard. However, I couldn’t find an OB Saw waveform on my machine. Is this an add-pack?

[@TritonesProductiona]

Greetings from Pakistan Awesome video really helpful

[@silverxgt1125]

I can't wait to see when you make the Pads video, also please some vocal dub step sounds. So there is not need to analog gear, just sample their waveforms, lol. I was in my local music store working on the analog engines of the Kronos, I really wanted to take a hammer to my head, it was so confusing. Montage has a more elegant interface, plus it is easier; however the physical modeling of the acoustic pianos, ep, and cx-3 organd are really cool. Just for those 3 out of the 9 engines on the Kronos, I thinking of getting it, to add to it as a second tier to my Montage 88.

[@pitons1314]

Thank you! I learned a ton. How does this technique compare to just using the 1000s of preset performances available? What is the advantage of starting from scratch vs. modifying a preset in your opinion?

[@lance134679]

Thanks from the future. 👍

[@joserfernandez9504]

Thank u . Im trying to find a shofar sound for my MODX8 so far no luck. Now i can try to make it . Thank u again God bless.

[@vampolascott36]

Very useful information Dom! I always test a new synth by seeing if I can recreate the classic Lyle Mays lead from his Pat Metheny days using pitch envelopes. It's easy with the Montage.

[@DomSigalas]

Thanks! Great test Hehehe!

[@oholm09]

I got a montage so I can created the 80s sounds

[@rocsire]

Amazing video , I have yet to do any sound design on my Montage because I don't now how until this video . Please do some evolving motion dark warm pad sounds which I fell is lacking from the presets .

[@masaizamuya4477]

Excellent tutorial ... 👏🏼👏🏼 Can you please tell me if the montage has oriental sounds...like ouds bouzoukis kanoun etc... 🙏🏽

[@MadelnMachines]

This seems like an incredibly powerful synth having watched this and your FM and sample videos. As much as I like its potential programming it really doesn't work like i expected or seem much fun. I'm not sure if you just prefer to use the touch screen and programming wheel or the encoders aren't of much use when programming. What are they used for? I kind of think that i'd be really no better off programming with this than just using kontakt or omnisphere on an surface pro 6 touch screen. I came across the Montage as I was looking for alternatives to something like the Prophet X (cheaper) but there doesn't really seem to be anything out there that fuses the hands on control of traditional analog subtractive synths with a sample engine. Any ideas?

[@timp71]

Cheers Dom, a really helpful video. Could you please do one on creating motion sequences, i've seen a few but they're not in English so are difficult to follow.

[@timp71]

Sorry just found your video on motion sequences, thank you.

[@DomSigalas]

hehehe I was about to reply kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpa5apihrbKWi6c Thanks for your kind words Tim :)

[@djjas764]

Cool. If you can do the montage sequencer video tutorials covering also the velocity, note played wrong edits etc. I mean in depth tutorial

[@WillTocaJr]

Great vid Dom. I have a Kronos 2 73 key Roli Rise 49 and a Modx6. I had a Roland FA/06 but it sounds cheap, but there's 1 sound from Roland I must have that I miss. The Searing Cosmos guitar. Can you create it on the Modx? Please and thank you.

[@xahrfbkhdad]

The weakness I find is that in typical subtractive synthesis, multiple oscillators are mixed into a single complex wave then sculpted using the filter and amp envelopes. Montage is essentially a “single oscillator synth” in this regard. In simple synthesis such as this demo, it works. But placing a saw, square and sine on three elements respectively then attempting to filter and amp envelope them together is clunky. Your options are: constantly change between the same parameters on all elements and change them by hand - tedious and monotonous, or map some of the envelope parameters to knobs. The latter suggestion “would” have been reasonable and maybe even powerful but then you discover not all the envelope parameters can be mapped to knobs. Montage likes to do this by the way - provide you “some” parameters you can map to knob and some you can’t - often the most useful ones are the ones you can’t so you keep getting checkmated trying to figure out how to accomplish something that is pretty basic in other synths (see also: just changing incoming midi channels of parts)

[@DomSigalas]

Hey man, I totally see your point there. That being said, as a sound designer I never feel "limited" by the synth engine on the Montage. You have so much control over everything that in my opinion there is always a way to get to the sound you want. I can analyse the structure of the synth engine all day and I could talk about this over coffee for ages, but in real life, this synth always gets the sound that I have in mind or the sound that my clients have in mind :)

[@snuppssynthchannel]

I get well around the AWM2 engine on my Yamaha EX5, which was Yamahas flagship in 1998, it had 5 synthesis engines, AWM2, 2 voice polyphonic Analog modeling engine based around the AN1x, Virtual Acoustic synthesis from the VL-70, sampling and the original FDSP engine. Whats so cool about the AWM2 on the EX5 is that it can be run through the FDSP, formulated digital sound processor engine. Its a mixture of a note dependant and velocity dependant effect processor that also can perform physical modeling. If you know how to program it one can achieve outlandish results With it. Its by far the Warmest sounding yamaha Workstation. It has gotten the nickname, the Blue beast because of its many features. It sadly has a shortage of polyphony on various of the engines, and also low DSP recourses, but its a great instrument on the less, and it can be aquired on the used marked quite cheaply, that being aroung 500$ or less.

[@axlemaldini618]

Snuppeluppen søppelsopp To my ears the Montage sounds too clean and without the effects does not sound Analog, however, the EX5 is still an insurmountable beast, the AN sound of the EX5 has not been exceeded with the Montage.

[@gravyguns]

You're only limited due to your sound design abilities and imagination. You seem like someone who wastes time on theorizing about an instrument rather than being an explorer of an instrument. Less theorizing and more exploring and playing.

[@deanwalliss8739]

One thing that would help is a layer of "functions" that apply change to multiple parameters in one pass then reset when you save the patch. I've synthesised some sounds on a Korg Kross 2 recently, which has a set of top-level ADSR controls. These allow you to make adjustments to multiple amplitude envelopes at once. These adjustments are relative (negatively or positively) to the currently set parameter values. Importantly, when you save the patch, the top-level ADSR values return to zero, since the changes have been directly applied to each underlying envelope. The benefit here that you don't have parameter values being hidden by a duplicate set of controls. Whilst it's the seed of a good idea, the Korg implementation has some frustrating limitations. On the Korg, the underlying envelopes are essentially 6-rate + 6-level + linear/exponential curves, whereas the "ADSR" abstraction is a simplification, which is rarely what I actually want. Further, it only applies to amplitude envelopes, not the to the filter envelopes.

[@brentmorris9463]

hey very nice video. Could youshow how to make those classic e pianos of the dx7 iifd ?

[@mattsynth]

Dom is it possible to use the left sliders to change a filter envelope on the filter page?

[@fabienpruvost5442]

Very good tutorial ! Now can you please show how to create mystic pads with this keyboard ?

[@ArturBernardoMallmann]

Interesting fact, my cs1x from 1996 has this same technology: awm2. Every aspect in therm of editing is there, but with much less intuitive editing, only seeing the values as numbers, and much less waves forms to be used as oscillator.

[@chrisc8891]

I rebuild your performance and afterwards I compared some performances made with Yamaha Montage and the Moog model D app. I really think the lead and basses performances on the Montage sound better (Phat Analog library 1 installed too). The Montage can replace an analog synths quite good :)

[@Jauly]

This is a great tutorial. But how can I add another oscillator sample without making a whole new element, so that 2 or more waveforms go classic analog styled through the same filter? Coping an element is not the exact same thing, as it doubles everything and makes the sounds running parallel. Also you have to edit every single element if you just want to change a parameter, for example, the filter envelope setting.

[@GavinMcCloy]

I have a question Dom, I noticed the AWM2 oscillators look very much like those listed on my Yamaha MOXF, are they exactly the same? or are there extra oscillators in there? I'm just disappointed that they are all totally the same as the MOXF by the looks of it when Yamaha do this they are in fact just recycling all the exact sample based synth. even before the MOXF was released for example the Mo synths also, they are all more or less the same elements/oscillators?just seems they are copying and pasting these into new synths. what's your thoughts on this? YES they are giving the extra FM capabilities so this is all that's been added onto the montage? also are the effects the same?

[@steviekiu4533]

Ho Dom - Thanks for providing these awesome tutorials. As a new owner of a Montage 6, this helped me justify spending the money on it. That being said, I was wondering if you have any advice on how to re-create the sound at the beginning of Fox on the Run by Sweet. I figure if they were able to do it in 1974 (ish), we should certainly be able to do it easier now. Thanks in advance - Stevie

[@KosmicKitchen]

Thanks Dom, this was useful. I remember from the Motif series that there was also a 'common LFO' with a customisable, step curve. Could you show how it can be applied?

[@DomSigalas]

There is a common LFO on the montage! It’s in the common on the edit page :)

[@gmm1904]

Thanks for sharing. What’s best way to sample a piano sound i like in a wave form and have it play correctly on montage? The length of the recording ?

[@midisynthminds]

Drooling.

[@mickandrews9458]

Very informative thanks. So to say the kronos has many more engines than the montage and hence must be better is not entirely accurate, given the AWM can be used as a trad synth. Would you agree? Is there any way to do something akin to pulse width modulation on the montage? Also does it have a ring modulator or would this be achieved in fm? Last question - is each osc you add using another note of the 128 poly notes? Thanks again.

[@ChordFreak]

Again and again I am excited how you are explaining. A galaxy better than Yamaha. Btw. I want to construct the main sound of Alan Walker's Faded; with this exciting raise (cutoff?decay?). If someone has tips...?

[@MatthewWilkinson]

Can you do an updated video showing how to use the extended lfo

[@GangiFilms]

thats it.... im pawning some equipment to get this thang.

[@PakBudiTarigan]

Does montage/ modx have pulse wave sounds? Thank you

[@88omarz]

would love to know how to do pads with puano like hillsong sounds

[@nique1428]

Hello. Can you make a tutorial on different pad synth as well as brass.

[@RonaldRademaker]

Question with the new update is it possible to a usb mic?

[@rayansadipiano]

Could you please make a tutorial on creating a paf sound with AWM2 engine?

[@rainbowgames1]

Would the Montage have any presets of early 70s synth sounds? Also, would it have Mellotron sounds?

[@csabacsernik]

Wold you be so kind to tell me if I conect the dinamyc mic to the modx +,can I sing and record on the stick and do I have pitch correction possibillity?

[@YotamPiano]

Hey yo Awesome sound!! digital really overpowers analog in flexibility... but what I didn't get is what does random pan do? is it like a random variable of pan amount between a certain range like cubase modifiers? or?

[@DomSigalas]

Hey Yotam, yes exactly! It randomises the parameter for a more unpredictable "analogue" like behaviour in my book

[@YotamPiano]

Thanks for the reply bro

[@liviou2004]

Thank you Dom ! In order to create simple analog synth sounds, I was looking for *Square and/or Pulse* waveforms into the waveforms data list but didn't find any of them. I've found Sine, Tri, Saw but not the others. It's quite weird in such a synth. Do you know where I can find them ? Thank you very much.

[@neurokinetik64ES]

Under synth leads, P50-1 and P50-2 are square waves (the abbreviation means pulse 50% duty cycle). All of the pulse waveforms start with "P". They could have done a better job with the names on these, as the abbreviations are not necessarily clear to everyone.

[@liviou2004]

Thank you for that.

[@geoffreymerrifield5666]

Would love to learn how to make some Moog sounds, like the Soundtrack from the movie Sorcerer by Tangerine Dream.

[@DomSigalas]

Duly noted ;)

[@rayansadipiano]

Was that tutorial been made later?

[@tommy2nes]

Hi! Does it have unison for stacking oscilators to get a kind of supersaw style sound?

[@DomSigalas]

You can do this in multiple ways, it has multisaw waves inside but it also has 8 oscillators per part (x16parts) so creating these kind of sounds is super easy. But it doesn't have a _dedicated _ unison mode :)__

[@PieruzekRoman]

Can we buy some samples like this somethere ?

[@Jonatandacruz]

How do you add velocity sensitive to sound?

[@sentokan]

Is it possible to filter all the 8 elements at the same time through one filter?

[@clayton_jansen]

Hey Dom, is it possible to use/import single cycle waveforms?

[@DomSigalas]

You can import any sample you want as long as it's 44.1/16bit wav files

[@moisesuribe2057]

Hello, how are you? I am Moises, and I am writing to know if you can help me with some things that I would like to know about the Yamaha Montage. I want to put some rhythms of merengue, salsa and others inside the Montage but I also want to be able to vary the speed of those rhythms. I guess I can enter them in midi format, but I want you to give me more explanation if you have knowledge of that.

[@rodrigolaporte274]

...and all of this is also available on the MODX, right?...... damn that's so good

[@DomSigalas]

Yup, exactly :)

[@Esperluet]

@@DomSigalas Read this :)

[@WARDISWARD]

All of this has been available in every yamaha awm2 rompler It's their proprietary sample synthesis engine since the late eighties /early ninteties > Sure , you get better effects now , now the principle stays the same > Same for ROland and their pcm engines , people really don't know or underestimate the power that a rompler can give you once you dive into them

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

@@lucartl Yes! It works exactly the same!

[@alex_masiuk]

@@DomSigalas I have modx and do all you show, but i have no legato effect, when play. But you have. How? Please. Or is it cutoff/vel effect, maybe? Nevertheless, do you know how to make legato on mono synth on montage/modx? Thank you.

[@oc10121989]

thats all i wanted to know about this synth

[@rayansadipiano]

can this be done on motif??as motif also got the same engine

[@DomSigalas]

The AWM2 engine on the Montage is more advanced but you can definitely do quite a bit of the sound design on a Motif yes!

[@U.M.A-Housemusic]

Can you do this on the new modx?

[@DomSigalas]

You sure can Udo :)

[@jaybeetdown]

Can you do the synth bass from Michael Jackson's "black or white" plse?

[@Jvaldes609]

Deep,

[@liviou2004]

Hope Yamaha will add à real VA engine in the Montage. Because some basic analog synth functions like Pulse Width Modulation or Hard Sync, for example, are missing.

[@onionhat9141]

Making any sound on this thing is possible. Weather it being from a cs-80 or it being a Jupiter 8 it’s possible.

[@brianpeterson7490]

As usual, a very helpful and high quality video. I definitely look forward to more. In terms of topics, I would be interested in seeing you do a video on "sonic crossfades" (mentioned briefly in a blog on Velocity Sensitivity from YamahaSynth-Learn here: www.yamahasynth.com/resources/montage-understanding-velocity-sensitivity).

[@DomSigalas]

Hi Brian, thanks a lot! The link doesn't work unfortunately, do you mean layering sounds using velocity zones?

[@brianpeterson7490]

Yes, that is what I meant. Sorry about that broken link; a parenthesis got caught at the end of the link. This should now work: www.yamahasynth.com/resources/montage-understanding-velocity-sensitivity

[@obisraelngawani1373]

What does it mean AWM2, FX and FM ?

[@adamo-7]

AWM = advanced wave memory, FX = effects, FM = frequency modulation.

[@ELEKTROGOWK]

I would work like a sidewinder, search and destroy |:)

[@turtlefeet7722]

How to save your work?

[@Esperluet]

15:05 MODX ?

[@vala5727]

Ok

[@frankr7239]

Should of put in the genos as well

[@axlemaldini618]

Hello Dom, you have made a tutorial with steps and sound waves that apply to any synthesizer or from any VST that supports multiple waves/layers/elements like Omnisphere, Tone2 Electra2, Zebra2, etc and I can get better Moog basses than the samples from the Montage, because with your finger and navigating on a 7-inch screen it is impossible to schedule anything brother. I can do it for 15 minutes but then the Montage runs the risk of flying out the window of the living room. I think it has been a good tutorial and it applies to the creation of bass Moog using any other synth capable, but tell me, what is innovative about this synth? What does this synth really do that others can not do? to justify an investment above 1200 dollars? to my ears it sounds like the Yamaha EX5 with an improved interface. Cheers..

[@Theicon600]

I pressed “like” at 0:01...

[@kyma1999x]

awm2 is so primitive, all kurzweil synthesizers like pc3 or forte have 32 elements per patch and every element (in kurzweil jargon layers) can play one ore two samples and up to four stages of dsp processing including oscillators (so one layer can play up to four oscillator) and shapers, resonant filters and many more....and every elements has also 2 lfo, three complex envelope generators, two asr eg and FUNs (math functions). Even roland engine is more powerful than awm2 because it allows to have ring modulation and cross mod between two samples... Montage is interesting only for fmx engine, awm2 is nice when combined with motion control but it is essentially the same as sy85 only with more oscillators.

[@DomSigalas]

Hey man, I know by now you love the PC3 :) I think what you're missing over there is one very important but also very subjective thing: The quality of the waveforms. We can talk all day about ring modulation and all other synth capabilities. What I will never be convinced is the actual sound. It is just ages away from the Montage (hell, even the Motif) to my ears. I don't even want to compare the PC3 with the Montage as the latter is brand new and the Motion Control Synthesis has tricks up its sleeve that no synth can touch (in realtime). I am also blesed to have access to a large pool of synths due to my job. For me number one factor is the sound and not the technical specs necessarily. The best synth is the one that inspires you to create the sound you have in your head. :)

[@snuppssynthchannel]

AWM2 have always been great, but i agree that V.A.S.T absolutely kills AWM2, The modularity and huge amount of different DSP functions of the engine or (should one rather Call it system) makes it a monstrousity. AWM2 as a standalone synthesis engine can simply not compete With that. It shure sounds Nice, though and thats why i love the Montage because it has a super powerful FM tone generator on Board as well, and its architecture is really good! Its in fact the synth i want the most to own but sadly cant afford! :, (