Montage M Q&A

I have seen quite a few questions being asked over and over again about the new Montage M series keyboards, so I created this video to answer them.
Montage M6: amzn.to/3RTKaZt
Montage M7: amzn.to/46tAwkI
Montage M8x: amzn.to/3ZSOj1w
My keyboard Z stand: amzn.to/3Ix5xuF
Z stand extra tier: amzn.to/3XtVpa6
My keyboard A frames: amzn.to/3YwAPav
My silver keyboard covers: amzn.to/40VySFx
My black keyboard covers: amzn.to/3Gt5oXz
0:00 Intro
0:31 Same Processor?
1:46 Same Screen?
2:02 User Libraries
2:38 Polyphonic Aftertouch over MIDI?
3:38 Why only 128 polyphony each for user/factory presets?
10:27 Weight!
11:03 M6x and M7x coming?
12:10 Sequencer?
13:58 Recording Audio to USB
14:22 MIDI Changes
#Yamaha #Montage #ANX

[@runestone1337]

Thanks for the technical break down, in particular the new MIDI handling!

[@Sagittarius-88]

This is without a doubt the most detailed and informed review of this keyboard I've seen. Answered pretty much all my questions. Great video. This dude clearly knows what he's talking about.

[@JJMedusa]

-- Congratulations on 16,000 subscribers! Very impressive! 😊👍🎹

[@winddealer1]

Another great session, thank you. Can always count on your content to be genuine, accurate, on-point, without all the overproduced non-sense. Thankfully you, your channel content, production value and format need not resort to elaborate video cameras/lenses, cheezy LED lighting, teal/orange luts, poor audio mixes and other video gimics to compensate for a lack of quality content. It is refreshing to not have to anticipate a need to re-adjust volumes, fast forward through needless production "fluff" and distracting backgrounds; just sit back relax and enjoy Scotts Synth Stuff. Really enjoy the competitive product "context" comparing the features and capabilties of each of the boards you own. Again great value.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Thank you for your very kind words!

[@MM-do5yx]

I got my M8x today. It really is amazing. The new layout and gui is terrific for editing and feels almost like a knob per function synth. It sounds amazing as well. The keybed is super light and works great with the poly aftertouch. It is soo nice for both synth or piano playing. Best keybed I have ever felt on a keyboard. Yamaha knocked it out of the park.

[@unclejerrysworld]

I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of my Roland RD2000 and replacing it with this...... It just seems to pack so much more power!!!

[@beetleworx]

I have to say you nailed it ... the sequencer was and still is incredibly capable. And just IMHO it is the first one that suits me since decades !!! Hope they don't change it to much on future models ...

[@BlueJavaTN]

You're the man Scott - thanks for answering my question of polyphonic aftertouch over midi! I bought the Hydrasynth on your recommendation last Spring and love it. Still on the fence as I wonder if an M6/7x polyphonic aftertouch version would come in the future. Even the NI Komplete Kontrol has it now.

[@Digiphex]

I think that is to push you to buy the 8, a marketing tool they use on you. Of course they could put poly aftertouch on the 6 and 7 and we see it on other affordable products right now.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

The winner....Montage M VST with MIDI controller that offers polyphonic aftertouch. Preferably in a 61 key or 76 key format without heavy piano action keys. Or other keyboard such as the Hydra Synth and enjoy both technologies, probably still for a lower price. I'd love to have a long ribbon controller too for use with a CS-80 VST. This solution would be way cheaper, way lighter and more portable and offer some other benefits too such as...near unlimited user space storage kind of the way Roland's VST equivalent of the Fantom does. This would also be great for trying out sound collections without filling up memory in the keyboard just to try it out.

[@doralfasi90]

Beside you explain extremely properly, i think you are great electronics teacher! thanks scot

[@kybrdguy]

Excellent video, Scott! Thank you for explaining.

[@lawrencelougheed]

Thanks Scott. So interesting and well explained. You rock! 🙂

[@freespirit37]

I like the left side screen with the controllers and all. Feels like its more easer to access assignations.

[@mrdali67]

Thanx for the explanation of the internal structure Scott. Makes more sense now why it works like it does. Btw I saw that because of each part now have 128 elements the problem with eg the CFX Concert Grand patch was using 4 parts on the old Montage, it just uses 1 part on the M models cause there is so many more elements in each part. It also suddenly makes sense why there is so much difference in the CFX Grand sample sound from the Genos/SX900 and the Montage, as those instruments clearly have much less elements per sound sample as the Montage. I Just hope that Yamaha at some point will create some better computer software for their Keyboards. Like the fact that the Expansion pack Manager used for the arrangers and Clavinova's havent bee updated for over a decade since they introduced it for the first Tyros models. And I can understand that it's kinda the same situation with the Montage, when you needed to combine the user expansion packs. I hope that Yamaha will update their Sample Robot version for the new Montage. It's more or less a needed piece of software if you are serious about creating your own samples on he Korg Kronos because of the archaic buildin sample section that more or less is a remnant of old 90's hardware samplers It's ok that they don't have the software for actually creating the multisample settings on the keyboard, but then they could at least create some decent software that just in some way equals how you work with samples in programs like Kontakt. I'm not perfectly clear on how much you can do today with usersamples for the Montage, but the interface in the Expansion Manager for the arrangers is very limited. It CAN import a SF2 file but only with very limited support for multy layered samples and the EG and LFO settings in it is also very basic. There is 3'rd party sample packs available, but would like to know if it's possible for third party to actually make Sart2 samples for either the Genos or the Montage as I have not seen many 3'rd party sample packs since the Motif era where there were quite many sounds available for purchase from Yamaha.

[@Digiphex]

If I was in charge of the project this would have a full ribbon like the CS-80 and would model the CS-80, and it would have the RM1x groocebox on the front integrated in and would attempt to blow the Fantom out of the water. Really this is what Roland have done, integrated the 16 step drum machines and groocebox right into the Fantom along with all their best sound libraries.

[@felipepaez2556]

Great video, man. Regarding the AWM2 polyphony split arrangement, the Triton Studio and Extreme had the same issue 20 years ago, even the TG500 back in 1993 had 2 separate note pools. So I don't think its a big issue...

[@stefanhoffmann2748]

Thanks for your ongoing good topic`s Scott. I wonder if you have some info about 2 more things I would be interrested in: Is it possible to connect an external Monitor (or even a TouchScreen) to the Montage M to overcome the tiny display? My second question: I know that sounds of the old Montage can be loaded into Montage M - but does the Montage M also include the original Montage sounds (like with the Motif XF-Sounds in the old Montage at release)? Do you plan an upgrade to Montage M and if so - which model would you choose if you go for an upgrade?

[@sonic2000gr]

The old Montage has a TI Sitara processor, I believe AM3352. It is ARM based and has integrated Ethernet as well, which remained unused in the Montage. The new one, having a fan, is definitely a lot faster. I still expect something from the same family for compatibility reasons and simplification of board design. Eventually someone will open it up and we'll see.

[@heianorgetralala]

If you want to play styles from Genos or Ketron Event on your left hand, and sounds from Montage M8x with your right hand live - how do you connect and setup the 2 keyboards together? And can you choose which one you want to play on?

[@dionewillmann8723]

The update from Montage to M was interesting, it opened up space for film producers to be able to produce their soundtracks, even for producers of games and other content. It also favored syntheticists with ANX. For those who are pianists, they received a German piano in addition to more sophisticated keys on the M8X. It's a keyboard that has everything for everyone, a true machine. Regarding PAT, I don't know if this is a hardware issue in the key mechanisms or a software issue in the M6X/7X. If it is software, there must be a paid update for the PAT, as they did with the Korg Nautilus. 

[@JoseVGavila]

PAT requieres a completely different keybed from the (IMO wonderful) FSX action on M6 and M7. So I guess in the future they will release a M6x and a M7x, but they would have different keybeds. That is one of the reasons I will probably wait for the M7x to happen

[@dionewillmann8723]

@@JoseVGavila Interesting, I didn't know that. Therefore, it would require a physical update of the equipment and not a software update. So, Montage 3 will probably come with these updates on the keys that didn't come on the M6 ​​and M7. However, as the presenter said, the M6 ​​and M7 allow PAT functions to be controlled by an external controller, if that controller has a PAT function.

[@craigkeys]

Hey Scott, thanks for this, very helpful! Sorry if I’ve missed it but do you know why Yamaha only allow the first 8 parts from the keyboard control? I presume if you set all 16 channels to the same midi channel with keyboard control off on all parts, then it will play all 16 parts? If so I don’t understand why we can’t do that from the keyboard itself? (I used to own a Montage and that’s how I remember it anyway, maybe I didn’t use it properly!)

[@666JGNotts]

Great information. Many thanks

[@neol07707]

Thanks for the info Scott. I really wish the Montage M demos would do more to showcase the songwriting/composing capabilities from the sequencer as that is something I am very interested in. Doing that also shows all the sounds working together better more than just the individual sounds that they have demoed so far.

[@Jason75913]

Good luck, Yamaha isn't going back to traditional workstation keyboards, the sequencers they stick in their products will be junk. Best just use a computer or MPC One.

[@nicholasdorazio10]

I efing Love this paired with my Hydra synth deluxe!!

[@akhileshhiremath5976]

please do the comparison video for montage v/s montage M ?

[@ajotech]

Great video Scott! Do you think Yamaha will do some type of download of the AN-X engine for MODX+ owners?

[@ct6929]

I’ve had the m8x for a day and first impressions…I’m blown away. The new keybed is quite good and competes well vs my Fantom 8 and is far superior to the Stage 4. I’m really liking the sound quality vs my Fantom. This is my first montage and the menu system is very confusing but I’m sure I’ll figure things out over time.

[@akibe7608]

So, you're saying you think the new Montage sounds better than the Fantom overall?

[@ct6929]

It’s too early to say as I just got it. The strength of the Fantom is more in its synth sounds. The Yamaha imho is far better with its natural sampled sounds, but so far the synth presets I’ve heard are very good and hold up well vs Fantom. There are really interesting quirks I’m learning with the montage. It works so differently from Fantom. A huge difference is how the tones are handled. In Fantom a preset/tone takes up only 1 of your 16 slots in all cases. In the montage a tone can take up several slots and are more like scenes in Fantom. It’s a very different approach and it seems the Fantom would be far easier to manage multitracking vs montage. Also Fantom can do wavetables and that’s just not something the montage can do yet.

[@danielcolfer4671]

The fantom sounds Terribly thin. Synth sounds are ok but everything else is horrible. No comparison to the sound quality of the montage m.

[@lonniechance5498]

Thanks Man! Curious about the sequencer? Is it like the older Motif where you create patterns, chain , and covert to song? And does it have step mode ? Again thanks 🎉

[@MarianoPerez]

It looks like a super cool board, but I think these workstations are too expensive new. I have a motif xs, Fantom 8, and Korg Kronos x88. I purchased all of them for about helf the new price in mint condition. I don't see the benefit of Montage 88 version enough to pay the $4500. The Motif xs yamaha sounds still hold up quite nicely compared to the Montage. I might consider the Montage 88 version if it were in the $3500 to $3800 realm, but the opportunity cost of buyhing a Montage 88 is too high. It all comes down to preferences though, so I get it. Again, very cool keyboard. I really enjoy your content, keep posting. :)

[@UFO-Ark]

Great content.. thanks. If the MODX is a reduced Montage, will there be a MODX+m ??

[@dude65535]

Hi. Do you know if SSS has changed? It was on Yamaha’s ideascale to allow A-B-A-C-A switching so A sounds continuously (e.g.a pad or drone) and B & C (e.g. leads) do not. Thanks especially for the interesting explanations on MIDI and chips. (I guess they didn’t implement MIDI2.)

[@guidofranz8493]

Thank you for your insight! I have several questions. Maybe someone can give a quick yes|no reply 🙂 1. Do we get a Sample Robot license with a Montage M purchase? 2. When using the Montage as an audio interface, is it possible to use another synthesizer plugged into the external input jacks? Or to put it this way: Can the external input be routed to USB audio? 3. When using the Montage as an audio interface, is it possible to use an external effects unit plugged into the external input and secondary output jacks?

[@niellseen]

I would love to see a video about montage m connected to iPad Pro and the possibilities it opens up , I am working on Logic Pro for iPad now , I have the desktop version too , but I am about to change to iOS only and it works fantastic with CP stage Piano es , Yamaha has very good and stable class compliant audio midi interfaces on their keyboards 😊

[@artie218]

I’ve heard more than once about the main pianos lacking in the mid registers , so at the top and bottom sounding great , but hollow and thin to the point some were saying they can’t believe there isn’t a bigger response about it.. Maybe you may come across what they are talking about and maybe there’s an easy fix on velocity or eq but I thought I would mention it and get your thoughts when you get a chance

[@ghasmiller]

Did Yamaha really miss to take care of MIDI 2.0 ( old USB 2.0 ports no USB-C )

[@LaurenioMoniz-if3kp]

Montage m7 4 days now no sleep!!!! this thing is amazing

[@Jason75913]

Please sleep for your own sake each night, friend.

[@markusfuller]

Thanks Scott.

[@jno8039]

The good news I will save more this year and the next one 🤣 I don't see anything here appeal to move from a Montage 7 top a M7. AN-X looks way too classic. Nice to have it, but not enough. No poly AFT FM-X out off the road Still the outdated pattern sequencer without any piano roll and editing.

[@nonchai]

Thanks for the heads up - was surprised you say the ROLAND FANTOM uses serial SSD whereas Yamaha uses NOR parallel addressable ROM ( thus Yamaha turns on much faster than FANTOM? ) was surprised- I thought only KORG used (huge) serial SSDs and use disk streaming .... although KRONOS etc apparently take aeon to start up so maybe KORG aren't using disk streaming for their pianos etc... need to check...

[@xp50player]

What about the advertised audio recording? Are there addition effects systems for that? Is the separate user polyphony only for patches involving user samples, or can you just save some presets to the user bank to gain polyphony?

[@Jason75913]

That bit is confusing to me as well. May they threw in separate tone generators for each the factory banks and the user bank?

[@xgf122]

When comes to CPUs yes they are ARM as in phones/tablets, this ones is faster because of newer probably 64-bit multicore CPU and definitely more RAM, for example flagship Fantom comes with 4-core ARM CPU

[@Jason75913]

The 4GB RAM limit is likely an OS limit of the old Montage. Even the Korg Kross2 has a multi-core, 64-bit ARM SoC, just not very fast.

[@bobjerrehansen5644]

Hi Scott, Can you confirm, that by use of midicable and adjustments in the menu, you can get full 16 part kbd ctrl (like in the Motif). 16 part performances, that can be saved. (This is claimed elsewhere)

[@xtremesoundspresets]

The problem with Montages sequencer is that you have to play it in. If there was a step editor after the fact then it would be far better.

[@JMMinistries]

Will Yamaha Update The Firmware / Software On The Original Montage?

[@gerritpot6542]

Hello, the big question!! 128 voices polyphony user waveforms parts. and 128 voices polyfinie preset waveform parts. But if you save a preset / performance, it is always a user. even if factory preset parts are included

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

We're taking about stored sample data, not actual performance data. If you create a sample library, or download and install a library, that is what is getting stored in that user memory space.

[@gerritpot6542]

Oh yes, of course, I should have known that. Just after the message I thought about that. Thank you for the quick answer. Greeting Gerrit@@ScottsSynthStuff

[@christiankennedy2212]

Hi Scott, Questions about the MIDI implementation aspect: Why do I have both parts 9 and 10 set to channel 9, but ONLY part 9 is responding?? And why can't I freely assign any of my external knobs or pedals to any of the Montage's parameters? You know, this supposed fix to the the GLARING (and deal-breaking) limitation in the OG Montage's MIDI implementation is the ONLY reason why I bought the M7! The idea is that I'd like to be able to COMPLETELY control certain parts externally from my SL88 Grand/ SL Mixface, while having the M7 act not only as the tone generator, but as the 2nd tier synth in my rig. But these limitations are making me thankful for GC's 45 day return policy! Please help me keep this thing! I want so bad to be in love with it!

[@ursullavandenbord2322]

HY. other question : DAW compatibility : Logic....But what about Mainstage ? Also ? Thanks.

[@JanPrze]

I’m really curious how the keybed compares to the previous Montage and especially the CP88/YC88 keybed. That key feel is amazing. If the new montage is comparable then I might actually sell my current red keyboard and buy a Montage

[@odmusicman]

I was think that too hoping the feel would be as good as my RD88 which I'm in love with but would sell if Montage is close enough or better. I play a lot of classical/jazz and compose, so I give the keys a workout. I'm really looking for the one final keyboard for a while and the Montage has that written all over it.

[@DG-ss1gc]

The keybed is better than any Nord Ive played. It is similar to my Motif Es8, but has some subtle differences. The Polyphonic aftertouch is great, its head and shoulders above any of the channel aftertouch, where you have to push really hard, and its got a steep attack so you can't do smooth filter sweeps. The M8X keybed has very smooth PAT, allowing you to put subtle emphasis in pads. Id like to see a keyboard with hammer style feel, but with MPE. except you can disable it, so press a button and it functions normally, capacitive multitouch keys so it maintains the piano feel .

[@4505choff]

You made a video about the thin piano sound of the montage and modx. Is the new montage any better? someone mentions a fan in the instrument. Is there fan noise? that was the biggest disappointment about the Kronos.

[@brendanm.9946]

Which do you like better Montage M or fantom? Sounds Sequencer Thanks

[@LezMarwick]

With regards to MIDI. Am I understanding correctly that you can now connect an external keyboard and the performances, with all their layers, arps, and splits, will play the same from it as if you were using the Montage M keyboard directly?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Correct.

[@bkhiphopnews4030]

show us how to record on the sequencer!!!!

[@davlippo7]

Maybe you forgot to answer something. Does the M sound better than the original in an obvious way meaning sound resolution or quality. There's been speculation but without each side by side on the same sound system how would we know? No way to tell from random demos online. PCA was noted as being improved but will we be able to tell?

[@SolidAir54321]

I never understood why Yamaha had such a hard time making the MIDI channel assignments flexible in the Montage. It's really not that hard. I can only guess that there might be some benefit to making it inflexible. For example, when under local control maybe there is a more direct connection from keyboard to sound engine that makes the timing better, or some such thing. But it hardly seems likely. At least if they would tell us the benefit then we might be more likely to accept this weird limitation.

[@Jason75913]

They must have thought that it would complicate settings too much for players, I'm guessing, but Roland keyboards users have been making use of that same Keybed Control situation, as Scott explained of the new Montage, for years, so obviously it is not too much.

[@ursullavandenbord2322]

Hy ! I have lot of wav files....How can i make a user wav loop in M series ...nothing in the pdf manual about loop and xfade .....Thanks.

[@Jason75913]

The SWP chips must be kind of archaic tech. Windows XP 32-bit also had that 4GB RAM limit. What really caught my attention was the sales demo vids mentioning that a single Montage M patch can have 128 oscillators/samples. WTF?! Insane! So you could have a number of patches per live-set/scene/whatchamacallit, each with that insane number of oscillators? Or is it just 4 oscillators with 32 velocity layers each in order to have pianos with 128 velocity layers in one parch so their best pianos don't require multiple patches? Please cover what that's about and how that works, thanks. "Most MIDI controllers only send data on a single channel" The cheapest stuff only, no? Most of the better controllers, $300+, can have 4 zones, each transmitting on different MIDI channels, and the zones can be separate with or without overlap, or fully layered, enabling someone to have a a very layered pad on the Montage. But yeah, not being able to change MIDI channels of individual parts in a set is a weird limitation. That whole bit about Keybed Control sounds like how Roland keyboards typically work, like the Fantoms, Fantom-0, Juno-DS and Juno-Di, etc. That bit about Keybed Control and how it reacts to USB MIDI input is weird. I understood, but it is quite weird.

[@DG-ss1gc]

Can anyone help me out, and tell me how to Favorite a preset or user performance/voice/sound ? The previous method of going to the home screen is not there anymore, I can't find it in the larger manual.

[@BlackBlofeld]

The sequencer has 16+1 tracks, but how we can record individual tracks? As far as i know, Montage/MODX can record at once 16 tracks, we can't choose for example the tracks 2,5,7 and record on each of them a different melody, so the usability of this sequencer is almost pointless. If there is a way to record individual tracks please let us know.

[@manishkantibiswas3657]

Does it have external audio tempo sync like modx ???.

[@bobjerrehansen5644]

Hi Scott! Is it possible to have keycontrol off all 16 parts and play all of them live?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

No, it's still just parts 1-8 (unless you use an external MIDI router or application like Camelot Pro)

[@bobjerrehansen5644]

Thanks Scott - although it’s a disappointment to read

[@shevinfernand0]

Can you tell me whether there is ACMP in the montage 8 or m8x? Please

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Accompaniment is a function you will find in arranger keyboards, not synyhesizers. Although the powerful arp engine on the Montage can do a passable emulation of accompaniment.

[@danielcolfer4671]

There’s definitely less latency on the new m series montage compared to the original model as well. Noticeable latency was one of the reasons I returned it. Plus honestly it didn’t sound any better than my moxf8 or xf series synths. I’m liking the new m8x. It sounds better and the user interface is much more user friendly for editing.

[@manne3d]

how much latency?

[@defenderstargate1447]

Are you referring to MIDI latency, touch screen latency, or something else?

[@manne3d]

@@defenderstargate1447 Midi latency from external sequencer (and keyboard) to audio out from sound engine, RTL on the audio in...not bothered with the touchscreen latency

[@defenderstargate1447]

@manne3d But the original poster hasn't replied. Are you sure they meant Midi latency and not screen latency? They speak about the user interface in their post as well.

[@danielcolfer4671]

@@defenderstargate1447 Referring to latency while playing especially stacked sounds. Latency between pressing a key and getting a sonic response. I noticed this much more on the original montage in comparison to the motifs I’ve played ( extensively) especially,es, xs, xf, and moxf etc. It bothered me enough to return it and then just continue to use my moxf8 for many of my gigs.

[@geoffk777]

A few comments: 1. They doubled the number of user libraries. However, they also doubled the amount of User ROM. So you'll probably still run out--just a little further down the line. 2. Even though there's no organ engine, they set up the Organ samples so that individual drawbars have separate parts and there's a drawbar mode for the faders to control them live. Great. So why only 8 faders and not 9? 3. The complaint that I've heard about the Montage sequencer is that individual note edits are very difficult or impossible. You can replace a track, but if you miss a note, than fixing it can be difficult. I don't really use the sequencer, so that might be mistaken, but that's my understanding. 4. One nice thing is that some libraries, like the Bosendorfer Imperial library are built into the ROM now. So that may save you a few library slots. 5. Unlike the Fantom, it still doesn't seem to have balanced outputs. I still think that it's expensive for the improvements that you're getting, althogh it's definitely a step up.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

You can punch in/out individual bars in the sequencer - so you can't edit individual notes, but you can re-play mistakes. The original Montage absolutely has balanced outputs, and so does the Montage M. The MODX has unbalanced outputs.

[@geoffk777]

@@ScottsSynthStuff I should have qualified my statement. The Montage has balanced 1/4" TSR outputs, but not XLR outputs, which would be desirable (and the Fantom has). As for the sequencer, I still think that the editing is liimited if you have to re-play mistakes. You should be able to edit them on-sreen.

[@Jason75913]

​@@geoffk777 hardly any keyboards have XLR outputs, and what is less advantageous about TRS balanced? TRS-to-XLR cables are everywhere, no? Or TRS-to-TRS, often used by the much more numerous oceans of guitarists out there, are also handy for getting keyboard outputs hooked up to most mixers, no?

[@geoffk777]

@@Jason75913 Sure, TRS works, if that's all that you have. But professional gear does use XLR inputs, and this can be cleaner in some situations. Yes, "hardly any" keyboards have them, but the Roland Fantom and RD-2000 do. Because they're high-end professional gear. Like the Montage M is supposed to be and priced as.

[@RedRain1968]

A daw in a box ? edit tracks ?midi editing ?? we can't edit anything. if you make a mistake you must record all tthe track from the beginning, there is no possibility to edit notes like in a daw. maybe I misunderstood...

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

You can go in and select the area where you made a mistake and do a punch edit to re-record just the mistake. I should have also mentioned that you can export the entire thing as a MIDI file, edit it in your DAW, then re-import the edited MIDI file into the MODX/Montage sequencer. I don't know of other synths that can do that.

[@Jason75913]

​@@ScottsSynthStuff the current Korg workstations and Roland FA workstation can do that

[@MIKEMOKRONOS]

Great

[@MarcoBasileMusic]

Just a question, can the AN-x engine load the An1x patches?

[@JoseVGavila]

It seem not. A pity!. Let's hope someone makes a converter

[@MarcoBasileMusic]

@@JoseVGavila maybe there's a lot differences between the two engines...

[@trstack]

Need some help here. Why can’t I just use my Montage M8x sliders to control each part’s volume? Yes, I know there are elements, inserts, ARPs, motion control and lions and tigers and bears, oh my!. Everything seems to be assigned to control multiple parameters which is then tied to then tied to the SuperKnob….that’s great for some patches but, I just want to control the volume of the each of the parts visible on my screen via the damn sliders! Having the sub display show that the “assigned” knobs are “assigned” without knowing what they control and the need to menu dive, kills any engagement, emotion and playability. I’m might be missing the easy part, if so, please let me know. Thank you!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

You can. Look immediately to the left of the sliders, you'll see a button with two lights. Make sure the blue light next to "Part Volume" is on - if not, press the button to switch it. Keep in mind that the sliders have to move to "capture" the existing level. That keeps you from having sudden huge changes in levels when adjusting. So you have to move the slider to the position at which the part level is right now, it will then "capture" the level, and from then you can adjust it to your liking.

[@trstack]

​ @ScottsSynthStuff Ahh! SO simple! I was expecting to see the part names in the sub-display under the Multipart button selection. Thank you! I do love my M8x and need to learn/re-learn how to navigate. It's been awhile since I had a workstations/synth. Using: Yamaha: Montage M8x| Spectrasonics: Omnisphere, Keyscape | uhe: Diva, Hive2, Zebra2| Roland: Cloud Pro | Arturia: V Collection | NI: Komplete 14 | Luftrum: Lunaris2 | VPS: Avenger | Cherry: GX80 | G-Force: OB-E | Korg: Triton, MS-20 Sold/Traded: Yamaha: Motif XS8, Motif ES8, Motif8, KX-88, TX7 | ASM: Hydrasynth Deluxe| Roland: RD-2000, D50, MKS-20| Korg: Kronos 88, T3, MS-20 | Oberheim: OB8, OBXa, Modular 8 Voice | Rhodes: Dyno-My-Piano| Crumar: T2

[@trstack]

My brain is clearly on the last 5 years of software synths and an RD-2000 that behaved differently@@ScottsSynthStuff

[@BrJD-ii4iv]

Are the pianos/ep's still thin from the original Montage?

[@CTBroadfoot]

I hope that the new DAC output will make the pianos sound fatter.

[@Jason75913]

​@@CTBroadfoot it's not the DAC, it is the sound engine And don't expect it to compete with Yamaha's own P-225, P-125, and P-515 for acoustic piano. If they went the extra mile this time, good for them, but I strongly doubt it. DACs can have an impact, yes, but generally very subtle. P-125 making Montage1 pianos sound plasticky, dull, and artificial to death in comparison is not the DACs at all. For starters, the P-125 DAC is a low-end chip. So it's definitely the sound engine itself, maybe even in combination with the quality of the samples.

[@user-wl4rp9tk2y]

can it sequence??

[@park171]

Is montage M, midi 2.0?

[@noworries7673]

Hi! Do you still think the MODX+ will get a firmware update with AN-X?

[@Jason75913]

Highly unlikely.

[@JoseVGavila]

NO, 99.99% sure of that. It makes no sense, as the hardware is not there. The MODX+ (which I own, along two MONTAGEs) is a way to extend the MONTAGE "Classic" line is time. I am not sure why they even bothered to launch it. But I am glad they did, as it is the perfect rehearsal machine for me, keeping the MONTAGE at home and for (some) gigs. But MODX+ seems like a synth which will be on v1 firmware forever

[@Jason75913]

@@JoseVGavila The MODX+ was only recently released, I think it is too early to call it "abandoned" just yet. CP88 definitely looks abandoned, for example.

[@noworries7673]

​@@Jason75913I'm afraid it's true. The MODX+ really seems like it is the final upgrade on top of the MODX firmware updates. Yamaha simply hooked people on the firmware updates that brought new functionality to the MODX and then released MODX+ with two chips, which made it seem like a bargain of the century, but no new functionality is coming to MODX+. They just threw in the extra chip for polyphony, because with the new Montage M they had no more use for those chips. I like my MODX+ but still I feel cheated. I hope Yamaha at least ditches the horrible GHS keybed in the MODX 8M (or whatever the cheaper plastic version of MONTAGE M will be called) so I can upgrade and be happy ever after. Somebody popular should start a petition to ban the GHS keybed.

[@Zaccyonline]

I’m waiting for it in white 🤍

[@DanielNicuCretu-ys9vq]

Estimado senor Scott buenos dias!!!!Quero acer una pregunta muy interesante ,porque de mucho tiempo estoy esperando que Yamaha analise muy en serio una problema que pertenese de siempre a los synte de yamaha y me refiero a los sequenciadores integrados en yamaha ,QY300-700 y X1..3. que son heramientas indispensables en un syntetizador sin alterar los sequenciadores en DAW.Quero proponer si es posible a tener en cuenta a introducir estos sequenciadores con taste igual que lo tiene estos en original con implementacion de mas pistas midi a 24 y 8 pistas de audio.Tambien falta la entrada de BC3 y el modulo De VL .Solo entonces en mi opinion podemos ablar de un synte performante digno de 2023.Yamaha a augmentado ton generador de DX7 a 128 voices .....no esta mal...perdon olvidando la importancia de complexidad de instrumento ,asiendo un juego muy mal mod dx ,mod dx+ sin pensar que unos de nosotros enamorados de yamaha estamos muy umilde ,parados a las serie de motif esperando que yamaha facilite el modo de trabahar tambien con estos modelos de sequenciadores tan avanzados.Personalmente yo me e parado ........ a comprar estos syntes que suena muy bien por un lado y por otro lado le falta un detalle muy importante ,y estos detalle a levantado a yamaha encima de todo en estabilidad y en complexidad de un verdadero workstacion.Un grande abraso desde de Espana y mucho salud Daniel me voy a comprar el synte de yamaha solo quando voy a encontrar un nuevo synte de yamaha con estos prestaciones ...Hasta entonces korg kronos y roland fantom......

[@axelfoley1768]

Yeah but how much polyphony is used by the elements that make-up a preset? Someone might say it depends on the preset, & I would call you captain obvious 👻 Yamaha in the past boasted how many elements a preset could have, e.g. up to 8 elements per preset (on the Montage M it is 128 elements per preset), but then pressing just three keys simultaneously on one preset could chew-up 24 notes of polyphony. Do that with 5 different presets each on their own track & all the polyphony is gone. Since Yamaha's architecture works this way then they need to give us 256 note polyphony in the AWM2 presets. We may not wish to supplement the track with FM-X & AN-X, and even if we do maybe 2 sounds from the AN-X & 2 sounds from the FM-X still leaves us short of a full suite of sounds for song production. I have no desire to offload sounds to a computer DAW for simultaneous playback, otherwise what's the point in buying a workstation? But I suspect even the feature which allows us to bounce our finished song to a USB drive probably doesn't accommodate 24bit 96Khz, so it's useless. And why do Yamaha workstations have that somewhat artificial warmish tone instead of the clean neutral realistic tone of Roland's Fantom range. Yamaha need (not 'needs' - for all you guys with bad grammar who keep putting 's' on the end of words where it doesn't belong) to fire it's sampling team, they've been doing this for a while now, the samples lacking clarity & naturalness, often sound a bit stuffy & congested. Take a listen to a Kurzweil K2700 if you want to know what clean-sounding realistic samples should sound like. What they need to make the Montage M better is 32 note polyphony for the AN-X, 256 note polyphony for the AWM2 Preset rom, 16 pads (like the Roland Fantom, where we can tap in beats with a flow that no sequencer even with groove quantise can match), and a 16 button realtime step sequencer (as on on the Roland Fantom workstations). Bounce toUSB drive in 24bit 96Khz.

[@Jason75913]

Never heard this "artificial warmish tone" in Yamaha's Montage or MOXF6 keyboards, man. Fantom's great overall, but the acoustic sounds are noticeably lower fidelity, I've seen plenty of complaints about it online and heard in person, too. Also, the early production run(s) of that big Fantom had an odd dullness to the middle frequencies not heard in Juno-DS, FA, MC-707, and Fantom-0, to my ears, not to mention they were prone to crashing at first, even the earliest store demo I went to try in 2019 was in an unresponsive crashed state when I got there. I got a good laugh at that. Gotta love it when the corporate swine decide something needs to be rushed out the door half-finished. They deserve all the flak they can get for their idiocy. 24-bit 96kHz downmixes from a keyboard is such a "niche feature" to add to a keyboard that you can expect it to never happen anytime soon. Just use Cubase/Ableton/etc.

[@m.s.-16]

Are the faders smaller??

[@Jason75913]

Doesn't look like it.

[@m.s.-16]

@@Jason75913 thanks for the answer. i mean not the actual faders but the distance from 0 to full

[@Jason75913]

@@billevans7488 sounds like they took inspiration from Zen-core, ahahaha

[@AlbaCountertenor]

Why have you got most of your synths covered up Scott?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

So I don't have to clean the dust off them all the time!

[@Jason75913]

Dust covers are a must. Dust can also bork your controls on anything you own or can buy, you know? There are fancy, overpriced covers, and I just improvise with old towels and crummy old t-shirts I cut up to serve as dust covers for my gear.

[@vitaliypredoliak2124]

😅

[@JoseVGavila]

I would say they have goofed with the display... It is a pity, such a beast with that lousy display! (I know, I have two MONTAGE and one MODX+)

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

I prefer it to the one on the Fantom 0 or Nautilus. I'm not sure if the premium builds of theses are better or not. Haven't seen a Kronos in a while, and I've never seen a regular Fantom so far. I found the displays on the Nauilus and Fantom 0 way too over crowded with graphics, and difficult to read. I can see my MODX screen perfectly. Better may exist, but it's still decent.

[@JoseVGavila]

@@AudioAtmos yes, I know. But the main display uses a technology which is now too dated IMO

[@JoseVGavila]

​@@AudioAtmosI am referring to the resistive touch panel. That was one of the first technologies used on touch displays, long (decades) ago, and superseded in most fields. Could you imagine a mobile phone with such kind of response?. No. An iPad?. No. Something like a Microsoft Surface?. No. What I want to stress is that Yamaha could have opted for a lots more precise capacitive touch panel. For me, it is not what will decide if I get one of these synths. But it is a missed opportunity for Yamaha, IMO

[@Jason75913]

​@@AudioAtmos Scott said clearly that the new screen responds faster thanks to the faster processors in the new Montage. And that is definitely what counts. Using a more modern capacitive touchscreen won't matter if the CPU and GPU are sluggish. And if there is going to be a screen with graphics, there will need to be a GPU of some kind for that to work, and the Montage1 appeared to be a little gimped in that aspect. Yeah, I noticed the Montage's latency when navigating the menus and controls, and I think the MODX is the same or slightly more laggy at that, quite annoying. The Montage M won't lag, according to Scott.

[@JoseVGavila]

@@AudioAtmos I am glad I finally got my point clear, thanks for reading 👍. The SSS (Seamless Sound Switching) is also present on MONTAGE "Classic". Perhaps on the M there are some improvements, but I am using it daily

[@bkhschoo1]

The sequencer of the montage and modx is very basic and very unintuitive vs the fantoms sequencer. The fantom is a full blown wotkstation and the yamahas are marketed as music synthesizers and not workstations which is correct as it does not have step sequencers, piano roll and no automation etc… so saying the yamahas sequencer is very capable is not exactly true imho. I am dissappointed the new mintage m does not vome with a upgraded full blown sequencer because if one instrument deserves and is capable of being an awesome workstation it is the new mintage. A missed opportunity by yamaha …

[@user-wy5iq6zt8y]

Interesting stuffs. They should have used the Fatar keyboard for polyphonic after touch like Waldorf and a few other companies have on the M6 and M7.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Yamaha would never use a third party keybed - they manufacture their own.

[@nonchai]

You say the sequencer is great and "DAW-like" ? So is there PIANO-ROLL editing GUI wise now in it? omit that and one cannot possibly call a modern sequencer "good" - or DAW-like.

[@akibe7608]

They're still cutting corners, yet charging an arm and a leg.

[@garyhendrie4001]

And a head

[@bertenqvist7324]

To the presets already, who have pations listening to talks 2023....

[@halcyo]

WEN ANX ON MODX+?!?!?! haha ;)

[@freespirit37]

What the "m" stands for ?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

More? :)

[@freespirit37]

There is nothing about it on the YAMAHA website@@ScottsSynthStuff

[@freespirit37]

So you had the MODX "plus" and now you have the Montage "More"@@ScottsSynthStuff

[@davlippo7]

There's a campaign to shame Yamaha for lack of PAT on 6/7 could be for the next 7 years & pushing only the M8 in most demos. I ordered the M6 because I have (2) MPE+ Osmose units & the ASM Hydrasynth with PAT but even so Yamaha is pushing this GEX when without it the cost would have been the same $500 upcharge for each unit. Most player can't carry or afford the M8 yet Yamaha flaunts the M8 like shaming customers for not buying that model. Not saying the paid demo people are but they also can't be objective when getting paid. The shame is all on Yamaha for cheapening products and cheating customers &/or forcing them to go big for a better feature. I've purchased and owned almost every Yamaha synth/arranger in the last 30 years so I'm not from the other side taking cheap shots, I am the Yamaha customer base paying their bills. I've repaired hundreds of Yamaha synths and personally soldered thousands of their tact switches like on the SY series alone. I can speak that this was a really sad and pathetic option to cheat customers when Yamaha is the Godzilla of innovation and sound. Very embarrassing Yamaha and to be very clear a "Pianist" doesn't need PAT nearly as much as a "Synthist" or "keyboardist" does per your own advertising terminology.

[@asynchronicity]

You are shame OBSESSED Jfc🤦‍♂️

[@DG-ss1gc]

Sorry I disagree, they’ve never put a hammer action in those smaller keyboards. Also you gotta understand , I got the m8x , dude this thing weighs 12 pounds or so MORE THAN MY MOTif , that action is nice, but the weight is nuts. Yamaha is ultra secretive so we’ll never know but I would bet my bottom dollar they looked at Putting PAT in the synth action keysboards , and it just would have driven the cost higher , when with the component market now , they knew they’d be fighting sticker shock as it is. I bought the thing and i think it’s a good synth , but so far I’m not happy with the ANX , it must have some design flaws because the summit is a 16 voice and it can make sprawling multi saw I also may need to just set things up different . Right now if I put three saws , and set them to unison (which only goes to 4 not 8 sadly. Again unless I’m missing something) But even with no release no decay no sustain in getting voice drop from playing triads! It reminds me of two behringer polyD synths linked together on unison mode. The way ti prioritizes voices is just not good for the type of music I play (trance / melodic soundscapes etc. It’s still cool, I think it’s going to be great I’ll just hook it up to a virus or serum. Also the way this thing works with your computer is crazy , it integrates with your DAW unlike any other synth , and you also get the VST which can be multiplied . There are pros and cons, but I think you shouldn’t be so pissed that they didn’t put the highly developed keybed into their lighter weight models . You didn’t get cheated I promise you! (Assuming you don’t have your keyboard yet) .

[@dionewillmann8723]

I don't know if this is a hardware issue in the key mechanisms or a software issue. If it is software, there must be a paid update for the PAT, as they did with the Korg Nautilus.

[@zap7759]

Poly-AT isn't that useful unless you play extremely slowly with a synth. More of a box to checkmark currently, a buzzword.

[@davlippo7]

@@zap7759 Probably more importantly concerning the GEX isn't just the PAT but the rapid sensors that all synth should have. Like the Osmose it knows not just On/OFF &/or hard soft medium but it knows 20 other contact levels in between. Like continuous and rapid. My M6 has the same old crap they've had for 20 years it doesn't work. Ture this is more important than PAT itself.

[@radurobert1]

The original Montage is more than necessary . You don't need M.. It is more about composing abilities and switching to Montage M won't help . For example a good composer can make hits with a Motif XF while THE HOBBISTS will keep grab more gear but without producing any hit record ...

[@Jason75913]

But any pros without a Montage right now and wanting to pick up a new Montage will have to get the Montage M. New Montage for anyone wanting to upgrade now, or get a used Montage1 while they can be found used. Whatever they can get. Very few hobbyists will be picking up a Montage M. To say that none will is hardly hyperbole.

[@JoseVGavila]

Yes, I know from experience the instrument is a tiny part on the final result. A good player will sound tons better than myself on such a beast. I will keep my MONTAGE 6 Black, MONTAGE 6 White and MODX6+ for a long time!. I also have two AN-1X so I can hook one up to the MONTAGE/MODX+ and have a nice 10 voice AN-X engine, along its own keyboard and real time controls if needed. Yes, not so compact as the MONTAGE M but, for sure, in my case, lots cheaper!

[@b.hornetiii.6771]

Advanced sequencer, hahah, that's a good one. Obviously you didn't use the seq on Korg Kronos. Now, that's "the sequencer". This "thing" in Yamaha is like a train wagon vs. Korg's Ferrari F40 seq. These are not products for a 3 year old babies. It's a disgrace Yamaha put this basic so called seq into the synth. But they did called it a pattern seq, so I give them that ... Of course we had better seq already more than 20 years ago. They should move on with the times in that area and do the opposite thing. Move everything out of computer environment and put the whole music production with ability to add different 3 party plugins into the synth itself so you have the full DAW enviroment in one mega synth. That would give them a big advantage and producers of plugins would compete with quality so that big names like Yamaha, Korg, Roland etc. who have seq in their flagships would alow them to be a part of the story. This should happened 10 years ago, but I think with this slow mindset and planned absolescence combinated with "cheaper is better" it will take another 20 years to get there if we get there. The moment the seq went on computers in total the music became nice to look at, like the videos, the sound not so much.

[@axelmaldini4218]

Good sound but nothing incredible. Let's say you can't easily and quickly create unique electronic sounds like you could from Bitwig or from FL Studio 21, nor is it a complete workstation where you could master and publish your sounds within it. It's a good synthesizer with some correct pianos and some 'old' sounds that smell like mothballs from the 80's. The display is difficult to read and not very sensitive to touch so you have to hit it a couple of times for it to react. The complexity of the editing menu and the number of knobs complicates everything. For my taste it sounds good but I returned it, since I have Spectrasonics plugins for pianos that sound much better than the Montage M. I have synths like the Avenger from Vengaence that is unmatched and you can't beat it with this Yamaha. Recommended for the live musician but it is a waste of money for the studio musician since the VST synths available on the market are far superior to the sound engine of this Motif/Montage...

[@herunderwear]

There's no power in a sound bank without midi control... . Still not mentionning any improvement concerning their previous toyish sequencer Since 2 years, i keep telling them along with other guys that reported this major issue to upgrade their sequencer to a fully functional one. if this hasn't been done in the yamaha m series, tones of ppl won't give a toss about geting rid of their previous montage for another sound system. since prehistory, synthesizers arrived with a stupid rec button that evolved over years, with korg, roland, & co. Some trolls have recently pretended that they could use software based sequencers, but what they don't understand is that the osmosis can be lost by moving from a stupid synth to a pc & that some controllers specific to some synths like the knob won't be found in stupid pc softwares. not even mentioning undo & redo to compare after event edition & the stupid transition again from the pc & synth. cuting back full sequencers functions on a synth with todays evolutions of the synthesizers market is immature, companies dont understand they're losing customers by doing this. no event edition ? no section based quantization (with a quantization+volume adaptation for a humanizing new function for piano, to even outpass logic pro's humanize function) ? no section based velocity change with differet curves (including fade in & out) ? no notes transposition with + or -(number of semitones) ? no track section insertion ? no track section copy ? no full track to track copy ? then yamaha can go keep playing with their soundbank without a serious sequencer & go sell it $5000 to the trolls who think there are more explicit sequencers than a korg's one for example in the world of softwares.. yamaha clearly regressed/downgraded their sequencer since the "Motif" experience. if this isn't fixed, i won't say sayonara to modx & the previous one but to yamaha m too. & wait for more serious keyboards to come, from korg for ex

[@Jason75913]

Korg may follow Yamaha's example and dumb down the sequencing. The original Montage wasn't even going to get a sequencer, they likely could not just rework the entire OS and optimize everything to leave enough processing and RAM headroom to account for a sequencer like on current Korg workstations or FA-08. The big Fantom's sequencer is not in the same league as the FA sequencer either, and I imagine falls behind the old Fantom G, on top of being loop-based instead of linear. So did you imply that you have a MOXF? I still love the sound of that one, though I hate the UI for tone editing.

[@herunderwear]

@@Jason75913 Korg may follow Yamaha's example and dumb down the sequencing

[@EloTime22]

Mulet

[@logiclust]

why is it so overpriced?

[@gabrielegelfofx]

99% of Montage M presets listened in all KZbin video demos are, so far, mediocre...except for the organ virtual model. I Think Yamaha hired not the best synthesizers programmers available today. If you listen to the 20 years old AN1X original presets you say "WOW!"