YAMAHA MONTAGE REVIEW UPDATE
YAMAHA MONTAGE REVIEW FULL

The Montage features 16-part multitimbral operation, but it comes with a full range of all-new sounds, like the Yamaha CFX Premium Grand Piano, detailed new strings and woodwinds, and select content from the DX and TX families, all modernized to take advantage of the Motion Control Synthesis Engine. It features 8 operator FM architecture and 128-note polyphony, allowing for a massive array of sound-design options. The FM-X engine is capable of producing everything from classic ’80s FM-based basses and bells, to harsh, cutting-edge modern EDM-type sounds. This means that the Montage allows for far more samples per instrument than the XF and thus a far more nuanced sound. Powered by proprietary Yamaha data compression and playback technology, the AWM2 engine provides realistic sound reproduction and features nearly 10 times the waveform capacity of the Motif XF. Employing Motion-Control Synthesis, the Montage combines two sound engines: AWM2 (synthesis- and sample-based sounds) and FM-X (frequency modulation synthesis.) It’s a fantastic keyboard and this is a wonderful update.The Yamaha Montage 8 is a 88-key workstation synthesizer that combines elements of the DX- and Motif-series keyboards.

YAMAHA MONTAGE REVIEW UPDATE

It’s a free update, it shows that Yamaha is ‘all-in’ with the Montage, it brings features, sounds, and effects - what’s not to love? I like every single update that Yamaha brought to the table here, and I’m looking forward to what they do with the Montage next.

The provided Performances are fantastic and run the gamut from traditional piano to some really etherial soundscapes. I should also note that the Imperial Grand Piano is now downloadable, and it’s everything I hoped it would be.

Want to copy the sound and the arpeggio, but not the mix settings? No problem. Finally, you can now change the scope of what parameters you'd like to inherit when bringing in a part. Live Set performances are now highlighted, and the font size for Live Set is now user selectable. You can back up your ENTIRE synth content to a single file - and this includes all of your onboard content and expansion sounds! You can now tag favorites for category search. The backup file is what it should be on every other major keyboard. There’s a true mixed bag of great features that accompany 1.5 that deserve a mention. It’s like nothing I’ve ever had before in such a simple live setup, and now that I’ve used it I never want to go back. You can send an audio signal to Montage, it can ‘listen’ to the mix and determine the tempo and it will adjust your keyboard’s internal tempo accordingly. Ever used a complex arpeggiator, delay, or filter that is tempo sync’ed, only to fall out of sync once the drummer in your band starts pounding away and nobody can hear you? That problem is now a thing of the past. Basically, Auto Beat Sync can discern tempo information from any audio you send it. This is an absolute standout feature that is tough to find on any other modern flagship synth. One of my favorite features of the Montage is now the Auto Beat Sync. You can even utilize parallel compression, giving your performances a real ‘finished studio’ quality to them. Some ‘compressors in a box’ are now provided that are great to slot in and instantly make a part in a Performance louder or softer.

Yamaha montage review