The Yamaha MONTAGE synthesizer offers unprecedented ways for keyboard players to control and interact with sound. A brand new Motion Control synthesizer engine opens up a new world of creativity and powerful sound creation while combined with 2 powerful sounds engines - AWM2 and a pure FM-X engine. Montage has also been modified for live and studio work making it the ideal all round music tool.



Inspiration and creation, the Yamaha Montage 6 is Yamaha's flagship synthesizer. A brand new Motion Control synthesizer system controls 2 new sound engines - AWM2 and a new FM-X sound engine, the Montage offers unprecedented sound creation and incredible sound quality. Yamaha have combined this with with a brand new user interface with color touch screen, endless rotary encoders and the 'Super Knob' which can control multiple parameters at once. This is truly an all in one solution for the gigging musician and studio workers.


3 Models
Montage is available in 3 differing models - each offers the same superior sound capabilities but the 61 and 76 (Montage6 and Montage7) make use of a high quality FSX keyboard action whilst the Montage-8 employs a gradually weighted high quality hammer action keyboard. This is an essential consideration fro piano players wanting the same feel and expression as a real acoustic piano.


Motion Control Sound Engine

Yamaha have created a new motion control sound engine which offers a new method of sound creation and design. It takes control of 2 main sound engines - AWM2 and FM-X. AWM2 offers 10 times the memory of the previous Motif-XF along with integrated flash, double the polyphony and double the effects processing. This means sound choice and quality are on a completely new level to the Motif XF.
With FM-X the Montage-6 relies on the most powerful FM engine of all time. This enhanced sound generation in tradition of synth legends of the 1980s still offers a unique dynamism, power, and fascination. With eight Operators, 88 Algorithms and seven Spectral Forms, Montage offers tremendous power. For comparison: The legendary Yamaha DX7 of 1983 had six Operators, 32 Algorithms and simple sine waves. With Spectral Skirt and Spectral Resonance FM-X also allows the widening of the harmonic curve and the shifting of the harmonic peaks. Along with Filters, EQ, an additional Common LFO and the effect department - a new dimension of FM sound-design is created.


Incredible Sound Choice
The Montage-6 is not just full of some of the greatest sound presets and manipulation capabilities. - it is choked with high quality sounds from all genres of music. Stunning pianos, trying orchestra sounds, bass, guitars and more - in-fact all the sounds from Motif XF are available plus all the new sounds. There is even the stunning Bosendorfer Imperial piano samples which have set a new standard for piano sounds in Yamaha products.


Montage Super Knob

Imagine a single dial that can modify a number of parameters at once which can transform sound modifying capabilities - well that is the Super Knob. This single large backlit dial in the middle of the panel offers new control over multiple parameters allowing for versatile sound control with just the twist of one knob! The Super Knob can control one or a number of parameters in every imaginable way and in parallel. This allows the user to creatively manipulate a sound with just a single twist of the Knob. Even the character of a performance can easily be changed from warm and atmospheric to punchy and rhythmic.


Realtime Controllers
Montage is packed with hands on live controllers. The sound manipulation capabilities are what set it apart from other synth products. For example - the front panel has 8 slider, 8 assignable endless encoders, 8 Scene buttons, pitch and mod wheels, ribbon controller, super knob, assignable buttons and pedal input capabilities.
The endless rotary encoders and sliders both have stepped LED metering for clear indication of their values. The scene buttons are memories for storing changes to your sounds and settings so it is easily possible to change controls and call up different settings for sound morphing, live manipulation and complete and total sound control.


Direct Control Assignment

This fantastic new feature allows the user to assign a selected parameter instantly to a controller. On a new screen for the control assignments it is easy to see what is assigned and also see the in-depth details of how the controller is affecting the selected parameter. This kind of instant accessibility opens up a completely new way of manipulating your sound ensuring your sounds are unique.


Colour Touch Screen Interface
Easy, faster and more intuitive than ever before. The new colour touch screen LCD opens up a new world of operations and features at the heart of the Montage system. Users are normally used to cursoring around the screen and using button to enter choice but the new screen gives you instant access to all features of the synth including access to the new live set mode and in-depth editing screens. With the touch of a finger it is easy to control button assignments, adjust parameters, recall settings and more.


Live Performance - Live Set

Performing on stage with your favourite sounds has never been easier. A grid style selection of your live sets are shown on the screen for instant selection. SSS (Seamless Sound Switching) will allow users to change sound without the sound glitch that normally gets in the way of seamless transitions. Set lists will be customisable to make sure you have you exact desired lists for different performances from one venue to the next.


SSS (Smooth Sound Transition)
Operates as long as your performance is using 1-8 parts. The technology makes the perfect transition from one sound to the next for example: Whilst holing a pad sound you could switch to piano and the pad will keep sounding whilst your holding the note or have sustain active. There are 16 parts in total on the montage and it will require the use of the next 8 to make SSS work perfectly. Should your performance use more than 8 parts (which in the main is unlikely) then SSS may not operate.


Motion Sequencer

Motion Sequences are tempo-synchronized, completely customizable control sequences that can be assigned to virtually any synthesizer parameter and provide incredible creative new ways of programming sound. Motion Sequences also have dedicated controls on the front panel making it easy to manipulate and change in real-time, providing incredible interactivity and expression.


Envelope Follower
The Envelope Follower uses an audio signal as the source for the dynamic control of parameters. For example, a drum loop can control its own effect parameters in sync with the beat, or vocal recordings can generate a "talking synthesizer". The potential creativity is simply beyond your wildest dreams.


Integrated Flash Memory
Yamaha have equipped the Montage with a generous 1.75Gb of flash memory space for loading of samples and sounds. That means no additional costs for flash cards required to expand your instrument, it is all ready to go straight from the box.


USB Audio/MIDI

A single USB cable turns the Montage into a versatile Audio/ MIDI interface and comes packaged complete with Cubase AI. In the studio, MONTAGE can connect to your Mac or Windows PC through a single USB cable. Thanks to the class-compliant driver architecture no complex driver installation is needed. MONTAGE directly delivers audio channels for all 16 Parts to your DAW with 24- bit/44.1 kHz. If you choose the much higher sample rate of 192 kHz, there are still four stereo channels outputs from MONTAGE via USB. In addition, all MIDI data is transmitted via USB too.
As an alternative to notebook and desktop computers, MONTAGE can also be used in conjunction with Apple iOS mobile devices such as Apple iPhone or Apple iPad.


Effects
Brand new effects processing includes powerful effects with the very best quality sound processing. Each of the 16 parts can have 2 effects assigned - meaning 32 simultaneous effects running at once! The possibilities are simply amazing with such a huge amount of effect processing capabilities. Analogue effects, Beat Repeat, Vinyl Break or Bit Crusher along with effects right through to HD reverbs. The effects processor will let you open up a new world for your sound creation.


price:
Montage 6 (61 keys) - 2 821 EUR
Montage 7 (76 keys) - ?
Montage 8 (88 keys) - ?

 

Last edited: Jan 21, 2016

"generous 1.75Gb of flash memory"
How generous is an 15$ 64Gb USB stick then?

 

Curious about the sound, but design reminds me of Korg Kronos. But for integration with Cubase in studio it's useful sure.

 

Heck , they should rather create a DAW controller with deep integration

 

The Roland JD 800 only have a few mega bytes but still sounds amazing.

 

My amazing sounding ASR had 2Mb stock and it is a sampler! But I wouldn't try to advertise a workstation with low 1-digit Gb sizes in 2016.

 

Bunch of videos here: http://www.matrixsynth.com/2016/01/yamaha-introduction-videos-for-new.html

 

Yeah

 

Sounds like an upgraded visit to the old SY-77 / SY-99 series. My 77 still gets used regularly.

 

Hardware definetely seems to be back.
With a vengeance.

 

Nope. According to Yamaha Montage8 uses BH (just like the 88-keys Motifs and S90), which is not gradually weighted (or "graded").