Montage 8 Flagship Synthesizer

In their new flagship keyboard, the Montage, Yamaha debuts the Motion Control Synthesis Engine, which combines and controls two iconic sound engines: AWM2 (high-quality waveform and subtractive synthesis) and FM-X (modern, pure Frequency Modulation synthesis). These two engines can be freely zoned or layered across eight parts in a single MONTAGE Performance.

The Motion Control Synthesis Engine is a programmable control matrix for creating deep, dynamic and expressive sound. With Motion Control, you can create new sounds that were not possible on previous hardware synthesizers. It is truly a new world of synthesis.

One of the great advantages of any Yamaha product is their relentless design team, which routinely issues model upgrades and improvements. Released in September 2016, the version 1.2 iteration offers you MONTAGE Connect, a free VST3/AU plug-in and standalone PC/MAC application that offers user arpeggio creation, performance recorder loop playback, separate USB connection monitor volume setting and Super Knob control via MIDI CC message.

On the computer side is MONTAGE Connect, a free VST3/AU plug-in and standalone PC/MAC application that integrates MONTAGE with popular DAW software like Cubase, Logic, Live!, Studio One, Reaper, ProTools and others. You can capture and recall a MONTAGE Performance within a DAW project, transfer MONTAGE Performance Recordings to DAW project via drag-and-drop, load and save MONTAGE bulk files (".X7B"), and organize MONTAGE Performances as VST3 Presets in the Cubase Media Bay/Sound Browser (Cubase only).

The Super Knob
With the Super Knob you can ceate dynamic sound changes by controlling multiple parameters simultaneously, which provides a wide open palette for sound creation and sound behavior.

As an example, you can change your listening position from right in front of an instrument to in the back seat of a concert hall, or you can change the character of a Performance from atmospheric and mellow to rhythmic and edgy. The Super Knob can be assigned to a second FC7 foot controller, making it easy to manipulate the sound when playing with both hands.

Motion Sequences
Motion Sequences are tempo-synchronized, customizable control sequences that can be assigned to any synthesizer parameter and provide 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.

Massive Sound Creation
MONTAGE’s two Iconic Sound Engines modernized for amazing sound playback and complex sound design. Powered by proprietary Yamaha technology for data compression and sound playback, AWM2 allows tremendous data compression without sound quality loss for realistic sound reproduction.

MONTAGE features nearly 10 times the waveform capacity of the MOTIF XF, allowing more samples per instrument for incredibly realistic and nuanced sound. Included with your MONTAGE is 1.75 GB of user flash memory with high speed reading/writing for your own custom samples or synth libraries from yamahasynth.com.

From the FM-X side, you get a sophisticated synthesizer engine capable of producing classic ‘80s or cutting-edge EDM sound with great dynamic range, power and fidelity. MONTAGE features an 8-operator FM architecture and 128-note polyphony, allowing for a massive array of sound design options.

Content is King
Every instrument needs great content to inspire creativity, and MONTAGE features a huge range of incredible sounds like a brand-new Yamaha CFX Premium Grand Piano, detailed new strings and woodwinds and select content from the DX and TX family, all modernized to take advantage of the Motion Control Synthesis Engine.

MONTAGE is directly compatible with Motif XF Voices. Yamaha is developing an FM converter to make it compatible with DX7 series Voices as well. And as part of the MONTAGE introduction, Yamaha is pleased to offer a detailed sample of a Bösendorfer Imperial Premium Grand Piano.

Effects
From high definition reverbs to detailed Virtual Circuit Modeling (VCM) effects, MONTAGE is loaded with DSP innovation, power and, most importantly, sound quality. Use effects like Beat Repeat, Vinyl Break or Bit Crusher to get a modern EDM sound. You can even add a compressor with sidechain for a modern “ducking” effect. Or go retro with vintage effects like Analog Delay, VCM Phaser or a variety of Amp Simulators. Piano players will appreciate piano-focused effects like Damper Resonance for a super-realistic piano experience and the HD reverbs that let you put yourself in any performance space.

Pure Analog Circuit
MONTAGE features professional balanced outputs with “Pure Analog Circuit” (PAC). PAC improves the quality of signal after being converted to analog from digital for clear harmonic reproduction and even frequency response. The result is an output capable of reproducing MONTAGE’s internal content expressively with power and clarity.

USB Audio/MIDI Connection
Connect MONTAGE to your computer with a single USB cable and capture every nuance of your creativity into your DAW. MONTAGE’s powerful USB driver can send 16 and receive three channels of STEREO 24-bit/44.1 kHz digital audio to/from your computer or iOS device (MONTAGE is class compliant, no driver needed!), no other hardware required.The USB connection also features full MIDI support of 16 channels. MONTAGE supports the sampling rate up to 192 kHz.

A/D Input
The A/D input processes external audio sources with your instrument’s DSP. Use mics, guitars or any line source as an input and process with the internal effects. You can even use these sources with the Envelope Follower or Sidechain to create your own unique sounds.

Physical Control
MONTAGE features a comprehensive set of physical controls for intuitive music making and sound creation. Including a color touch screen, eight Rotary Encoders and Faders with Stepladder LEDs next to the faders that indicate position, making it easy to see where your current mix position is.

Keyboard Action
MONTAGE8 features an 88-key, fully weighted Balanced Hammer action with aftertouch. This provides equal resistance for each key across the keyboard and is perfect for playing a variety of instruments from acoustic piano to electric piano, synth sounds, organ and more!

Cubase AI bundle
MONTAGE is bundled with Cubase AI, Steinberg's professional music production application that offers integrated recording and editing.