Yamaha today released Montage OS version 2.5. It’s the fifth free firmware update released for the company’s flagship synth.
“Montage is an incredibly deep, powerful and versatile synthesizer,” says Yamaha Marketing Manager Nate Tschetter. “OS v2.5 adds DAW Remote for tighter integration with music-making systems.” The update also further expands the Montage sound, control and workflow features.
Here’s what Yamaha has to say about Montage OS 2.5:
MONTAGE OS v2.5 now includes all the original MOTIF XF Performances, bringing the total number of MONTAGE preset Performances to 2,655. Each of the MOTIF XF Performances has been updated for MONTAGE with new Super Knob programming and Audition demos for more creative possibilities. From the beginning, MONTAGE contained all of the MOTIF XF Voice content. This update gives MONTAGE all of the same sound content that’s in MOTIF XF, along with the all-new, multi-gigabyte sized MONTAGE AWM2 and FM-X content.
The new DAW Remote mode lets users control Steinberg Cubase, Apple Logic Pro, Ableton Live and Avid Pro Tools directly from the MONTAGE hardware and on-screen controls. Beyond the feature’s transport and mixer control, it is now also possible to select, arm, mute and solo DAW tracks as well as edit plug-ins all from the MONTAGE front panel. Combined with powerful USB Multichannel Audio/MIDI connectivity, DAW Remote makes MONTAGE a totally integrated music production system.
The updated OS also makes it possible to record the Arpeggiator output to the Song Recorder. This allows users to capture the individual notes generated by the Arpeggiator, as opposed to only the chords being played.
Yamaha has added simple, but useful, waveform management tools. These include Waveform Keyboard Select, which enables users to load an audio file directly to a key via a “Keyboard Select” box that appears when loading an external audio file.
Waveform Center Note designates a “Center Note” matching the keyboard note to the original waveform pitch, which is useful when a pitched waveform is in a particular key and must be placed on the respective keyboard note.
The panel lock is another new feature geared toward live performers. Users can now lock the panel during a live performance, preventing any accidental front panel changes during setup and while performing on stage.
Pricing and Availability
Yamaha Montage OS v2.5 is available now as a free download.
Nice, for those in need of it.
Funny to see some of the related synthopia issues:
– Montage 1.5 update brings sound, control & workflow improvements;
– Montage 1.6 update brings sound, control & workflow features;
Maybe the Montage tries to be too much of everything?
Just whished Yamaha would have brought more and better updates to some of their other machines, like the Tenori-On or the CX-5M …
I own a Motif XF6. I think that the pattern sequencer is great– I start most songs on this before I go to the DAW. The only thing that is stopping me from trading up to the Montage is the lack of the built in sequencer. I keep on hoping tha they will be able to add this in an OS upgrade.
cumbersome workaround: midi data that you record (or load) to the internal recorder can be converted into a user arpeggio. problem: a maximum of only 16 different (unique) midi note numbers can occupy an arpeggio phrase. yamaha engineers should be ashamed of themselves. best thing of the montage: the display. genos is ten times better re sequencing. btw…
With the release of Yamaha’s current flagship synthesizer Montage, fans of the now-abandoned Motif series were hopeful that the new instrument would live up to the legacy that the predecessors established. It turned out that it was not what they had wished for. Yes, the Montage has its own proprietary built-in MIDI sequencer, called ‘Direct Performance Recorder’, but unfortunately, upon release, some important features were missing. Basic functions like copying or erasing MIDI data have not been implemented. So far only simultaneous recording of all 16 tracks is allowed – an impossible task with only one pair of hands. One can not fix mistakes made during a recording. There is no point in all of that, due to the fact that we are talking about a couple of kilobytes of simple MIDI data, not memory-intensive WAV files. Recommended improvement are:
CONSECUTIVE RECORD: It allows tracks to be recorded one after the other, instead of simultaneously.
LOOP RECORD: Recording takes place repeatedly over a specified area, according to loop point settings.
COPY: This function copies a specified area of recorder data. It is convenient for repeating the same phrase several times.
DELETE: This function deletes a specified area of recorder data, and moves the subsequent data to fill the gap. As a result, the measure length will be shortened by the number of deleted measures.
ERASE: This function erases all the recorder data inside a specified area. As the erased data is replaced by rests, the original measures will remain.
INSERT: This function inserts blank measures into a specified song position.
TRANSPOSE: This function transposes the pitch of notes within a specified area, over a +/- 127 semitone range.
COPY ARP TO TRACK: It allows to place arpeggios in destination tracks. In a ‘Measure’ field, one would be able to specify the beginning bar of the copy-destination.
Here is the MODX family! (-;
https://yamahamusicians.com/the-new-modx-keyboard-from-yamaha-raising-the-bar-for-mid-range-synths/amp/