Yamaha New Synth with Alien Technology

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 3:31 am

Regarding the screen, you can see all the demonstrators struggling with it on the youtube demo's.

I think i would tire of this board after 2 days on it.

The only thing i think better on this keyboard than Kronos is the 88 key keybed. The piano sounded nice.

If Korg bring out the next incarnation of Kronos i hope it has a much larger touch screen and led identification on all controllers.

Given these companies create keyboards for different demographics, baby boomers are all cashed up so can affored the extra luxuries on such keyboards.

Billy

StephenKay · Post by **StephenKay** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:35 am

StephenKay wrote:
Ksynth wrote:Looks like they've taken a lot of Karma ideas and made their own version.
Which ideas, in your opinion, are you referring to? Just curious, I'm not paying all that much attention to this...

Bad on me, I should just watch some of the demos.

I see what you are referring to, now that I watched the Sweetwater demo - cool demo. I would say that Yamaha has added some stuff with the motion sequencing and the interface that makes the Montage more capable of sounding like some of the stuff that KARMA has been doing for years. I thought there were some great sounds in the demo.

marc1 · Post by **marc1** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:31 am

burningbusch wrote:Played it NAMM. Was surprised at how many of the PCM sounds were really the same sounds we've known for 10+ years.

Busch.

I seem to remember that the same had been discussed when the Jupiter 80 hit the stores. Given the fact that Roland had the largest sample base during the 90ies/early 2000s with their excellent S-series of samplers, I wouldn't be too surprised if many of the waveforms found their way into the supernatural format.

At least that's something Korg keeps investing into with their newer, fresher (and more up to date) sounding sample content.

And yet another lame Namm. As I said earlier, I predict that we won't see any real technological progress during this decade anymore.

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:05 am

Can anybody source the manual for this thing.

I'm starting to change my mind on it.

billy

Bald Eagle · Post by **Bald Eagle** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:18 am

I'm curious about the "Performance Sequencer". Is it just an entire performance and that's it or can you at least add a track, overdub and simple things like that? That would be ok. Could export to a DAW for detailed editing if needed.

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:19 am

Better examples of sounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ronEbk462Yg

Sounds like Karma at about 5.00 - maybe better than?

billy

marc1 · Post by **marc1** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:19 am

From what I read about the Montage they've added a Bosendorfer Piano sample. So, no wonder that at least the piano sounds great.

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:07 pm

Interesting link showing Japanese technicians talking about the design of the Montage...oh, and a couple of American sound designers have a word or two to say, this is mostly in Japanese though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23bqJfgqD_k

Billy

marc1 · Post by **marc1** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:09 pm

Watched the demos, listened to the sounds and no ...
C'mon, five years after the Kronos and Jupiter hit the floors and this is the best yammy comes up with. They're not even trying to compete with Kronos, so I assume this is a product for all those who had been longing for a Motif successor (which, ironically, it's not - it's a performance synth).

Anyways I can imagine the obligatory marketing speech: "As usual we've doubled the polyphony (which you won't hear, ironically)" - Yawn

Devnor · Post by **Devnor** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 4:07 pm

As I posted on KC, Montage seems to have most everything Motif users have been asking then some. More waverom, FM synthesis, seamless sound switching, nicer readable touch display without the lag, set list and LED indicators next to the realtime modifiers. Some really nice design enhancements including the aluminum panels (instead of steel) finished to 5 microns and upgraded analog I/O section. 16 second startup time. That is huge. The super knob is a nice touch. Similar to the Jupiter 80's toneblender except much more configurable with a much smoother response. Backwards compatibility means I can load my XF patches including my custom samples.

The machine will sync to an incoming audio signal. No more tapped tempos. Delay/LFO will sync up and I would be able to use arps & MIDI data in a live context without the need to equip the drummer with headphones so he listen to a click track. My drummer, brilliant guy but he hates playing to clicks live.

As far as Montage needing more "stuff", I'm not so sure. FM + Motion Control layered with PCM sounds would keep me pretty busy. I don't care about its sequencer. There is enough here to use as a scratchpad. I use my Yamaha XF at gigs and when I'm in the studio or rehearsal space there's always a sequencer for those tasks.

As a Motif user playing gigs, I really couldn't be happier and I'm grateful that Yamaha has addressed shortcomings with my XF and have added useful features that will help me take my performance & compositions to the next level. Life is good.

mwiik · Post by **mwiik** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:03 pm

I replaced my Oasys 88 which I have had since 2005 with a Kronos 2 one month ago. Was a little bit worried now when Yamaha brings a new board on the market. Did I make the right choice?

Well, only by looking on the videos and specs I would say the Oasys would still kick its ass. And it is from... 2005.

However there seems to be some nice stuff and I will definately play one when it comes to the store. Maybe a partner to the Kronos as I have always liked Yamaha sound quality.

But as many said before it is really clear who is leading the workstation market, and it will probably be like that for 10 more years to come.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:13 pm

Devnor wrote:16 second startup time.

This alone is MUCH better than Kronos. Very important thing that Korg needs to work on for the next iteration of Kronos, if it happens.

shefu · Post by **shefu** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:40 pm

I know they are advertising it as a Workstation, but to me the Montage feels more like a synth in the likes of Yamaha EX5.

Looks and sounds cool, but I'm gonna have to test it when it comes out....if they ever bring it to the Guitar Center in Chicago. They haven't gotten any of the new synths in forever!

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:17 pm

Does the Montage have the Ensemble Voices or the Ensemble Voice function (?) like the Tyros 5, where, for example, you play a four-note chord with a string quartet sound and the upper two notes are assigned to a violin sound, the next assigned to viola, and the lowest to a cello? And is the basic piano sound of the Tyros 5 included in the Montage? From the internet demos, it sure sounds like it...

If the Montage has these two things, I might have to buy one anyway, even though the KRONOS does everything I need...

df

A few hours later: I downloaded the Montage manual, and there is no mention of Ensemble Voices, so much for that...for some reason I do really like the Tyros 5 default piano, but I like the KRONOS pianos too...so I probably don't need to spend thousands on a Montage...

Bachus · Post by **Bachus** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:01 pm

dfahrner wrote:Does the Montage have the Ensemble Voices or the Ensemble Voice function (?) like the Tyros 5, where, for example, you play a four-note chord with a string quartet sound and the upper two notes are assigned to a violin sound, the next assigned to viola, and the lowest to a cello? And is the basic piano sound of the Tyros 5 included in the Montage? From the internet demos, it sure sounds like it...

If the Montage has these two things, I might have to buy one anyway, even though the KRONOS does everything I need...

df

There is no evidence so far of the ensemble feature being part of the Montage
However some people believe to have hear an Sa2 voice in one of the french acoustic demo's