Montage a Kronos / Oasys Rip off?

tand · Post by **tand** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:09 pm

Sometimes it is difficult to understand some company decisions

marc1 · Post by **marc1** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:40 pm

Funnily enough yammys own DAW (Cubase) comes with far superior sounds than Montage. So in the end I wonder where the point is in bying a Montage anyway. I doubt that it will raise much interest with music producers. And live musicians will go for the equipment with the most convenience (light weight, easy to navigate, possibility to store sounds and samples- ahh... sounds more like a Kronos to me

).

spaceman3 · Post by **spaceman3** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:24 pm

marc1 wrote:Funnily enough yammys own DAW (Cubase) comes with far superior sounds than Montage. So in the end I wonder where the point is in bying a Montage anyway. I doubt that it will raise much interest with music producers. And live musicians will go for the equipment with the most convenience (light weight, easy to navigate, possibility to store sounds and samples- ahh... sounds more like a Kronos to me ).

Very good point.
If YAMAHA is going to force the user to use a computer, why even buy a MONTAGE?
One could just buy a PC, controller, and software, for less and get more.

tand · Post by **tand** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:32 pm

If YAMAHA is going to force the user to use a computer, why even buy a MONTAGE?
One could just buy a PC, controller, and software, for less and get more.

Indeed!

Bachus · Post by **Bachus** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:37 pm

tand wrote:
If YAMAHA is going to force the user to use a computer, why even buy a MONTAGE?
One could just buy a PC, controller, and software, for less and get more.
Indeed!

Actually the whole instrument is a contradiction of mythicall proportions..

Because they also removed the DAW controll functionallity from the Motif

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:10 pm

Bachus wrote:
tand wrote:
If YAMAHA is going to force the user to use a computer, why even buy a MONTAGE?
One could just buy a PC, controller, and software, for less and get more.
Indeed!
Actually the whole instrument is a contradiction of mythicall proportions..

Because they also removed the DAW controll functionallity from the Motif

I bet you were disappointed. I recall you were jonesin' for the Montage well before it was announced.

I think you made the best choice with a Kronos

spaceman3 · Post by **spaceman3** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:34 pm

Over on the YAMAHA motifator forum, they seem to be even more critical of the MONTAGE then us here.
YAMAHA made too many assumptions with the MONTAGE.
Even though it has some great AW sounds and an fm engine.
This thing, will probably flop.
Although i maintain, if i was filthy rich, i would probably buy one.

JFP · Post by **JFP** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:38 pm

Currently none of the Montage info and demo's made me consider parting from my Kronos2 88. It weighs a ton at 88 keys, I don't really like the design (not very classy) but that's personal and it seems to be willing to play catch up with the Korg, but isn't entirely there yet. And have we really ALL been anxiously waiting for the revival of more FM character sounds all these years. Sounds are good and t's a good performance keyboard but revolutionary ? No GAS here, my Korg still makes me smile. If they could just hammer out a few annoying bugs and stupidities in UI and storage procedures.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:07 pm

At $4000 MSRP for the 88 , Yamaha does not seem to be trying very hard for a lot of initial sales. Maybe there will be a relative handful for sale over the next 6 months

CEB · Post by **CEB** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:30 pm

I am very interested in this Montage but I don't really want to buy it if the Kronos can truly do what the Montage will do in a live situation. I have not figured how to do with the Kronos.

I want to be able to manually control the rate of climb and rate of fall of buildups and drops using the expression pedal.

Right now I do all my builds and drops in Cubase making them precise lengths for each tune then I save them as wav files and trigger them with keypads on my sample player. If I could use riser patch from a hardware systh and control it live with an expression pedal life would be a lot easier. I could actually create on the fly in a live situation.

My main board is a Kronos 2-88. IF there was a way I could do this with the Kronos and then add a KP3+ to the chain off an assignable output jack I could save a bunch of money. But I only have one assignable pedal output on the Kronos to begin with. The Montage being able to map its Macro controller to a foot pedal does seem like it has advantage. I would prefer not to pay $3500 when the Kronos can really do these but I have yet to see any evidecnce that it can. Could I MIDI In an expression control of some sort? I have no idea.

aron · Post by **aron** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:03 pm

I think Yamaha might be a little confused with the Montage.

From the MANUAL:
Thank you for purchasing the Yamaha MONTAGE6/7/8 Music Synthesizer. Since the first MOTIF was launched in 2001, the MOTIF series has reached fourth-generation status and has finally been remodeled— for the first time in 15 years—as the new MONTAGE.

The MOTIF has been "remodeled". Which seems to imply that it it will replace the MOTIF.

---------
From the forums:
> It is not a replacement for the Motif XF, it is a new era, a new direction, we will not be defined by existing categories. Montage is Montage

OK

> True, it replaces Motif XF as the top-of-the-line Synthesizer in the Yamaha product lineup. It builds on the Motif-series (Music Production Synthesizer's) but it also builds on the world renowned Yamaha DX-FM (the first digital Synthesizer). By the way, the DX was not a "workstation" either.

A lot clearer.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:17 pm

aron wrote:I think Yamaha might be a little confused with the Montage.

From the MANUAL:
Thank you for purchasing the Yamaha MONTAGE6/7/8 Music Synthesizer. Since the first MOTIF was launched in 2001, the MOTIF series has reached fourth-generation status and has finally been remodeled— for the first time in 15 years—as the new MONTAGE.

The MOTIF has been "remodeled". Which seems to imply that it it will replace the MOTIF.

---------
From the forums:
> It is not a replacement for the Motif XF, it is a new era, a new direction, we will not be defined by existing categories. Montage is Montage

OK

> True, it replaces Motif XF as the top-of-the-line Synthesizer in the Yamaha product lineup. It builds on the Motif-series (Music Production Synthesizer's) but it also builds on the world renowned Yamaha DX-FM (the first digital Synthesizer). By the way, the DX was not a "workstation" either.

A lot clearer.

LOL. There are tens of thousands of Motifs out there. I would imagine over 100,000 units. If I owned an XF or even an XS and liked my DAW/Cubase, etc, I am not sure I would jump all over the Montage( I owned the XS and sold it some time ago).

To my ears/eyes the Montage is interesting, but not compelling. And certainly not for $4000 compelling.

The Kronos is compelling. And has been since it was announced.

kronoSphere · Post by **kronoSphere** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:33 pm

A liitle out of subject but interesting. Tascam new multitracks recorders have no midi out and in for synchro with synths. The only Tascam product, now, that still have midi in and out for synchro is the X48 which is far more expensive. Things change and it seems that many company don't believe anymore in those kinds of recording products. Even the sellers in the shops do not know that and continue to tell wrong things to the eventual buyers...

tand · Post by **tand** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:57 pm

I hope Korg don't change the way they do things, really.

NIO0850 · Post by **NIO0850** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 3:47 am

I think Korg should have released a Kronos successor at Namm. I am pretty disappointed. I sold my Kronos in hopes of a new flagship workstation. My Kronos seemed to have a very slight latency issue and the pianos felt they were lacking some sensitivity range. They sounded great but to me unrealistic on the playability. I hope the display is upgraded to a ipad quality and it would be nice to see a 61key weighted option. The montage is onto a great idea with that Super knob. That is cool. Im just going to sit back and wait to be impressed again. Or just by the new Nord 3 and call it a day..