So begins the tedious task of comparing Yamaha MODX M waveforms versus MODX waveforms. New waveforms are genuine, objective improvements to the AWM2 sound set.

Yamaha MODX M6 synthesizer [Yamaha]

The table below summarizes the acoustic piano waveforms.

MODX M         MODX         Velocity levels
-----------    -----------  ----------------------
CF3 Stretch    CF3 Stretch  3 levels  stereo, mono
CF3 Flat       CF3 Flat     3 levels, stereo, mono
S6 Stretch     S6 Stretch   4 levels, stereo, mono
S6 Flat        S6 Flat      4 levels, stereo, mono
CFX            CFX          9 levels
CFX 2022                    9 levels
C7                          5 levels
Nashville                   5 levels
S700           S700         3 levels
Brite Piano    Brite Piano
Imperial                    8 levels
Hamburg Grand              10 levels
U1 Upright                  5 levels
Felt Piano                  4 levels
Upright        Upright      3 levels
CP80-2         CP80-2       4 levels
CP80           CP80         5 levels
CP80 Stage                  5 levels
CP70           CP70

MODX M has an updated CFX grand piano. The Hamburg Grand is brand new. The “freebie” piano libraries are now in factory waveform memory. All in all, a nice collection of instruments. MODX M does not implement Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM).

Next up, electric pianos:

MODX M         MODX         Velocity levels
-----------    -----------  ----------------------
67Rd                        9 levels
73Rd Studio                 8 levels
74Rd Stage                 10 levels
78Rd Studio                10 levels
EP1            EP1          3 levels
EP2            EP2          2 levels, 1&2
EP3            EP3          2 levels, 1&2
EP4            EP4          5 levels
Rd Soft        Rd Soft      5 levels
Rd Hard        Rd Hard      4 levels
Rd73           Rd73         5 levels
Rd78           Rd78         5 levels
Wr Warm                    12 levels
Wr Wide                    10 levels
Wr1            Wr1          3 levels
Wr2            Wr2          4 levels
Wr3            Wr3          5 levels
Clavi B                     4 levels
Clavi S                     4 levels
Clav1          Clav1 
Clav2          Clav2
Clav3          Clav3
Clav4          Clav4        2 levels
Clav5          Clav5        3 levels

At this time, MODX M does not have the ClavD6 CA and ClavD6 DA waveforms which are part of the Montage M OS 3 release.

Unfortunately, no new waveforms in the organ, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and stringed bass categories. Montage M neglected to add new pipe organ waveforms and MODX M is no different. [Important to worship music.]

The orchestral woodwinds remain the same as MODX. MODX M adds new ensemble string section waveforms, Cinema Strings:

MODX M
-------------------
CinemaStr Vn
CinemaStr Vn Legato
CinemaStr Vn Spic
CinemaStr Vn Trem
CinemaStr Va
CinemaStr Va Legato
CinemaStr Va Spic
CinemaStr Va Trem
CinemaStr Vc
CinemaStr Vc Legato
CinemaStr Vc Spic
CinemaStr Vc Trem
CinemaStr Cb
CinemaStr Cb Legato
CinemaStr Cb Spic

These sounds are called “Kino Strings” on Genos and recent high-end Yamaha arranger keyboards. Yes, Yamaha reuses waveforms… The MODX orchestral solo and ensemble strings, Celtic Harp and orchestral harps are carried into MODX M.

For you chimpanzees, MODX M adds a zoo of new percussion noises. There are too many to mention. To get started, search the MODX M Data List for waveform names beginning with “OP “. There are new cowbell waveforms. 🙂

I will add new tables here. Stay tuned.

Copyright © 2025 Paul J. Drongowski

I’m pretty excited about the new Yamaha MODX M series. My original MODX6 gets played almost every day and is getting a little beat out. I have developed tons of Performances and content for MODX6 and a MODX M6 or M7 replacement would be a logical choice.

The MODX M series Quick Guide, Operation Manual and Data List PDFs are available at your favorite Yamaha web site. Thank goodness Yamaha released the Data List in PDF as well as EXCEL format. I absolutely detest reading the Genos Data List in spreadsheet form.

Yamaha have also released a MODX M update v1.10. The release notes identify the following changes:

New features
    * Now supports Rec’n’Share.
Fixed problems
    * Improved stability of USB (audio, MIDI) connections with 
      computers and smart devices.
    * Fixed an issue where more than 17 libraries could not be 
      loaded correctly.
    * Fixed other minor problems.

Glad to see the Rec’n’Share support and would love to see more integration with Yamaha apps.

I will add more comments here as I learn. In the meantime, I recommend reading Blake’s Take Introducing MODX M. Blake is an excellent writer. If you’re like me, you don’t have gobs of time to watch videos. Blake’s Take should answer most of your immediate questions.

Yamaha MODX M6 synthesizer [Yamaha]

First, we need a proper MODX M6 picture! [Click images to enlarge.] The “leak” image came from a really sketchy site. I don’t have a clue how they obtained it.

Yamaha MODX M comparison [Yamaha]

Next, I have reproduced an image from Blake’s Take. This image compares the MODX M against the original MODX and Montage M series. I will be referring back to this comparison often while I weigh a MODX M purchase.

As a reminder, MODX M has 1.9GB of User Wave memory versus the 1GB of User Wave memory in the original MODX. The MODX M inherits most (all?) of the Montage M preset waveform DNA (10.7 GB when converted to 16-bit linear format). I will study the list of preset waveforms carefully.

Yamaha MODX M virtual drawbars [Yamaha]

My only criticism of Blake’s Take — he buried the lead! MODX M has the shimmer reverb and the VCM rotary speaker sim. That shimmer reverb is sweet. Need I say how many organ players have awaited eight sliders and the VCM rotary speaker? And the MODX M display shows virtual drawbars. Hurray!

Copyright © 2025 Paul J. Drongowski