Montage M (emulated) - Sand, software and sound

Thanks, again, to Saul at Yamaha Musicians Forum. Quoting:

Yamaha has created a software version of the Montage M. This is a 1:1 emulation with all features present.
My understanding is that the software will come free with the purchase of a new Montage M but that it will also be available as a standalone purchase.

Of course, this raises many questions about capabilities, end user licensing, distribution, pricing, yada-yada. We’ll know soon. BTW, only n00bs launch a new product on a Monday. 🙂

Back in April, Steinberg announced a “rent-to-own” partnership with Splice. Could the new partnership bring the emulated Montage into fruition?

Will the emulated Montage M interoperate with Yamaha’s new control surface?

Flash: Major leakage

A few highlights from the Hispasonic article.

The Expanded Softsynth Plugin (E.S.P.) provides an “in the box” version of Montage M. Available in January (at no cost to Montage M users), E.S.P. provides hardware and software integration (editing, use of sounds, etc.)

AN-X polyphony is 16 voices (as rumored). The basic voice architecture includes 3 oscillators, noise source, double filter section, ring and FM modulation, autosync, PWM, 2/4-voice unison modes.

Each AWM2 part of a performance can stack up to 128 elements. AWM2 polyphony is doubled. The 8-part limit on Seamless Sound Switching (SSS) remains.

Montage M factory AWM2 preset sounds (7,620 multi-samples) occupy 10GB of memory when converted to 16-bit linear format. USER flash memory space is 3.7GB (presumably uncompressed). The article refers to an additional 128 voice polyphony when playing from USER flash memory — which is similar to Genos (gen 1).

FM-X polyphony remains 128.

Yamaha Pure Analog Circuit (PAC) is improved with better mids and bass.

As rumored, only the M8x model gets polyphonic aftertouch. The M6 and M7 have channel aftertouch. (Probably FSX keybeds as before.)

Overall, the Hispasonic article repeats, confirms or amplifies the most recent leak. I’m still waiting to see the manuals, especially the Data List PDF. The analog cultists hate everything already.

A few other random comments. A separate leak claims “VCM Rotary Speaker effect and realistic drawbar behavior deliver authentic organ control and sound.” Well, as far as eight sliders will take you, anyway. I think this means flipping the slider behavior. Maybe Yamaha ported the Stage YC rotary speaker effect to Montage M? That would be welcome on both Montage M and Genos (mark 2).

Wonder where all the preset waveform memory went? The “Best of Montage M” screen lists four pianos: CFX Concert, Ballad Piano, Hamburg Grand and Imperial. Pianos notoriously chew through sample memory.

The pictures aren’t up to Yamaha PR quality (resolution). Seem kind of home-brew. That carpet is hideous. I tore out one like it from our first house — 30 years ago. 🙂