Yamaha Montage M8X Synthesizer

The Montage M8X offers the most sound engines, the richest sound and the most sound manipulation capabilities Yamaha have ever head on a digital synth. The stunning build quality, hands-on controls, new sub LCD display and DAW integration features really set the Montage M8X apart from the competition.

A major reason to have the Montage M8X is the wooden key piano action and the polyphonic aftertouch. This is the only model in the range to have such features and this opens up the musical capabilities with the authentic piano feel and response whilst still being able to manipulate sounds with aftertouch but on specific notes only.

Montage M8X Key Features

• 88 Key GEX Action with polyphonic aftertouch
• 3 Different sound engines - AN-X / FM-X / AWM2
• New smart morph feature for AN-X engine
• 3.8Gb User Flash memory for samples/ sound libraries
• High Resolution controllers for the ultimate in precision control
• New sub display with super clear control information and editing features
• Pure Analog Circuit 2 - The upgraded Pure Analog Circuit reduces noise and improves the dynamic range
• Montage M ESP Plug-In available for Mac and PC
• VCM Rotary and Drawbar Behaviour - Using sophisticated modelling technology
• New controllers including 5-Segment Ribbon controller with HOLD, Keyboard Hold for sustained chords and Portamento with time knob
• USB MIDI and Audio Multi-channel interface
• New button layout and additions for faster workflow and easier control
• 16 Track pattern sequencer

Sample Robot for Montage M - FREE

Based on a long and successful cooperation with SKYLIFE, Yamaha is proud to release a special version of SampleRobot, the industry's leading sampling tool, for registered users of MONTAGE M and MODX+.

SampleRobot MONTAGE Edition relies on the renowned software technology for automated sampling and assists you to create high-quality sample libraries from any sound source. Give shape to your own exciting sample instruments and import your sounds into your favorite Yamaha synthesizer workstation by using the X7U- and X7L-file format.

SampleRobot from Berlin-based SKYLIFE simplifies the process of sampling sounds from hardware synthesizers and software instruments via an automated recording process. An ideal and economical solution for live musicians who have become accustomed to having several keyboards on stage. Simply connect a sound source to your audio interface and start SampleRobot. Immediately after the finished sampling process, you have all your favorite sounds converted for use with MONTAGE M and MODX+. No need to carry multiple cases to your next gig.

SampleRobot MONTAGE is available through the Yamaha US site https://shop.usa.yamaha.com/en/samplerobot for macOS and Windows.

MONTAGE M and MODX+ owners can register to grab their free software copy starting November 18th 2024 until March 31st 2025.

Three Sound Engines Under One Hood - AN-X, AWM2, FM-X

AN-X - Analogue Engine

A stunning rich sound engine with advanced sound control and behaviour, the AN-X engine of the Montage M8X, re-creates the warm, classic sound of an analog synthesizer with a host of sophisticated modulation options.

Features Include:

• Three Oscillators with 5 waveforms (Saw 1, Saw2, Triangle, Square and Sine) and Noise Generator
• Two filters with 10 filter types
• Pulse width modulation
• Oscillator Self Sync
• Ring modulation, FM, and wave shaper
• Amp EG with drive
• LFO for both amplitude and filter
• Voltage drift and aging settings to simulate vintage synth behaviour
• Wave Folder (Added as of OS V2.0)

The AN-X Engine allows you to create expressive, unique analog sounds to your heart's content. With such a vast array of hands-on controls and immediate flexibility it will give your sounds the edge you have been missing.

AWM2

The AWM2 of Montage M8X is Yamaha's advanced sound sampling technology engine with a special compression that allows them to get a huge amount of samples at superior quality in to a smaller amount of memory. As such they have been able to create high definition sounds with the huge memory they have to fill and to offer a massive selection of authentic sounds for you to perform and create sounds from.

Offering an incredible 128 Elements per part, AWM2 allows for smoother transitions, giving you an expansive canvas for ultra-high-definition sound creation. Popular acoustic sounds sound crisper and cleaner than ever before and of course the editing capabilities of the Montage M8X will leave only your imagination as your limitation.

FM-X

With its own 128 note polyphony and the full original authenticity of the famous FM sound generation first seen on DX models, the legendary sounds of FM are right at your fingertips. The Xpanded capabilities mean you can achieve even more and easier than ever before using the easy access setups. Part of the update means the faders will change brightness when using FM sounds, so you can tell what is a carrier and a modulator and you can simply tweak the sliders to generate your sound. Incredible!

400 Note Polyphony

The Montage M8X has a total amount of 400 note polyphony! With the different sound engines combined it allows you to make the most immense sounds you could possibly think of. Polyphony is spread as follows:

• 128 notes for AWM2 Preset Waveform Parts
• 128 notes for AWM2 User Waveform Parts
• 128 notes for FM-X Parts
• 16 notes for AN-X Parts

Expanded Softsynth Plugin for MONTAGE M8X v2.0

A game-changer for recording musicians, the Expanded Softsynth Plugin (ESP) replicates the MONTAGE M in your favourite DAW. Free for all registered MONTAGE M owners, the ESP allows you to create, edit and mix MONTAGE M Performances anywhere you happen to be - without the hardware! This level of seamless integration separates the Montage from all its competitors.

Montage M ESP Features

• Ultimate mobility - You can realize all of MONTAGE M just in your DAW without the need for the hardware being connected
• Ultimate Work Efficiency - Offline processing, rendering
• All settings are saved in your DAW project for easy totall recall.
• Can be launched on any number of ESP as long as your PC specifications allow

High Resolution Controllers

All the Performance Controls - from the Keyboard and Faders to the Super Knob and Sustain, as well as the Sound Engine, are now in High Resolution. Because of the fine resolution the values of 0-127 are a thing of the past. The finite scope of value changes means super smooth progressive control just like analog machines.

Expansive Memory Upgrades

The Montage M8X has been given a boosted memory capacity over its predecessor. The internal AWM memory sees an increase from 5.67GB to 9.97GB of Preset Wave memory, and an increase from 1.75Gb to 3.8GB of User flash memory. This boosted memory brings with a host of new sounds and samples of course of the highest quality.

Sub-LCD Display For Lightning Quick Editing

Montage M8X features a new 512 x 64 LCD screen in the upper left area supported by a selection of buttons and real-time rotary controllers. The LCD displays all the vital editing features and quick access screens for all the controls you will need to get your hands on to tweak and modify your sounds. The clear display will massively enhance your results and speed of operation when you want to get down and dirty making sounds.

For more in depth editing a PAGE JUMP button moves what's in the LCD screen over to the larger 7" TFT Colour touchscreen for deeper editing.

Enhanced User Interface

Yamaha have changed the layout of buttons and accessible controllers on the Montage M8X compared to the original model, enhancing the workflow, ease and speed of operation. The new layout has multiple ways of allowing the user access to the deepest editing without having to navigate through endless menus

Layout Enhancements Include:

• Two new Shift buttons make it effortless to access secondary functions
• Backlit LIVE SET and CATEGORY buttons are colored differently and clearly show mode function
• New slider lamps show red LED value increments, while active Parts are illuminated in blue
• 6 touchscreen display knobs
• 5-segment ribbon controller with dedicated HOLD button
• KEYBOARD HOLD button for sustaining chords while using knobs to edit
• Portamento on/off button and dedicated Portamento time knob
• Dedicated part and scene controls

Multi-Channel Audio and MIDI DAW Interface

The Montage M8X offers a multichannel 32 output/6 input audio and MIDI interface. Streamline MIDI recording, virtual instrument monitoring, and multi-track audio recording through a single USB cable. There is also a dedicated [DAW] button allowing the MONTAGE M to act as a hardware controller for DAWs such as Cubase, Logic, ProTools and Live. Control the mixer, transport, soft-synth plugins and more with ease.

MONTAGE M OS v2.0

MONTAGE M OS v2.0 adds important Sound, Control and Workflow enhancements. Yamaha's sound design team created 58 new Performances to highlight all the new sound features. Plus, an added "MONTAGE M OS v2.0" Attribute in Category Search to make the new Performances easy to find.

Montage M8X OS V2.0 Enhancements include:

• A new effect type (Shimmer Reverb) has been added
• New waveforms (New CFX and CP80) and Performances have been added
• Wave Folder has been added to AN-X Parts
• The AN-X Smart Morph function has been added
• Now supports the MIDI 2.0 Protocols.
• Improvements have been made to the user interface