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Redknife

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    Rumors: Yamaha Montage successor

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Linwood,

    Thanks for early hands on report, especially action. Do you have any thoughts on the new ANX engine sounds? Have you had a go at programming ANX?

    26 minutes ago, linwood said:

    I’ve been playing the M8x for two days now and love it. The sounds and action work well for me. I’ve always liked to have Yamaha, Roland, Korg, and Moog represented in my setup. It’ s been like that since the 70/80’s. The M8x replaced a Motif ES8 that I’ve been sitting at for close to 20 years. I’d been looking for a controller to replace it, but couldn’t find anything I liked and I knew I’d be happy with the new Yamaha under the fingers. The sounds are great and the control you have over them and how quick you can get to what you want is great. It’s easy to play the filters and things in real time.  It only took an hour to adapt to the action, but now we’re old friends. I find that every thing in the M8x responds really well to the keybed ( even clav and B3) as do things like Keyscape and all my other sample libs. It’s wonderful. I’ve got 4 different keyboards in here and all of them feel totally different. Sometimes if I’m playing a synth thing with the Omega 8  I might play it from the Matriarch because I like the action on it. It’s tight and a bit heavier than the JX and I like where the wheels are in relation to your left hand. They’re close and the reach feels natural. Other times I’ll go with the M8x if it’s two fisted. This is a fantastic center piece for “me”. Very happy with it.

     

    Rumors: Yamaha Montage successor

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    DJ: I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the m8x should you follow through since you are a Montage and Kronos user. I have a Kronos 2 and have been thinking about one last hoorah of studio revision: selling Kronos and Moog, picking up the m8x. Looking for something fresh. It's hard for me to find holes in the Kronos sound pallet but sometimes different is good. So far, I like the m8x control interface, PAT, the particulars of the AN-X, and overall sound characteristics. Pianos are important to me. Ever since I sold my SY77 I've missed the Yamaha sound. Maybe it's time to get in the Y game again. Given the power of computer/iPad sound generation it can be tough to argue the need for a flagship controller, but the integration of sounds and controls on a workstation is a big differentiator for me. For now, I'm taking all the info in and waiting on member hands-on reports! Maybe a Montage M will show up on the floor stock of the local Guitar Center (low expectation).

    I lack clarity on how MIDI control has changed montage:M8X. I also don't know how to view the utility of the user sample memory. Are there Yamaha/aftermarket "user samples" to load (other than generating home grown samples and transferring to user sample memory)? I also don't know the functions available for sample management for issues such as multi-sample options although in truth I'll likely never do that.

    26 minutes ago, DeltaJockey said:

    I've been quietly following the discussions from the beginning, without contributing to speculation, even though I know synth hardware from the beginnings in the 70's, I am totally clueless when it comes to speculation on marketing strategies for keyboard companies. I've had an original Montage8 from near the beginning, and have gone in and out of passion for it.

    The things I like about it are not the same as most people, and I have used it as a master studio controller for much of the time, because of its high quality audio interface and onboard 4 channel analog outs which I use for 4 channel surround monitors. I have on the whole liked the BHE action, but not above some of my other actions, particularly compared to the NumaX GT action.  I don't use the organ and EP patches at all, so drawbars don't enter into my calculation. The one thing in particular that really irked me about the Montage, was the fact that I couldn't get the sliders to control external vst parameters, only the rotary encoders.

     

    ...Enter the MontageM8x

     

    I was not intending to upgrade anytime soon, but the specs and discussions have me following with interest, particularly the new action, which is always a moth to light for me :)

    The incorporation of the hybrid tech, and the ability for additional functionality with firmware upgrades, along with less physical and wear-outable sensors also had me excited.

    The comments about it being lighter than previous actions got me listening, and with hope I thought it may be a bit more like the Numa X GT in this regard.

    I'm not in a position unfortunately to go traveling to try it out for real, but along with interest in many of the upgraded and added features, already having my gun locked and loaded, the little GAS voice which sits on my right shoulder whispering in my ear, went and pulled the trigger before I had a chance to stop it :).

     

    Of course I'm excited about the increased level of sound generation, ANx and control/display improvements, and will be pouring over every youtube video I have time to watch.

     

    I now have a perfectly new condition Montage8 to sell, and rather cheap I suspect! I expect the M8x to turn up hopefully by the end of the coming week.

    If no one else has given first hand opinions, I will make some comments when I get it from a pianists point of view.

     

    The speculation on fan noise is not an issue for me, as I've owned a Kronos for many years, with zero concerns over it's fan noise, and life, which is about 8 years of use, and no wear or dust on the fan. Non issue! The Montage has a 5 year warranty, before I'd even have to consider the burden of this.

     

    I'm not normally a first adopter, and hope that there aren't any gotchas which will emerge in the next few months from people roadtesting them.

    I see folks baulking at the price in USD and UK pounds etc. Spare a thought for us in OZ with a quite terrible exchange rate at the moment.

    The Yamaha recommended price is $7200AUD! Street price seems to be around $6400, and there seems to be a promotional price at the moment of $5750, so not wanting to spend more later, I grit my teeth and went for it. It's not a sign of wealth, it's indicative of the only hobby I spend my money on :)

     

    So, just a few of my ramblings, take them with salt, or whatever pinch of spice takes your fancy!

     

     

     

    s). 

    Rumors: Yamaha Montage successor

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    (ETA: I’ve been made aware this video is a repost on YouTube of one of the Yamaha official videos, and posted to this thread 10/9 by @DmitryKo
    I thought it was new and, as closely as I’ve followed this thread and others, didn’t recognize the duplication)

     

    Some examples of AN-X sounds, although not exclusively_ all playing (corrected to official Yamaha video)

     

    • Thanks 1

    Chopin: Fantasie-Impromptu Op. 66

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I’ve anlways enjoyed this piece, which I suppose is not surprising given its popularity. The frenetic runs can slip if I don’t play it for a while. D flat major 2nd movement is stunningly beautiful to me. Somehow it works with the first and 3rd movements coalescing in the final bars, I like your inclusion of different pianists in your post. I follow Tiffany Poon on YouTube and find her content reliably interesting as she prepares for performances.

    • Like 1

    'best' guitar player (from a keyboardist perspective)

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    So many come to mind and many greats mentioned. Scofield is the one I find myself saying “wow this song would be awesome if Scofield were playing”. I think not mentioned yet would be Al Di Meola. David Gilmour, Holdsworth, Beck, Steve Vai particularly with Zappa, and John Petrucci. All have integrated well with keyboard players and I can do deep dives on any of their libraries.

    • Like 1
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