Motif88

hmm... I think I only have pics from the early 1980's. No iPhone's and lots of pics like today. I thought I had a great pic from 1982 but I have a Yamaha TX7 in my hand, I think would make it 1985?

While the Nord Stage 4 was on my short list, I went for the Montage M8x. Outside of the usual "Nord is stage instrument for performance", would love a side by side if anyone owns both.

Don't forget this one....

Note this deep dive and geared focused video - The Synths & Gear of Eddie Jobson · The Gear Spotlight w/André Cholmondeley

His comments on some of Eddie's CS80 performances are slightly off but great to see EJ getting some press. The Yak also did a 3 part series on Keith Emerson. All worth watching...

Always have multiple backups. I have my Logic resources on a 4TB Samsung T7 SSD and a separate T7 partitioned and backing to Time Machine and a ”copy” to Carbon Copy Cloner. I was happy to replace my aging LaCie spinning local external drives. The 4TB Samsung T7 is down to $199 for Black Friday/Cyber Monday at Amazon and other site. Additional sanpshot backup to Synology NAS on duplicate 12TB Red Drives.

Since there are other threads outside of the original “Rumor”…it’s time to discuss the actual use of the Montage M. I haven’t used a workstation in more than 5 years and had 3 versions of the Motif in the early 2000’s. Coming from the Roland PHA-50 action to the M8x has been no issue. In fact, the M8x replaced both an RD-2000 and Hydrasynth Deluxe. Other than the recent addition of the Hydrasynth, my setup has been mostly focused on software synths since 2017. Initial M8x observations: 1. The GEX action is great - adjust the velocity curve to your liking. 2. The UI and sub display totally change what I remember about the Motif series. Loved the sounds, hated the OS. The Montage M is so much easier to navigate and get to parameters quickly while playing “live” 3. Much less menu and mouse diving across the board that includes my workstations (Kronos, Motif XS8, ES8 and Motif8) and my Logic Pro/Soft Synth/MIDI Master Keyboard setup 4. The existing performances drive inspiration and creation without endless soft synth choices and patches within. That being said, the ability to use any/all soft synths is fantastic but sometimes you get so caught up in the setup and options, the creativity dies. 5. Plenty of old Motif patches still exist. The good news is a saved all of my old patches/backups in case I miss 2001+ 6. Still struggling with MIDI zone implementation on the Montage M. All of the existing videos and detailed documentation is specific to the previous gen Montage. Different OS, different menu options and clearly a different Remote DAW mechanism 7. Hoping the Yamaha team can update the materials to reflect OS changes soon 8. Roland still does DAW integration and MIDI zones better. The Roland RD had red/green LED’s for internal/external zones. Montage M has blue/cyan - WTF? I need a pantone color chart to tell the difference in shades of blue. No way to quickly eyeball internal/external channels/faders. 9. Does Montage Connect work with the M series? It appears no, but some official indication would be nice. Overall, I’m very happy that I made this purchase. It is engaging more than the dozens of software synths I own (Omnisphere & Keyscape excluded) have in years. Cheers!

I just received my M8x a few days ago too. I’m coming from the Roland PHA-50 action, which as noted can feel heavy or sluggish. I’m currently using the M8x with the velocity curve set to Hard 1. Always tough to judge action unless you play it yourself but I can say, it is a great feeling action and I don’t have issues play Acoustic/Electric Pianos, Synths and Organ. Like you, my only option was to fly to Sweetwater, Chuck Levins or Sam Ash NYC. I bought the M8x without having played it first. I replaced my RD-2000 and Hydrasynth Deluxe with the M8x and couldn’t be happier. Good luck in whatever you choose.

My bad...I stand corrected. Didn't realize it was just channel AT. All the more reason for my purchase of the M8x. Happy Thanksgiving!

Huh? Montage M8x, Waldorf, UDO Super Gemini, Hydrasynth/Deluxe, Korg Keystage, NI Kontrol MKIII, Osmose Expressive E… if you actually played a well implemented PAT keyboard, you will not go back. That excludes the Fantom 8 PHA-50 with crap poly AT implementation.

Took delivery of my Montage M8x today. Wow… It sounds incredible and is so much easier to navigate than my 3 previous Motif models and Kronos. I was concerned about the action since I bought before I could play it. No concerns, feels great with a slight tweak to the velocity curve. The poly aftertouch is very well implemented and does not leave me longing for the Hydrasynth Deluxe that I sold. Would have love to have a OLED display for the sub display but I’m not complaining. Now I need to figure out how to control my soft synths/Logic using the Montage. That will come in a few days after I just play and learn instrument workflow/layout. Cheers!

Having schleped a everything from a Rhodes, Oberheim Modular 8 voice and Crumar T2 to a lighter setup of a KX-88, D50, MS-20 along with a Yamaha Cabinet Speaker… I can say that not while playing live is missed emotionally, it is much better physically. Now, as the grumpy old man…can we please get the dopes making movies learn how to mix and light for people not just those with private theaters? Don’t bury the dialog and don't make everything so damn dark that we can’t see what hell they are trying to portray without jacking up all the parameters. I’ll leave with two important thoughts: 1. Times may change but standards must remain. 2. You can’t polish a turd. Cheers!

I'm home studio based for quite a while. If I was playing out, a Fantom 08 and a Trigon, Pro3, or Hydrasynth Deluxe would do it these days. I bought and returned a Fantom 08 last year. I thought it was great, but unless I was playing in out, it was redundant.

Signature update test -

Yes, running out room to list all the gear that I have sold/traded over the years. While I couldn’t play the M8x before I bought it, being able to trade in my RD-2000 at a local Sam Ash without the hassle of shipping that monster was worth the hit I took on the trade in $ versus packing & shipping. We’ll see. Delivery is scheduled for Sunday.

We will see...I had a Kronos (gen 1), Motif 8, Motif ES8 and Motif XS8 before I and sold/traded for the RD-2000 and a bunch of software synths. My choices really came down to the Montage M8x and the Nord Stage 8. I know, I know, totally different animals but the point is, what will motivate and inspire me? I've worked too long and too hard not have choices at this point on my life.

Not sure if it's time to start a new "non-Rumor" Montage thread. Regardless, I pulled the trigger. Sold my Hydrasynth Deluxe via Reverb and traded in my RD-2000 with RPU-3 Triple Pedal to local Sam Ash to avoid the hassle of shipping that beast. Sam Ash was kind enough to give me a 10% discount on the Montage after 46 years as a loyal customer. Net, Montage M8x for $1700 (plus tax). SOLD! I hope I like the damn thing as I'm buying it before playing it. Only other option was a flight to Sweetwater, Sam Ash NY or Chuck Levin's and still having to deal with how to ship the RD-2000 and not lose money.

If so, I'm in...

Huh? "Are you sure you are a synthesist?" Please don't try to be too smart about things you don't know.. I am fairly sure I've owned and played a few classics. How did you like your Oberheim Modular 8 voice or your OBXa, OB8 or your 1978 Korg MS-20 among others. It has nothing to do with "bonding" I did truly like the poly aftertouch keyboard but I found myself playing the same 10 or less patches. After my 45+ year journey of playing, I like to change things up every few years. This might be an early rev cycle but the clock is ticking... My advanced age provides the ability to buy/try new instruments every few years. I do sell or trade and no longer collect. I wish I had held onto all 3 Oberheim's and the original MS-20.

JDM may be a nice guy but he is clearly pushing for youtube feeds/followers with shorts and made up “controversies” to feed the same. I get it, but…

Just sold my Hydrasynth Deluxe via Reverb. Hopefully, I don’t get screwed (other than shipping costs). Moving from RD-2000 and Hydrasynth Deluxe to a Montage M8x. Never sure what the right answer is, just want to play in the handful years I have left….

Clearly, missing the point...in line with this entire post.

Thank you!

Can you comment on the setup of the Montage M with Logic? Does it get setup the same way the older Montage and MODX using the “Mackie Control Surface” or did they update the integration? Thank you!

Because the unelected EU regulators know best how to control our lives…