NEW! Yamaha Montage M ESP - The Montage M is now available as a DAW Plugin!
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- Today Yamaha announced the first release of the Montage M ESP (Expanded Softsynth Plugin). This plugin, available for free for existing Montage M owners, allows you to install a plugin VST version of the Montage M and run it from within your DAW - with no connection to the Montage M hardware. It also allows you to transfer performance data to and from hardware Montage M synthesizers. In this video I upgrade my Montage M7 firmware, then install and test out the new Montage M ESP!
Yamaha's announcement and instructions on installing ESP: yamahasynth.com/learn/montage...
My keyboard Z stand: amzn.to/3Ix5xuF
Z stand extra tier: amzn.to/3XtVpa6
My keyboard A frames: amzn.to/3YwAPav
My silver keyboard covers: amzn.to/40VySFx
My black keyboard covers: amzn.to/3Gt5oXz
0:00 Intro
1:42 Firmware Upgrade Required
2:23 Backing Up
3:09 Formatting USB Stick
3:35 Copy Firmware to USB Stick
3:50 Upgrading Firmware
4:57 Restoring Backup
5:46 Steinberg Download Assistant
6:14 Authorizing & Downloading ESP
7:45 Unpacking & Installing ESP
9:28 Configuring Cubase
9:59 Opening ESP
11:25 Presets
12:20 Editing Parts
12:57 Performance Controls
13:29 Add Parts
14:01 FM-X
15:21 Common Controls
15:43 Montage M Connect
17:19 Library
17:26 Global Settings
18:17 Overall Thoughts
#Yamaha #Montage #ESP - Hudba
![Super Mario Bros. | Underground (Hurry Up!) [NES] Transcription](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ewVJmIK1ZIk/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm sure you know this but perhaps a viewer doesn't. This plugin can fine tune values while pressing SHIFT + mouse, just like the Montage knobs can be fine tuned while pressing Shift. I'm also really impressed with the initial release.
This has become my favorite plugin now ! I’ve waited years for Yamaha to offer this in the box. Thanks for the video
Great news. Thank you Scott! I have been waiting for Yamaha to enter the softsynth market to keep up the pace with Korg and Roland in this area. Nice!
but missed the boat massively.. by not having the option to purchase/rent it.. only owners of the hardware get it.
Korg and Roland, make their software available for everyone, as it should be.
The t-shirt trick was cruel, for a moment I was sure I was getting a shroom flashback :D
Man, thanks for confirming! I didn't remember taking fun stuff and this threw me off so bad 😂
😂Didn't even notice this on first time view and I even thaught .. hey cute t-shirt but didn't notice the color trickery .. very cute indeed 🥰
Dittos!😂
So awesome! 😂😂😂
Yeah me to
Im sure they will make it its own seperate VST, as Aruria did that with the MiniFreak. It was a bonus product for the hardware owners, which eventually became a softsyth version for sale for non hardware people
Um...it IS its own separate VST. That's exactly what I'm demonstrating in this video. (I also show the MiniFreak VST in this video, btw)
@@ScottsSynthStuff I think what they meant was that like Arturia did by bundling the software with the hardware and then later start selling the software separately, at some point Yamaha will release ESP to be available without having to buy the hardware. Unfortunately it sounds like that won't be anytime soon.
Yes, I give a thumbs up and subscribe for the great help you gave me with this handy loading tutorial. I am surprised that it is still technically so complicated to update instruments, as if the brands don’t understand that 90 percent of the buyers of instruments are not advanced tech people. Many times, the opposite. So again, Thanks!❤
Bro's T-shirt became a superknob
I was waiting for a test like this one. This is really a big step. Able to convince me to consider buying... Thanks Scott!
You are thinking the same way I am about bringing this out gigging instead of hauling the whole synth out. I have a decked out microsoft surface with GigPerformer on it and have been waiting for this - now I can program sounds at home on the hardware then move to the VST and bring the Juno Stage out to beat the h3ll out of it :) and not worry about destroying the main axe!! This is great thanks...
FYI: ESP uses MIDI port 4 to synchronize with MONTAGE M hardware
Great editing and content, thank you for taking the time to provide us such a great deliverable.
Scott as usual your review is spectacularly in-depth and detailed!!! Thank You so much being able to show us the progresses of the ESP softsynth... It was time for Yamaha to do so!!!!
Good review. Sounds are awesome. I've had a Motif for a long time. Love it and Love Yamaha. Btw, looks like your T-shirt was undergoing some color updates too 😂 Happy new Year!
Brilliant. Congrats Yamaha. Hopefully they'll release the VST to general public. Now why can't Kurzweil do this with their K2700? VAST in software is long overdue.
The Pro version will be available for everyone this summer.
Hi Scott.. I was totally looking forward to your video on this. I too was expecting a midi keyboard view as well. Perhaps on the next version they will have a sizable window that can be toggled on/off or docked. Thanks for the review!
Many thanks Scott very helpful!
I hope it can be bought for everyone as not all keyboardist can spend exorbitant amounts of money for a Montage or any good keyboard.
Why keyboardist needs Montage VST? I mean, for general audience any mid class keyboard, workstation or stage piano, are sufficient enough, they will never tell apart MODX and Montage sounds. Not to mention all the hassle PC setup brings. Also, about what keyboardists without keyboard you even speaking about? How in the world keyboardist can become a keyboardist without learning his craft with keyboard in first place?
@alicaramba7680 my keyboard is only ew425.
Thanks dude. Super helpful.
Roland Zencore and expansions in software so this a cool move from Yamaha
Definitely a move in the right direction by Yamaha. Whether it becomes available for general download will depend on a couple of things, like Montage M hardware sales. There is also the issue of pricing the software itself. Too expensive, people will simply prefer cheaper VSTs or the hardware version, too cheap it will cannibalize sales of Montage. Maybe they'll choose the subscription model.
And eagerly awaiting a subscription as an avid subscription user just because I don't have the kind of budget to save up to buy regular synthesizers and stuff I use. I currently use. slate digitals subscriptions I currently use reason studio subscription. And I use Moises subscription.
I doubt Yamaha will release it using a subscription model. They do not have any kind of subscription infrastructure in place, unlike Roland, which has pretty much bet the farm on their Roland Cloud subscription model.
I hate subscription models. I want to actually OWN the things that I pay for, not rent them temporarily as long as I keep shilling out.
I mean, I see your point there. It really does depend on the person, somebody on a fixed income that's as low as mine, even if I was able to save up $100 a month, I would still be forever in order to afford a montage or a PA5X or something like that that I want. I've even been looking at the $1500 Phantom Zeros, but until I ran into some users that said they had polyphony problems, everything. on that thing is great except for there's a proliferating problems. So for somebody like me to be able to buy something that is that complex in a friendly user interface. would require a subscription or something like that. I might be able to buy. you know, a mode X or something like that. But it doesn't do quite enough of what I want. I really want something that is an excellent synth that also has all of the zones and faders, but also doesn't have a synth engine that caps out and start. dropping notes only on like the second or third layer of a solo instrument And that's what the Roland Phantom Zero was running in the problems on dropouts. And I was so excited to get ready to start saving for one. And then now I'm looking at the Nautilus AT for something that I might save up to get, but that would still take me almost two years to save up for. And that's a long stretch for somebody with my disabilities.@@ScottsSynthStuff
@@ScottsSynthStuff You are right, although subscriptions can sometimes be useful for trying things out. In the end the news today are they are not going to make it generally available. Just for M owners.
Thanks Scott ❤
The manual says you have to set it to MONTAGE M Port 4 to IN and OUT before transferring data and Uncheck "MONTAGE M Port 4" from the Input Port settings
in the MIDI Port setting of your DAW. That should solve the problem with transfer of data to/from the instrument from Cubase and still allow it be used over the other ports.
I discovered this afterwards - and it does "see" my Montage - but it doesn't work. Communication and weird Windows errors.
@@ScottsSynthStuff that's weird, unfortunately haven't got a M to test myself. Still contemplating an upgrade from my MODX.
Thanks for the video Scott, the plugin seems very promising, I hope they offer it as an affordable separate purchase. I just have two questions though.
1. For the AWM2 parts, were you able to see the different layers that make up the part and perhaps change it?
2. I wonder if this pushes them to release more plugins, really hoping this is not a one off instance. If that's the case, how does this work with John Melas tools in the future?
Thank you for the video! I am assuming this vst is not available for purchase for the general public?
Great Video. I used ESP with Studio One and Cubase. My CPU goes way up with this. So I get some dropouts with my 2-year-old 2-N-1. So I will be upgrading to a desktop with a better processor. Makes one appreciate the power that is on the Montage HW.
Thanks for making it a bit easier than following Yamaha speak!
After watching your video I updated my M8x firmware and installed the ESP plugin. I had more challenges with the Steinberg tools and authorization process than anything else. Finally up and running in Logic with no issues.
Any idea how I get my already flagged "Favorites" on the M8x to appear in ESP?
Looking forward to updates.
Really glad to see such a quick posting on the new Montage M VST. Thanks Scott. Your vidios are appreciated greatly, please keep making them. Downloaded my own copy and was really looking forward to unchaining myself from the anchor. Alas, it IS such a resource hog!! You weren't kidding about the audio dropouts. I am running Cubase 13 Pro on Win 11, have an i7 processor with 16 GB of ram, and it eats that up like it was halloween candy to a kid. I trimmed the fat as much as I could and still get dropouts on most sounds enough to make me think this is not ready for prime time quite yet. I do have a few more system tweaks I can make, but if I have problems with single sounds, the multis are going to be unplayable. I am going to have to get a much better computer to run this and have any possibility of it becoming something I can play and REALLY enjoy. Until then, I will still happily bang on my 88 key anchor and revel in the auditory bliss it can provide.
16GB is hardly a large amount of RAM nowadays...
True dat! @@johnthomas338
I did a couple more tweaks and the thing that did the best was maxing out the buffer on my Apollo x4 interface. It's just on the lower end of noticing latency between hitting a note and the hearing the resulting sound. However, no audio dropouts with playing the initally loaded MontageM VST program. I also ran a few other multis and can play many without severe audio annoyance from significant dropouts. More complex multis and more than 8 notes can still be a problem, but I think I can limp this along until I get the computer upgrade. Been a while and it's time. Now to decide if I'm going to stay with laptops or go with a desk anchor...desk would give me more room to stuff the box and would sit in the studio, laptop would free me from toting all the heavy equipment to the gigs...decisions decisions. ;-)
It’s interesting as I have always felt this was a reskinned Halion with a different FM engine. I’m not so sure anymore. Halion isn’t a resource hit. It just sucks on M1. I will say that it is one ugly GUI unfortunately.
Looks great, can’t wait til the non-hardware owner version comes out. Hope it’s not $500. Be nice if they made a Super Knob peripheral to go with the plugin.
Very useful video. Just purchased my new Montage M and really digging your content. I am definitely a fan, and a subscriber. Are you on Twitter? X? Also, do you have any suggestions for alternatives to sound Mondo since for Montage M users, it is very limited now. Thanks again!
There isn't really a SoundMondo alternative - it would take a lot of reverse engineering to get it to work (it's not a published protocol). But I agree, they need to do some work to allow the conversion of performances, so that Montage and Montage M performances on SoundMondo can intermingle.
Oh, and no I'm not on X (or much else in the way of social media).
Thanks Scott. As always, very informative & helpful.
I’ve waited to purchase a montage until the vsti was released. It’s not as complete as was originally marketed/promised, IMHO.
Limited editing. What about audio routing flexibility, sequencer. While I know a DAW covers this, the promise was not for an editing vst the has the sounds but an exact vsti version of the hardware in total.
Still I’m intrigued as I’d love to have a 61 key setup and use the VSTi version with my 88 key controller. Like having 2 Montage Ms on stage simultaneously without buying 2.
Will it work well with DAWs other than cubase?
Are performance parameters midi assignable to your connected controller if it’s not a montage?
yes the plug-in works with any daw that runs VSTiii and au2 plug-in format. I tried it in Logic and it works great.
Nice first up Scott on this, thx!! Makes me want to hold out for the standalone VSTi version for when it (assuming it will...) drop. Doubt for a while though as HW only just released to market, maybe 2025+? 🎹🎵🍻🇬🇧🙌💥
Yamaha Montage M plugin available....They also gone into softsytnhs....Sounding real good too as a DAW plugin.....Yamaha has been busy.
It's interesting to see the Processor load depending on the Sound Scene. Running the Pianos with full sustain hits the limit. Running Multiple ESP(s) hits my computer limit. For the life of me, not sure why all the USB flash keys with Yamaha and Roland and Korg etc. The Nord is great with just a USB connection to PC or Mac. The computer Sampler interface with the Nord is easy as well. For Cubase, there is a bit of delay with the MIDI for me. Slight, but you heard it. Not an issue with Studio One.
I love Yamaha
I want to buy this plug in vst
thanks for this Scott. do you know if the ESP synchronization with Montage M includes sequencer MIDI songs & patterns? if not, is there another easy way to get this MIDI data from the Montage M to E.S.P. running in my DAW?
can you be so kind and tell if the all the arpeggiator database of montage is in the soft synth and if so can be used externally to sequence the daw? that will be very helpful, thank you :)
Seriously hope this will be available for normal software purchase. Would also be nice to see a review if there is any diff at all between the hardware and software version.
supposedly it will be available for a few hundred dollars
I have a MoDx7 which a rarely use. This would give it a lease of life if I could use a lot of the Mo's controllers to change parameters on the software.
This is my thought exactly I have a Modx 7 too and get frustrated with not being able to use Modx connect as Yamaha don’t seem to keep up with Mac OS updates I am on Ventura and it won’t work! Hopefully they will bring out a modx version of this software or make it compatible!? 😊
I'm pretty sure there's gonna be a motif plugin soon aswell.
Cool.
great news. its not going to take much more for me to go for the montage M- once MONTAGE M supports MIDI 2.0 fully i'm in.
I would be very surprised if Yamaha got it right from version 1, it took Korg some time, Roland is still in the process of getting it right.
I spoke to soon…While it works fine as an AU plugin in Logic, I have the same “communication error” issue when attempting to move a patch to/from ESP and the Montage
When you turn on the Montage/Modx, it starts with the performance screen for changing performances/programs without cutoff of sound. Does this software have that screen that can be controlled by a midi controller?
With the firmware update a you now send CC info from the Montage sliders to your daw? I use it in conjunction with Mainstage
Scott, are you selling chameleon T-shirts to fund a certain canard habit? If you are, I'm buying, but I'm afraid that all this might be very clever montage!
I’ve tried running it on my 2017 MacBook Pro … pops and cracks….solutions ?
Any new update from Yamaha on the connect sync issue?
Somehow, I get fuzzy audio samples when I use the ESP on FL Studio. Could this problem be fixed?
Thank you .I have a UR816 audio interface .Does the montage function as the audio interface with this application ? Or will it be independant ? My goal will be to edit patches for the instrument when the full version arrives .
You CAN have the Montage function as an audio interface, but you don't have to.
Thank you . Thinking about what other hardware to be connected to the UR 816 .I do like Cubase 13 because of the vocal application .@@ScottsSynthStuff
Thank you Scott, as a new M7 owner your channel and these videos focused on the Montage M have been very helpful. Qq: do you or any of your followers know how to make a .wav file loop. I have an old Motif and at the wav level I can set it to loop, or one-shot, etc. For the life of me I cannot find this setting in my M7. I have started to create my sound as a drum part and a “regular” (non-drum) part and have zero luck making that wave file loop. The only thing I can think of at this point is that I have to set loop points in the wav file even though I just want the entire short wav to loop. I am on a Mac and not sure what tool could do that. Anyway, rambling at this point. Will take anyone’s constructive advice. Cheers!
That's typically done with the John Melas tools for Montage. If you create a looped sample using his tools for Montage, the Montage M should be able to read it. I don't know whether or not he will update the tools for Montage M - I expect he will.
@@ScottsSynthStuff Thank you, I will research - need to find a Mac version.
lol I ordered my Montage M6 two days ago, will be shipped in March (I hope so) and now they release the synth in VST version? Anyway I will replace all my synths with this M6 it will also be a midi controller (with great keybed) and with Sample Robot I will sample my best sounds from my previous synth before selling them.
They announced the VST version would be available when the initially announced the Montage M last year. I agree with your strategy - I've used Sample Robot to sample my synths as well!
This looks cool, but with no Montage and owning a license for the full version of Halion 7, I don't feel like a Montage plugin would add much.
Currently it is available for montage m users however sooner If old montage users can afford this, is it any sense to upgrade to montage m??i currently own montage 6.
-- Whoa! How was your t-shirt constantly changing colors?
Magic. 😂
Is there a limit to the number of polyphony?
hey scott does not work for me just wondered if you have any ideas , so did everything you did downloaded and activated check all files on the system including VST dll, all present and correct but the ESP does not show up as a plug in in cubase 13 , nor does it shown up in cakewalk next or CWBL but when i scan it does show up during scanning plugin on the cakewalk DAWs, but as with cubase not showing as an available in the pluging to use, firmware on montage M6 good and cubase latest version so at a loss as too what going on
Have you discovered howto add 3rd party sounds?
does this work for the modx too?
For Ipad also?
I need that plug-in
Can't buy Montage M in shop delayed in march or summer😢
There is no availability in the UK so can only see this online . Yamaha release a synth and then can’t supply , we have no idea when they will be available! They obviously have a problem… Maybe they will sell this software
I heard the Montage M ESP uses "Montage M Channel 4" to communicate IN and OUT ( transferring data)
Yes, I posted an update: czcams.com/users/shortsdXDKJ_D0vG8
Montage M Firmware v1.21 fixes the sync issue.
Hope they do a bare bones VST/CLAP plugin purchase for plugin only DAW users
What's a Clap?
@georgegeorgio1751 CLAP is an open plugin standard put forward by Bitwig.
I don't have a montage, but my Modx sounds are pretty average, with a few exceptions.
And while newer versions were upgraded with a new synth engine, I doubt that it can come to a level of software synthesizers and samplers. So the question is, what's the point of releasing and using these sounds as a plugin.
Virtual T-shirt or what ? feels like looking at an old Yamaha PSR 550's multi colour display.
Do you have the problem with logic
Do you need to purchase the Montage M to have the plugin?
At this point, yes. They have not made any announcement to the contrary.
What's the cpu hit in use of this bad boy?
I'll have to try some more when I'm not using a screen recording app that is hogging 85% of my CPU.
I ran 4 instances for fun of it with Tam Adventures preset on all. Ran without issues on M1 Pro.
I believe that people who already have the Yamaha Montage have no interest in using the plugin if they already have the hardware.. the question is, is there any way I can buy the license even without having the hardware?
Not currently, no. I actually DO use it - I will use my hardware Montage M for a specific sound on a track, once I've got it, I will move the MIDI from that track into the ESP plugin, then use the hardware on the next sound/track. Once I'm finished, all the sounds are actually coming from the ESP plugin in my DAW.
Can you use a keyboard controller with this plugin?
@@ScottsSynthStuff Do you know of any Yamaha plugins or virtual synthesizers? other than the Yamaha assembly?
@@Sampleraudioevolution Yes you can! It works just like any other DAW plugin.
@@ScottsSynthStuff Can you share it with me? Can I buy this from you? so I can have access too? for me to use with my m audio controller?
I'll be the one who says it: you misnamed your backup file: 2023 01 25... instead of 2024 ;) Just so you know, and don't delete that in the future thinking it's so old. Even though, the M came later than Jan last year. Writing new dates at the beginning of a year is always tricky ;)
haha!!! You're totally right, good catch! I will rename it.
Scott, the time traveller who had a Montage M in Jan '23 :))) No worries. Have a great w.e. @@ScottsSynthStuff
There's no mention of a Mac version. In the past, Yamaha have generally ignored the Mac platform and I fear that they are doing that here as well. I am looking forward to being able to purchase a software license for the plugin version of Montage M.
It is available for both Mac and PC. For Mac it is VST3 and AU2.
It works beautifully on the M chip too. Yamaha definitely isn't ignoring Mac users anymore. (or Combo users like myself).
I'd love to have it as a stand alone. I really need the extra 15 usable samples that this new synth has that my motif xs6 lacks.
It’s a good idea to have the vst version of the montage but come on, putting a big ass picture of the montage m that adds no functionality in the background is an awful waste of screen real estate. A well designed VST gives you a clear view of the controls without using too much screen space.
probably the space was reserved for the upcoming full edit version.
Shame it seems to dump all the samples to the C drive. Hate it when plugins do this!
It defaults there, but during the install you have the choice to make it install wherever you want.
Ah ok. Must have missed that. That’s good!
typical newb looking to add gear question for the experts... (I saw your Model D in the background)...
Hydrasynth Explorer or DM12D and Keystep 37 or Model D and Keystep 37?
Hydrasynth Explorer. No question.
@@ScottsSynthStuff Thanks *arrg* .. I found a great deal on the Keystep 37 ..now realization setting in I'm not going to need it lol
I NEED THIS HOW DO I GET IT
Link is in the video description.
You can't really call this a "free" plug-in for Montage M buyers. I'd say it's "included in the cost", which is very high to begin with.
It's an expensive plugin that comes with a free Montage M synthesizer!
😄😅🤣@@ScottsSynthStuff
Scott, we're now in 2024 lol. You named your backup file as 2023-01-25 M7 Backup!!
Yeah, someone caught that already and I fixed it! :)
It's interesting that Yamaha has decided to make a plugin version of the Montage before making a rack version of it.
Rack mount synths aren't really a thing anymore. Almost nobody makes them, because nobody buys them. They have been replaced with VST's running on laptops. The primary market for rack synths was large live productions and studios - and with the advent of Mainstage and DAW plugins, those markets have shifted to software. I would not expect to see a rack mount synth from any major manufacturer (except Behringer) ever again.
@@ScottsSynthStuff true. It seems rack mount synths are more sparse, but Korg just announced rack versions of their synths so there might be some glimmer of hope. I'm just surprised that to make the Montage more portable, Yamaha is risking piracy with this plugin over the option of putting it in a rack.
@@chrisstaubyn774 Those are desktop modules - not rack mount. Although some desktop modules can be had with rack ears.
@@ScottsSynthStuff They're all rack mountable.
mount your PC on a rack. Buy Mac Studio Rack. now you got Montage Rack. Win win!
T-Shit colour changing -squad 🤣
Montage owner. Use it with a montage? Should be compatable
I don't think so. I haven't tried it with my Montage, but even the Montage M has to be upgraded to the latest firmware to work with this plugin (for sending/receiving performance data).
It WILL work if you're just using the Montage as a MIDI controller to control the plugin.
The software sounds sterile and real garbage without the hardware and tweaks to the keyboard output DACS.
The tshirt color is a distraction smh
Surprised you are a windows man. I have no idea about windows explains why Iam a logic man. Do not understand left and right click, seems arcane .Dont feel bad about a computer upgrade my Mac is a 2013 finally cant upgrade my soft synths. Didnt matter much as most of my synths are hardware. May upgrade in 2025. As long as Diva and Zebra work and all my Gforce synths. To me they are the bombdiggity of software.
You don't understand right/left click? It's the same as you holding command or alt and clicking in Mac OS X, you just select which you want with one hand. Anyway, OS X supports any mouse and you can program any mouse to do whatever function you want. If you're limiting your mouse clicks to a single button, you ain't up on your speed edits man I'm sorry to inform you hahaha. Mouses now can have like 30 buttons hahaha and you confused by 2 hahaha come on
@@ET2carbon don't forget the middle wheel which can be a further button allowing for an auto scroll or w/e you like.
MAC is garbage, you cannot do anything as a power user, let alone build a computer without having to shell out a ton.
The only reason Apple has any clout is its ProRes codec, otherwise, MACs are a waste of money.
They have to keep it simple for old time MAC users, i.e. one button :-) you can't go wrong with one button...
The plugin makes logic quit
I can't speak to Logic, I use Cubase, and do not use Apple products.
it sounds horrible, honestly, hash treble and non warm sounds at all, pure garbage Scott, sorry man.
It sounds identical to the Montage. It literally uses the identical algorithms to produce the identical digital audio data that is then turned into the sound.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I have a oringinal Montage and the new Montage M. I use Reaper as my DAW and have tested and used Cubase and Studio one 5, but just think Reaper is much more down to earth and better. The software synth sounds just like the hardware synth, just as Scott said. But the new Firmware update version 1.21 that is supposed to fix the connection still does not work. Did it work with you Scott? It might take many firmware updates till I like this synth as much as my original Montage, and I think the touch response on my old montage touch screen is better than the Montage M which is supposed to have a faster processor, I was expecting more. I am thinking of selling my Montage M and keeping my White Montage, but I will wait to see what the next firmware updates bring, because it was not ready for release yet if you ask me. I hope the disappointment goes away soon. Because I have lots of keyboards and my Montage has always been my favorite. I have Jupiter X, Hydrasynth keyboard, Sequential Take 5, Virus TI Keyboard, Cobalt 8x same as Scott, Plus the Montage and M. The last firmware update on the original Montage was such a wonderful thing, I hope I do not have to wait that long for the Montage M to get a good update like that, if ever.