Yamaha has published a teaser of the upcoming next generation of its Montage Synthesizer workstation in form of pictures and sound demos.
Yesterday, Yamaha released a sneak peek of its new Montage Synthesizer with the first sound demos. A short time later, there was the first significant leak with photos of the devices. They will be called Montage M6, M7 and M8X.
The photos were published by the Yamaha Community website Yamahamusicians.com.
The three new Montage models can be seen. The first two will probably have a semi-weighted keybed while the M8X has weight keys. And these pictures also clearly show that the new Montage gets a second display above the knobs. The middle display appears unchanged. Hopefully, it will have a higher resolution.
And the last, a bit blurry picture, shows all three new models.
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Article from September 19th, 2023
The journey of the Yamaha Montage came to an end in the Summer. After seven years on the market, Yamaha discontinued their synth workstation. At the same time, they announced that it was not the end. They teased the next generation that will be presented in October.
At the time, Yamaha didn’t announce what the feature set of the new Montage would be. A month, however, before the release, there is now a bit of movement in the topic with a first official teaser.
Yamaha New Montage Teaser
The first Yamaha Montage was a Synthesizer workstation based on the AWM2 and FMX engines that combined various synthesis and sampling options. This is now history. Thus, the most crucial question: what will be different in the new Montage? I’m sure Yamaha will keep the Montage name. You can’t see much in the new pictures, but a few elements indicate new features.
Firstly, a new elongated display will be located above the knobs on the left side. This will give you a better overview of the parameter and would be a good addition next to the famous blue super knob.
Then Yamaha highlighted the ribbon controller under the pitch and mod wheel in its teaser photos. The current Montage already has this. Does the new Montage have an improved one that can be played more expressively? That would also be a good improvement.
You can also see in the pictures that the angular shape of the original remains. So we can talk about a new Montage here.
With the release of the Waldorf Quantum MK2 and the new NI Komplete controllers, the question arises as to whether the new “Montage” will have an improved keybed. More if it has a polyphonic aftertouch support. So far, there has been no sign from Yamaha about such a keybed. It would be a great new features with they would score points.
AN-X?
We’ll have to look closer at the new Montage software in October. In June 2022, Yamaha registered a trademark for the name AN-X. This has not yet been used in any new products. I assume the possible new AN-X engine will premiere for the first time in the new Montage.
Another question: what will be the new AN-X engine? A comeback of the popular AN1X virtual analog Synthesizer as a supercharged Montage engine or something completely different? A CS-80 emulation was also heard from the Yamaha rumor mill.
One thing is certain: Yamaha will present the new Montage in October with at least an additional display and a new software. We’ll see what the latter will have in October. Until then, it will remain exciting. So stay tuned. And I almost forgot, there are also a handful of fresh sound demos on the official website giving you a sound sneak peak.
More information will follow here: Yamaha Synths
Looks like a 1990 Frankenstein machine.