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Mastering MONTAGE: Using MONTAGE Category Search

Written by Bad Mister on May 16, 2018. Posted in MONTAGE.

PERFORMANCE CATEGORY SEARCH:
You can seek to view just the data you are interested in when searching for Parts during Performance creation. You may know that in Category Search MULTI PART Performances appear in BLUE and the SINGLE PART Performances appear in GREEN, but sometimes everything appears in GREEN.

This search appears when you press [CATEGORY SEARCH] while the cursor highlights the Performance Name, what in MONTAGE-speak is considered (Home). This Category Search will show you other complete Performance Programs which will completely replace the currently selected one. The screen reads: “Performance Category Search”. Use the BANK option to view “All”, “Favorites”, “Preset”, “User” or one of your eight installed Library Banks. Use the ATTRIBUTE option to refine the search: “All”, “AWM2”, “FM-X”, “AWM2+FM-X”, “MC”, “SSS”, “Single”, “Multi”. You can type in any letters or portion of the Name in the box with the magnifying glass and/or use the Main and Sub Category listings. Along the bottom of the screen you can sort the list shown: Default (as listed in the Data List), Name (alphabetical or reverse) or Date (useful for User created data).

PERFORMANCE MERGE:
This is the type of Category Search initiated when you have added a new Part by touching the (“+”) icon on an empty Part slot. The top of the screen will identify the Search as a “Performance Merge”. This means you could select a second Single or Multi Part program and add it to the original Parts already in the Performance. They are then “merged” into a new Multi Part (KBD CTRL) program. The screenshot below appears when entered from the HOME screen of a two PART PERFORMANCE. This means, on the HOME screen a “+” was touched in Part 3. It is ready to MERGE “All” the PARTs of the “FM CS80 Brass” Performance to the existing data. The screen reads: “Part 3 – Performance Merge”

When a new Part or Parts are merged together with an existing Performance, they were two programs – they are now merged and become one. It is important to understand: There can be only one, Multi Part KBD CTRL Performance.

While the Merge screen is shown you can set the BANK, ATTRIBUTES, and SOURCE, to narrow your search. The “Source” can be “All”, meaning all of the Parts from a selected Multi Part program (listed in blue); or a selected Single Part program (listed in green) Part 1-16; you can designate a specific Part from any Performance. This means you can merge an entire Multi Part program or just any one of the Parts in this operation.

New with firmware version 1.20 you can Mute the original Parts (“Org“), and audition just the Part(s) you highlight in the Search view. You can also Mute the Search Part(s) (“Add“) while hearing just the originals. This makes balancing and trying out things while merging much more practical.

For example, maybe you only want the mechanical Rhodes piano noise from Part 5 from the Factory Performance “Rd 1 Gallery”. You could merge just that component building block that works as KEY-OFF noise. Maybe you want just the Solo Violin/Viola/Cello, Part #7 of the “Seattle Sections”, you can recall just that Part. Or perhaps you are interested in just the FM EP that you know is in the “CFX + FM EP” Performance at PART #5. Perhaps the drum kit you assemble for a multi-track session would be perfect in another composition, you can recall any single Part from any program.

PART CATEGORY SEARCH:
If you enter [CATEGORY SEARCH] by searching from an already occupied Part location, which would be the case if you start with the INIT > MULTI/GM template (shown below);

Starting from the MULTI/GM template would be the logical place to begin when using the Montage as a multi-timbral tone engine – for example, when starting a session with a computer-based DAW software. Select the Part> the Part name is highlighted, and it’s PART SELECT button is lit, There are two methods to arrive at the PART – Category Search.

Method 1) Touch the box with the PART Type/Name (moving the cursor there). A pop-in menu comes in from the left. Select “SEARCH”

Method 2) Press the [PART SELECT 1] button to highlight PART 1. Hold [SHIFT] + [CATEGORY SEARCH].

Under these conditions and you will see the “PartX Category Search” screen (as shown below). Again, you can refine your search using BANK, and ATTRIBUTE. And additionally you can set the SOURCE Part, but this time you are not able to select “All” as the SOURCE (we are not ‘merging’, we are ‘replacing’ an existing single Part). You can, however, search for any one Part from any Performance… Be it from within a MULTI PART or just a SINGLE PART. You might want to access just the first violin section from the “Seattle Sections” (PART 1), or just the Drum Kit from an existing Performance, “Marine Life”. (“CFX + FM EP”, for example, appears, but as separately accessible components). Remember: a Single PART is equivalent to a Motif XF VOICE. So if you only wanted to copy a single PART you could designate which one from any of your other PERFORMANCES.

There is an issue here, however,… Let’s say you import just PART 1 of the “CFX + FM EP” (shown above) – it is only a partial piano, with Velocities from 46-127… not necessarily what you want if you are looking for a whole piano sound. But how can you know whether you are importing a fully playable layer or just an incomplete component Part?

Wouldn’t it be useful to view just those Single programs that are fully playable Parts, separate from those that are not?

Here’s how…
Initially, MONTAGE shows you all of the potential ‘source’ programs, if you set the ATTRIBUTE to “Single”, however, the search results will eliminate the Multi Part PERFORMANCES and be limited to only those Single Part programs that are full, complete playable layers! This is necessary because some of the Multi Parts when selected alone do not play from all key ranges, and some do not respond to all velocities. Simply use the ATTRIBUTE to search “Single”. This is completely logical and very useful!

The PART – Category Search shown above, includes the “Parameter with Part” feature that allows the PART selected to join this PERFORMANCE with the same MIXING settings the same, ARPEGGIOs and MOTION SEQUENCEs assigned, and/or the same SCENE settings from its previous PERFORMANCE Home. This is very useful when attempting to duplicate the previous behavior of this PART in your new PERFORMANCE. If, however, you wish to bring the PART in without its previous programming; simply deactivate the option in question. For example, if you would prefer the sound you select INHERIT current PERFORMANCE settings (for example, you are substituting a BASS in a SPLIT PERFORMANCE) then you do not want to bring along the MIXING settings… if previously the PART was mapped across the entire key range. By deactivating ‘MIXING” your current SPLIT Note Limits will be respected!

The default is for “Parameter with part” to be active (green) – if you would rather assign new Mixing settings, new Arpeggios, create new Motion Sequences, and store new Scene snapshots concerning this instrument sound in its new Home, you can opt out by deselecting these options before making your selection.

If you have activated the Zone Master feature in UTILITY, a Part can, additionally, bring along the Zone Settings using the “Parameter with Part” option.

PARTcat searchZn

Have more questions or want to continue the conversation about MONTAGE’s Category Search? Join us on the Forum here.

Ready to learn more about your MONTAGE? Tune into Bad Mister’s in-depth series “Mastering MONTAGE”. Learn more about the series and access specific lessons here.

What is MONTAGE Connect?

Written by Blake Angelos on May 16, 2018. Posted in MONTAGE.

MONTAGE Connect is a VST3/AU plug-in component that enables the transfer of data between your computer and MONTAGE. Song data created on the MONTAGE is transferred to your computer and the Performance data edited on the MONTAGE is saved as a bulk file (“.X7B”) on your computer.

Based on Steinberg’s VST3 technology, MONTAGE Connect works as a VST3 plug-in with the CUBASE series of DAWs. MONTAGE Connect works in the same way as other VST instrument software, allowing you to save the edited settings of the MONTAGE, or use them later in another DAW project.

MONTAGE Connect also works as an AU plug-in for DAWs that use this format such as Apple Logic™.

MONTAGE Connect can be used as standalone software as well.

The graphic below gives an overview of the plug-in functionality:

How it Works

Performance Capture and Recall: MONTAGE Connect captures and recalls the exact Performance used when creating a Project in a DAW. It does so by synchronizing the data to and from the MONTAGE’s Edit Buffer. When starting a new Project, MONTAGE Connect can recall your customized Default Performance. This means if you like a particular grouping of instrument sounds setup in a MONTAGE Performance when recording to a DAW, the Connect plug-in can recall and send that to your instrument. You can create any arrangement of instruments and select “Save as Default…”.

Auto Sync: If Auto Sync is active, as soon as the Project is opened, the Performance previously captured by MONTAGE Connect will be recalled automatically.

Song Import: You may have saved song ideas using the internal MONTAGE Performance Recorder. When using the Connect plug-in, any song inside MONTAGE will appear in the “Song Import” window of MONTAGE Connect. The plug-in can view the contents of your instrument’s SONG folder. To use, recall the Performance used in the song, select the song recorded, and then drag and drop it from the Song Import window right into the DAW Project Tracks window.

Performance Management: MONTAGE Connect can enhance your workflow and make managing and recalling your MONTAGE setup a breeze. With such a deep synthesis engine, MONTAGE Connect is the first step in integrating your hardware and software together so that you’ll never have to hunt for misplaced data. Performances are stored within the Project File. There are no Bank Select/Program Change messages to have to deal with. The Cubase Sound Browser function allows you to organize, rank and even leave comments about your Performances. You can have an unlimited number of Performances stored on your computer with just a single click away.

What you will need to use MONTAGE Connect:

Mac or PC running the latest version of Cubase or other DAW
MONTAGE OS 1.20 or later
MONTAGE Connect VST3/AU plug-in installed
Most current version of the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver installed
USB cable connected to MONTAGE “To Host” port.

Setting up to use MONTAGE Connect with Cubase

After launching connecting MONTAGE to a USB port on the computer and installing the MONTAGE Connect VST3 plug-in, launch Cubase and create an empty Project.

There are two ways to add the MONTAGE Connect app. The preferred way is as a VST Instrument Track. This adds MONTAGE Connect as an Instrument Track. Right-click in the Cubase track area in the main Project window and select “Add Instrument Track …” select “MONTAGE Connect under “Synth” and click “Add Track”:

Even though the Connect plug-in is listed under “Synth” it is NOT a “virtual instrument”. With a virtual instrument this would also provide a single MIDI channel and stereo out but this is not operational in the MONTAGE Connect plug-in because it is not a virtual instrument but rather a control VST for the MONTAGE hardware.

A second way is the as a VST Instrument “Rack” component: Go to DEVICES > VST INSTRUMENTS > listed under Synths click on “Montage Connect”. If asked to create a MIDI track answer “Yes”. This allows MONTAGE Connect to appear in a “rack” of other VST instruments and creates a folder with lanes for automation and audio routing but for the same reasons listed above this functionality is not operational.

When a connection exists between MONTAGE Connect and the MONTAGE the app will report ONLINE. You can initiate a transfer of data in either direction at anytime by selecting RECALL and clicking on the direction you want data to flow:

Example: In the graphic above I have captured the Performance “Rd 1 Gallery” from MONTAGE and now I can recall it exactly as it was when captured. This particular Performance contains 5 Parts, 4 of which are different historical iterations of the Rhodes electric piano–Mark I, Mark II, Suitcase 73 and Mark V–and one with just mechanical noise. The Scenes on MONTAGE mute all the parts except one of the models and the mechanical noise (which you can add in more or less with the Part 5 fader) and the Super Knob adds more of several effect parameters. When I captured the Performance I had the Super Knob set all the way to the right with Scene 3 selected and this state is recalled EXACTLY. I can now save this in the Sound Browser part of the Connect plug-in for instant recall.

MediaBay: The Sound Browser area of the Connect plug-in is a part of MediaBay, a library feature in Cubase that manages any and all media (music, video, and related data) on your computer, be it wave files, mp3s, MIDI files, mp4s, movies, sound libraries, etc., and the Sound Browser. This allows you to manage your synthesizer sounds and is a great way to backup your important data.

Song Import

A Song started within MONTAGE can be imported into Cubase. For example, I have recorded a song in MONTAGE using the Performance “Rd 1 Gallery” which I have captured and saved above. Now I want to transfer that song into Cubase.

Set Cubase Preferences: First, open up Cubase “Preferences” and, under “MIDI” select “MIDI Tracks” in the “Destination” pull down menu as seen in the graphic to the right. This means when I transfer my song from the MONTAGE Connect plug-in MIDI tracks are created and ready for routing to the hardware. After selection press “OK” to return to the main Cubase Project and open the Connect plug-in.

Now that I have my Performance “Rd 1 Gallery” recalled, I want to select the song I created inside MONTAGE. To do this, select the tab “Song Import” in the Connect plug-in. When you do this you can see all the songs that are currently in the connected MONTAGE. The one I want is “RD Sketch”, and I just drag it to where I want it in the Cubase Project timeline. I have set the Preferences to “MIDI Tracks” as noted above and each of the 5 tracks of the Song created using “Rd 1 Gallery” appear as 5 tracks set on channels 1-5.“Rd 1 Gallery” utilizes Scenes that mute parts so I can play the 4 different electronic piano types individually:

Scene 1 has Parts 1 and 5 active
Scene 2 has Parts 2 and 5 active
Scene 3 has Parts 3 and 5 active
Scene 4 has Parts 4 and 5 active
Scene 5 only has Part 5 active…just the mechanical noise.

Part 5 is always active as this is the mechanical noise, and the Part 5 fader brings in as much or as little as needed. When this type of Performance is recorded ALL the parts have the same MIDI sequence data as seen above. When played back in Cubase the Scene buttons are still active so I can listen back to the sequence, decide which electronic piano version I like, dial in the Part 5 mechanical noise as needed and delete what I don’t want. Once I have the Performance saved exactly as I want I re-capture it and save it to the Sound Browser. After saving the Cubase Project I can re-open the Connect plug-in will recall my settings exactly how they were saved.

Want to discuss this article? Join us on the Forum here.

In the next article Blake is discussing importing other types of Performances – don’t miss it! The article is now live and available here.