Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
MODX M has arrived!
True to form, Yamaha has produced a lightweight, lower cost version of MONTAGE M and I have had the pleasure of having it in my hands recently.
I am delighted to say that MODX M is an absolutely fantastic instrument, and a major step up from the previous model in every respect. Yamaha has clearly focused on bringing their best technology as seen in MONTAGE M to a wider audience, and in doing so have removed so little of what makes MONTAGE M great that I would struggle to make the case for buying the flagship to most people.
Many features that many people speculated would be removed or cut down for MODX M are still present, like the full AN-X engine, support for 128 elements per part, and even the E.S.P. virtual MODX M.
At the price Yamaha has set, no other hardware synth comes even close to the power offered by MODX M.
I have produced various videos covering MODX M:
The first is a review in which I treat MODX M as a brand new synth for those who are unfamiliar with the MONTAGE family of synths, with little reference to its big brother.
The second video is a direct comparison of MODX M against MONTAGE M, looking at everything that has been removed or downgraded from the flagship to make the new lightweight model.
I have also thrown together a video where I have recorded both synths playing all the auditions from the first MODX M Live Set, so you can (maybe, if YouTube audio is of sufficient quality) hear the difference in output that balanced outputs and Pure Analog Circuit 2 lend to MONTAGE M, versus the more ordinary (but still very good indeed) output system in MODX M.
You'll find all three videos on my YouTube channel: YouTube.com/kierdarby
Posted : 15/10/2025 2:01 am
Thanks for posting. Docs are available here: https://usa.yamaha.com/support/manuals/index.html?l=en&c=music_production&k=modx+m8
Posted : 15/10/2025 4:30 am
Topic starter
I see that several of the errors from the MONTAGE M G0 data list have been corrected for MODX M - which has an identical set of SysEx params.
Posted : 15/10/2025 12:04 pm
The new FM Parameter and AN-X Parameter block of destinations aren't shown in the Data List. Is this just a doc omission error or are those destinations not available on the MODX-M? They were added to Montage M in the OS 3.0 update in June so it could be that the doc team didn't have the info available.
It also looks like the number of control assignments has increased to 32 to match the M models.
Re the cpu 'stuttering' you mentioned under heavy load. I wonder how much processing power it taken up by the continuous waveform display. Would it make sense for an IdeaScale suggestion to add an option to disable that display? It looks nice but the cpu usage it takes could likely be better spent on more useful things. We aren't in a good position to suggest that since on the M we haven't noticed any impact - but, for us, that display doesn't really convey anything useful. We'd rather the cpu and display space be used for something else.
Great comprehensive review, as usual, in the "What's missing ..' video. We noticed that the front panel 'solo' seems to be missing as well as the keyboard control you mentioned. Not a biggy. And there was still no mention in the docs about MIDI 2.0 support. It is likely the same as the M models but we were hoping the doc team might have gotten ahead of the curve and provided some specifics since their development of that support must have made some significant progress.
Our hope, dare I say 'expectation', is that there will be an update for the Montage M around NAMM time when you said the rest of the MODX-M stuff will be released. They are likely working to finish synching things up between models.
Looking forward to seeing your video showing you using KDX to work with both the Montage M and the MODX-M. You are probably gonna get squeezed for time if you need to return the MODX-M anytime soon. Maybe 'Santa' will bring you a gift card saying you now own it!
Posted : 15/10/2025 6:22 pm
Topic starter
As MODX M has identical sysex params to MONTAGE M, I had KDx working with MODX M as soon as I got HaPe to find the identity reply and model ID - even before I had one to try out 🙂 There are a few spots in my intro videos where I'm using KDx with MODX M.
MODX M is running firmware that is roughly equivalent to MONTAGE M OS 2.1, so those extra AN/FM destinations aren't available yet. The firmware update for MODX M in January will bring it in line with MONTAGE M, and we can expect a new firmware release that will apply to both later in the year.
I also thought about the scope eating CPU cycles, but the slow-down happens even when you are deep within menus with no scope on screen, so I don't think that an option to disable the scope would be a worthwhile endeavour for the engineers.
On the MONTAGE M front panel SOLO is the shift-function for KEYBOARD CONTROL, hence why it's missing for MODX M.
MIDI 2.0 support for MODX M is at the same level as MONTAGE M at this point. The only vaguely related difference is that there is no option to use the 'Vendor' USB driver any more.
Posted : 15/10/2025 7:30 pm
Topic starter
Maybe 'Santa' will bring you a gift card saying you now own it!That would have been nice, but the M7 I was loaned had to go back to do all the UK dealer videos - if you see an M7 in any of those videos, that was the one I was using 🙂
Posted : 15/10/2025 7:32 pm
First I saw of the new MODXM before checking out the forum was a UK sales video. Just had the MODX M8 mainly and a MODX M6. Looks like the MODX M6 is now the cheapest way to get ESP.
Still not able to get anything here - have to wait until the weather gets better. There might be a new whole round of keyboards by then.
Current Yamaha Synthesizers: Montage Classic 7, Motif XF6, S90XS, MO6, EX5R
Posted : 15/10/2025 8:34 pm
That waveform display could be running even when it isn't visible. Obviously we can't know how much horsepower it may even be using so it could be negligible anyway.
The only vaguely related difference is that there is no option to use the 'Vendor' USB driver any more.
History suggests that 'could be' another potential problem area. It could have been left out accidentally if the devs had to rework that screen. The reason that gets our attention is out M8X has the 'Vendor/Generic' option and it is on the latest OS 3.0 update. You said the MODX-M OS isnt' even up to that yet but has the same MIDI 2.0 support. That 'disconnect' just seems odd.
It would be nice to have a statement from Yamaha that the Vendor USB driver isn't needed anymore. We'll shoot an email to support to ask about both of those issues.
Posted : 15/10/2025 9:30 pm
On the MONTAGE M front panel SOLO is the shift-function for KEYBOARD CONTROL, hence why it's missing for MODX M.
Between the two buttons, Montage M has four functions: Part Select, Solo, Keyboard Control, Mute. The single MODX M button is Part Select and Mute.
I think it would be nice if there were a menu option on the MODX M for the user to select the shift-function of their choice, so a user could have their choice of what they would like their Part Select Shift function to be... either Mute, Solo, or Keyboard Control. You'd still have fewer immediate options than on the Montage M of course, but at least you could choose which function to keep and which to give up.
The only thing that bugs me about the new screen interface is that the Performance search/select screens now only show 8 Performances at a time instead of 16. (Screen shot attached in case you're not sure what screens I am talking about... old style on top, new style on bottom.) I don't suppose there is any setting available to display this the old way? That would be a nice addition, too.
Posted : 16/10/2025 3:42 pm
On the Montage M there is no option to change the display to a grid. You could make an IdeaScale suggestion.
Posted : 16/10/2025 7:38 pm
AnotherScott reacted
The sort features take up half the screen so it seems like one possibility is to have a slide over menu for the sort and filter options so you can use both half of the screens for Performance lists. This would maintain the new additional Part count info and still fit 16 Performances without compromising too much. It could default to the 8 Perf view but once you "minimize" or "slide over" the filter stuff - you get all 16 Perfs shown at a time per screen. Setting up the filter is typically done once per search so there shouldn't, generally, be a lot of back and forth between these 'modes'. All that would be needed is a button for pulling up the filter/sort options.
Just one suggestion. Belongs better on Ideascale but kicking the tires here.
Current Yamaha Synthesizers: Montage Classic 7, Motif XF6, S90XS, MO6, EX5R
Posted : 17/10/2025 6:34 pm
re: "The sort features take up half the screen" - You mean the categories/sub-categories on the left? They take up half the screen either way. They used to be on the top, now they're on the left. (See the screen shot in my previous post.)
I like that they added the white dots, though. But I wouldn't mind an option to turn off the colored legend buttons on the right of each entry (I don't generally care about that, so it's just clutter.)
They also took away the "Set Favorite" button, so now that's a multi-step process instead of a single tap.
Posted : 18/10/2025 3:56 am
Favorites can be set using knob 4 under the display after you press the 'Job' button on the category search screen. That's on the Montage M. Can't speak to the new MODX-M models and don't know if Kier can confirm that or not since he said he had to give the machine back.
They also took away the "Set Favorite" button, so now that's a multi-step process instead of a single tap.
Well they certainly don't document it and we haven't seen any videos that mention it. Pressing 'Job' will also display a lavender 'All Clear' button at the top right that will clear all of the favorite selections. Knob 4, under the display, is an On/Off setting for the currently selected performance in the list. You can use it mark that performance as a favorite.
Posted : 18/10/2025 6:53 am
Yeah the new M screen left side. They could keep it basically the same but slide over the filter controls that is on the left hand side.
There's a video for M setting favorites. Not commenting on if it's worse now or not - just that Yamaha has one of those short single topic videos on it.
Current Yamaha Synthesizers: Montage Classic 7, Motif XF6, S90XS, MO6, EX5R
Posted : 18/10/2025 7:32 am
Yeah the new M screen left side. They could keep it basically the same but slide over the filter controls that is on the left hand side.
Or they could have just maintained the old layout, which leaves all category options AND 16 sounds visible on the screen at the same time for instant one-tap access, instead of sliding different sections in and out. Quicker navigation, which also never risks leaving you disoriented about how your list is currently filtered.
I do see that the new approach is aesthetically nicer, easier to read, but I'd still like the option to see the old layout. If I can see 16, I am almost always seeing everything I need to see in a category, available for instant selection. With 8, I will more often need to scroll.
There's a video for M setting favorites. Not commenting on if it's worse now or not - just that Yamaha has one of those short single topic videos on it.
Well I'll comment on if it's worse, it is. 😉 It used to be a tap. Now it's a tap plus a knob turn. Is there some advantage to having the extra step? Also, it's less obvious. Without reading the manual, someone could take a good guess that hitting "Favorite" would set something as a Favorite. It is far less likely that someone will guess that hitting "Job" is the route to take to set something as a Favorite. (Does hitting "Job" do anything else on this screen? Or merely reveal the otherwise hidden Favorite button? If the latter, even just renaming the Job button to Favorite would have been an improvement.)
Posted : 18/10/2025 4:36 pm
Page 1 / 3
Next
