"MIDI Rec On DAW"

The template isn't saved with anything (Standalone vs Audio Rec on DAW vs ...). It doesn't work like this. It works more like a preset button on the old radios which had dials to turn to change the station and buttons to jump to preset stations. When you push a button, it jumps to a setting. If you turn the dial (which is similar to loading a new Performance) - then the template (or radio button preset) is no longer in effect.

These templates change settings. Some settings are system-level which are outside of the Performance's domain (so they stay set until you change them) - and some items change parameters that are part of the Performance -- so those things that the template sets will be undone when you recall a Performance.

... so the "MIDI Rec On DAW" - or that entire screen never shows you what template is currently selected. This is because there is no such thing as selecting a template. This is not a mode. When you push the button, it changes a bunch of parameters to match how the template sets them. But this is undone by a number of things and, as such, does not act like a "mode" button. It's just a shortcut to changing lots of internal settings.

The settings that these templates change are both system and performance/PART level settings (mostly system). The system settings should not revert unless you change those settings again - either by changing the individual setting, loading a save file (X?A, X?U, etc), or by pressing a different template. The PART/performance level settings will revert if you load a new Performance which does not match the template settings.

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KBD Control:

This can be confusing because of how KBD Control works differently depending on what PART you have SELECTED.

First, from the HOME screen - which shows the Performance name and the PARTs under: you can press the Performance name (at top) to de-select all PARTs. In this case, no PART will be selected and instead just the global/common area is selected and no individual PART is selected.

With that orientation - here's the scoop.

For any given PART - if that PART is NOT selected (only one individual PART can be selected at a time - or, possibly no PARTs selected as outlined above) then ...

KBD Control = ON means the local piano keys will can send note on/off messages to that PART and that PART will make noise if the keys are in range (velocity/range) and that PART is not muted and level is up, etc.

KBD Control = OFF means the local piano keys will not send note on/off messages to that PART. When you mash on the keys - the PART will ignore local piano keys.

That makes sense so far. Here's the mode that contains something that is not intuitive:

For any given PART - if that PART IS selected (you can select a PART by touching any of the PARTs on the screen at the bottom half of the home screen) then ...

KBD Control = ON means the local piano keys will can send note on/off messages to that PART and that PART will make noise if the keys are in range (velocity/range) and that PART is not muted and level is up, etc. This is the same as above. Things still make sense.

KBD Control = OFF .... Now, with KBD Control as OFF on the same PART that is currently selected - things change. In this mode, all other PARTs except the currently selected one will "pretend" like KBD Control is OFF. They will not sound when you mash the keys. The currently selected PART (with KBD Control = OFF) will respond to key mashing as if KBD Control is ON for the selected PART.

... what it sounds like you want to do is have a single MIDI channel output even when you have a multi-PART Performance loaded. There's a mode for that. MIDI mode = single channel. Either that, or using MIDI mode = multi-channel you can turn keyboard control OFF of every channel then -select- any single channel you want to use. This will send MIDI messages out the selected PART's MIDI channel. Without zone PART settings this will default to the PART # as the MIDI channel. With zone PART settings (transmit) - you can set the MIDI channel to an arbitrary channel for send.

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RX channels cannot be sent. Long-standing "gripe" from Montage. You will get feedback about how you have to change your workflow to conform and any use cases for adjusting RX MIDI channels will be dismissed. My advice would be to work on living with this as a "feature" - since it is unlikely to change.

--

If you want to control what your keyboard does when it powers on - your only choice is to set the power-on mode to Live Set. When you set this ( [UTILITY] -> "Settings" -> "System" and set parameter "Power On Mode" ), when you power on MODX it will automatically recall your 1st Live Set slot. You can place Multi/GM into your 1st Live Set slot. If you have any custom settings (Performance) - you can save a user Performance which is based off of Multi/GM and place that into your 1st Live Set slot instead.

I can't find a way to have the "MIDI Rec on DAW" setup as my power up setting (it always powers up with the "Standalone" set). More, there's no way to have a selected User performance (A Multi/GM in my case) as the power up performance. So every time I turn on the MODX, I have to change both the settings.

When you Power On your MODX it will default to being in a playable status. This is true of most keyboards including your mentioned Motif ES and SY77. This is not unusual as the majority of users would opt that the the keyboard boot up ready to play (not too difficult to understand). You can have your DAW address the the MODX so that when you start a new Project it sends the Performance of your choice to your hardware. When you open Cubase and select a New Project you can have it recall MODX CONNECT which can restore the “Multi/GM” to your MODX.

By including the MODX CONNECT as part of your Cubase New Project Template, it can be stored so that it sends the “Multi/GM” to your MODX whenever you start a new session,

What version of Cubase are you running?
Have you downloaded and installed MODX CONNECT?
Running it inside of Cubase will handle all Performance initialization and it will automatically store the MODX Performance when you SAVE the Project... and automatically restore it when next you open that Project.

I also find very ambiguous the "KBD Control" function: it looks like a second Local on/off control for individual parts, but very confusing. I have to turn it off to avoid double triggering, but I have to keep the first part on, otherwise I can't hear any sound. What's it's function?

KBD CTRL, or Keyboard Control, is a function that when active (green) on any of the first eight Parts, links them for simultaneous real-time interaction from the keyboard and its physical controllers. While all 16 Parts can be addressed by the Super Knob and Scene recalls, what you are directly triggering with the keys and controllers will depend on your selection. If you select a “Performance Common” area or any of the KBD CTRL Parts, you will be in touch with all the linked Parts... if you *select* a non-KBD CTRL Part you will be addressing just that Part.

Coming from the Motif ES, the MODX Performance has 16 Parts like the ES SONG/PATTERN MIXING setup... imagine you could link any of the first 8 into a massive program that you could play in real-time — you have 8 Arpeggiators which can be assigned to any of the Parts. In the ES you had four Part Performances... that’s like four Parts with KBD CTRL (now you can have up to eight).

More, Rx MIDI Channels can't be modified and I could go on. Never had a more counterintuitive piece of gear, and in 40 years of work I had many. Does it have to be so complicated? Or is it me being too much old fashioned?

Yes, and probably a bit of both... the way the MODX works is new and perhaps different ... it is able to transmit data on multiple channels simultaneously. In Yamaha workstation synths you transmitted from the keyboard via a track of the Sequencer to the Tone Generator. There, in order to play multiple sounds, you manipulated the MIDI RECEIVE Channels. By placing multiple Parts on the same channel you could control them simultaneously from the keyboard... because you transmitted to them via a single Track.

In the MODX, in order to play multiple sounds, you actually TRANSMIT from the keyboard to each Part and each can be addressed on separate MIDI channels — this allows the multiple Arpeggiators (8) to generate separate streams of data, and with the massive controller matrix, new and exciting manipulation of the sound is possible (Motion Control). Each Part you are “playing” has its own MIDI data.

It takes a day or two to sink in and when it does, you’ll begin to see what is possible and how to get it done.

Jason and Bad Mister, thanks a lot for your detailed explanations and advice. It’s still hard for me to understand the function of the KBD Control, it’s something really illogical to me, I’ll study your directions better.

Bad Mr., users would like their gear to power up according to their own needs (not too difficult to understand). Not everybody uses a synth to play live after all, and for a very common use, such as with a DAW, you would like to start with Local Ctrl off. All the keyboards I had could save their Local Ctrl setting, and most of them offered different options about the default patch (last used or selected).

Thanks for the “live set” workaround, that’s smart, but you will admit that’s quite artificial. I’ll have to use a set made for live use to make it work in the studio.

I use Cubase 5 on a Mac (Mavericks OS), I downloaded MODX Connect, but I’m not sure whether to install it, I have my MIDI chain, again, old fashioned way: MIDI cables running thru other sound modules. I tried to use the USB connection but it was a mess. Maybe I’ll give it another try.

I also noticed that when I send a Program Change from Cubase I have to be sure that the Performance name is not selected, otherwise it will change the Performance, not the Part patch. Is that part of the improvements too?

Lastly I would say a word about the touch screen: I read that is exactly the same built-in on the Montage. Well, I’d be very upset if spent 3500$+ to have a cheap plastic screen that works one time out of ten. I bought a pen for tablets too, but selection keeps on being a lottery. Especially in the lower portion of the screen, you can spend hours tapping and praying. And - you know - not every field on the screen can be reached with the Arrows. Well done again, Yamaha, wish me good luck.

I also noticed that when I send a Program Change from Cubase I have to be sure that the Performance name is not selected, otherwise it will change the Performance, not the Part patch. Is that part of the improvements too?

That is not how this works at all. There are separate Bank Select and Program Changes for recalling entire Performances, versus recalling an individual Part within a Performance. This occurs no matter what is selected. Setting up to record as a 16 Part Multi-timbral MODX, is as simple as starting with the appropriate Init Performance.
Press [CATEGORY]
Touch “Init”
Select “Multi/GM”
This activates all sixteen Parts by placing a default instrument sound in each of the slots. You can now use the appropriate Bank Select and PC to recall the Single instrument you want in each of the sixteen Parts.

You do not need to use MODX CONNECT to set that up... you can manually recall the Init Multi/GM Performance.
Cubase 5 will probably not support MODX CONNECT.
You can also manually create, store and recall your MODX MIDI and Audio settings in the 3 “Quick Setup” locations provided.

I read that is exactly the same built-in on the Montage. Well, I’d be very upset if spent 3500$+ to have a cheap plastic screen that works one time out of ten. I bought a pen for tablets too, but selection keeps on being a lottery. Especially in the lower portion of the screen, you can spend hours tapping and praying. And - you know - not every field on the screen can be reached with the Arrows. Well done again, Yamaha, wish me good luck.

Be sure to remove the plastic sheet that ships on the screen from the factory (peels right off—it can distort the touch response). Learn to Calibrate the screen whenever you feel it not accurately responding to your touch.

[UTILITY] + [PART SELECT_MUTE/SOLO] is the shortcut to the Calibrate function (found in [UTILITY])
Press [ENTER] to start the calibration routine...
Chase the white dot five times.
Done!

Extra Credit:
Mastering MODX: Navigation Tips

Big thanks, Bad Mister,

I didn't see that plastic sheet, so I didn't remove it. As I go back in the studio I'll look for it and follow your advice. I'm aware of the screen calibration but I really didn't think it was necessary with a brand new machine. I'll surely check that out.

As far as Pg Change, of course I know about bank selection (MSB & LSB) and I'm 90% sure I included them in my track, but I could be wrong, so I'll double check this too.

For now, thanks for your help, I'll keep you updated.

Cheers,

MT

You don’t have to look for the plastic sheet, it’s very, very obvious... most people know to remove it, and do so automatically. Any screen, new or not can require calibration. That’s an unrealistic expectation on your part. Calibrate it, as necessary.

It may be obvious, but I found there was no plastic film on the screen, that explains why I didn't see it.

If the MODX comes with a protection sheet on the screen, it would mean somebody used the keyboard or at least opened the box and peeled off the film, even if it was sold as new to me. It could have been an ex-demo but - in that case - they should say it clear, and price should be lowered. I paid it full.

Second, I expect a new machine needs no calibration, but it's probably an old fashioned expectation again... Btw, the screen calibration did the trick, and It works way better now.

Other strange behaviors I don’t seem to master are:
Each time I change a Part’s sound, the “KBD Ctrl” (which I need to be “Off”), randomly reverts to “On”. Sometimes this happens, some others doesn’t.

I found that the “KBD Ctrl Lock” could be used to lock the “KBD Ctrl” to the state I need (Off) but, if I activate the Lock in the Quick Setup (Effects Tab) it deactivates every time I power up the MODX. It should be saved either with the Performance or with the Quick Setup, right? It doesn’t seem so.

I also have to understand better how library works, I know there are tons of articles out there, but none seems to be clear to me. I have converted all my DX7 patches with the cloud app and obtained the single file, which appears to be a Library. I just added a chorus to one sound and re-saved it, but I ended up with a new Performance.
Why, if my sounds surely don’t belong to the read-only memory? The Library is part of the user memory, right?

Also, all the sounds in the Library come with “No Assign” Category & Sub. Another thing that seems impossible to change. It would be useful to be able to search, say for FM Pianos and have them all on the screen.

Thanks guys for your help.

The touch screen is resistive which increases the need for calibration. Manufacturing differences present one dimension of need for calibration. This could be corrected at the factory with factory calibration. Maybe this is done, maybe not (for cost savings). The other dimension is environmental - something that is different at the location of installation and also varies once leaving the factory (shipping to dealer/warehouse/etc). The environmental impact to calibration can "throw off" even a good factory calibration.

Today, our expectations are "calibrated" to capacitive touchscreens (cell phones, tablets). This type of touch technology does not require user calibration.

Probably, at the time of design, the chosen screen was the best balance of function and cost. Resistive deals better with sweaty fingers - which I appreciate.

Source: https://wiki.fluidproject.org/download/attachments/11771591/10-01-30_Introduction%20to%20Touch%20Screen%20Whitepaper.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1264996033000&api=v2

The resistance of the coatings on a touch screen will vary slightly from unit to unit due to the
manufacturing process and can change under some environmental conditions and over time.
Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity can alter the resistance characteristics of
the coating which will affect the position measurements from the touch screen.
Changes over time in the touch screen coating and in the drift in calibration of the touch screen
controller can also affect measurement accuracy. The physical position of the touch screen
alignment to the display may also vary slightly from unit to unit.

X?L denotes library
X?U denotes user
X?A denotes backup (aka "all" )

The Library file will install into your Library area which - although can be updated by the user - is "read-only". You get 8 Library slots and with each you have the following options:

1) Erase an occupied library slot (erase all Performances in that slot). You cannot remove Performances in a Library one-by-one - you have to erase the entire slot
2) Install a Library file into an empty library slot. This is the only operation you can write to the library area. You cannot write to an occupied slot. Once the slot has data written to it (through a Library file install aka "load" operation) - you cannot touch this library slot EXCEPT to erase it.
3) You can copy content from your Library area to the user area. Either by using [STORE] or by using "Library Import". The "Library Import" operation will also import associated custom Waveforms (samples). If a Library Performance has a custom Waveform - and you use [STORE] to create a user copy of this Library Performance - the created user Performance (through [STORE] ) will not contain the custom Waveform. Instead, there will be a pointer to the Library slot for this Waveform which may get "lost" if you ever delete (erase) the Library slot which contains the Waveform.

I would personally prefer for power-on mode as "Perform" to include a provision to pick a power-on default Performance (which can be library, user, or preset). In the meantime (unlikely for that to get changed) - use Live Set. There's a long list of terminology used by the keyboard that could be scrutinized. That said, it's more pragmatic to utilize the features without getting too hung up on the naming.

Hi Jason, thanks for your detailed informations about the differences between touch screen technologies. Now that I know how to calibrate it, everything should be alright.

All the Library stuff is finally clear to me. Thanks again.

I understand what you say about starting with Performance. The point is: i have the MODX hooked up to a midi chain and the computer. My kind of "ready-to-go" patch is a Multi-timbral performance with parts I can manage from Cubase (Pg. Changes, FX Sends, Volume etc.).

Btw, I'm still trying to find a way to have the damn KBD Ctrl to behave as I need.

I'd also love to edit/rename the Categories and Sub Cat of my own libraries. Web search, Ref. Manual search etc. are totally useless on this topic.

Why can't this be done? I mean, it's just a text field after all, and it's much more useful than any eye-candy animation or flashy colored led they put everywhere.

I'd also love to edit/rename the Categories and Sub Cat of my own libraries.

I'm trying to follow exactly what you mean here. Do you mean you want to change the main and sub categories of Performances within your Library?

If so, you need to import all Performances from the said Library into the User area. First - backup then initialize (erase) your user area. Importing all of the Library contents should be done into a clean slate of the user area such that you do not "pollute" the Library with residue from your User area.

Then modify the category/sub-category of PART 1.

Source: MODX Reference Manual (currently https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/2/1192582/modx_en_rm_a0.pdf ) page 38:

Part Category Main (Part Main Category)
Part Category Sub (Part Sub Category)

Determines the Main Category and Sub Category of the Part.
The categories are keywords representing the general characteristics of the Parts. Selecting the
appropriate category makes it easy to find the desired Part from the huge variety of Parts available.
There are 17 Main Categories which indicate types of instruments. There are up to nine Sub Categories
for each Main Category, indicating more detailed types of instruments.

What's missing here is the tip that you need to set the PART number to PART 1 in order to apply this Main/Sub Category to the entire Performance. The Performance assumes the category settings of PART 1.

There's some discussion here: https://www.yamahasynth.com/ask-a-question/using-montage-category-search
or here
https://www.yamahasynth.com/ask-a-question/delete-part-1

... after you edit all the Performances' main/sub categories inside the User area (the user area is the only place you can update settings to Performances one-by-one) then promote your user area to a Library by saving your User Performances to a Library file. You can then erase your original Library slot where you originally sourced these Performances and finally load your new Library File (with the updated categories) to an empty Library slot. Your Library will now have your updates.

However you cut it - if you want to modify settings within your Library area - you have to first import the library into your User area so you can make these edits. Make the edits. Then reinstall (load) the modified Performances back into a Library slot if you want them made semi-permanent inside the context of a Library slot. This is loosely referred to as the "Library shuffle".

Hi Jason,

big thanks for your help! It looks it will finally solve my problem.

I'm not in the studio right now, but I'll give it a try as I come back. My plan is to transfer from Library to User area only the sounds I use the most, and then delete the Library.
Every sound on the Libraries, no matter how good it is, requires slightly customization for me, so I need them on my User area. Good to know about the Library shuffle too.

Thanks again, I'll keep you updated.

Hi Jason,

Thank you, it looks like I'm finally able to manage the Libraries and to assign Categories/Sub to my DX7 sounds..

Importing vs Store: if you just "store" a Library based Performance you only store its settings, not the linked samples, right? So, to get rid of the Libraries, you should choose Import, which makes a copy of the whole content, samples included. I did it for just a couple of Bosendorfer Perfs and I ended up filling all my user memory. Just a couple of sounds...
I know every Performance can be built upon many samples (p, pp, mf, f, ff, damper noise, key noise etc) but this can't be the way.

I guess I'll stay with the Libraries in their relative location, and I'll just "Store" my edited Performance, leaving them to point to the samples on the Library.

Not everything in a Library will have samples. For instance, a library full of converted DX7 sounds (using the online web application) will have zero samples. Therefore, "import" vs. "store" would end up in the same place. It's easier to do import simply because you have an interface which allows for selecting multiple Performances at a time vs. [STORE] which is more labor intensive (more steps). In terminology of the past - we would say that Library Import allows for "job" function.

Now ... when doing the library shuffle - you need at least the amount of GB free in waveform memory (check [UTILITY] "Contents" and look at the Waveform folder) as the Library you are shuffling. Yamahamusicsoft claims the Bosendorfer set is 400GB. This should be small enough to fit 2 copies inside MODX. You may have to temporarily erase Libraries in order to make room for the shuffle where you will, in one step, have two copies of the waveform data (one in Library, one in User).

Any Library you have installed must have started with a library save file. Therefore, you should still have the library save file you originally used to populate the Library slot you'll be erasing. If not sure - you can always make another library file backup.

This is how you would go about doing this using only the keyboard. If you want to pay for software - I believe there are 3rd party utilities that can edit the Library file directly to change the settings you would otherwise make on the keyboard. I do not have any of these - so others can chime in how those work for them.

Yes Jason, I’m aware of that. FM sounds aren’t based on samples, so import or store won’t make any difference in terms of memory used. Same for sounds based on resident samples.
I chose Import with the Bosendorfer exactly because of what you say, but I found myself with almost no room left.

Let's admit it: 1Gb of total Memory (shared between User Area and Libraries, right?) is very little, compared to the size of today’s sample libraries. We’re talking of 20+ Gb for a single pack…

By the way, I’m starting to understand this keyboard. I think it’s truly a beast in terms of sonic potential, the best in its price range and even beyond. At the same time I have to say you can easily get lost in the manual or, even worse, trying to understand it by yourself. Forum like this are the only resource to go to a specific point and fix it.

Try to make a search on any of the manuals: you’ll end up with a ton of useless results, including portions of words, different word associations and context etc. You’ll find everything but what you’re looking for.

So I think I’ll keep coming here for a little while longer, guys. Thanks for your help.