IF you're a competent player AND you don't prefer DAW workflow exactingness, yes. The MODX has a Pattern Sequencer that's good for live recording, and building up a song by adding tracks and overdubs.

But it's not exactly a well thought out implementation of a Pattern Sequencer, at all. The "patterns" they speak of are the abstraction above what you're innately thinking when you think of the word "Pattern". They don't mean the pattern of your notes. They mean the patterning of your patterns.

ie there is no note view. There is no per-note-in-your-pattern editing.

If you can't play it to record it, there's no way to write in a pattern, or edit in notes. You have to be able to play it in.

Does that sound like something you'd be interested in using? If so, I'll give a more exacting example of usage, and what it's like for someone that uses it quite a lot, for something quite similar to what you're doing.

Thanks Andrew,

Yes, please! I would like to know more about its usage in my workflow direction!

Mostly in orchestral pop albums arrangers ask others or let say a producer to do the drum programming/keyboard sound (some very nice even nostalgic layered sound from a synth), and the orchestral material is written by the other arranger (we see mostly string/horn arrangement). Since I am facing more and more clients who are into having less orchestral material (maybe just using a string quartet instead of string ensemble) and prefer to have a production which is a mix of electronic and orchestra, am I into right direction for a new workflow using MODX with DAW (for sure I will need those sound from the synth into my DAW to be layered by the orchestra and therefor the multitrack is a must)

Maybe it is better to be clear and say what I am missing from using my DAW and notation software is my rhythm section. But again in pop song production playing all different instruments which are written on my paper in DAW and sequence them seems not right, on the other hand sounds from notation software (even note performer) are not what a client like.

Sorry, I'm not quite understanding you.

Are you a competent player of the keyboard? I mean, good enough to play exactly what you want. You need to be this good before the Pattern Sequencer comes into its own.

I am not this good, my daughter is. She loves using the Pattern Sequencer, and I'll describe how, just in case this helps.

There's three ways she starts out:

A) Has already come up with a motif and themes, and simply sits down and records it as she plays, most likely with a piano sound, and some considerable effort to find the right tempo for it, as this is incredibly important to this approach.
Then adds other instruments and experiments with dropping in things like strings (low and high) to add to and accentuate whatever she's done, and maybe a bass track. Then perhaps an instrumental solo over the top with something brassy or synthy.

B) Has some kind of chordal progression she's found and likes, records this as a kind of bassline and tempo guide, usually with a tonne of tempo'd delay added to it so that it's rhythmical and can be used as an easy basis for what's to come. Then adds more instruments and experiments with ways to build songs ideas on top, often many different ones.

C) I'm tinkering with arpeggios and sound design and she hears it and likes it, and records this as the basis for evolving something similarly to the approach in B

Each way often results in 8 or more Parts (tracks) doing various different things, that are at some point, sometimes, pushed to a DAW for polishing and more layering.

In this way she sketches a lot of ideas.

There's a whole part of the MODX that I've not mentioned, as neither of us use it, but the MODX has a complete Rhythm builder "mode" of operation, which is basically purpose built arpeggios for drum parts. Those drum parts are single tracks with lots of different drum sounds, and some not insignificant ability to control each note/sound. From what you're saying, this feature might be of much more use to you than it is to us. Daughter only ever uses this as a better sounding metronome.

In terms of strings... one huge caveat: A LOT of them have tremolo built into the raw recording of the instrument. This, to me, is a huge pity, because the Motion features of the MODX/Montage are some of the best, ideally, for creating tremolo in all sorts of instruments with (what should be) controllable rates and depth of tremolo. But this is rarely programmed into the string sounds, sadly. Most of them have an uncontrollable, samples recorded tremolo stuffed in them.

I should point out that the MODX has a LOT of quite good pad sounds, and there are some very good 3rd party libraries from Easy Sounds (.de) for all manner of synthwave type of stuff.

In fact, if you like SynthWave, this is probably the best value for money synth for building those kinds of tracks, once you track down 3rd party sounds, or figure out how to make your own.

Sadly, the envelopes aren't very good for making FM variations on Modular sounding synths. Sculpting the falloff and attack isn't fun.

Each part has its own Effects (2 of them) which is not quite enough, but you can double parts up, and put some of the effects on one, and some on the other, and then use Motion Control and Dynamics to move between them, which is a bit tricky, but can be rewarding, as it means your sounds evolve nicely, not getting boring.

Each Part (AWM) is 8 sounds, in and of itself. For some types of sounds, this means you can make 8 very different sounds in a single part, and can dynamically move between them, which is quite a compelling thing to do for arpeggios, for me. I like this, a lot. And tinker with it for way too long, way too often.

Programming FM-X is much trickier than it should be in this generation of FM sounds. You'll need to buy some 3rd party sound packs to really see this used well, and start dissecting how they're built. FM could be instinctual and intuitive, Korg's Opsix shows this, but Yamaha has gone completely in a different direction, requiring much more work and consideration to get anything remotely interesting out of FM-X sound programming.

Hello everyone,

I use P45 as my main instrument and compose/arrange directly into notation software and then make a mockup in DAW; this is not bad especially for film scoring but it is really time consuming for making a demo of pop song since most of the time strings and woodwinds will be recorded live and finding a special sounds for pop music on sample libraries are also not easy. I was wondering how can I change my workflow so I checked MODX and found it has really nice sound and drums pattern as well; I know it is not an arranger keyboard nor a workstation but a professional synth! Any suggestion if MODX will help me for what I am going to do? Is it possible to have multitrack of drums or layered sound?

Thanks in advance!
Best

Welcome to YamahaSynth!
The first thing you need to know about any creative tool — there is never a single approach to using it. Do yourself a favor — read through the articles on this site and spend sometime with the video presentations on the subjects you are interested in

Video “Tech Talk” MONTAGE/MODX Sequencer — Link: Tech Talk Video on Performance Recorder: SONG / PATTERN Sequencer

These synthesizers offer a ton of assistance when it comes to building your rhythm section parts. There are over 3400 Drum grooves (Arpeggios) that are main grooves, fill-ins, breaks, etc. in all genres of musics — and drum Kits to go with the different genres. The Arpeggios (10,239 in all) can be used to inspire. There are Guitar and Bass Arp Phrases that are “chord intelligent” and can be used to create exquisite backing tracks…

The most important thing to recognize is once you learn to navigate the instrument, exactly how you proceed is pretty much up to you.

The MONTAGE (MODX’s big sibling) and the MODX both have a similar workflow — they are music synthesizers — among the best sounding synthesizers ever. The Performance Recorder can capture you performing on the instrument — and not just one track at a time, but you can put together a rhythm section (drums, bass, guitar) and with their ability to allow you to play and interact with multiple Parts, you quickly can assemble your musical ideas. Get something down quickly… and then you can begin the process of fine tuning the results.

The point is you can work traditionally, but you can also begin to design your own workflow…

An example, there is a MODX 4-Part Performance called “Chillin’ Keys” — it features an acoustic piano with analog synth pad across the keyboard for live play, The “band” includes a Drum Kit and synth bass… it is a simple ensemble, the bass Arp is not playing anything complex but the beauty of this Performance is that it is inspiring to play around with while I construct chord progressions…

I’ve written a number of compositions that started from this Performance. When I finish, you’d never really know (unless I told you) that they all sprung from this one (inspiring) program. I use it to outline the chord changes of the composition I’m working on… I’m using it, concentrating on chord movement. The fact that the Bass line is simple (it just thumps out the tonic) is an advantage in this case… I use it to construct the chordal movement, knowing that later I will replace it with a proper Bass line. Once I have a chord progression candidate, I overwrite the Arp generated Bass line with one of my own.

Same with the Drum Arp… I choose a Drum Arp Phrase that inspires… knowing that I can replace part of it or all of it, later. Initially, I may play along with just a single basic groove - using the drum Arp as a “hip metronome”, a metronome that inspires with feel (yes you can adjust the ‘Swing Quantize’ to give it attitude. Later, I can go in and construct a proper drum part with appropriately placed fill-ins and breaks, etc.
And that’s one of the beautiful things about the Multi Part synth engine. You don’t have to write your music by imagining the feel, or imagining what your rhythm section backing would be doing…. You can include that in your composing process.

MIDI — I say it often, the key advantage of working with MIDI and sequencing is that you can ‘change your mind’ as you go.
It also allows you to begin your compositional construction on your instrument… but you are not limited to working exclusively in the MODX… built-in an extremely powerful audio interface (for when you want to add your to your creation; overdub fellow musicians; sing a vocal track, etc., etc., etc. transferring your data from the MODX sequencer is as easy as dragging and dropping an icon from the MODX’s SONG or PATTERN Folders to your computer.

There are as many ways to use the MODX/MONTAGE as there are musicians.
Spend some time in the LEARN area of this site for articles, videos and hear about it from the experts… and, of course, if you have specific questions, you have this forum for detailed responses on “how to” accomplish your goal.

Welcome… enjoy!