There is a slight delay when using the [AUDITION] button versus the transport’s [>] PLAY button... whether anything can or needs to be done about that is an unknown at this point. If you need to start “on cue” it is recommended you use the PLAY/REC hardware button for that composition (Song&Perf).

There is a slight delay when using the [AUDITION] button versus the transport’s [>] PLAY button... whether anything can or needs to be done about that is an unknown at this point. If you need to start “on cue” it is recommended you use the PLAY/REC hardware button for that composition (Song&Perf).

Ok, good to know. I'll just hit the Audition button on the prior off beat, as I find it way better when playing a song and a 1/4 way in, to start the sequencing via the Audition button without having to have it pre-queued up. Sure I could cue up the Song in the Performance and then hit the play button, but I like the simplicity of the Audition button better...

If you need to start “on cue” it is recommended you use the PLAY/REC hardware button for that composition (Song&Perf).

I am considering for this particular song to use the PLAY button, which means I need to press the [>] PLAY button to cue it, and then press the [>] PLAY button again 1/4 way into the song for it to start playing.

The only issue I have noticed with this is that everytime I load the .midi file into that Performance as a Song, and save it both within the Song screen, as well as save the Performance, it is only there until I shut down the keyboard. When I power up the Montage each day, then go to that same Performance and click the [>] Play button, the Song that I had loaded and saved is not the one that is loaded, and it's basically starting a brand new Song. Is there something I am doing wrong? Or do I have to reload the .midi file/song on each Performance, every time I power on the keyboard?

There's an option to load a song ("MIDI" data stored internally) as a Song&Perf. I'm not sure you're describing doing this. Although you can SAVE Song&Perf from the Performance Recorder menu, I think the only way to LOAD Song&Perf is through the [UTILITY] menu.

http://www.easysounds.eu/MusicProductionGuide_2017_07_EN.pdf

Page 17

When loading a Song (UTILITY - Contents - Load) you can
choose the Content Type "Song&Perf" or "Song".
With the Content Type "Song&Perf", the original assigned
Performance will always be loaded, even if you have not
yet executed the "Store Song & Performance Settings"
function for this Song. If you have saved changed
Performance and/or Song settings with "Store Song &
Performance Settings", they will be loaded instead of the
original settings.

You don't have to use Song&Perf - but you've quoted directions to use it and do not seem to be using this.

There's an option to load a song ("MIDI" data stored internally) as a Song&Perf. I'm not sure you're describing doing this. Although you can SAVE Song&Perf from the Performance Recorder menu, I think the only way to LOAD Song&Perf is through the [UTILITY] menu.

You don't have to use Song&Perf - but you've quoted directions to use it and do not seem to be using this.

Maybe I am viewing this backwards, as I am thinking from the perspective of choosing a Performance and then hitting the Play button to call up the Song that I associated with that Performance, but this doesn't work as I thought.

Is it the other way around, whereby I have to load the right Song first via [UTILITY] - Contents - Load, choosing "Song&Perf" Content Type, and it brings up the associated Performance?
If so, that is not what I want to do at live gigs. Changing Performances via 'Live Set' buttons and then hitting the Audition button is quickest, most convenient way to change the Performance & associated Song. The song saved as an Audition for a particular Performance, always stays associated and can be recalled immediately after selecting a Performance from 'Live Set'. I just hoped maybe the same Song via selecting a Performance and hitting the [>] Play button would do the same thing...

Note that as I said above, I did load the Song via midi file into the Performance via the Play / Rec area, then hit the 'Store Song & Perf Settings' button, as well as saved the Performance. But I can't seem to get that same song to play the next time I power up the Synth and select that same Performance! The Song is no longer associated with the Performance from a 'Live Set' Performance selecting perspective...

...everytime I load the .midi file into that Performance as a Song...

You only need to load a .mid File into the MONTAGE once.

Here’s what I mean... once you place a USB stick into the MONTAGE and Load it, it will remain in the MONTAGE until you remove it. So the word “everytime” (sic) is disturbing (and not only grammatically). It becomes a MONTAGE SONG.

Is there a difference between the .mid File and a Song? Yes, there is.
A Song exists in a special Folder that remains in internal memory. A .mid File is a file that exists external to the MONTAGE on a USB stick, (in this case).

If you’ve been loading a .mid File more than once, you will wind up with multiple Songs with the same name in your Song Folder.
Press [UTILITY] > touch “Contents” > “Data Utility” > tap the SONG Folder to view its contents.

Loading a .mid File (from a USB stick) places it in this Folder where to get rid of it you would need to manually DELETE it or initialize your entire MONTAGE.
STOP loading .mid files into your MONTAGE. Fact is: you only need to do it once.

Once it is located in your Song Folder, you can link it with a specific Performance, so that whenever you recall that Song, it will automatically go and get the Performance that you linked it with... (Not the other way ‘round).
You establish the link between the Song and the Performance by tapping the box “Store Song & Perf Settings”

Reasoning: a Performance is like the band... the same band can play many different Songs.
The Song recalls the band that was used to create it.

So “Song&Perf” is called that and not “Perf&Song” for a reason.
You recall a Song that has been linked with a specific Performance.

When you go to [UTILITY] > “Contents” > “Load” > Set the “Contents Type” = Song&Perf
Please notice it does not load from your USB stick... you are actually recalling the Song from the internal memory Song Folder, and it will automatically bring along the band (Performance) you linked it with...

You need to go to your SONG Folder and delete all the copies of the Song... if you’ve been Loading a .mid File “everytime” undoubtedly you have scores of repeats.

Perspective: current situation is one Song can occupy the Play/Rec at a time. The “Song&Perf” is useful to go get a Song from the Folder, when you do so you can have it recall the linked Performance. I understand that you want a quick solution to recall a Performance and automatically have the song data come with it (which is how you wound up with using the Audition feature as the workaround)... the User Audition function allows data from the Song Folder to be copied to the Performance. This copy is independent from the Song Folder entry in that it is available even after you Delete the Song from the Folder. As I understand your issue it’s about the Audition features ability to cue the start of playback to the press of the [AUDITION] button.

An alternate method that will work is to playback the Song data into the MONTAGE via the A/D In from an external source through the A/D In.

...everytime I load the .midi file into that Performance as a Song...

You only need to load a .mid File into the MONTAGE once.

Here’s what I mean... once you place a USB stick into the MONTAGE and Load it, it will remain in the MONTAGE until you remove it. So the word “everytime” (sic) is disturbing (and not only grammatically). It becomes a MONTAGE SONG.

"Everyday" "everywhere" I go, just about "everyone" says that "every time" is not a compound word and should not be written as one. I keep getting pulled over by the grammar police! 😉
I suppose in hindsight I could have just used the spell check that's built into this forum... lol

Is there a difference between the .mid File and a Song? Yes, there is.
A Song exists in a special Folder that remains in internal memory. A .mid File is a file that exists external to the MONTAGE on a USB stick, (in this case).
If you’ve been loading a .mid File more than once, you will wind up with multiple Songs with the same name in your Song Folder.
Press [UTILITY] > touch “Contents” > “Data Utility” > tap the SONG Folder to view its contents.
Loading a .mid File (from a USB stick) places it in this Folder where to get rid of it you would need to manually DELETE it or initialize your entire MONTAGE.
STOP loading .mid files into your MONTAGE. Fact is: you only need to do it once.

Ok, my bad! So I realize I used the terminology incorrectly, which I know can cause confusion for others that come on here, so I will definitely be more careful in how I word things, especially since I posted it while on break at work, and not while in front of my Montage.
Basically, in the past when first learning the Montage I had loaded midi files from the USB stick more than once into a Song of a particular Performance, but in this case (and since a while now) I was actually loading the particular Song from the SONG folder to Play/Rec of the Performance ... so not duplicating loading of the .midi file. Lesson learned!

Once it is located in your Song Folder, you can link it with a specific Performance, so that whenever you recall that Song, it will automatically go and get the Performance that you linked it with... (Not the other way ‘round).
You establish the link between the Song and the Performance by tapping the box “Store Song & Perf Settings”
Reasoning: a Performance is like the band... the same band can play many different Songs.
The Song recalls the band that was used to create it.
So “Song&Perf” is called that and not “Perf&Song” for a reason.
You recall a Song that has been linked with a specific Performance.

I understand now that it's a one way street and that the Song doesn't stay associated with the Performance that way I would like it to be, so that I can recall a Performance via 'Live Set' and then hit the [>] PLAY button, because the Song is no longer associated with the Performance. But rather the Performance is associated to the Song, so that if I load a Song from the SONG Folder, it will recall the linked Performance that was saved.

I do think however it would be beneficial to many people when doing live gigs and using 'Live Set', to be able to recall the Performance and have the last Song that was loaded when the Performance was last saved, remain associated with that Performance! (unless there is some programming issue on the Montage that I'm not aware of that would make this impossible).
I am talking about hopefully having Yamaha change the current functionality in a future OS release. It doesn't mean that only that song will be played and no others could be loaded for the "Band/Performance". But rather, the Performance just remembers, which was the last song associated when the Performance was last saved. That way if the "Band" wanted to start off the night (or a particular set) with the same song each night, it would be there ready to go.
For my purposes, and likely others that will use Live Set & Sequencing while gigging, it would allow for easy transition between different numbers they play (& both the associated Performances, as well as associated sequenced SONG for those numbers), so that there wouldn't be a pause in between numbers, allowing the real band to go from one number to another without hesitation.
The Audition button does this very well, except for any numbers that require the Audition/Song on the Montage to start 'x' number of seconds in...
I just played my first gig in a while, and in practice I was hitting the Audition a split second prior, nailing it perfectly every time (Open Arms - Journey). At the gig, I messed up & hit it right on beat, causing a delay. I managed to recover fine and I don't think too many people noticed, so that's why I thought I'd look at possibly using the [>] PLAY button for that particular number instead of the Audition button.

I'll throw the idea up on YamahaSynth.ideascale.com and hopefully it will/can be changed in a future OS release. Meanwhile, I will not hold my breath, and either continue with the Audition button, or take a pause in the gig to touch the screen and load the SONG into the Performance and use the [>] PLAY button instead ... I am leaning towards sticking the Audition button though. What makes it a bit more susceptible to messing up live for this particular song is that in the part of the song where the sequencing needs to kick in, I have to press the sustain pedal, position right hand for the next chord (E minor) and cross my left hand over to hit the Audition button just prior to playing that chord with my right hand. I had no problems in practice, but fumbled a bit live. Oh well, next time! 😉

When you go to [UTILITY] > “Contents” > “Load” > Set the “Contents Type” = Song&Perf
Please notice it does not load from your USB stick... you are actually recalling the Song from the internal memory Song Folder, and it will automatically bring along the band (Performance) you linked it with...

You need to go to your SONG Folder and delete all the copies of the Song... if you’ve been Loading a .mid File “everytime” undoubtedly you have scores of repeats.

As I mentioned above, I mistakenly used the wrong wording to describe what I was doing. I checked and there are no duplicates in the internal memory Song Folder, so it's good and clean!

The only association Performances make to MIDI data is the audition. Audition (possible timing warts and all), since it's inside a Performance, will be "pulled in" when you use Live Set. Otherwise, Performances do not save any relationship between any other song or MIDI data. Your performance recorder song (started with the play button) has Song&Perf as an association. That's outside of the Performance -- it's a system not "pulled in" when you recall a Performance and therefore will not be "pulled in" when you use Live Set.

Using songs with Performances requires more preparation than using Live Set.

Here is a new idea I submitted up on https://yamahasynth.ideascale.com for this! If you would like to see this in a future OS release, please 'Up Vote'!

"Save & Recall the SONG that's loaded when a Performance is Saved"
https://yamahasynth.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Save-Recall-the-SONG-that-s-loaded-when-a-Performance-is-Saved/237691-45978

"Currently a 'SONG' doesn't stay associated with the Performance, so that if you recall a Performance via 'Live Set' at a live gig and then hit the [>] PLAY button, the SONG that was loaded when you last saved the Performance, is no longer associated with the Performance. But rather the Performance is associated to the Song, so that if you load a Song from the SONG Folder, it will recall the linked Performance that was saved.

It would be extremely beneficial to many people when doing live gigs & using 'Live Set', to be able to recall the Performance and have the last Song that was loaded when the Performance was last saved, remain associated with that Performance!

Please change it so that when saving Performances, the SONG currently loaded is saved with the Performance for quick recall later (or at least the pointer to it is save as metadata in the Performance). This would be very useful for anyone that will use 'Live Set' & 'Sequencing' while gigging live, allowing for easy transition between different numbers/songs they play, so that there wouldn't be a pause in between numbers/songs, allowing a band/artist to go from one number/song into another without hesitation or delay!"

If you're up to carrying more gear, you could always have an external computer or tablet that's responsible for switching to the new Performance and also will play a MIDI file that the external computer software has associated with this Performance to Montage. May or may not fit what you're after - or may serve as a band-aid.

I do think however it would be beneficial to many people when doing live gigs and using 'Live Set', to be able to recall the Performance and have the last Song that was loaded when the Performance was last saved, remain associated with that Performance!

Agreed... again so we are clear. The forum is about what the instrument does now and how operations and functions can be used as it exists at this very moment.
I love to participate in request sessions, dream sessions, and “I wish...” sessions, and do so on a regular basis. Ideascale is a workable way to intelligently handle, organize and evaluate such things... thank you for participating. Some folks get into these impassioned rants that don’t really translate well to the folks who actually have a hand in making changes — these are far less useful than the authors may intend.

But talking about how you are using the unit, and then experimenting with various workarounds, and then sharing what you are doing, is useful. And very helpful, again, thank you! Clearly, you are searching for a solution.

The reason most firmware updates are not announced way ahead of time is because we don’t want folks holding their breath. Breathe normally, find a method to work, continue to make music!!! That's what these forum posts should concentrate on — if/when a solution comes along, then adopt it into your workflow. We are more than happy to help anyone find a solution in the current firmware.

Sorry I misunderstood your loading procedure... but, just FYI: I speak to folks everyday of the week, who are totally unaware of the Load from USB stick versus Load from Song Folder difference. I did have someone reach the Song limit (back before it was expanded to 128) because they loaded the .mid File each time. It’s more common than you think.

Last note: one song that goes seamlessly into another is called a medley. To translate that to the current situation firmware is to simply treat the compositions in the same Song location. If you understand anything about the way the gear works, you know the problem is recalling a set of sixteen different instruments, new effects, new routing etc., etc. That’s not likely to happen... but you can transition one composition into another (I’ve been doing it for years with MIDI-based synth gear) by building the two compositions into one Song location. Allows many of the changes to occur naturally... sounds like a band transitioning compositions - not an entirely new band taking the stage.

Since a drummer could not change Drum Kits in the middle of playing on stage, I don’t ask my Synthesizer drummer to do so either. Since the sax player has to put down the horn before they pick up the flute, I try to remain aware of the real-world transitions and program my MIDI-medley accordingly. I don’t ask the technology to do something impossible in the real-world (in this instance). Most bands that do medleys know that is what they’re going to do and prepare ahead of time. Plan ahead!

The modern DJ creates medleys... where, at the instant before they transition, they decide to do it... but their solution is two turntables. Sure, that allows you to medley almost any two compositions (gets expensive with keyboard Synthesizers, though).

Last note: one song that goes seamlessly into another is called a medley. To translate that to the current situation firmware is to simply treat the compositions in the same Song location. If you understand anything about the way the gear works, you know the problem is recalling a set of sixteen different instruments, new effects, new routing etc., etc. That’s not likely to happen... but you can transition one composition into another (I’ve been doing it for years) by building the two compositions into one Song location. Allows many of the changes to occur naturally.

Most of what I have sequenced could easily be done as a medley from 'Live Set' via the Audition button, because until you Press the Audition button a second time at the end of a song, it continues to play in a loop. I always add about 30 seconds to the end of each midi song that I do in Pro Tools, just so I have lots of time to press Audition again and not have the Audition song replay.
If I wanted to do a medley, all I would need to do is leave the Audition button activated from the first song, then choose the next Performance from 'Live Set' and it will play that Performance's audition without having to press the Audition button. I was actually doing this at practice the other day to save time and have one Performance's Audition/Song go into the next right away...
This may really come in handy in the future, as I do plan to do a medley or two live, such as a 3 or 4 Queen song medley...I wasn't considering how I would do this until you mentioned about medley above, which made me remember about what I did at the last practice...thanks for the idea!

Of course, 'my' current use case for the linking of the last loaded Song to a Performance when it is saved, is mainly for playing numbers/songs that need the Sequencing to start somewhere in the middle of the number, and not at the beginning, due to the split second delay in the Audition button. However, for those Montagers/MODX'ers who just want to use 'Live Set' and the [>] PLAY button (not 'Audition') for the Song/Sequencing when playing live gigs, having the last loaded song linked to the Performance would be quite useful for all Performances/songs.

I added another idea on Yamahasynth.ideascale.com to have the 'Audition' button delay fixed. I think it would be great to see both ideas I submitted fixed in a future OS release, as it would give gigging musicians a couple of options on how they can start the Sequencing of a SONG from a Performance depending on their preference.
I will continue to use the Montage synth as it is today and utilize the Audition button for this as it is now. These ideas are 'nice to haves', but worth submitting!
Please 'Up Vote' it you find this would be useful for you at some point in the future!!

Here's my new idea, which is basically why I started this thread:
_____________________

"Audition Button - Fix Slight delay so SONGs Start Immediately"
https://yamahasynth.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Audition-Button-Fix-Slight-delay-so-SONGs-Start-Immediately/237784-45978

I also have a similar/related Idea that I submitted recently called:
"Save & Recall the SONG that's loaded when a Performance is Saved"
https://yamahasynth.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Save-Recall-the-SONG-that-s-loaded-when-a-Performance-is-Saved/237691-45978
Although I would prefer to use the Audition button for starting the Sequencing for each Performance in 'Live Set', this other idea would also be a good alternative as well, and possibly preferred by others.
I think both ideas have merit and would be very useful, especially for gigging musicians, giving them a couple of options to utilize, depending on what their preference is!
Fixing the SONG Play button may be preferred by some, although for me, since it still involves pressing the [>] PLAY button twice (once to Cue it and a second time to Start it), I prefer to use the 'Audition' button; hence why it would be good to fix both and why I submitted both ideas!"