The "Syn Comp" category, "Electronic" sub-category have lots of performances that have a similar vibe. In the Mirror, Come Together, etc. Not going through them all to try to make a 100% match. I don't just recognize it right away since moving parts (arp/sequenced/etc) are not necessarily my main go-to.

You could always carry a laptop to the practices and then you'd have a variety of ways to keep track of your performances.

It may be a semi-cool feature for Montage to dump out the USB port an optional log file. Something that keeps track of your activity on Montage. A text file that can be edited with date/time stamps. Then you could also say record yourself doing something on the keyboard (like setting up a part to morph between two PARTs using superknob) and the log file would save off all the button presses - putting things in a way that makes sense - example:

4/23/2017 8:23:00PM - [CATEGORY SEARCH]
4/23/2017 8:23:05PM - Narrow main category down to "Syn Comp"
4/23/2017 8:23:06PM - Narrow sub category down to "Electronic"
4/23/2017 8:23:10PM - Select performance preset "Come Together!"
4/23/2017 8:23:15PM - Edit PART1 common, mod control ...
... etc

Then some of the instructions we trade we could just record what we do and send a "transcript" from the USB stick which would have a common format and generally follow best practices where buttons are labeled in brackets [ ]. You could "run the tape" of the log file during your practice and go back looking at timestamps to see what performance you were using. Or, since it's a text file, just search on "Select performance preset" which would show all the preset performances you used during that session.

I suppose one could also use these same files to "step through" the log file that someone else posts. The tutorials could include - in addition to the X7B files - one of these log files which the user could step through and see all the changes made one-by-one.

For tutorials - it's conceivable that you could go even further and allow comments to be added. Much like script files - where if another user is playing back your log file - it will show a "popup" text message containing the comment for that step.

# First, serach for the preset performance we're going to edit
4/23/2017 8:23:00PM - [CATEGORY SEARCH]
4/23/2017 8:23:05PM - Narrow main category down to "Syn Comp"
4/23/2017 8:23:06PM - Narrow sub category down to "Electronic"
4/23/2017 8:23:10PM - Select performance preset "Come Together!"
# Next, start to edit PART 1 to set its volume control
4/23/2017 8:23:15PM - Edit PART1 common, mod control ...

The tutorial writer would manually edit the log file after recording a session to add the comments so that when the tutorial receiver "plays" the file - they would get messages before certain steps to help guide the process.

Just a thought.

I could have just saved it within Cubase with Montage Connect...
Those Syn Comp performances are good.

found it. it´s drift&pulse from the "best of fm" live set. Good to know presets - even from the "best of" selection - aren´t that easily recognizable by montage owners. That means we can use them in our songs without having to tweek them to make them unique, unrecognizable, our own, or whatnot to make us feel better 😉

I'm not aware of anyone who has played a Rhodes is concerned that others in the audience will recognize the sound or the instrument. They play the sound because it fits their concept of what works for a given tune. And that "tiney" e-piano has been "everywhere" and in "everything". Same for the 3-series Hammond (C3/B3/A100/etc). Even if everyone in the audience instantly recognizes a Montage preset - what's the difference? And is this a bad thing? I would tend to think it's neutral.

Even if everyone and their brother's cat is playing the same "patch" (performance) - there's still lots of room for creativity in the rhythm/feel, note selection, and presentation (facial expressions, hairstyles, clothes, dancing/bobbing/fancy footwork/backup dancers, light show, multimedia 10-screen jumbotron, etc) departments. Using the same sound as everyone else can easily be one of the less important aspects of your artistic expression.

I'm not saying to change your approach, though. I respect having a vision and working to achieve it - even involving preset obscurity.

yes you're right, it's silly. I listened to this homerecording podcast and they said don't ever use synth presets, it's lazy and someone out there will recognize your preset... I should not listen to this advice because it's foolish.