I have the Montage 8. I added some real analog hardware synths, Matrix Brute and (2) Behringer Deep Mind 12s (one is a rack unit for my Yamaha CP1). I also added the Yamaha Genos (almost all available expansion packs loaded) and a Roli which is my only soft synth. I like to mix the authentic with the synthetic.

Hi. I have a Montage 7 (bottom tier) and Kronos X61 (top tier) and they go very well together. I then have a Nord G2 engine (still one of my favourite VAs along with my AN1x - but I do not gig the AN1x) and also an NUC PC in my gig rack which is powerful enough to run even demanding VSTi synths like UH-E Diva and Omnisphere.

I use Top Ten Software Cantabile as a MIDI processing hub, back track player and live VSTi host.

That is a lot of sound making potential 🙂

Would be interested to hear what you think of the Virus and V-Synth as I have always been interested in checking them out.

I use a Montage 8 (bottom) and an Alesis QS7.1 (top). The synthesizer voices of the Alesis noticeably contrast with those of the Montage. (Keith Emmerson had input into the QS7 and 7.1 voicing).

I'm concerned the Alesis will wear out at some point. If anyone is familiar with that keyboard, I'd be interested in a contemporary replacement (brand and model).

Cheers,
Karl

I have a Montage 8 and I sold most of my synths, 'cause I have Omnisphere 2, Ableton Suite + Push 2 and some synths on my iPad... the hardware ones that survived are: Waldorf Streichfett, MAM MB33 Retro and the Roland TB-03.
I'm planning to buy a HX3 organ module for Hammond emulation. Pipe organ is already covered with Hauptwerk software.
I'm waiting for the SampleRobot Montage edition to load some synth sounds on my Montage.

Wow! You guys have an eclectic bunch of synths! I guess I would expect nothing less of Montage owners!

Derek wrote:

I have a Montage 7 (bottom tier) and Kronos X61 (top tier) and they go very well together.

Hey there, Derek! That's cool to hear, since I have a Kronos also and was worried that having that and a Montage was too much overlap, but I've always wanted a Motif so I'll finally have that and more in the Montage.

Would be interested to hear what you think of the Virus and V-Synth as I have always been interested in checking them out.

The Virus is sick (and so, aptly-named!). The original VirusTI is 90% of what's in a TI2 (the TI2's processor is only 25% faster), so I would highly recommend you checking one out since they go for anywhere from only $1,100-$1,500 on the used market. It makes sounds no other synth does (or at least that I'm capable of getting). It's a great complement to any other sound-making machine since it can sound so different. Lots of "mean" and "scary" patches (as well as ethereal pads, but that's not what you buy a Virus for!). I'm not too savvy at programming so I rely a lot on presets and others' patches. That's why UVI's Synth Anthology 2 (my only soft-synth so far) is perfect for me—many of the best synths' signature sounds, expertly crafted by professional sound designers.

Many say that the V-Synth GT's effects can be replicated more easily by today's super soft-synths, but again, I'm not too swift at programming so that's why I'm keeping it. Again, one guy said you can make similar sounds in software, but he said doing it on a V-Synth is just more fun. That said, it's not my favorite board since its presets all sound very V-Synth-ey, and again, I'm not too smart about using its rather deep UI to create my own sounds. It's actually a really capable machine if you listen to some of the custom patches people have made on YouTube. But my Virus is my go-to weird-sound machine, and the V-Synth just kinda sits on the shelf until I decide to someday learn how to program it. Oh, almost forgot—one of the main reasons I bought the V-Synth: Its excellent vocoder!

David wrote:

I like to mix the authentic with the synthetic.

Right on! The more different-sounding stuff you can get, the better,

Karl wrote:

I'm concerned the Alesis will wear out at some point. If anyone is familiar with that keyboard, I'd be interested in a contemporary replacement (brand and model).

I'm certainly no expert on the Alesis but if you're only after a few of its signature sounds, that UVI Synth Anthology is great. I'm only using the one soft-synth instrument at the moment, and although someday I may pop for Omnisphere, Collision FX, and maybe a few others, the UVI SA2 plug-in satisies 90% of my synth needs for now. Every patch is "right" just out-of-the-box. Sorry, I keep babbling about this plug-in—it's more for preset kinda guys (like me). Of course if you like to program your own stuff, there are better soft-synth options available for that.

Manuel wrote:

I'm waiting for the SampleRobot Montage edition to load some synth sounds on my Montage.

Sounds like you'll have some quality organ-rigs there! I would love to install a handful of UVI sounds in my Montage and Kronos someday as well. What do you think of the Waldorf Streichfett?

I use a Jupiter 80 on the bottom tier and Montage 6 on the top. A combination I love sonically and functionally but the Jupiter is so bulky and heavy to lug around at my age!

Omnisphere 2, Halion Sonic 3, OPX II, Korg Legacy and Roland Cloud all within Cantabile Performer 3 are all nice and light though and give me a huge sonic arsenal.

Karl wrote:

I'm concerned the Alesis will wear out at some point. If anyone is familiar with that keyboard, I'd be interested in a contemporary replacement (brand and model).

Cheers,
Karl

I replaced my QS 6.1 with a Fusion 6HD but the QS outlasted it. The only problem with mine is the pitch wheel spring has gone slack but I've never got around to replacing it. Love the old Alesis stuff.

I second Jeff! Jupiter 80.

The Jupiter 80 goes together with the Montage like Peanut butter and Jelly, like Ferarri and Pirelli, like Milk and Cookies, like Steak and Wine, like money and girls - they're so different, but one always leads to the other, which follows it well. You wouldn't need to -layer- them - they're each perfectly capable of sublime fullness; but sonically they inhabit such different spaces (at least to my ears, with my programs) that they answer your question very well.

On the other hand, studio, you already have plenty of great gear - and it would be a pity for you to grab one of the few remaining Jupiters, as a once-in-a-while-go to, when some kid with a lot less kit, might discover it and make it the center of their key-verse!

Jeff wrote:

I use a Jupiter 80 on the bottom tier and Montage 6 on the top. A combination I love sonically and functionally but the Jupiter is so bulky and heavy to lug around at my age!

Omnisphere 2, Halion Sonic 3, OPX II, Korg Legacy and Roland Cloud all within Cantabile Performer 3 are all nice and light though and give me a huge sonic arsenal.

PS. The V-Synth is awesome. . . until the Montage came out, it had arguably the best sounding audio, IMHO. As you say, it's really V-Synth-y - but that's cool!

Jeff wrote:

I use a Jupiter 80 on the bottom tier and Montage 6 on the top.

Sounds like a sweet combo!

Tommy wrote:

The Jupiter 80 goes together with the Montage like Peanut butter and Jelly, like Ferarri and Pirelli, like Milk and Cookies, like Steak and Wine, like money and girls - they're so different, but one always leads to the other, which follows it well . . .

As awesome series of metaphors! Always loved the way the Jupiter-series looked—I can only imagine how it sounds (I may have played one at Guitar Center once—can't remember). Of course, I always wanted one as well, but—too many synths!

PS. The V-Synth is awesome. . . until the Montage came out, it had arguably the best sounding audio, IMHO. As you say, it's really V-Synth-y - but that's cool!

That's another vote for the V-Synth! I have to go back and try to dive deeper since I keep hearing from fans of this synth—more than 10 years after its release!

I've taken a different approach and "paired" a multitude of analog synths with my Montage by filling the Montage User Memory with sounds I've recorded from the following synths :p

Arturia Matrixbrute, DSI OB6, Yamaha CS5, Korg PE1000, Novation Bass Station 2 (6 of), Roland Jupiter 6, Future Retro XS, Korg MS20M, Akai AX80, Akai AX60, Akai VX600, Moog Mother 32 (3 of), Moog Sub37, Moog Moogerfoogers (20+ of), and a Eurorack modular setup.

In digital land, I've paired the Montage with: iOS synths (iPad and iPhone), Yamaha TX816 (3 of) and a Roland V-Synth XT.

In VST land, I've paired the Montage with: Keyscape and all of the Native Instrument stuff.

And to finish off, running the Montage through an Eventide H7600 is absolutely sublime!

But the real deal is pairing the Montage with my Montage Max Msp MIDI editor that lets me do stuff with all of the above sounds that is not possible with Montage alone. Insane stuff. 😉

Wow, Joe! You're my new Montage hero! That's amazing! (Also, very glad to hear from another V-Synth user—I guess I'm hanging on to mine.) Did you copy over similar envelopes, FX, and whatnots from similar kinds of Montage patches, or did you re-build them from scratch for each of your synths' samples?

It's also interesting to hear that you're pairing your Montage with the Native Instruments libraries since I was thinking of possibly getting the NI Kontakt S61 Mk2/Komplete11 bundle someday. Any ones in particular you like pairing with your Montage? (e.g., Massive/Form/Razor patches, Session Horns, Cinematic-series, etc.)