You'll need to use multi-channel or hybrid to address Parts 9-16 externally using the MIDI channel that matches the Part number.

You'll need to use multi-channel or hybrid to address Parts 9-16 externally using the MIDI channel that matches the Part number.

Thanks Jason, but I have tried that as well. External keyboard is set to ch 9 - I insert a bass part on part 9 on the Montage and nothing! Tried it in Single, Multi and Hybrid modes. Tried it also with USB in to the device port as well as standard DIN MIDI. Nothing works. OS is 3.5.1

One thing I do notice is when I select hybrid, the Midi I/O change colour to yellow with an ! mark next to the channel#

the Midi I/O change colour to yellow with an ! mark next to the channel#

This is the indicator for ERROR.

So how does one actually play a part from 9-16?

Lets start by answering the question for what happens with the MONTAGE keyboard; then we’ll tackle using an external controller. This is a logical way to proceed here because what a keyboard synthesizer generates as MIDI data is prioritized so that if you record the MIDI messages and play them back to that keyboard synthesizer it will faithfully reproduce your performance to the smallest detail.

The MONTAGE has the ability to transmit simultaneously on 8 MIDI Channels… when the KBD CTRL icon is green on a Part, 1-8, they are linked to play and be active together as a unit. These KBD CTRL Parts are NOT, normally, on the same MIDI Channel. The MONTAGE creates a stream of messages for each KBD CTRL-linked Parts. Normally means the [UTILITY] > “Settings” > “Advanced” > “MIDI I/O Mode = Multi.

MIDI I/O = Multi or a “Zone Switch” is ON in the current Performance
When the MONTAGE is in “MIDI I/O = MULTI”, or the “Zone Switch” is On in the Performance, each Part 1-16 will Transmit data on the correspondingly numbered MIDI Channel. This also means that each Part will Receive data on that Channel.
So when you *select* Part #9, you are Transmitting Out on MIDI Channel 9.
If you want to play a MONTAGE sound assigned to Part slot #9, then set your external Keyboard to Transmit on MIDI Channel 9.

MIDI I/O Mode = Single
When MIDI I/O = Single, you can play all KBD CTRL linked Parts from an external controller that only transmits on one MIDI Channel. When you select Single as your input/output mode, you get to select a Channel for the MONTAGE to both Transmit and Receive On.

MIDI I/O Mode = Hybrid
This is a combination of the other two modes. The KBD CTRL linked Parts play all together on the Channel you set (like Single). The others (non-linked) transmit and receive on the correspondingly number MIDI Channel (like Multi).

Now let’s talk about connecting your external controller.
You can connect using a standard 5-pin MIDI cable from the OUT of your controller to the IN on the MONTAGE; Set [UTILITY] > “Settings” > “MIDI I/O” = MIDI (green is active)
If you select MIDI I/O = USB, you must use a USB connection via a “Host” — that means a SMART device… a computer/laptop/tablet etc.

If you connect a USB cable from your external controller to the MONTAGE’s “To Device” port, then your external controller will behave exactly as you transmit from the external device (the MIDI/USB option don’t matter)… so whatever the channel you set your external controller to transmit on will respond in the MONTAGE according the “MIDI I/O Mode” setting.
If the MONTAGE is “Multi” then if you transmit on 9, Part 9 will respond.

Thank you BM.

And yes I did get the external controller to play part 9 (under Multi so all good there) however I have found that the sustain pedal and/or Expression pedal does not affect channel 9, (although notes continue to play fine) unless i have it selected (as in, tap the small box that notes the instrument being used) in the parts view. Then the sustain and expression do not work on part 1 and vice versa if you get me. So to summarize, when I go back to parts 1-8 view, part 9 still continues to play, notes wise, but the controllers do not affect it.

Said controllers are attached to the Montage and not the external controller keyboard. I'd really not like to have to have a second set of pedals under my feet hahaha!

Single channel mode doesn't let you address parts with Keyboard Control = OFF and Parts 9-16 always have Keyboard Control. = OFF.

Multi and Hybrid let you address Parts 9-16 from external gear.

For Hybrid - if you set the MIDI Send/Receive channel equal to any Part that has Keyboard Control = OFF then this presents a conflict because the single channel is designed to link together only Parts with Keyboard Control = ON. I didn't remember which wins - it's too much to keep track of. But it's not hard to determine when you run into the situation as you have.

Unfortunately, you cannot "merge" one Keyboard Control = OFF Part with the "single" channel that groups together Keyboard Control = ON Parts. I tried this before thinking maybe Hybrid would let me have 9 simultaneous Parts under keyboard control (instead of 8). But it doesn't do this. Parts 9-16 cannot be combined with the MIDI transmit/receive channel (Hybrid mode) - one wins and I think it's the Keyboard Control=ON parts that win.

So if you set your MIDI transmit/receive to MIDI channel 9-16 then you end up losing external control of that Part in the 9-16 range.

Said controllers are attached to the Montage and not the external controller keyboard. I'd really not like to have to have a second set of pedals under my feet hahaha!

There is no difference between the KEYS of your external Controller and the CONTROLLERS of your external device. You want the pedals, the MW, and/or the Keys of your external Controller to work… you need to connect them to that controller.

__ a controller is keys along with its physical knobs, wheels, pedals, etc., etc.

Excuse me, Dennis for my answering that, his latest question...
😉 😉 😉 😉

Come gather around, people, and see how things would work in our reality (upcoming soon) as machines finally understand our human simplest requirements...

It is not me quickly reading the manual to stay on the surface or taking edges deeply studying it to ultimately scuba dive...nor is it that keyboards are finally equipped with an old fashion selector switch, say UP for Use pedals connected to external gear, DOWN for Use pedals connected to this keyboard; it is quite another (upcoming) thing that will neglect the need for such a switch by simply sensing what is connected to, allowing its use regardless of their being connected here or there or, funny thing, even here and there.

Are there any pedals...? If yes, answer their inputs. Oh, but you are using external gear...!!!! Yes, but I am pretending to extend you, not avoid you or neglect you. I want all of you and my external gear.

Are there any duplicated controls? Nevermind. If yes, answer their inputs, since the keyboardist might have better access for this (same one) than that (same one) at this precise time.

There is a great big beautiful tomorrow, shinning at the end of every day...:D 😀 😀 😀

Excuse me, Dennis for my answering that, his latest question...
😉 😉 😉 😉

Come gather around, people, and see how things would work in our reality (upcoming soon) as machines finally understand our human simplest requirements...

It is not me quickly reading the manual to stay on the surface or taking edges deeply studying it to ultimately scuba dive...nor is it that keyboards are finally equipped with an old fashion selector switch, say UP for Use pedals connected to external gear, DOWN for Use pedals connected to this keyboard; it is quite another (upcoming) thing that will neglect the need for such a switch by simply sensing what is connected to, allowing its use regardless of their being connected here or there or, funny thing, even here and there.

Are there any pedals...? If yes, answer their inputs. Oh, but you are using external gear...!!!! Yes, but I am pretending to extend you, not avoid you or neglect you. I want all of you and my external gear.

Are there any duplicated controls? Nevermind. If yes, answer their inputs, since the keyboardist might have better access for this (same one) than that (same one) at this precise time.

There is a great big beautiful tomorrow, shinning at the end of every day...:D 😀 😀 😀

😀 that was funny, so thanks for the laugh lol

TBH honest it was a rather stupid and puerile post, and a definitive indication of the intelligence level of the writer.

Diff'rent strokes I guess.

So funny that this $5000 unit cannot perform such a simple function (that every other $5000 unit can do) that it is going back.

Dennis, if my answer to Bad Mister (who to my astonishment seems to laugh at your request by asking " Come on, how would things work in your reality? " ) explaining how would things work in our reality (for we, keen players in search for the best equipment and sadly missing the very same things you have, this time related to pedals) is not of your liking, I think perhaps it might be that the time has come for you to carry on and write your own...oh, please.

Dennis, Fernando is probably brighter than everyone else in this thread combined.

He's at that freaky level of insight and awareness, wherein he's transcended understanding of self and managed to understand much of others, otherness and the machinations of entities of others.

To that end, he's often taking the piss out of the failures of products and services to consider their users, in terms of design and execution.

His comments are, if i'm reading them right, actually in defence of your belief that it should be easier to rig up things to "just work".

However, like most very smart folks, there's a degree of artistry to his writing that surely holds much more meaning than I'm discerning. I'm a dense arpist, on hold.

Dennis, this won't directly help your problem, but may reveal another way to think about 9 through 16.

The Pattern Sequencer onboard the Montage/MODX is VERY good at addressing parts 9 through 16.

If you can get your MIDI into the Pattern Sequencer, and then point that at those parts with the sounds you want in there, you can then focus on using parts 1 through 8 as you'd like - front and centre.

I know, this is in no way mostly helpful, and you're probably aiming to get more control of 16 parts.... but a "truth" i'd like to add is that the Montage and MODX are really 8 + 8, wherein 8 are second class parts. It's a bit of a marketing checkpoint overreach to call it a truly 16 part/voice device.

Not all 16 parts are equal, as you've discovered.

Are you guys saying that if I'm sending some MIDI from the DAW to parts 9-16, to use them as some kind of backing tracks, those backing tracks should respond to the pedals that I'm playing real time on parts 1-8? ?