Tests show no pitchbend stepping when repeating Jason's tests here: https://yamahasynth.com/community/montage-series-synthesizers/how-a-so-high-end-synthesizer-cannot-provide-a-proper-pitchbend/paged/2/#post-85124

1. downloaded current sendmidi 'windows-1.3.1' version was the latest I found

2. loaded 'Init Normal (FM-X)' preset

3. go to 'Edit -> Part 1 -> Common -> General / Pitch -> Pitch

4. change PB range to -48/+24

5. play C6 and press keyboard hold (new on M - this holds whatever notes/chords are sounding)

6. various commands

sendmidi dev "MONTAGE M-1" pb 5500 - G#5

sendmidi dev "MONTAGE M-1" pb 5550 - middly

sendmidi dev "MONTAGE M-1" pb 5600 - A5

sendmidi dev "MONTAGE M-1" pb 4000 - B3

sendmidi dev "MONTAGE M-1" pb 2000 - C3

sendmidi dev "MONTAGE M-1" pb 1000 - F#2

sendmidi dev "MONTAGE M-1" pb 0       - C2 - 4 octaves down

The keys listed above (G#5, A5, etc) are not necessarily exact but are the closest semi-tone key to what I heard.

The 5550 for the 'middly' above is midway between the 5500 G#5 and the 5600 A5 and is clearly not either one of them. Using even finer gradients my ear can detect very slight changes in the quality of the tone. There are no sudden jumps/steps at all that I can find.

After each test command I would:

1. release the keyboard hold

2. play C6 again to hear the bended note

3. jiggle the PB wheel to reset the pitch bend to 0

4. find the bended note on the keyboard

That was the quickest way to hear both the original and the bent sounds in the shortest period of time.

The new 'KEYBOARD HOLD' key is a great addition when doing things like this since you don't have to worry about holding the keys down while you try things.

If anyone has any comments consider just creating a new thread to post them. Otherwise, with the forum broken, no one will be able to see them.