On your Montage please go to [UTILITY] > touch "Settings" > "System"
Your Montage firmware will be shown along the bottom of the screen.
If it is anything but version 1.20.x you need to update the Montage firmware.

We are sure you mean the "Yamaha Steinberg USB driver" (since there is no such thing as a "Steinberg driver")... with driver's, computers, in general, it pays to be specific and precise. Attention to details leads directly to less frustration. I shouldn't have to tell you.

The Montage is both a MIDI and audio interface and can certainly do MIDI and audio at the same time when properly connected to a computer. What is disappointing is you are drawing conclusions based on your attempts to setup, rather than asking how it is done 🙂

If you want support tell us what you have. A 64-bit Windows, Windows what? 7, 8, 10?
Connect the Montage to your computer via USB
Set the MIDI I/O = USB
Connect whatever you wish to communicate with via MIDI to the 5-pin MIDI jacks on Montage back panel. OUT to IN, OUT to IN.

The computer will see the Montage as having three Ports of MIDI. Each USB "Port" is the equivalent of a pair of MIDI cables: each Port has a MIDI IN + a MIDI OUT.
PORT 1 = IN/OUT for the Montage tone generator
PORT 2 = is currently not used
PORT 3 = IN/OUT for your external Midi connected device

So when you want to route the Montage MIDI OUT to your external device you would connect PORT 1 to PORT 3
When you want to route your external MIDI device to the Montage you would connect PORT 3 to PORT 1

The Montage communicates with the computer via USB, your software will allow you to connect MIDI OUT to MIDI IN of whatever you need. That's how it works. Let us know.

Computers can be your friend but you have to meet them more than half way! 🙂

Taking a step back, I think the feedback is valuable that "Firmware Error" is not as helpful/actionable as "!(Alert) Minimum Firmware Required: v1.20 / Montage Firmware Detected: v1.11 / Please update Montage with latest firmware." (if this is indeed the root cause of the original error message). Not all users will read the install notes - this is known behavior. Not addressing this with more clear error messages causes some self-inflicted support requirements.

Hello Bad Mister and Jason - suitably chastened, I did indeed mean the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver, and my system is now a 64bit Windows 10 Home Premium. However, I heeded your words and started again from scratch - and found my Montage was still on v1.11.1 - I have no idea how it managed to revert, as I did the update to v1.20.1 a couple of months ago, and after initial problems it did update - at least it said it had - and I've never checked it since. So I was doubly chastened!

After several attempts ('Searching for updater ... NG') the meaning of 'nothing' finally sank in, and I put just the update file on the USB - no manuals nor release notes - not even the folder it downloaded in - NOTHING but the file itself. It worked, of course. So you have taught me a lesson all over again - let's hope I remember it this time! My Montage is now on v1.20.4 - I did remember to save all my User files first, but forgot the Bosendorfer, thinking that a 'Library' is safe. So the Bosendorfer has vanished, but I hope I can download it again?

Unhappily, my time on the set-up is limited by other commitments, and I can't continue now - but I am much intrigued by your statement that the Montage can run both the 'Connect' facility and MIDI at the same time. To make my MIDI system work, I had to switch to 'MIDI' from 'USB' mode so I'm missing something (surprise!!). I have not had the time to look into what the 'Connect' facility offers, though. May be something there I'll be very happy to learn about!

My thanks for your patience! As you say, Jason, manuals don't get perused that much, but I must add that the sheer volume of traffic on this site indicates a lack of information for us punters struggling with possibly the most complex music machine ever ... !

The Bosendorfer should not be removed by an update.

Hello Bad Mister - that's what I thought too. It was there as a Library before I updated, but is now gone. I've checked every category just to be sure. Worse (if possible) - Phat Analog 2 has also vanished. So it would seem that the v1.20 update does remove Libraries as well as all User files. It's true that Yamaha notes that one should 'prepare Library files' before the update, but give no indication of what 'prepare' might mean! However, I still have the original zip. downloads on file, so I have been able to extract them to the Montage USB stick - although I've not yet had the chance to reload them. To recap on that - insert USB in the 'Device' slot, press 'Utility' ... Content ... change 'Content type' to 'Library' ... Load ... ? Or should I touch the 'Job' screenbutton first?

I notice that the Phat Analog 2 download includes both 'X7L' and '.X7U' files, and this is a bit confusing ... if I load the Library files first, I will then have to save ALL my User files to USB, and then re-load them all including the Phat Analog ones into the Montage? Just seems very clumsy, but if that's the correct procedure then it must be done. As a complete layman, it just seems easy to allow simple addition to existing user files?

Please do me a favor. From the HOME screen
Press [CATEGORY SEARCH]
Touch the box that says "Bank"
A List will appear with "All", "Preset", "User", and your installed Libraries.

You should always have Backups of your data, both as USER and LIBRARY Files!

I notice that the Phat Analog 2 download includes both 'X7L' and '.X7U' files, and this is a bit confusing ... if I load the Library files first, I will then have to save ALL my User files to USB, and then re-load them all including the Phat Analog ones into the Montage? Just seems very clumsy, but if that's the correct procedure then it must be done. As a complete layman, it just seems easy to allow simple addition to existing user files?

From this question it is clear that you are not clear on the difference between the file types.

A Library file bypasses the User Bank altogether and installs the data into one of for eight Library slots.
A User file will overwrite any data currently in your User Bank.
It is that simply and that complex.

Easy Sounds graciously provided you with both types of files saving you from having to create it yourself. The USER FILE will load the data into your User or work area. Here you can decide which data you wish to keep permanently. While the data is in your USER Bank, you can customize it, eliminate items you don't find useful ( You can delete Performances in UTILITY > Contents > Data Utility > Performance folder)
You can delete Waveforms in the Waveform folder.

once you have customized the data in your USER Bank and have it exactly as you like, you can then SAVE it as new .X7L LIBRARY File (your Library version of the data) - that you can then install to a Library slot.

USER Files cannot be installed into a Library slot. You must SAVE the USER bank to a .X7L File - it is that file that can be installed.

Hello Bad Mister - well yes, I did all that - no Library files existed in any category. I did have back-ups of my User files, but not the Libraries - I now know they are not exempt from being lost when it comes to updates. Fortunately I still had the original zipped files, and have now reinstalled them on the Montage. The procedure after touching 'Load' is obscure (NO 'Job' touch required!) ... touch the folder name box (immediately right of the 'Content Type' box) to obtain boxes with the available files named, touch the one you want and it becomes the only box, touch it again and it loads into the Montage. I put that in for anyone else wondering - pages 175 - 177 in the Reference Manual don't help!

Thanks for explaining why both .X7L and .X7U files were provided. Belt and braces! I do get the difference between User and Library, though the disappearance of two entire Libraries did shake my confidence somewhat. I must accept the procedure, but I remain incredulous. If I want to put a jar of pickled onions in my larder, I don't have to clear out the entire larder, and then replace everything including the pickled onions. Stay well ...

FWIW the Bosendorfer library was most definitely removed both times I updated my firmware.

I do not have an issue with an installed Library during firmware updates. I will need to verify what you are telling me (I don't doubt you, but it has not been my experience).

Is the firmware readme incorrect?

Updating Procedure

NOTICE:
All User memory (Library data, User data, User sample and so on) will be initialized by this updater.
Please make sure that you save all User data to a USB flash drive before performing this update.
Library data cannot be backed up. Please prepare the original library data.
In addition, when you load backup data, load libraries first before the user data.

My advice would be to mind the readme and prepare for the upgrade as instructed. Additional tips are on the forum and articles/tutorials to help with file management.

Hello people - the problem originated with Yamaha's use of the word 'prepare' in their update notes. I have absolutely no idea what they mean by it? They say I can't back them up - so how do I 'prepare' them?

I agree that the update instructions could have more verbose instructions which guide the user step-by-step through all touchscreen and button presses necessary to ensure their valuable data, which will be overwritten, is backed up. The notion about libraries coming from original source goes out the window when you consider user-generated libraries that have been promoted from painstakingly self-generated user performances.

My previous request/suggestion was for Yamaha to solve this with a technical solution and make the update process, by policy, non-destructive. Although the same erasing of memory will happen, the suggestion is for the update routine to make a backup.

From https://yamahasynth.com/forum/montage-anything-but-lean#reply-12781
(Sunday, September 25 2016, 01:59 AM)

As far as the update process goes - I'm OK with the hoops to jump through. However, there are a few gotchas in the process and hopefully this is sufficiently managed (by Yamaha's implementation) that anything destructive has a big red flag that cannot be missed by even the least technical user. For efficiency - it'd be great if a system update would just backup everything to the USB stick you are using for the firmware update automatically. Even some of the smallest sized USB sticks you can procure these days would fit firmware+backup files. I'd even (selfishly) want to backup the previous firmware image so you can revert back if there is a firmware-related difference which mattered to the end user. But certainly - automatic backup of your user memory, libraries, etc (anything except presets) would be a time saver along with automatic restore of everything. "SFF" = seamless firmware flash. At some point the product will be stable with firmware updates far apart until an eventual EOL. The pains are greater now and nearly non-existent sometime in the future even without a change.

========

As far as preparing library files - not sure either - I would translate this to: save off your library files by doing the following:

Notice the order of loading your data back after the firmware update (user vs library) - before doing a firmware flash, you should mind the order of saving as well.
Assumes firmware level is starting with (previous to firmware upgrade) v1.10 or higher. Some of these features are not present in pre v1.10.

1) First, save the user performances to USB (.X7U)
2) Import the Library to USER memory. I don't have my Montage online to see if every single performance in the library can be selected to import to USER area - hopefully this is allowed. I see "unselect all" as an option in the firmware update pdf - hopefully this reads "select all" if nothing is selected.
a) Press [UTILITY] button
b) Touchscreen(TS): Press menu "Contents" -> "Library Import"
c) TS: Select a library folder
d) TS: Press what I hope is "Select All" or if this doesn't exist, select (check) all performances one by one
e) TS: Press "Import to User Bank"
3) This should "blow away" your user memory (step 2) which is why the order is important to save off your user memory first. Now that your library (or one library folder) is in user memory, you can save (store) the user memory to a library file (.X7L) for later restoring after the firmware upgrade.
** NOTE: if you have a library folder that was created by a purchased library which has not been modified - or you have a previous backup of the exact library you installed into the library area, there is no need to save that folder off - just use the original .X7L supplied by Yamaha/Easysounds/or your own personal backup of library files. These instructions are for any libraries you have not backed up and are different from .X7L files you already have. Generally, this would be any library files you have "assembled" by removing performances and "shuffling" - or libraries you have built from the ground up.
4) After saving off the library, go back to step 2 and select all libraries that you do not have an existing backup for.

Now you should have all of your data saved off. I'm a little iffy on the microtuning, user curves, etc - but I believe they should be saved off when you save both user and library space. Please do correct my assumption (BM) if this is incorrect.

A good reference for all of this would be: https://www.yamahasynth.com/component/k2/user-and-library which walks through the basics. Some more specifics that were used to generate the above instructions are within the "new features" PDF in the v1.10 firmware. Even the v1.20 firmware "new features" document (montage_en_nf_b0.pdf) page 18 has the same release notes for the v1.10 change. You have options for the source of reading material.

=============

@Yamaha

You can see how these steps represent a heavy burden for the user. A casual user with less of a technical approach to the instrument is likely to have a very sour taste over the firmware upgrade process. Even those that can handle the concepts see the overhead as an area ripe for vast improvement. The current policy is what the industry refers to as a "customer satisfaction issue". Although there are a set of steps you can follow to get something done, there are plenty of gotcha's that can lead to data loss if you follow intuition or over simplify the file handling. To reign in this would serve both Yamaha (less support necessary, less complaints to field, less "bad press" over word of mouth complaints) as well as customers (more streamlined process, "plug and play", "elegant", etc).

I can see flexibility and complexity as good things when it comes to optional features like programming / creating / modifying parts and performances ("deep divers"). But for routine/required tasks - the "scuba divers" should be considered. Protect their data, facilitate ease-of-use, generate smiles. Complexity and options do not serve an event like "upgrade firmware".

Thanks for having an open mind.

Back again - oh how I concur with your conclusion, Jason! I think this is the first synth I've ever had where the 'paddlers' are virtually ignored in favour of the 'deep divers' - maybe Yamaha should warn would-be buyers of this! However, I'm stuck with it so must do the best I can ... I propose to always use the original zipped downloads as back-ups, and keep mods as User files ... hopefully the 'Connect' facility can be pressed into service here too ... but ...

I have now installed 'Montage Connect' successfully, and run straight into the buffers. A couple of observations that are disappointing - the window is small and will not enlarge. It was the same with the Tyros Editor - an unnecessary and irritating fault. Then, in order to use it, I must have the Montage set to 'USB' mode, so I cannot use my MIDI set-up as well as the Connect - I thought Bad Mister had indicated that I could? So I'm all ears in the hope that I've missed something - but I'm not hopeful!

Perusing the Manual was interesting so far as the things it can do are concerned - but as usual there is no indication of how to make it do them. I decided that 'Load' meant load into the Montage, and 'Save' meant save from the Montage. 'Set Up' is all OK with all the right signals. 'Song Import' is of no interest to me as I don't do songs or DAWs, and 'Recall' I'm not sure about - one is either saving or loading, I'd have thought? Anyway, first problem was to 'Save' something as I have nothing yet saved to Connect. In the window there are the 3 drives on my computer, 'C' drive (hard drive), 'D' drive (DVD), and 'E' Drive, the Montage USB stick which happened to be in the computer rather than the Montage. The Montage itself does not appear anywhere. So where do I get the files to save? This is probably pretty basic to an expert, but I'm not, and it comes into Jason's KISS principle! I did try putting in a file name where requested (CFX + FM EP), and put 'Montage' where it asked for file location, but Connect denied all knowledge of it.

As a corollary, I suppose the file is copied from Montage to Connect - not moved? Ditto when loading?

Then, in order to use it, I must have the Montage set to 'USB' mode, so I cannot use my MIDI set-up as well as the Connect - I thought Bad Mister had indicated that I could? So I'm all ears in the hope that I've missed something - but I'm not hopeful!

Connecting Montage to a computer requires setting the I/O mode to USB instead of MIDI. It's a bit of a misnomer - because "USB" mode means that the back-panel DIN connectors for "old timey" MIDI are connected to the computer as well. "MIDI" mode just means that the host USB port will be turned off and "USB" mode means that both the back MIDI and USB host port will be turned on.

You can skip this paragraph if it's too much info - but here's more detail: Yamaha sells a cable that converts USB to the "old timey" MIDI DIN connector that can be plugged into hardware that just have MIDI ports and no USB. Since USB is the standard I/O for computers these days - using USB makes sense on the computer side. When you plug into Montage's USB to Host port - this is actually plugging your computer into one of those USB-to-MIDI DIN connector cables (essentially). The old timey MIDI DIN connectors for this linkage you do not see since it's inside Montage. USB can have multiple streams ("endpoints") - so the USB stream is one side of the data and the audio is another. I'll ignore audio for this. The rear panel MIDI connectors are also hooked up to the USB to Host cable in a 3rd stream. So when plugging in the "USB to Host" port - it's like plugging into two MIDI to USB cables and one usb to audio (multi-channel) "cable".

Ok - so when you dig around and tell software about where to find Montage, you assign it the driver's name of "MONTAGE-1". This is the destination for the usb-to-midi connection that targets the internal tone generator and keyboard interface. "MONTAGE-1" also connects to the audio stuff as well - but we're ignoring that. There's another driver label for another MIDI stream - the MIDI stream that is connected to the rear panel MIDI DIN ports - and this is called "MONTAGE-3". So if you want to target your MIDI-port connected devices, tell software about "MONTAGE-3". Cubase can have lots of different MIDI connected devices - "MONTAGE-1" and "MONTAGE-3" and even other non-yamaha devices with their own drivers - all at the same time.

Someone else will have to help with Montage Connect since I'm not using that at the moment.