I'll bet Dave P utilizes preset waveforms in Montage and the price is closer to $40 than $100, as the XS/XF version. but its just a guess. The bigger question I wonder is how different will Montage VK be from XF VK - is it just a re-package of that same library to Montage format or some new/more adds?

david and David,

Please wait for announcements from the various third party companies with respect to Motif XF libraries, they will have to decide (on a case by case basis) whether to create and release updated versions of their libraries... Obviously, if it was compatible with an XF, it will load to the Montage (as is), but also just as obvious, there are tons of new possibilities for sounds moved over to the new system... Even some of the 1350+ XF sounds take advantage of some of the Motion Control functions, be it the Super Knob or some other new feature.

The programmers will have to decide if they are going further update their current offerings. Of course, if you already own a library for an XF it will simply load (Sample Libraries included). If you are coming from an ES, or XS, or even the S-series XS, you can convert Voice libraries using the existing free Yamaha Editors (Samples libraries are not compatible from ES or XS - via this method).

There will be a Web utility for converting DX7, DX7 II, TX802, TX816 sounds to Montage FM-X

Montage compatibility

Hi Phil,

I have existing libraries for XS (with user samples) - some are my own, some are purchased. It would be really nice of Yamaha to provide a converter for those as well.

Yes it would. But unfortunately, that is not currently the case. A solution does exists, however... The Motif Waveform Editor and the John Melas suite of Editors. If we can possibly figure a way for that to happen I'm sure it will happen... and you'll hear about it here.

Phil, I know about the XS/XF Waveform editor, but - try to understand me - it's simply not a good investment if I'm just going to use it ONCE to convert my libraries to XF format so that I can open them with Montage and never ever use any of its actual *editing* capabilities. I'd be perfectly willing to write such a converter, but my knowledge of XS/XF file formats is vague. Whom @ Yamaha can I contact about a possible cooperation to develop and deliver such a piece of software?

Well, I disagree about whether or not it would be a good investment versus writing one yourself. Particularly if you are vague on the file formats.
I'm not exactly sure who you should contact - I would imagine you could start by contacting Yamaha Customer Support in your particular region of the world.

To each his own - for me the pleasure of writing software definitely trumps buying one 🙂 Plus I'm sure it can certainly benefit other Motif XS users as well. Yes, I'm vague on the file formats, but I did reverse engineer the original Motif .W2A/.W2V/.W2E formats a while back (but an actual specs would make this much easier, obviously).

No, don't get me wrong, I think it's awesome to have the ability to like just write your own program to do such things. In fact, it's a skill future musicians should consider adding to their arsenal of weapons. It is not always just a straightforward thing to do. And believe it or not, most folks cannot just write their own! They depend on the manufacturer to provide such tools. Mad props to you, if you can write your own and find that satisfying

I'm sure it's not news to anyone involved in synthesizers at the company, that there is an expectation of porting 'old stuff' to the 'new thing'. Thus the link and instructions, pre-the-release. I think they already know it would be nice to provide such compatibility for as many things as is possible... I think this proves that. Montage reaches back some 33 years in providing this compatibility! (Where possible).

Yamaha has worked with third party software developers for as long as I can remember... Stephen Kay, John Melas, among the recent.
Funny story, just prior to when I joined Yamaha they had recently hired a (then) small third party programmer from the Redmond, Washington to write a music language for a computer solution Yamaha was working on at the time. Who knew?

Hi Phil, Jan and folks --

Just to put in a plug for open source solutions.

I think what Jan means about being "vague" is that the file format specification (or description) is not openly published. In arranger-land, for example, the lack of published specs led to developers reverse engineering the file format in order to build "third party" tools. Although some of these tools are quite good, the final result would be even better if they started with open specs from Yamaha.

Having made my bones as a tool developer (open source and proprietary), I understand the need to keep some information closed. Sometimes the reasons are to protect intellectual property and sometimes it's to avoid the long-term cost of supporting an open file format or API. (An open format or API is a commitment to honor the interface, after all.) There are other business reasons, too, but this is a family-friendly forum. 🙂

That said, Yamaha has an opportunity to enhance the "ecosystem" for its products by opening its file formats to third party developers. Open source development is better still since Yamaha can leverage outside talent and effort to make their products even more useful and desirable. Or for managers, "Cha-ching." 🙂

Thanks for listening and all the best to ya -- pj (Paul Drongowski)