Sorry I cannot help you with the 'middev' or 'midnam' issue, but setting up with Digital Performer should be fairly straightforward considering you had Motif XF running. We can only get you started, however, I'm not a DP user... we can give you some helpful things to lookout for... you will need to fill in the DP knowledge.

_ You'll need a USB cable connection between your computer and Montage.
_ A pair of Monitor Speakers connected to the audio outputs of the Montage... because the Montage is going to be your Audio Interface your sound system needs to be connected to the Main L&R Outputs.
_ The Yamaha Steinberg USB driver appropriate for your computer type and operating system... this driver, unlike USB on the XF, will handle both MIDI communication and audio communication bi-directionally between Montage and computer. It's a single install for both components.
http://download.yamaha.com

The Montage will appear as 3 MIDI Ports when connected via USB.
Port 1 - for Montage note-on, controller, tempo, etc the Main MIDI Port
Port 2 - currently not used (unavailable)
Port 3 - allows an external MIDI device to communicate THRU the Montage's 5-pin MIDI jacks. Allowing for a second controller keyboard, etc to be used with its own discreet Port.

The Montage will appear as 32 Audio Inputs when connected via USB.
Very important: the first two buses are the MAIN L&R Outputs. The others are USB 1-30 (Frankly, I'm not sure whether DP will identify the first two buses as the Main L&R... it may just list them by number 1-32. Just be aware that the auto numbering may not account for "Main L&R"

The difference between the MAIN L&R and any other USB pair is, the Main L&R include the System Effects (Reverb and Variation), the Master Effect, and the Master EQ. The USB 1-30 are direct outputs and are discreet (isolated).

The Montage will appear as 6 Audio Returns when connected via USB.
"Main L&R" go to the main Outputs on the back panel
"Digital L&R" go to the internal Montage mixer
"Asgn L&R" go to the Assignable L&R Outputs on the back panel

Defaults:
Coming from the Motif XF you will need to learn what's different about Montage. 100% of what you know about Motif XF will be useful but some things are radically different. Gone are VOICE mode, SONG/PATTERN MIXING mode, MASTER mode... gone.

They have all been included in Montage's one Mode: PERFORMANCE
I have to mention this because it takes a minute to grasp how this changes things.

What was called a VOICE, is now a Part within a Performance. All 1365 Voices from the Motif XF are available as Single Part Performances in Montage. This means they occupy just one Part of the 16 Parts in a Performance. When looking in Category Search these appear green.

If you want to continue to use the Montage as a sixteen Part multi-timbal tone generator, you can do do by starting your DP session with the Montage on an INIT "Multi"
Press [CATEGORY SEARCH]
Select "INIT" > select "Multi/GM"
This will set you up with 16 Parts, one per MIDI channel.

They other way Montage can be used is as synthesizer where you are performing, in realtime, interacting with as many as eight Parts. This is made possible through the Motion Control Synthesis Engine and its massive Controller matrix. This is where Montage uses multiple Performance Parts to make up a program where the performer is interacting with different components of the sound based on the various controllers. Multi dimensional control is achieved - you can alter conditions which can morph one sound into another - this is accomplished across multiple channels, simultaneously. Scene changes and Super Knob/Assignable Knob functions can address and control conditions dynamically.

This type of Multi Part is best documented as audio because some of the magic is not editable in the same traditional way. You'll find that the bulk of your editing may shift to sound design versus post production where you draw in controller movements. But everyone's mileage will vary.

Sorry, the point being, you can mix and match workflows. The 16 Part MIXING setup is still available for 16 Single Parts.
When you record those you can "freeze" or render as audio and then setup to record your Multi Part Montage programs.

Some mixture of MIDI and audio recording will be required to get the most out of what Montage has to offer. The audio routing functions are awesome.

Thanks much Bad Mister....I will try the above.....should also note I use a Steinberg UR44 audio interface as well [for vocals/guitars]...anything I should be aware of for using both?

On the DP and middev and midnam files...that is very unfortunate. Yamaha had provided a motif xf midnam and middeve file so that patches were accessible thru DP or any other DAW....the montage communicates to DP [ie: i can record and playback midi], but i do not have patch names selectable via the dAW.

Motu referred me to Yamaha..not sure where to turn..roger

Unrelated...I understand the purchase of a Montage authorizes me for the Bohndorfer piano library and a copy of Cubase AI? Can you direct me how to obtain?

Roger

Following step by step in the link below:

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/synthesizers/montage/library/

Thank you Tho for the Piano link!
Roger

My pleasure to help Roger !

Thanks much Bad Mister....I will try the above.....should also note I use a Steinberg UR44 audio interface as well [for vocals/guitars]...anything I should be aware of for using both?

Yes, I'm sure there is... but it will depend on what you are recording and whether or not you need to record everything simultaneously. I know that sounds cryptic, but on a Mac you can setup an Aggregate Audio Device that allows both interfaces to be active together. But only one of them can be connected to your speaker system for monitoring.

If you're going to be recording both the synth, guitars and vocals simultaneously, you can. The UR44 actually uses the same driver, but as mentioned, you will need to select one of them as the primary audio interface (connected to the speakers) and the other one must be connected to the primary audio interface so you can hear what you are recordings (monitoring purposes). Both interfaces send Audio directly to the computer via your Aggregate Audio configuration, but to avoid being at the wrong end of latency (that is to monitor yourself DIRECT) you will need to connect the analog audio out of the secondary interface to the primary interface.

When your ready for that, we can help.

On the DP and middev and midnam files...that is very unfortunate. Yamaha had provided a motif xf midnam and middeve file so that patches were accessible thru DP or any other DAW....the montage communicates to DP [ie: i can record and playback midi], but i do not have patch names selectable via the dAW.

Motu referred me to Yamaha..not sure where to turn..roger

All midnam, middev, scripts, etc., are usually made by end users. I am unaware of any provided by Yamaha. In Cubase, you can find various script file listings, as they are not difficult to make (tedious) but not difficult... but I don't know of any made by Yamaha specifically for other software.

And even for Cubase, the script file is only good for the Factory Presets, once you move beyond them the usefulness of the list lessens.

The keyboard has its own system for selecting sounds. Besides the lists usually only include the Factory Preset sounds, not the User Bank, which as you get to know Montage, can and will be different depending on the project because you are always customizing sounds (it is a true synth in the regard).

Montage Connect is a VST/AU utility designed to capture the current Performance setup and keep that data bundled with the DAW project file.

That said, it should not be long before someone creates a midnam or middev file for the 2,036 Factory Performances - there are many who still use them. In the meantime, however, I highly recommend mastering [CATEGORY SEARCH] on-board the instrument, and working with Montage Connect to capture and backup your Performances.

Can DP run VST or AU plug-ins?
If not, you can still use Montage Connect as a standalone application.

Download CherryPicker and you'll be able to create .midnam file, provided you have all the patch names and their relevant bank change numbers.
You can extract patch names from the Data List in .PDF format, copy names as a spreadsheet, pasting them into Excel and saving them as plain text.
Now you can copy patch names and paste them into CherryPicker and you'll come up with a .midname file configured as you like.
It's not a very straightforward method, but it saves you retyping all the 1500+ patch names.

To @Bad Mister:

Can we use Montage as a Midi Controller to play with Vsti Plug In (in DAW) as others Midi Controllers? if yes please help how to do this?

To @ Michele :

What is CherryPicker ? I never heard of it? it sounds very interested in, Can you provide the link for download?

Thank you all.

http://www.studiotoolz.net/cherrypicker/

Montage is a MIDI controller.

To @Bad Mister:

Can we use Montage as a Midi Controller to play with Vsti Plug In (in DAW) as others Midi Controllers? if yes please help how to do this?

Yes. Of course.

Download and install the "Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver" for your computer type and operating system.
Connect the Montage to computer via USB cable

Press [UTILITY]
Touch "Settings" > "MIDI I/O"
Set MIDI I/O = USB
Set LOCAL CONTROL = Off

The Montage uses Port 1 of the driver for MIDI communication In and Out of your application.

Thanks everyone...very helpful....

Michele - thanks for the tip on Cherry Picker..

Bad Mister - thanks for the insight...will try.....DP does run VST/AU plug ins....

Jason wrote:

http://www.studiotoolz.net/cherrypicker/

Montage is a MIDI controller.

Thanks Jason, But I can't download it from that website, Click on the link and it goes to ad

Bad Mister wrote:

To @Bad Mister:

Can we use Montage as a Midi Controller to play with Vsti Plug In (in DAW) as others Midi Controllers? if yes please help how to do this?

Yes. Of course.

Download and install the "Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver" for your computer type and operating system.
Connect the Montage to computer via USB cable

Press [UTILITY]
Touch "Settings" > "MIDI I/O"
Set MIDI I/O = USB
Set LOCAL CONTROL = Off

The Montage uses Port 1 of the driver for MIDI communication In and Out of your application.

Great, Thank you Bad Mister