When connecting to a DAW (& 'Montage Connect') via USB cable, does the Montage use 1 or 16 midi channels when ediing/playback 16 tracks/parts?

This is configurable. If you set MIDI mode to single channel, it will use a single output channel. Or, for transmit, you can assign MIDI channels that overlap and arrive at the same spot - or use anything between 1 and 16 channels. This is for Montage's output (from Montage TO the DAW). On the input side (from the DAW to Montage) it's either 1 channel (using single channel mode) or all 16 channels. Certainly, any channel without a PART will not output anything or respond to any inputs - so that will also reduce the number of "tracks" even in multi-channel mode without using zone transmit.

Can a completed Song on the Montage be played on the Montage via the Performance Recorder, and Output the digital sound from the synth, sending it to the Computer/DAW via USB cable so that it remains in the digital realm? Maybe saves to a .wav file or sends the digital sounds to an audio track(s) on the DAW? Or even if it can play the Song/recorded sound to a file on the Montage itself, which can be copied to USB and onto the Computer/DAW as a .wav file!?

Just so we are speaking the same language here - a "song" is the same as a MIDI file. So yes, you can play a MIDI file in the Performance recorder. If you have the computer connected through USB - then the digital stream of the tone generator's audio output will be sent from Montage to the PC and the PC can deal with this audio stream using a DAW. It can save a wav if you want. If you have the PARTs output to USB channels (like USB1&2, USB3&4) for collections of USB pairs - then you can end up with all 16 PARTs individually sending stereo digital feeds to the PC and these can be recorded as individual audio tracks. You may notice you only get up to USB29&30 and may wonder how you would get up to 32 channels for 16 PARTs x 2 = stereo for all PARTs. This is done by taking the 16th PART (digital streams "31 and 32" ) and using Main L&R (digital out) as your last pair. You would turn off the Master and System effects in order for Main L&R for the last PART to mimic the same behavior as the USB1&2 - USB29&30 pairs which themselves strip out system and master effects.

Moving on down the line of your questions - you cannot play a MIDI file on Montage's performance recorder and simultaneously record audio to the USB stick. The Performance Recorder can either play the MIDI or record the audio but not both at the same time. You may be able to load the MIDI file in as an audition and see if the audition button is locked out (or not) while in the Performance recorder to save audio files. If this works - it may be hokey - but if your goal was to absolutely get away with no computer - this may be a way. I am not aware what limits the audition MIDI files have in terms of size/duration/etc. as I haven't use the feature. Also not sure if audition is one of the buttons not available while in Performance Recording mode.

Hi Darryl,
Welcome to YamahaSynth

- When connecting to a DAW (& 'Montage Connect') via USB cable, does the Montage use 1 or 16 midi channels when ediing/playback 16 tracks/parts?

When your goal is to use the MONTAGE as a 16 Part multi-timbral engine with a DAW, you would set it to MIDI I/O Mode = Multi. Each of the 16 Parts transmits and receives on a separate MIDI channel.
MONTAGE provides an Initialized Performance as a starting point: [CATEGORY SEARCH] > touch “Init” > touch “Multi/GM”
You can substitute the instrument you wish to play Part by Part.
Cubase comes with a New Project template designed for this: “MONTAGE multi channel recording”
When/if you want to exceed the 16 Part multi-timbral limit, it’s easy to render the Parts as audio to Cubase. This frees the hardware for addition tracks.

- Can a completed Song on the Montage be played on the Montage via the Performance Recorder, and Output the digital sound from the synth, sending it to the Computer/DAW via USB cable so that it remains in the digital realm?

Yes. A completed 16-track/16-Part Song can be played back using the Performance Recorder — which means you can leave you computer DAW at home when you want to take your MIDI Song with you to the stage.

If you have used Cubase (the DAW you get free with your purchase of a MONTAGE) or your favorite DAW, you would not have to export it to the MONTAGE Performance Recorder in order to render it as audio. But you could if you wanted to... typically, if you Record in a DAW as MIDI... when you play back the MIDI Tracks they trigger the synth to generate the Audio. You simply need to route that audio to an armed AUDIO TRACK via any of the 32 Output bus options on the MONTAGE!

But either way... you can record the MONTAGE audio output.

If you have recorded or started recording your Song in the MONTAGE, you can simply drag and drop your MONTAGE Song directly to the computer DAW via the USB connection (MONTAGE CONNECT). This is Song Import Function built-in to MONTAGE CONNECT. There will be times when you construct the basic idea for a composition in the MONTAGE, using its Arpeggiators to help you fashion a backing. You can then (totally in the digital domain) move all or part of what you’ve constructed to your DAW.

You’ll find there are many different ways to work. You can work out ideas — jamming along with your MONTAGE Performance... Just place the unit in Record and play.... then drag and drop the whole thing into Cubase. And because it is all Tempo referenced you can cut and paste the best Parts together.

Maybe saves to a .wav file or sends the digital sounds to an audio track(s) on the DAW?

The MONTAGE features 32 audio bus outputs— this means each of your 16 tracks could be output as a separate stereo send to the DAW, simultaneously. This flexibility gives it the most audio routing options ever in a Synthesizer keyboard. You can combine Parts to Outputs in a variety of ways or just send it all to as a stereo mix.

Or even if it can play the Song/recorded sound to a file on the Montage itself, which can be copied to USB and onto the Computer/DAW as a .wav file!?

The MONTAGE Performance Recorder can Record MIDI or Audio. Audio requires a USB stick - the recording is 24-bit/44.1kHz. You can reference the MONTAGE click, this way when you move the data (as .wav) over to your computer you can sync it to the DAW clock... and continue/expand on your music there. You would write the audio to the USB stick, then shuttle the USB drive over to your computer — where you could drop it into your DAW.

Hoping to have my new Montage8 before the end of this month...

Congratulations, you’re going to love it.

Thanks for the replies guys!