I guess if you're willing to bring a laptop into the gig - then the software version (VST, etc) of a hardware synth - or even the "essence" of that synth in a VST would soften the need to have the hardware counterpart. However, I've also wished upon wishes (and others in the past have too - there's a long and windy path of wishes in this department) that there was a VST version of the hardware. That Roland provides this is a wish granted to the extent that the VST version is "close enough". I did finally get the announce from Roland about this and read up more about it. I see some mention of "model perfect" expansions. This could be marketing fluff calling fake cheese "real cheese" - but I am taking this to mean that the software interface and parameters will "match" the hardware counterpart. If this is true - then this is exactly the kind of thing I'd want for any hardware keyboard. You see so many times when I come back from a gig and don't have my keyboard setup. I'd prefer to never HAVE to take my keyboard out and instead leave it packed up for the next gig and just use a software version of the keyboard when at home. I could do all sound design on the VST and export files that load into the actual hardware.

The other thing that's hinted is that the VST version will extend the hardware editing - perhaps providing a better experience than can be afforded on smaller screens with a limited amount of buttons and knobs. Some things may be easier to do on a computer - or at least provide two ways to attack the same sound design problem. Not a bad thing. Complementary.

Since I don't bring a laptop to the band stage - personal choice - I'd be hook-line-and-sinker on an approach where I buy both. The hardware and software. This is upsell and inventory costs are tons lower for software. Certainly there's still dev costs and support and all - but having more revenue streams can't be bad if the product has value to customers.

I can understand thinking software waters things down. It really depends on how you use the device. I think the opposite - that the software brings more value to the table. Neither one of us is wrong - it's about how we would use these offerings. Yamaha is getting out of the software business (seemingly - evidenced by dropping editors in this gen of flagship) while other manufacturer(s) are investing more into it. Interesting time.

Also - Roland can claim first to market with a MIDI 2.0 keyboard controller (as far as I'm aware) - certainly between Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Nord, Kurzweil, ... um Casio, Kawai ...

Wish Yamaha was more lead-dog in customer availability of these technologies since that's where my bias current places me.

Roland Cloud is cloud based VST instruments. They sound very good and now they have bought Zenology to Roland Cloud which is essentially the Zen Core engine from the Fantom/Jupiter-X, MC101 etc so patches can be transferred between all of them. IMO this devalues having the hardware if you can get the same sounds out of software. I tossed up whether to buy a maxed out Mac Mini and get Roland Cloud on it but will stick with the Montage / Ipad Pro combination for now.

I've been watching Fantom. Sparked by your message, I do see they now have v1.60 released but, unfortunately, didn't see that the lockup issue has been specifically called out as fixed or otherwise addressed in v1.60. I guess I'll watch the forums and see if folks that had the lockup problem can say that's fixed for them. There may not be many of those left as it's fairly difficult to be in a position to rely on a keyboard having that kind of problem. Hopefully there are hold-outs to report back if v1.60 fixes this or not.

I'm not sure what Roland Cloud is - but it sounds like it could be something similar to Soundmondo for Montage/MODX (and others). Not similar?

I think if you get the more "synthy" stuff from plugins - then this works fairly well to complement Montage (thinking about the difference in "flavor" of Roland vs. Yamaha and how plugins may help bridge the gap).

I wish B3-X came with TS2 Max. Guess IK has to make money somehow.

Thanks Justin,

Awesome, just pulled the trigger on a Montage 6 White, I have my Fantom up for sale, not that its a bad synth, its great, however really enjoying using my ipad pro with TAL-UNO, Poison 202 and Hammond B3-X so think the Montage along with these VA and Organs apps will more interesting long term. Roland have just done an update to the Fantom, but not sure its a good thing putting the Zen Core instruments on Roland Cloud, kind of devalues the Fantom IMO. I've owned two montages in the past and a MODX, so looking forward to diving back in.

Thanks again
Scott

Yes, you can indirectly recall Performances (or other objects) through the Live Set by using MSB/LSB+PC targeted at MIDI channel 1 for multi-channel or the transmit/receive channel of single-channel MIDI mode. Same as described earlier for the Multi-Part Performance Change MSB/LSB+PC that can directly recall a Performance (without using Live Set).

Either has the same general mechanism. Only The addressing is different.

For that matter, there is the last Bank Select+PC which would only change one single PART aka "Performance (Single Part) ", in the data list, for Multi-Channel mode. Following the rule above. I'm not sure how the single-PART Bank+PC works under single channel mode because you cannot target individual PARTs using this mechanism - so I'd think that Performance (Single Part) addressing isn't supported when the MIDI mode is set to a single channel. This MSB/LSB+PC just allows for you to swap out a single PART at a time.

HI Jason,

I'm trying to understand, what I'm trying to clear up as quickly as possible before I purchase, will the Montage respond to a Live Set change on Midi channel 1 when in MULTI midi mode via USB? If it does I think i can acheive what i;m after by setting the unused channel 16 in the Montage to send the PC to my Kurzweil when the live sets change via USB.

Thanks in advance
Scott

Hi, Jason many many thanks. It works like you explained !

I indeed had to set the program change for the multi on midi channel 1 ( in my old situation it was channel 5 and the Modx didn’t understand this. So that’s the big difference with the old synths which are flexible in this choosing your midi channels. At least I’am happy guy now.

Many greetings from the Netherlands

I haven't had an issue with recalling Performances in multi-channel MIDI mode using LSB+MSB+PC. That's why I focused on PC.

If you are having issues - make sure to send the LSB+MSB+PC to MIDI channel 1. I imagine this would be Setlist Maker.

Source: http://www.arlomedia.com/apps/setlistmaker/tutorials/sending_MIDI.html


Also - you may want to limit the "Ports" to just Port 1. "All" would send to both externally connected MIDI (5-pin DIN) devices on Port-3 as well as internally to MODX (Port-1). You're going to want to use Port-1. That's my understanding because I think you're using MODX to cascade sending PC to your Roland which is connected via. the 5-pin MIDI and that MODX generates this through zone master/zone messages.

The default is MIDI Channel 1 (I'm guessing) - but perhaps you've changed this over time.

I thought this message would be omni-channel - but I do know that MIDI channel 1 is the "anchor" of any Performance (all Performances have 1 PART and are always MIDI channel 1) - so Channel 1 is sometimes treated differently in a multi-channel setup. The general rule-of-thumb is to send MSB/LSB+PC to Channel 1 in Multi-Channel setups or to the single transmit/receive channel in single channel mode.

Apologies for starting with the basics. I did at least skip past "have you plugged in your MODX?". Your English is fine.

Hi Jason thank you for your response and I get what you mean but that is not the problem I'am after. I know that for the PC I have to subtract 1 , this is what I already did with the whole live-set in Midi i/o in Single mode and that works perfect but than I can not make a layer/split with the Modx and the Roland D-05 because in single mode there's no possibility to use a part to send via Midi Tx ( on the channel of the Roland ) data. so somehow I it should be possible to put Midi i/o in Multi but than it doesn't work. strange is of course that Old synths ( like my Korg Wavestation ) this already could do in the 90's and till now I'am workingwith that in live situations.
Maybe Yamaha thinks that their live-sets are already enough for the live performer but that isn't true. By using the Ipad with for example setlistmaker I select with one touch the right Lyric with the corresponding Program change of my synts and eventually clicktracks. But Live-sets are very nice to collect your prefered sounds.

@ Scott , how you describe your story I'am sorry but you will face the same problem. In your case you also have to set the Montage in Multi ( Midi i/o) -state where a part in that performance can give the program change to the module behind the Midi out of your Montage. For me I would not choose this idea because than I would have to create for each song which uses another combination ( for example layering the Montage with your Kurzweil) another Performance. In setlistmaker I create Midi presets per sound of the synts I have. Once you're done with this its only a matter of choosing the the right presets for each song ( works very fast and you can create setlist only using your Ipad.

and guys, sorry for my mistakes inEnglish because my native langue is Dutch.

Following this, I am thinking about getting another Montage primarily because its class compliant for my Ipad (Pro) I was hoping to switch Live sets from Camelot Pro then for the live set to switch my sounds on my Kurzweil Forte. I'll hold off purchasing until I find whether it can do it or not. How it works on my Fantom is I send a program change from Camelot to the Fantom, then I get the Fantom to send a program change to the Kurzweil. It works like a charm, except becuase its not class compliant I need an interface, then lots more cabling, which is annoying to have to set up live.

The Montage would be great with one USB cable to the Ipad and thats it, but if it wont do this then guess its a no go.

There's something called "one based" and "zero based" number systems. Our natural way of relating to items is the 1st item is "1" and 2nd item is "2". However, a computer uses zero based counting where the first item is "0" and the 2nd item is "1". For whatever reason, some keyboard manufacturers relay information to users in a "human readable" way thinking this somehow makes life easier. This requires you to do a conversion. Not a hard one, but an extra step nonetheless. I think the "Program Number" is presented as a one-based PC. So to convert "Program Number" to PC - you need to subtract one. This may be why "it's not working".

It's my opinion that the interface should present information so no conversion is necessary. And BM and others never have to have a short paragraph to explain how there are these extra steps and how some manufacturers do it one way and some do not. The MIDI standard is 0-based, so just conforming to that would get rid of conversion tables, simple math, and repeated descriptions of this phenomenon. Maybe I'm just not aware of when "PC+1" (Program Number) would be of use. I haven't seen a case where I can "just plug in" what is PC+1. I guess that's because I deal with MIDI so much. What I'm getting at is that maybe there's a good reason why it's like it is - I just haven't run into it yet.