It should be obvious to those who closely followed the launch of the initial Montage and the discontinuance of the Motif, that Yamaha made a mistake, by not continuing down the workstation course.  They tried to release Montage as a Music Synthesizer as opposed to a Music Production Synthesizer They took the fully featured sequencer out of the Motif and the Integrated Sampler out of the Motif and added a super knob and FM-X instead.  and market the whole thing as a Music Synthesizer.  It appears that Yamaha was thinking that lack of sequencer/sampler would push everyone to Cubase and the new Montage would drive synthesizer sales and Cubase sales!  But Daws are trending down these days ;-)

But quickly there was push back.  Motif musicians really just wanted a serious update to Motif.  So there was immediate complaints about the lack of a full featured sequencer and sampler in the Montage.  Also the new touch screen Interface for the Montage was not as attractive as the elegant interface of the Motif.  Yamaha responded by trying to use Sample Tank as a substitute for ISS and they added a pattern sequencer as an OS update. Maybe a little too late though.  The final version of the Montage is a very formidable synthesizer, but for the last 10-15 years Yamaha flagships have been Music Production Synthesiers and Montage fell somewhat short.  Hopefully Yamaha now understands that.

At the same time Yamaha pushing Montage as a Synthesizer only, it was pushing Genos as its new flagship Digital Workstation

Flagship Digital Workstation

But Genos did not come in an 88 key version, and it does not have extensive voice editing or sound design capabilities.

Korg realized that if extensive voice editing, sound design capabilities, and 88 key versions were added to its arranger line that would be the ultimate Digital Music Production Workstation.  And the Korg PA 5X is not the garden variety Arranger.  It merges many aspects of Music Production Synthesizer with its Arranger.  And it has a beautiful User Interface.  I think Yamaha is going to go after the PA5X

Korgs Digital Music Production Arranger

Since everyone is making predictions about the new instrument Yamaha is going to release in October

Montage Discontinued, Replaced In October

I’m betting the new instrument will have MPE, Midi 2.0 and be a fusion of Genos and Motif and Montage technology with a new ANX thrown in.  I think Yamaha is going to use the Montage replacement to take out the Korg PA5x.

I think the MODX+ will be the replacement for the musicians that will have a taste for Montage in the future.  And that the flagship replacement for the Montage will be something different altogether.

Keep in mind the Motif still lives on in the MOXF.  I think a similar fate will be the case for the Montage.

Motif Lives On!

If Yamaha is going to go workstation, then its go big or go home.  Bring full DAW capabilities right into the new music production synthesizer and add a HDMI interface and its a wrap.  Roland’s Fantom, Korg’s Nautilus, and Akai’s MPC 61 bring the DAW experience to hardware (as much as practical).  Motif was very very close.  With a new interface, the Motion Sequencer /automation capabilities, the new instrument could fully replace a DAW without the need to interface with computer. And the trend is to standalone hardware music production.  Even the hardware multitrack recorders are fully back.

Amen!
I’ve written much in the past and when the Montage first came out I said the same thing.  Yamaha went forward with the Motif XF series and took a big step back with the Montage.  A powerful synth?  Of course.  Going forward with enhancing the incredible workstation the Motif XF series?  Nah.  I adore my Motif XF8.  Of course many things can be added to it.  Isn’t that what we were looking for with the next generation?
Hopefully Yamaha listened and the next generation will be what we all asked for.  Until then, I’ll continue to adore my Motif XF8.  I just wish it wasn’t firewire and used USB like the Montage.  Or as mentioned in the above article, now, HDMI.

Jim Shoe - 25 July 2023 09:44 PM

Amen!
I’ve written much in the past and when the Montage first came out I said the same thing.  Yamaha went forward with the Motif XF series and took a big step back with the Montage.  A powerful synth?  Of course.  Going forward with enhancing the incredible workstation the Motif XF series?  Nah.  I adore my Motif XF8.  Of course many things can be added to it.  Isn’t that what we were looking for with the next generation?
Hopefully Yamaha listened and the next generation will be what we all asked for.  Until then, I’ll continue to adore my Motif XF8.  I just wish it wasn’t firewire and used USB like the Montage.  Or as mentioned in the above article, now, HDMI.

Motif XF really is a master piece.  There is very little room for improvement. It is the ultimate music production synthesizer.  If I had to find additional features that would make it perfect, I would add:

1) Simultaneous Insert effects for all 16 parts in Song, and Pattern modes.  Currently the Motif XF supports 8 simultaneous Insert effects

2) Capability to edit preset arpeggios and user defined arpeggios

3) Capability to name scenes

4) 256 note polyphony

5) Capability to edit Ctrlset while in Performance mode. Currently Ctrl Set can only be edited from Voice, Song, Pattern modes.

6) Add song and pattern mode editing to the Motif XF editor

7) HDMI out

These seven enhancements would in my opinion take the Motif XF to perfection.