MONTAGE FM-X GuidE

40 Pages·2016·15.22 MB·English

M U S I C P R O D U C T I O N G U I D E
official News Guide from Yamaha & easY souNds for Yamaha music ProductioN iNstrumeNts
06|2016
Contents
Interview José & Takeshi 3
Yamaha Synth Newsletter 6
MONTAGE Quick Guide Part 3
File and Library Management 7
MONTAGE FM-X Guide Part 4
FM-X SoundDesign - First Steps 14
M O N T A G E
Yamaha DTX760K 19
F M - X G u i d E
Sounds & Goodies 22
PArT 4
Imprint 39

MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016
iNTErviEw
J O s È & T A k E s h i
Often referred to as a jazz singer for the A Native of Hiroshima, Japan, pianist /
keyboardist Takeshi Ohbayashi studied at
hip-hop generation, Minneapolis native
Berklee College of Music and started his
Jose James has always drawn from
professional career as member of Terri Lyne
disparate musical influences. After studying Carrington band. After graduating from
Berklee Global Jazz Institute, he moved to
at New York’s New School for Jazz and
NYC and quickly became one of the most
Contemporary Music, he released his debut
in demand musician in New York in both
album, “The Dreamer” on the Brownswood
acoustic jazz and R&B hip-hop jazz field.
recordings label and followed up with He is performing at many famed festivals
and venues all around the world with Jose
a string of albums. His third, “For All We
James, Takuya Kuroda, New Century Jazz
Know” winning both the Edison Award and
Quintet which is co-lead by Takeshi and
L'Académie du Jazz Grand Prix. Ulysses Owens Jr.
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We caught up with the pair in Osaka, where they took time
to talk with us about the reface series.
“It’s the perfect travel companIon.”
So what do you think of the reface series so far?
Jose: I love it! I have the CP and take it when I travel — it’s
the perfect travel companion. You know, when you’re on
a train or a flight, it fits right into your carry-on, and it has
the full range of sounds, and that playability, that touch
and feel. I don’t want to sit and open up my laptop when
I have an idea, I just want to play it on an instrument. It’s
really nice to have one of these with you just for writing,
because when you get an idea you can just plug in and
have your whole world set up. It makes me feel like I’m still
connected to the music.
One other thing — the CS definitely helped me to learn
the basics of the synthesizer… you know, LFO, that kind of
thing… I highly recommend it to people who want to get
familiar with how a synth really works.
“I lIke the way It lets me be fast.
I can emaIl my Ideas!”
Did the reface have any influence on the
production of your new album?
Jose: Absolutely. I think you’re influenced by whatever
you’re writing with. The synth is very specific — it’s melodic
but it also has attitude — which is why I prefer it. So for
example when I'm collaborating with another artist, I can
play and record right on the synth, which lets them hear
not only the phrasing but the spirit of what I was trying to
do. I like the way we can be fast now. You can say, “Oh
Takeshi: I agree with Jose. It’s definitely great to travel
hey, here’s an idea... ” and just email it. The artist can
with, but what surprised me was the superb touch! I used
open it and send it back, almost like a session. For me,
to spend more time on the piano, so I’m picky about touch,
there’s more information writing with a synth.
and this is definitely the best small keyboard out there—I
I mostly use the piano to write music, but with the CS it’s…
really appreciate your hard work!
“Wow!” You start exploring. It’s a beautiful instrument,
The app is really cool because when we’re playing live
and having it in the sound of the stage has been amazing
Jose sometimes switches up the song and I don’t have too. We’re still finding the sound for the new album; we’re
time to tweak all the knobs… with the app I can just swap trying things out onstage, and the reface series has been
and get into the sound. super-cool, especially the organ.
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Takeshi: Sound- and pitch-wise, there are things that contemporary world. The reface series is a beautiful way
only a synthesizer can do, so that has been really helpful for a player to transition and have fun. Like Takeshi says,
to me in writing new songs, and for exploring. I’m also it’s a nice bridge because the feel and the touch are still
really excited to go online and download sounds that other there, but you realize, “Oh wow, all of a sudden I can
people have made — everyone is going to feel something just put my voice in this world,” and it sounds beautiful,
different just from the one same sound. I think that’s a you know? It’s a new turning point, because I love singing
standards — the history and tradition — but people also
really cool idea that you guys came up with!
want to know your story, and Yamaha can help you tell it!
“Jazz musIc Is at a turnIng poInt.
lInks:
the reface serIes Is a beautIful way
for a player to transItIon Josè James Official: http://www.josejamesmusic.com
and have fun.”
Takeshi Obayashi Official: http://www.takeshimusic.com
What significance does the reface series have for
you as a jazz artist?
Jose: It’s sort of a larger conversation, but I think jazz
music is at a turning point, because we live in a world that
is based on technology. Jazz has traditionally been based
on acoustic instruments, but has been incorporating more
technology into recording techniques, or into instruments
that are sort of electronic, but still analog, like an electric
piano or a hollow-body electric guitar. For some artists
who come from jazz or conservatory backgrounds
there is a transition in taking their knowledge of jazz
and incorporating contemporary sounds, but I think it’s
important for jazz musicians in particular to live in the
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MUSIC PRODUCTION GUIDE 06|2016
M O N T A G E
Q u i c k G u i d E
PArT 3 - FilE ANd librAry MANAGEMENT
The last two episodes dealt with EAsy FiliNG
Performances, Live Sets, and Scenes. Since
You should already know the most important rule about
it is particularly important to save the self-
file handling. It also applies to the MONTAGE and reads
programmed Performances, today is all
about the file handling. And I assume that as follows:
this issue is of particular interest for all new
"Saving & Backups - rather too often than too rare!"
owners of a MONTAGE relatively shortly
To avoid any misunderstanding, I would like to start by
after its release.
saying that it mainly comes to saving on external media
Compared to the MOTIF series the user interface of the (USB flash drive, USB hard drive) in this episode. The fact
MONTAGE already bears a significant change, which is that storing, for example, a Performance also leads to
essential for the topic of this episode: There is no [FILE] "Utility > Contents", makes a clear distinction important.
button anymore. All such actions are now taking place
If you are in the section "Utility > Contents" and choose
in [UTILITY]. After pressing this button, the menu item
"Store / Save" from the right column of the menu, the
"Contents" summarises everything that is associated with
selection of the "Content Type" is made with a tap on the
files.
corresponding parameter or by using the dial or [INC /
YES] / [ DEC / NO]. There are four options available:
• Performance (typically
accessed through [STORE])
• User File
• Library File
• .mid File
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User and Library files are now in the focus, I'll devote a In all mentioned actions you don't have to worry about
separate episode for Song and MIDI files. According to User Waveforms. These are automatically managed by
the title of this paragraph here are a few quick and easy the MONTAGE.
recommendations before we go "scraping the barrel".
usEr FilEs iN dETAil
Make yourself store a User File to an external medium
after each work on MONTAGE that results in changes The entire user data can be stored on a USB storage device
compared to the factory set. A list of compatible USB as a User File (extension ".X7U"). A User File includes the
storage devices can be found on the MONTAGE download following data:
page at Yamaha.com • Performance max. 640
• Curve max. 32
After you have connected your storage device:
(for Control Assign + Motion Sequence)
• Press the button [UTILITY]
• Arpeggio max. 256
• Open the display "Contents" > "Store / Save"
• Motion Sequence max. 256
• Select the the Content Type "User File" at the top of
• User Waveform max. 2,048
the display
• Micro Tuning max. 8
• Tap on "Name-of-your-USB-stick"_usb1
• Live Set max. 2,048
• Tap on "[Save As New File]"
A major difference to the MOTIF series is the fact that the
• Enter a name and confirm with "Done"
size of the files varies not only with respect to the memory
Apart from sequencer data doing so stores all user- capacity. The content is adapted to the actual needs. A
relevant data, having done the most important thing. User File may contain, for example, a single Performance.
AFTER this action, you can safely load another User File. There are no placeholders with Init Performances created
This is done basically by the same route, the command to within the file. This is also noticeable in terms of speed
do is, of course, "Load". when files are saved and loaded.
You can safely load a Library File at any time. The user
TO kEEP AN OvErviEw
memory area remains untouched. For this reason,
a Library File is loaded without additional confirmation. If MONTAGE has a wonderful feature to learn about the
you accidentally load a Library File that is already present current contents of the user memories. Follow the path
in the instrument, the status quo is simply overwritten - [UTILITY] > "Contents" > "Data Utility" to have a folder
structure displayed. Tapping a folder opens the content
which is however not a problem, since the contents of
view. Simultaneously, the number of used memory
a Library File can not be edited anyway. If a limit is
locations and the respective maximum achievable
reached, because all eight Library Memories are already
capacity appears in the top-right of the display.
occupied or the free memory for User Waveforms is too
low, you'll get an error message. In this case, you have to
free memory to be able to load further files.
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In the top center of the display, the folder structure is • Select the Content Type "Library File" at the top of the
shown, with a tap on ">MONTAGE" you can return to the display
overview.
• Tap on "Name-of-your-USB-stick"_usb1 (this step
The items within the folders can be renamed or deleted is only necessary after the first connection of your
immediately after selection. storage medium)
• Tap on "[Save As New File]"
• Enter a file name and confirm with "Done"
Subsequently the stored Library File can be loaded with
these steps into a Library Bank:
• Press [UTILITY]
• Select "Contents" > "Load" from the menu
• Select the Content Type "Library File" at the top of the
display
Moreover sorting options facilitate the overview.
• Tap on "Name-of-your-USB-stick"_usb1
• Select the previously stored Library File (extension
librAry FilEs
".X7L")
In addition to the Preset Banks and the User Bank up to To remove a Library File from the memory, perform the
eight Library Banks are available, which can be loaded as following steps:
Library Files (extension ".X7L"). • Press [UTILITY]
• Select "Contents" > "Data Utility" from the menu
The difference to the User Bank is merely that the
• Tap on the folder "Library"
Performances in a Library Bank can not be changed or
edited. • Tap on the file to be deleted
• Tap on "Delete" in the left menu
A Library File is kind of a "frozen" copy of an entire User
• Confirm the prompt on the display with "Delete / YES"
File, with one exception: Only the first Live Set Bank of the
respective source User File is copied.
The Library File is generated by storing all the data
contained in the user memory - all User Performances,
User Waveforms, Samples, and User Arpeggio Patterns - in
a Library File. Subsequently, the Library File can be loaded
into one of the eight Library Banks. The Performances
contained therein behave like Presets that were created
by the user. The Library Memory Slots are occupied in the
The memory - for instance for User Waveforms - is
loading order and identified by the file name.
immediately released.
The complete contents of the user memory (incl. User
sOME hiNTs FOr
Waveforms and Samples) can be stored as a Library File
by following these steps: ThE OrGANisATiON
• Press [UTILITY]
The order in which the Library Files are loaded
• Select "Contents" > "Store / Save" from the menu determines their position in the available Banks 1 to 8.
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If gaps occur after deleting several Libraries, these are If it is necessary to change or supplement a Library File, this
filled in the order of loading. The Bank Select commands has to be done in the underlying User File. Subsequently,
for selecting the Performances ensue from their position
the modified User Bank must be saved as a Library File
within the eight Banks. You will find the appropriate
and the changed Library must be re-loaded.
commands in the Data List. So, if you change the contents
Moreover, it should be noted that no User Waveforms and
of the Library Banks frequently, but at the same time
work with Bank Select commands to call up the Library User Arpeggio Patterns will be copied by storing a Library
Performances, you must consider this behavior. After a Performance into the user memory. That might mean -
reorganisation, so you should take care with the loading similar to the situation described for the Live Sets - that the
order to ensure that every Library File that is addressed appropriate Library must be loaded in order for the User
by Bank Select commands gets back in its original Bank.
Performance to work as expected.
A similar situation arises
with Live Sets. It is possible hANdy librAry TiPs
to use Live Sets in the User
Who has persevered this far, will find that various
Memory to call up Library
possibilities exist to deal with the different memory areas
Performances. However,
in MONTAGE. The easiest way is to avoid cross-links and
if a Library is deleted, that
to consider each file as an isolated unit. The pleasantly
is linked in this manner,
the message "Not Found" low loading times allows to handle all files quickly. If you
appears in the Live Set Slot organise your "daily work files" into the Library storage,
in question. the user memory would always be free for experiments.
After re-loading the Library On the other hand free Library Banks can also be loaded
that link is not automatically quickly - in that case without touching the user memory.
restored. Only after the
Another way might be to set up the Library Banks as
User File has been re-loaded, the Library Performance is
containers for parts that use User Waveforms. So you
reassigned in the Live Set Slot. In the context of Live Sets,
could create one or more User Files which then take "use"
however, the position of the Library Files in the Banks does
of this Waveform pool. The advantage may be the very
not matter, because the Libraries are identified by their
fast loading times of the then sample-free User Files.
names.
As usual, everyone must find her or his own way in this
I have made a graphically-interactively presentation of the
regard.
MONTAGE memory concept. See the web version here.
It is very pleasant that MONTAGE automatically takes
If there are compatibility issues with your browser, a video-
over the managing of the User Waveforms. Each loaded
version is available on YouTube.
file receives a reserved memory area, which can quickly
https://youtu.be/SpYP0e_WRMc
be released for other files if needed.
Important note:
compIlIng a performance collectIon
An edited Library Performance can be stored exclusively
from several fIles
as a new User Performance. It is not possible to
perform a store operation directly into a Library. For It is not possible to load individual Performances from
this reason, in addition to the Library File the same User Files. However, there is the "Library Import". Make
memory content should always be stored as a User File. no mistake: This will not import anything into a Library.
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