I was aware of this, one, but pretty much discounted it. The problem is there is, to my knowledge, no "try before you buy" demo, and it is not compatible with Yamaha EX5 files, so next to useless unless you want to program everything from scratch, and the video and the sounds he plays (sparsely in a...

Interesting to note that the Hammond remained (Y) Unsurprising really, as it a vital component of their signature Sound. parametric No surprise, for reasons I have explained in other posts: The Hammond sound is far too complex to be accurately replicated by Sample and Synthesis. For that you need t...

Derek thanks for your thoughts and good to know that you have had few troubles. A scan of the SY forum shows a few problems but if parts are available (unlike screen replacement for Roland Juno G) then that’s good news. (I miss my EX5R) Don't forget that forums will give you a skewed view on reliab...

PS: after answering your question, to pick up Saul's point: It is one of the reasons why I am a fan of modelling VSTis. Do I want to pay silly money for a 40 year old MiniMoog and the maintenance burden? Or spend around £150 on a VST facsimile that sounds just as good now, especially when dropped in...

Hi, Bob Grey, one of the iconic sound programmers of the era has an eBay shop for many synths including the SY range The only thing is that you may find you already have the sounds as a lot of his stuff was pirated, but I would say there is a moral obligation then to legally purchase them if you are...

Thanks for all of the replies. I realised that I used an incorrect term. When I wrote how often do you service your DXs and SYs I really meant how often do they go wrong and you have to fix them. The reality is that many of the components such as capacitors will need changing and things 20 and 30 y...

So, my questions is, dear Saul, can you do your magic and reach your Yamaha contacts and eventually get some internal info if there are plans to add DAW control in MODX? Thanks. I heard back from Yamaha. Apparently DAW control is now available on Montage through a recent update. I can't confirm tha...

I have not updated the MODX yet but I have downloaded the Motif XF performances and will try them later. What OS version is the MODX? In Montage OS 2.5 (so presumably so for the MODX) the Motif XF patches are included in the preset banks. In the preset live set list, is there a “Best of XF” page? I...

I agree. I have never used sequencers on my keyboard, other than on the Kronos to play back some backing tracks for a short lived duo project, where I wanted to travel light. But the tracks were sequenced in Cubase. Sequencing on a keyboard with a 10” touch screen and limited features, or Cubase on ...

Maybe somebody with a visual impairment, might use such a setup? I wouldn’t in the same way that I don’t see the point of computer editors for synths with very accessible UIs the only synth I have that I use an editor for is my Nord G2 Engine, as the UI on the box consists of a Power on LED and a MI...

Hi, I would qualify what Javelin says, based on what I explain above. A DX7 patch on the FS1r (and presumably Montage/MODX) will be 100% identical because it was designed to be compatible. A DX7 patch on an SY will sometimes be spot on, sometimes not, depending on the operator rate scaling, used in ...

Oh, terms of FM modules, then a TG77 is, I think, the best good bet, although they seem to be going for ridiculous prices these days. I’ve seen some advertised for £600. At that price I would save my pennies and go for a MODX. I got mine for £80 (had to fix the display of course ;) ) But if you wait...

Hi My Nord G2 modular Engine can do 6 op FM (and patchable) Ditto for the Korg Kronos and its MOD7 engine (also patchable FM), which will directly import DX7 banks DX7II SY99/TG77 FS1r Montage/MODX These are all the FM sources I have (other than I sold the DX7II) And in software form, there is NI FM...

Hi. The usual problems with the SY77 are failed floppy drives, which is usually a knackered belt and easily fixed, or the LCD backlight is gone, which is a more complex job to sort out, but can be done either by replacing the backlight (an easier job) or replacing the display for one with an LED bac...

Hi, It is a very valid point on how such touch screen equipped keyboards can be used in such circumstances. We take so much for granted.... I am not sure how easy it will be to use the Montage/MODX compared to the Kronos, because Yamaha have removed the easy way of directly selecting items; their ar...