Yamaha Synths Official Unleashes Montage M OS 2.0: A Digital Powerhouse Evolves

A New Era for Montage M: OS 2.0 Arrives

Yamaha Synths Official kicks off their Superbooth 2024 coverage by announcing a major milestone for the Montage M series: the release of OS 2.0. This isn’t a minor bug fix or incremental update—Yamaha is positioning this as a transformative leap, expanding the instrument’s digital capabilities and creative reach. The video’s presenter, Dom Sigalas, sets the stage for a walkthrough that promises both technical depth and practical musical enhancements.

From the outset, it’s clear that Yamaha’s approach is to keep the Montage M ecosystem fresh and competitive in the ever-evolving landscape of digital synths. The update aims to serve both sound designers and performers, with new engines, effects, and workflow tweaks that reflect Yamaha’s ongoing commitment to hybrid synthesis. The anticipation is palpable: this is not just about new sounds, but about new ways to interact with and shape the instrument.

Expanding the Sound Palette: CFX Grand and CP80 Waveforms

One of the headline features of OS 2.0 is the addition of new piano waveforms, most notably the CFX Grand Piano and the CP80. These are not mere incremental samples—they represent a significant broadening of the Montage M’s sonic foundation. The CFX Grand, in particular, is showcased as a lush, expressive instrument, capable of nuanced dynamics and rich overtones. Dom demonstrates how these new waveforms integrate seamlessly into the existing architecture, instantly elevating the realism and versatility of the instrument’s acoustic piano sounds.

The CP80 waveform, meanwhile, brings the iconic electric grand flavor into the mix, ideal for genres that crave that distinctive bite and presence. Both additions are presented as ready-to-use, with no need for additional libraries or downloads. For players who rely on high-quality pianos—whether for studio layering or live performance—these new waveforms are a substantial upgrade, making the Montage M an even more compelling all-in-one stage and production tool.

Smart Morphing and Shimmering Depths: AN-X and Reverb Innovations

OS 2.0’s most architecturally intriguing addition is the expansion of Smart Morph to the AN-X engine. Previously exclusive to FM-X, Smart Morph now allows users to select up to eight AN-X sounds and morph between them in real time, creating hybrid textures that are both seamless and inspiring. Dom demonstrates this with patches like Cosmic Pad to Plug and Morph A&X Drums, showing how the Super Knob can traverse a landscape of timbres—plucks, brass, analog drums—without clicks or abrupt transitions. This morphing isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a genuine workflow enhancer for sound designers seeking fluid, evolving patches.

The new Shimmer Reverb is another highlight, offering a lush, modulated effect that can transform even simple plucks into cinematic washes. Unlike typical pedals, the Montage M’s implementation allows full modulation of reverb parameters via the synth’s own controls. Dom showcases this by stripping away the dry signal, revealing a reverb tail so rich it could serve as its own synth layer. The ability to automate and modulate the shimmer effect in real time opens up advanced sound design and performance possibilities.

Yamaha’s approach here is both practical and ambitious: they’re not just adding effects, but integrating them deeply into the modulation and macro architecture. The result is a system where reverb and morphing become central to the instrument’s creative identity, not just afterthoughts or bolt-ons.

"It's basically a form of inspiration. You can just select some sounds and run the SmartMorph and you can do so many different combinations and you can create so many different soundscapes."

© Screenshot/Quote: Yamahasynthsofficial (YouTube)

Wavefolder Grit and Interface Refinements

"I also have a hard type so that's very aggressive are you ready okay it's really aggressive especially if you're doing some music genres this is going to come in handy."

© Screenshot/Quote: Yamahasynthsofficial (YouTube)

The update doesn’t stop at new engines and effects—OS 2.0 also introduces a Wavefolder to the AN-X engine, injecting a new layer of harmonic complexity and analog-style grit. Dom demonstrates the Wavefolder on both complex patches and simple sine waves, highlighting its soft and hard modes. The hard setting, in particular, delivers aggressive, cutting tones that will appeal to those working in modern electronic genres. Crucially, the Wavefolder is fully modulatable, with envelope and LFO assignments enabling dynamic, evolving textures.

User interface improvements round out the update, with thoughtful tweaks aimed at streamlining both performance and programming. Organ players now benefit from visual drawbar feedback, while FM-X users gain clearer differentiation between carriers and modulators—small but meaningful changes that make patch editing more intuitive. These refinements signal Yamaha’s attention to workflow details, ensuring that the Montage M remains accessible even as its feature set grows more sophisticated.

A Free Creative Boost for Montage M Owners

Yamaha closes the loop by confirming that OS 2.0 is a free update for all Montage M users—a welcome move that ensures the entire user base can access these new sounds and features without additional cost. From expanded morphing and reverb capabilities to new waveforms and interface polish, this update represents a significant creative boost. For those invested in the Montage M ecosystem, it’s a clear signal that Yamaha is committed to ongoing innovation and user value.