Yamaha MONTAGE X7L X7U: The Ultimate Guide to Phat Analog, the Voice and Sample Library that Emulates Legendary Analog Synths
Phat Analog For Yamaha MONTAGE X7L X7U: A Review
If you're a fan of analog synthesizers and you own a Yamaha MONTAGE, you might be interested in Phat Analog, a voice and sample library that emulates the legendary Minimoog and Jupiter 8 synths. In this article, we'll review Phat Analog and see what it can do for your MONTAGE. We'll also compare it with some other analog synth libraries and give you our honest opinion on whether it's worth buying or not.
Phat Analog For Yamaha MONTAGE X7L X7U |LINK|
What is Yamaha MONTAGE and what makes it special
Yamaha MONTAGE is a flagship synthesizer that combines two powerful sound engines: AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) and FM-X (Frequency Modulation). AWM2 is a sample-based engine that can reproduce realistic acoustic sounds as well as classic synth sounds. FM-X is a modern version of the famous FM synthesis that Yamaha pioneered in the 1980s with the DX series. FM-X can create complex and dynamic sounds that are impossible to achieve with traditional subtractive synthesis.
But what makes MONTAGE really stand out is its Motion Control Synthesis Engine, which allows you to control and manipulate both sound engines in real time using various controllers, such as the Super Knob, the ribbon controller, the modulation wheel, the assignable buttons, and more. You can also use Motion Sequences, which are tempo-synchronized sequences of parameter changes that can add movement and expression to your sounds. With Motion Control, you can create sounds that evolve and change according to your performance.
MONTAGE also has a powerful effects section, a comprehensive arpeggiator, a 16-track sequencer, a USB audio/MIDI interface, and a large color touch screen. It comes in three models: MONTAGE6 with 61 keys, MONTAGE7 with 76 keys, and MONTAGE8 with 88 keys. All models have the same sound engine and features, but differ in the type of keyboard. The MONTAGE6 and MONTAGE7 have FSX keyboards with semi-weighted keys and aftertouch, while the MONTAGE8 has a Balanced Hammer Effect keyboard with weighted keys and aftertouch.
What is Phat Analog and what does it offer
Phat Analog is a voice and sample library created by Easy Sounds, a German company that specializes in sound design for Yamaha synthesizers. Phat Analog is designed to emulate the sound of two iconic analog synths: the Minimoog and the Jupiter 8. The Minimoog is considered one of the most influential synths of all time, famous for its warm and fat leads, basses, and brass sounds. The Jupiter 8 is another classic synth from the early 1980s, known for its lush and rich pads, strings, and arpeggios.
Phat Analog contains 32 multi-part performances and 128 single-part performances, as well as 32 user waveforms and 120 MB of samples. The performances cover a wide range of styles and genres, from rock, pop, funk, soul, disco, jazz, fusion, to ambient, electronic, new age, synthwave, and more. You'll find many typical Minimoog sounds, such as synth leads, synth basses, synth brasses, synth strings, as well as some Jupiter 8 sounds, such as pads, arpeggios, sequences, noise effects, and more. You'll also find some hybrid sounds that combine both synths or other instruments.
The performances are programmed to take advantage of the Motion Control Synthesis Engine of the MONTAGE, such as the Super Knob, the ribbon controller, the modulation wheel, and the assignable buttons. You can use these controllers to tweak and morph the sounds in real time, adding more expression and variation to your performance. For example, you can use the Super Knob to switch between different filter settings, envelope shapes, effects levels, or even different sounds. You can also use the ribbon controller to bend the pitch, modulate the filter cutoff, or create vibrato effects.
Phat Analog is compatible with all models of MONTAGE and can be loaded into the user memory or a flash memory expansion module. It is available as a download from the Easy Sounds website for 49 euros (about 55 US dollars). You can also listen to some audio demos and watch some video tutorials on the website to get a better idea of what Phat Analog sounds like and how to use it.
How to install and use Phat Analog on your MONTAGE
Installing Phat Analog on your MONTAGE is very easy and straightforward. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Download the Phat Analog file from the Easy Sounds website. The file is in X7L format, which is a compressed file that contains both the voice data and the sample data.
Copy the X7L file to a USB flash drive and insert it into your MONTAGE.
On your MONTAGE, press the [UTILITY] button and then touch "Contents" on the touch screen.
Touch "Load" and then select the USB flash drive as the source.
Select the Phat Analog X7L file and touch "Load".
A dialog box will appear asking you where you want to load the data. You can choose to load it into the user memory or a flash memory expansion module. You can also choose to load only the voice data or both the voice data and the sample data. We recommend loading both for optimal performance.
Wait for the loading process to finish. It may take a few minutes depending on the size of the data and the destination.
Once the loading is done, you can access the Phat Analog performances by pressing the [CATEGORY SEARCH] button and selecting "User" as the bank.
To use Phat Analog on your MONTAGE, you can simply select a performance and play it on your keyboard. You can also use the various controllers to modify and customize the sound as you wish. For example, you can use the Super Knob to change different parameters at once, or assign different functions to each of its eight parts. You can also use the ribbon controller to create pitch bends, filter sweeps, or other effects. You can also use the modulation wheel to add vibrato, tremolo, or other modulation effects. You can also use the assignable buttons to switch between different scenes, which are snapshots of different settings within a performance.
If you want to edit or create your own Phat Analog performances, you can use the touch screen to access different menus and pages. You can edit various aspects of each part, such as its sound source, oscillator type, filter type, envelope settings, effects settings, and more. You can also edit various aspects of each performance, such as its name, category, tempo, arpeggio settings, motion sequence settings, and more. You can also save your edited or created performances to the user memory or a flash memory expansion module.
Pros and cons of Phat Analog
Phat Analog is a great addition to your MONTAGE if you love analog synth sounds and want to expand your sonic palette. Here are some of the pros and cons of Phat Analog:
Pros
It offers high-quality emulation of two classic analog synths: Minimoog and Jupiter 8.
It contains a large variety of performances that cover different styles and genres.
It takes advantage of the Motion Control Synthesis Engine of MONTAGE to create dynamic and expressive sounds.
It is easy to install and use on your MONTAGE.
It is reasonably priced for what it offers.
Cons
It may not be very authentic or accurate compared to the original synths or other dedicated analog synth libraries.
It may not offer enough diversity or originality for some users who prefer more modern or experimental sounds.
It may take up a lot of memory space on your MONTAGE if you load both voice data and sample data.
Alternatives to Phat Analog
If you're looking for other analog synth libraries for your MONTAGE, you have some other options besides Phat Analog. Here are some of them:
Analog Xperience
Analog Xperience is another voice and sample library by Easy Sounds that emulates various analog synths, such as the Prophet 5, the Oberheim OB-Xa, the Roland Juno-60, and more. It contains 400 performances, 87 user waveforms, and 200 user arpeggios. It also features the Slider Mix concept, which allows you to create your own arrangements using the eight sliders. Analog Xperience costs 84.99 euros (about 95 US dollars) and can be downloaded from the Easy Sounds website.
Nostalgia
Nostalgia is a voice and sample library by Easy Sounds that offers authentic analog synth sounds based on sampled single cycle waveforms and fat unison, PWM, and sync waveforms. It contains 56 template performances, 40 complex multi part performances, 208 single part performances, and 13 user waveforms. It also features the Magic Knobs concept, which allows you to program your own analog synth sounds in an intuitive way using only eight knobs. Nostalgia costs 49 euros (about 55 US dollars) and can be downloaded from the Easy Sounds website.
Evolution
Evolution is a voice and sample library by Easy Sounds that combines analog synth sounds with modern sound design elements, such as wavetables, granular synthesis, spectral synthesis, and more. It contains 64 template performances, 32 complex multi part performances, 192 single part performances, and 32 user waveforms. It also features the Magic Knobs concept, as well as the Slider Mix concept. Evolution costs 49 euros (about 55 US dollars) and can be downloaded from the Easy Sounds website.
Conclusion: Summary and final verdict
In conclusion, Phat Analog is a voice and sample library that emulates the sound of two classic analog synths: the Minimoog and the Jupiter 8. It offers a large variety of performances that cover different styles and genres, as well as a high-quality emulation of the analog oscillators, filters, envelopes, and effects. It also takes advantage of the Motion Control Synthesis Engine of MONTAGE to create dynamic and expressive sounds that can be controlled and manipulated in real time using various controllers.
However, Phat Analog may not be very authentic or accurate compared to the original synths or other dedicated analog synth libraries. It may also not offer enough diversity or originality for some users who prefer more modern or experimental sounds. It may also take up a lot of memory space on your MONTAGE if you load both voice data and sample data.
Therefore, our final verdict is that Phat Analog is a great addition to your MONTAGE if you love analog synth sounds and want to expand your sonic palette. However, if you're looking for more authenticity or diversity, you may want to check out some other analog synth libraries that are available for your MONTAGE.
FAQs
Q: What are the system requirements for Phat Analog?
A: Phat Analog requires a Yamaha MONTAGE with at least OS version 3.0 or higher. You also need a USB flash drive to load the data into your MONTAGE.
Q: How much memory space does Phat Analog take up on my MONTAGE?
A: Phat Analog contains 32 user waveforms and 120 MB of samples. If you load both voice data and sample data into your MONTAGE, it will take up about 128 MB of memory space in total.
Q: Can I use Phat Analog on other Yamaha synthesizers?
A: No, Phat Analog is only compatible with Yamaha MONTAGE. However, Easy Sounds has other analog synth libraries that are compatible with other Yamaha synthesizers, such as MOXF, MODX, Motif XF, Motif XS, S90 XS/S70 XS.
Q: Can I edit or create my own Phat Analog performances?
A: Yes, you can edit or create your own Phat Analog performances using the touch screen and the various controllers on your MONTAGE. You can also save your edited or created performances to the user memory or a flash memory expansion module.
Q: Where can I get more information or support for Phat Analog?
A: You can get more information or support for Phat Analog from the Easy Sounds website, where you can also find some audio demos and video tutorials on how to use Phat Analog. You can also contact Easy Sounds by email or phone if you have any questions or problems with Phat Analog.
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please let me know in the comments section below. Thank you for reading and happy synthesizing! dcd2dc6462