The mobile, lightweight MODX M series of music synthesizers from Yamaha are built on the DNA of Yamaha's flagship Montage M, inheriting all of Montage M's technology, such as the AWM2, FM-X, and AN-X sound engines and the free Expanded Softsynth Plugin (ESP)—a complete virtual MODX M inside your favorite production environment. Also like Montage M, MODX M allows you to take full creative control with intuitive performance tools, including eight physical faders and the expressive Super Knob, and seamless DAW integration.
What's new in MODX M
If you're familiar with Yamaha's previous models, MODX and MODX+, you can see at a glance what's changed with MODX M. First, the display knobs allow you to navigate and change settings with a physical control. As you change modes, the knobs update to mirror their function—a nice change to this instrument that allows for quicker operation. Another update to MODX M is the inclusion of eight faders, as opposed to four on MODX and MODX+, which is great for editing operators of an FM-X sound, elements of an AWM2 preset, or oscillators of an AN-X patch.
DAW remote control
MODX M can also serve as a DAW remote. Connect to the DAW of your choice and control levels in your tracks, start and stop the sequencer with the transport controls, and more. A feature that came over from Montage M is the keyboard hold button. When playing a chord, the notes are held until the next chord is sounded, cutting off the previous chord. This feature is useful for playing pads behind a soloist or melodic part without needing to ride the sustain pedal Another Montage M feature that made its way to MODX M is this navigation button. This makes editing and moving around the interface much faster by providing an overview of the components of the current sound right on the screen.
Sound engine
MODX M includes a sample of Yamaha's original CFX concert grand piano that was released about 25 years ago. In 2022, Yamaha released the CFX2, which was an upgrade to an already-celebrated piano. The CFX2 samples have a little bit more note bloom, but still retain the strong fundamental ringing character of the CFX in a piano sound with a slightly darker quality. These sounds can be had not only from the 88-weighted-key MODX M8, but also from the perfectly compact, 15-pound MODX M6 61-note keyboard.
Keyboard actions
Another upgrade from the original MODX is the new semi-weighted FSB key action found on MODX M6 and M7. Previously used on Yamaha stage keyboards and arrangers, the FSB action offers more expression and a more solid feel under the fingers than previous MODX actions for a better overall playing experience. While aimed at keyboardists and synthesists, the FSB action on the 61-key MODX M6 and 76-key MODX M7 also provides a dynamic, expressive response for acoustic and electric piano voices.
For the 88-note MODX M8, Yamaha has selected their Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) action for those players who need an 88-key weighted action. Coming in at 31 pounds, the MODX M8 is effectively a mobile Montage M, offering pianists acoustic piano touch with smooth, accurate playability. In fact, if you already own a Montage M and you're looking for something a little more mobile and lighter to take on a gig, you can load your sounds directly into the MODX M.
Super Knob
What is the Super Knob? The Super Knob is a macro control that controls MODX M's assignable knobs, which can also have multiple assignments. If there are 16 parts in a performance, each of those parts has up to 32 control destination points. They can be assigned to a single control—the Super Knob—which is controlling the parameters of the assignable knobs. As an example, you may want to increase the reverb of a sound but at the same time cut the cutoff frequency of the filter, which are two different motions that go in opposite directions. Those two motions can be assigned to a single knob, allowing you to perform simultaneous actions that can't be done effectively with two hands because they're going two different directions or even to 32 destination points. In a sense, it's like having 32 hands moving controls simultaneously, controlling the sound of the synth engine, effects, different effects parameters, and more with a single Super Knob.
The Super Knob is incredibly effective as a macro controller, making multiple simultaneous adjustments with a single control. However, you don't need to give up a hand on the keyboard to access its functionality. MODX M accommodates up to four pedals: a sustain pedal, a switch pedal, and two expression pedals. One expression pedal could be assigned to overall volume while the other provides hands-free control of the Super Knob. Kraft Music makes it easy to try this out by including the FC7 expression pedal in select bundles.
Rotary speaker effects
Another feature to come over from Montage M is the VCM rotary speaker effect. Initially introduced with Yamaha's YC series, the rotary speaker effect makes a significant difference for organ sounds. In addition, MODX M's eight faders makes it easy to have control over the drawbars. And while MODX M doesn't have Montage M's ribbon controller, Yamaha's engineers included a virtual ribbon controller that can be used as a convenient alternative to the mod wheel or other assignments for controlling rotary speaker speed.
Smart Morph
Smart Morph is a machine learning technology that was introduced on the original Montage for the FM-X engine. Smart Morph takes the available sounds in a performance and runs a machine learning process that examines all of those sounds, finds commonalities based on specified criteria, and then creates a new sound. You can then morph through that sound using the Super Knob or other assignable controllers.
Computer integration
MODX M is a 10-out, two-stereo-channel-return USB audio and MIDI 2.0 interface. Over a single USB cable, MODX M can record up to 10 channels of audio into a DAW, meaning you can take a drum kit, a bass part, a guitar part, and send individual stereo audio stems to a DAW and process them independently from the stereo output. And, as mentioned earlier, it also functions as a DAW remote control surface.
One other thing you get with MODX M is ESP, the Expanded Softsynth Plugin. ESP is the MODX M synth engine in the computer as a VST3 or Audio Unit instrument. ESP provides access to all of your MODX M sounds, and while MODX M has a total of 268 notes of polyphony, you can open multiple instrument tracks in your DAW with ESP to double, triple, or quadruple that number. ESP will be available for free starting in early 2026 via a download code found in the box with every MODX M, with directions for installation at yamahasynth.com, enabling you to enhance your hardware with the plugin.
Great sound, sophisticated dynamic control, and powerful, easy to use workflow. That's MODX M.
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