TEST OF YAMAHA GENOS

[♔Chello]

YAMAHA GENOS

(Previously published on Chellos Song Styles)

   

Intuitive use/Layout:
Immediately everything seems logical and easily discoverable, but after some use it turns out that several basic functions are hidden.

All the keys opposite the keys (Intro, Mains etc.) have too much space between each, making it unnecessarily difficult to hit correctly during play.


Mechanical quality:
The joystick has too little deadlock, which easily results in accidental bending when you only want to use modulation. A3000 has much better joystick; even better than Korg.

The keybed is the best I've tried to date.
All the buttons have top quality.
All contacts are superb.

The screen is as good as any other, but impossible to calibrate 100% - often you have to press several times to activate a command.



Degree of playing pleasure:
The degree of playing pleasure is extremely variable.

This is largely due to Yamaha's mildly incompetent work on making all basic settings for sounds and their volume - this applies to both style and OTS.

Composition of OTS is the worst I've seen - worse than the S950. Selected sounds are far from all logic, and the level between them is completely mismatched.

In addition, different styles have very different levels.

The default level setting between style and sounds is very poorly selected - the style is too powerful. To correct this, it is necessary to adjust the sounds to the maximum and the style level must be sharply downgraded. The result is that the output becomes too low and the amplifier must be set correspondingly high. This results in increased risk of damaging speakers / amplifiers.


Sound quality:
The sound of Genos has an extremely variable quality, but is at its best also the best of all arrangers. The sound can be dramatically improved - if the user knows what needs to be done.

Very many sounds have incorrect settings for most parameters - examples are Drums, Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano, Double Bass, Fretless Bass, Distortion Guitar, Overdrive Guitar, Flutes, Human Voices, Harmonica and Accordion.

Strings and most synths are very well set up, while the ones I haven't commented on are consistently good enough.



General first impression:
The design is innovative and appealing.

The layout is also this at first glance, however, many important features are hidden in sub-menus, resulting in lots of unnecessary work to figure out things that were previously logically arranged.

The manual(s) are messy and generally unexplained at the detail level.

Significant noise is emitted from the USB port, which indicates very poor grounding of this.

It is harder than ever to create styles with EMC Style Works, because it is almost impossible to find sounds that sound good enough.

Even worse is the fact that all the styles I have made for the Tyros4 do not work well - in fact, I do not feel that any styles from previous models work satisfactorily at all.
Those who have many good styles from previous models, will feel thoroughly cheated by buying Genos.
Yamaha seems to be planning to get rich at the expense of its users. 
I'll not be one of them.


Final conclusion:
Genos does not match my expectations.
NOT PASSED

There is one thing in particular I want to express clearly regarding Yamaha`s marketing of Genos and what is possible to do with the sound:
With the Attack potentiometer it is demonstrated how to change the hammer sound of a piano from near to far.
This should also be able to be used on many other sounds.

I have tested the function on most sounds, but never achieve the effect demonstrated on their videos.
Why?

Yes, because this requires special samples, which are not found on Genos, but only on the demonstrator's plugged in USB stick.
Scams.

It is nevertheless assumed to be the best arranger, because the sound becomes superb (if some parameters are changed).

It is an absolutely fantastic instrument to play on when everything is adjusted correctly.

Virtually all of my negative comments can easily be changed to positive if Yamaha fixes this in an upcoming update.

- But do they do this?
Hardly...


I have one last remark:
Yamaha has everything to learn from Korg, because if you buy a Korg you are not completely happy with, you have full access to all settings, and can change absolutely everything to the way you want it.

Send the engineers to Korg on a course, Yamaha!

[✪yves]

Thanks for all the info chellos...
Isnt IT possible to send Yamaha a report of your findings do they van do something about IT instead of asking a lot of money from their customers....

Keep up the good work!!!!

Stay safe!!!

Greetings
Yves

[♔Chello]

@Yves

Very many users have tried this; they have even formed large groups to gain all possible power and influence - in vain.
Both Yamaha, Korg and Ketron are notorious for their ignorance against their users, whether they present their arguments individually or as groups.

Only Roland has a different strategy, and they are producing more and more equipment intended for professional users.

One thing that is very ironic about Genos is that Yamaha claims that they have worked closely with the users when they have developed the model.

I really wonder who these users have been - they could not possibly have had any professional knowledge, when you see how Genos turned out; they removed most of the editing capabilities the Tyros series was known to have.

Genos does not appear as an instrument intended for professional users, but amateurs.