Yamaha Genos - Should you buy one?

[@fender1000100]

The Genos is the HOLY GRAIL of workstations/arrangers. I had to be pulled away from mine the first time I sat down with it. I couldnt believe how amazing it is..

[@bestrickie2]

Hello, I’ve been a Tyros owner both T 4 and T 5 (76 note) BRILLIANT. I’ve had my stunning Genos for over 4 years, 5 years later this year. I am extremely pleased with it though. The only gripe I have are the bottoms which light up in blue or orange tends to be a little flimsy. As I have had one giving on me know it still works. I have to say these operating buttons on Tyros were far better quality. I personally like the dials above the sliders as the dials, depending on the parameter set, give very good effects, and the sliders are extremely useful. I don’t consider five years old as particularly old, but perhaps, as this model has so much on board and Yamaha, provided a massive firmware update in 2019 including the superior pack, it’s possible, Yamaha felt red light to refrain from bringing a new model, which, as you say, could well be Genos 2. It may well be late this year when the new model might be introduced, but I’m not too bothered as I’m perfectly happy with this my stunning Genos. I’d prefer if the new model has a built in speaker system and the 16 track midi sequencer had the capability to copy measures.

[@colinmcskeane4703]

Agree with all your points Leigh. For me the key features I would like to see would be 1) USB multitrack Audio for ease of inytergration & recording with DAW such as Cubase (had this with my MODX which came out earlier, so was always a strange omission from day one). 2) the ability to sync audio to tempo, even if is just sync start, as using multipads can be literally a hit & miss affair. 3) Abelton link - Genos is a live performance instrument, so the ability to sync other gear to perform or jam along to would be really add to its live performance capabilities.

[@LeighWilbraham]

Love every one of your suggestions! 🎉

[@303Estates]

If they create a new Genos... I would love to see 8 Multipads... they are so useful.

[@LeighWilbraham]

@@303Estates great suggestion

[@303Estates]

I agree totally... all the keyboard workstation I could ever dream of!! I have no doubt I can use this for another 10 years and it will meet my needs perfectly! Thanks Leigh for all your great GENOS videos!! I have learned many new tricks!! Thanks!

[@LeighWilbraham]

Thanks Svend

[@michaelgreen2283]

Hi Leigh I too have had my Genos from its release, previously had a Tyros 3. I never tire of experimenting with it, so very capable of so many things. The voices on it are better than any I've heard ( I've had a Roland FA-06 and Korg Nautilus as secondary boards. They both have certain good categories, but are weak in others ). The Genos has very few weak voices. Maybe the choirs could do with some better sampling but other than that it covers all of my needs. Operating system is the easiest I've come across. Keep up the good work with the videos.

[@jeanmccullough1064]

I have learned so much from you. Leigh., I would love to have the real touch of the Genos2, ,but guess it’s a dream unless it is a miracle!! I will keep watching and learning - it has such beautiful sound and so much on it. I do miss my Lowrey organ that I loved but when you move you can’t take it with you. I would like to be on your mailing list. I am so thankful for my I pad.

[@LeighWilbraham]

If you click on the subscribe button below the video xx thanks for your kind words

[@knudjepsen420]

Hello Leigh, the Genos are absolute a technical masterpiece, but here in Denmark not a big succes as the Tyros series. Many solomusicans still use there old Tyros 2 3 or 4. You can find a second hand model 4 because it was the last Tyros with the famous Grand Piano, locatet on page 2. The grand piano in the Genos is sharp, and thin from the mid to the high tones. Many of my friends have jobs with dinner music, lot of piano solo and cannot use the Genos sound, it is a shame, because we think like you, the Genos is very fine. I have a Tyros 4 together with a Korg 1000 with musician parcel and Korgi organs installed....... and are waiting for the next Genos. Thanks for yours usefull videos

[@paulsecomb7605]

Hi Knud, just wondering, is the famous Grand Piano you spoke of the Grand Piano #000-113-001 ?

[@knudjepsen1812]

Hey Poul, the piano I ment you can find on a Tyros 4. On page 2. The name is: Live Grand Piano.. I also have a Yamaha p-121 digital piano and it have the same voice. Here in Denmark all my musicanfriends are using this voice, and we hope it will find back to the next genos.

[@paulsecomb7605]

Hey Knud, that piano is in Genos. It’s in the Legacy section, on page one. It’s a lovely piano. (It has the same voice number, I looked it up in the data list for both tyros 4 and genos)

[@knudjepsen420]

@@paulsecomb7605 hey Paul, thank you for your great job. Now I will try a Genos and hope the sound is the same as in my Tyros. It is a warm fullbody piano good for ballads, pop, slow jazz/swing numbers as My Way and this kind off music. It is not for rock but Mixed (layered) with the Live Bright Piano you have a super Elton John piano. Yamahas new (famous?) grand piano is absolute a fine sampling but only to use with classical music, don't think classical pianist are playing Genos. Thanks, you have made my day You have made my day

[@paulsecomb7605]

@@knudjepsen420 Hey Knud, thanks for reintroducing me to that piano sound. I must admit I had glossed over it a bit. The sound number is the same but I assume they would sound the same. If you get to compare that sound on Tyros 4 and Genos I would be interested to read your thoughts.

[@france4me117]

I will stick to Yamaha anytime as I believe Yamaha will bring out a new flagship at some point as as well said Leigh, Yamaha has such a brilliant array of resources and uncompromising experience and makes them the alight in everything the do. I am of a genuine believe that what will come next from Yamaha will blow other manufactures out of the water! I worked for Yamaha Musique France for 4 years back in late 80”s, and there unparalleled thinking, knowledge and commitment is unbelievable.

[@isaacsworld9269]

Hi Leigh, don’t know if you remember me but I came to your print shop about 10 yrs ago with my Nord C1 organ and the tyros 3 we tried to connect the Roland Pedals to all the boards and it was complicated. I live in Orlando now and am toying with getting a Yamaha Organ ELC-02 because it’s an organ as opposed to a Genos but if one day you could show it set up as an organ with pedals that would be great! I miss playing pedals I only have a Casio PXs7000 piano which is outstanding. The Genos though I believe has better sounds than the Yamaha Organ.

[@alanrobinson5109]

Hi Leigh, I’m still enjoying my Genos too. It would be nice to have an extra couple of voices so that it may be easier to push an extra couple down to the lower second keyboard, for those who like the organ setup as I do. I know lots of people would say “ if you want an organ buy an organ” but an organ is heavy to move around on your own, two keyboards and a stand are easier. Just my thoughts.😊

[@LeighWilbraham]

Hi Alan. Having had expensive organs and got the Bohm sat at home the organ is great but it’s no match for Genos. I think when Genos 2 comes out I’m going to seriously make it into an organ and wave goodbye to all my other instruments. Genos has never let me down, sounds amazing and is 1/5th of the price of an organ. So I agree with you. I think I will look at making a sound pack for the lower manual which will have combinations of horns strings choirs - giving you a bigger left hand sound.

[@alanrobinson5109]

@@LeighWilbraham hi Leigh, when you make the pack, I’ll certainly buy it and any other packs you make, your registrations sound great. Cheers!

[@tcrosslinho5565]

As Im getting older and moving things is not as easy, I agree a separate lower and pedals is probably the future for me.

[@25musicmaker]

I hope the next Genos will have more realistic sounding drawbars. Currently I have a Viscount organ module hooked up to my Genos.

[@LeighWilbraham]

I’d love to see a better choice of organs. The “drawbars” do lack something after 5 years.

[@samuelcharrier8164]

Yes, it will. I have the yc61 and it’s great hammond clone si they have the technology for

[@Thedaanvo]

Excellent advice. Yamaha just knows how to design arranger keyboards properly in terms of ergonomics, sound quality and build quality. I've still got my Tyros 5 as my travelling instrument and it has never, ever let me down. No wonder the Genos still holds up. I'd say in some aspects it's still ahead of what's on the market today!

[@LeighWilbraham]

Absolutely agree Daan. Yamaha just needs some fresh ideas and hope they don’t try and turn their arrangers into mini synths.

[@Golfmanuk]

Finding your videos very helpful Leigh and I would like to add new styles to help. You mentioned a web site which I couldn’t catch when you mentioned it. Sounded like DO? Is that correct as I would like to see what is available. Thanks 👍

[@pbarnfield]

So my Korg PA1000 has been sold and yesterday a baby Genos arrived! Already loving using it and everything makes sense. Your right about brand loyalty as an ex Yamaha Electone player - I should never have been swayed to go for the Korg. Oh well, live and learn. Looking forward to getting some packs on it and working that all out. Also are you using bass pedals at all (or have you tried). I have the budget StudioLogic ones, but set it up to use Style Bass or Left Hand bass - I see some switch it to Right 3 which I might do. Is there any better way to your knowledge? There's some nice legacy bass voices, good old Contrabass!!

[@LeighWilbraham]

So glad you’re enjoying your SX! It’s a great instrument and so easy to use.

[@S91761]

Great video. Keep it up. I have the sx900. I love it. But I ran out of expansion memory. A genos would be a great idea but I have to wait to see what the next genos would bring. I want to see better features. I like the chord sequence on Pa5X better than the chord looper. I would love to see 3 sizes just like the korg also. A 88 weighted hammer and one 76 and one 61(a real baby genos) without compromising any features.

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

Yes me too,I want an 88 weighted key action genos,would grab it tomorrow if they had one

[@kenColtas-pg7nr]

Hi Leigh , new post enjoyed but you didn’t mention Korg once which is the Genos main rival in uk?? I know your pro yamaha but Korg pa5x worthy of consideration. I would like to know if the Yamaha vocaliser gives a professional sound as the Korg tc helicon unit . The Tyros vocal section was boxy not like psr 8000/9000. So as a vocal entertainer switched to Korg. Finally I would like to see genos2 with an 88 fully weighted option and a great vocal harmony unit on board! . Cheers Ken

[@LeighWilbraham]

Hi Ken. The vocaliser isn’t something I use being a keyboard player and not a singer. I saw the korg have removed the TC from 5x and are using their own system now. Maybe a cost issue but the 5x is a nice instrument but just a pig to understand. The korg os is a nightmare and if they changed this and improved a few styles they would be worth a look. However the way the keyboard works is why I can’t stand to play one.

[@kenColtas-pg7nr]

@@LeighWilbraham Thanks for quick response. Thought you might have the ear of yamaha regarding the vocaliser . Very little about it on u tube. As mentioned I was forced away from yamaha because of the poor vocal units in the Tyros. The psr 8000 took me all over the world loved to perform and sing through it!! So musical and warm compared to the newer digital tyros at that time . Hopefully now the vocal unit much better for all us ‘one man bands’ still out there in a covid devastated industry! As for Korg I guess you get used to it but I agree after hearing your posts the breadth and musicality of the yamaha styles I have missed. Come on yamaha genos2 make my day!

[@dont3222]

Secondhand Genos price is too high. The lowest I saw is $3700. Crazy! Even tyros 5 price is still high.

[@samuelcharrier8164]

I Had the genos and sell it just before the pandemic. Know the work is here so i need an arrangeur, in second hand, but hard to find like sx90O, the baby genos do the job or the new Genos, did you listen some good news about it? I am sure it will be a killer model but Yamaha take time. A integrate usb sound card will be top like my yc61 and all the keyboards sounds of the yc will be nice, integrate on the new Genos or better, the bass sound need to be top too, like we say, the bass/drums musicality.

[@alymak]

Genos still can more powerful, expansible, and complete!!!! In my view: Better than KORG, WERSI, BÖHM and KETRON

[@shakti.rathore]

I agree that the genos is amazing. But i must mention that i haven't even heard all the other names except korg. I have owned a korg kronos n yamaha tyros earlier.. I am just happy that I heard about these unexplored brand names. Thanks!

[@novatoi]

I NEED HELP !!!! Hello Leigh , I have been following all your clips for a while now , the more I watched the more I learned about my Genos . Thank you for all that . Now I have a question that so far no one can find an answer for me :). Is there a way you can set up the keyboard with some available custom buttons so that when we play a style and we are at Variation 4 ( for example ) and press variation button 1 or 2 or 3 to play other fill-in WITHOUT changing the Variation style 4 , or vice versa ? It would be great when we play Jazz and there are a lot of different drum rolling in between to create moods . I used to have Korg PA4X and it has 4 separate buttons above Variation buttons just for fill-in . This is the only thing I missed my Korg so much when I trade it for the Genos .Thank you so much and have a wonderful day :)

[@S91761]

Hi there, I believe there is no way you can do that. If you are on variation 1 and you want the fill in of variation 4, you have to press variation 4 and before the fill in ends...you have to press variation 1 again.

[@novatoi]

@@S91761 Thank you . That was what i have been doing all this time . Now somehow my fingers are quicker doing this than playing notes . LOL .

[@LeighWilbraham]

S91 is correct - you can’t use a full in button without it switching to that variation. Maybe a idea for a future product.

[@TheSpeedRacer23]

The Genos is the best keyboard workstation ever made

[@bobcorn]

Being owner of a PSR SX700 ....In Switzerland I can get a second hand genos for 2500 - but I can also get a new genos 2 for 4 000 and 5 years of garantee.... so I probably save money till I can afford the number 2

[@LeighWilbraham]

I would do that. Genos 2 is amazing.

[@lambertkonings3371]

Say what I think ? I just sold my Tyros 4 to have the Genos. What a pity. When I program Twist, rock'n'roll, cha-cha, Bachata, boogie, tango... And press Play the result is the same. When I listen to the Multi Pad... It's still the same thing !! It's up to you to answer my question. What more does Genos have ? A better drum or piano sound ? But what difference does it make if the result of playing the style is the same?

[@LeighWilbraham]

You’re clearly doing something wrong -

[@lambertkonings3371]

@@LeighWilbraham Hello and thank you for your answer. What is done wrong when I program Twist (For example) and press play on the Tyros 4 and do the same on the Genos ? Waltz, tango, cha-cha, bossa, rock'n'roll, 80's disco... All the old styles look the same! I program the multi pads and I hear "Ouuhh pap pap" it's exactly the same ! For modern music : yes !! But for old styles everything is the same. Yamaha did nothing for older styles. What does the Genos bring more than a Tyros 4 to play these styles ?

[@jansmit4628]

In a different video about the Genos, you complained about the sample length of some instruments as their sounds started to oscillate after a second or so when pressing multiple keys. This is no big issue anymore to you?

[@LeighWilbraham]

Genos doesn’t have that problem as it has its own rotary effect and not samples.

[@jansmit4628]

@@LeighWilbraham You are right, it was in the Medeli AKX10 voice review. But then we talk about a whole differen price category of keyboards.

[@shakti.rathore]

I love genos but I feel its been 5 years now and I should rather look out for it's successor.. I dont feel like paying 3500$ it's way too expensive for my country (India). I don't think I can find a second hand piece here, due to the price very less people play it. And tbh I always find korg pa5x quite a let down event though it was launched in 2022. Do suggest guys

[@colinwashington8427]

Well it doesn't come with speakers attached and every demonstration I've heard has come from plugged in expensive speakers. Yamaha brings really great voices and styles but what I am looking for are speakers that gives the sound quality you get from ear phones. I find the difference between speakers and ear phones is immense so I hope Genos 2 comes with a quality sound that ear phones give you. Can anyone offer suggestions on speakers.

[@LeighWilbraham]

Yamaha HS8 speakers. Great price and OUTSTANDING Sound. Really - take a look. Worth every penny.

[@colinwashington8427]

@@LeighWilbraham Thank you Leigh I'll take a look. Love your videos.

[@johnathanshuey7776]

I just wish they would update the operating system to create a better sequence. I bought one for home and one for church and I use it for the sounds and playback WAV files.

[@LeighWilbraham]

When you say create a better sequence so you mean more of a daw style sequencer ? As I’d have to agree with you on that. I’d also like a much simpler integration with Logic Pro x - the way the midi voice selection works is very weird and makes no sense.

[@303Estates]

@@LeighWilbraham I agree, better LOGIC PRO integration

[@josephking7021]

Leigh, I can find no DoStyle on the internet. Can you provide a link?

[@LeighWilbraham]

There’s a link in the description

[@kuliopa1]

I am debating to change to a Böhm SEMPRA 2.0 GST but….Why change to a New system if I am so satisfied with a very good keyboard, had Almost all generations of Yamaha instruments

[@LeighWilbraham]

The orchestral voices in Genos are far superior to the Bohm - but the Bohm is an organ and has some amazing features. Only you can make the best choice - don’t be sold to by salesmen- decide what you want and what YOU like.

[@tcrosslinho5565]

I doubt you can beat the Genos in organ mode.

[@ralfeschbach2020]

I think the chip shortage and Corona had a significant impact on the development of a new Genos at Yamaha. I play a cvp 809 gp with a modified Genos in it, they have now released a new model because they were forced to do so because of the change in chipsets in the Bluetooth audio area. The Genos sounds and styles on board are still the same, only two new piano samples and a few new pedal functions are available and as I said Bluetooth audio with lower latency and therefore a new model. But one hears rumors that there will be a new Genos in the fall. As far as memory and connections are concerned, I think it's about time, Midi 2.0 could also be an issue, or Super Articulation 3 etc. But you habe right, actually genos is still fantastic Good❤

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

Are these keys semi weighted or are they synth action on 76 key version

[@LeighWilbraham]

They aren’t semi weighted but not your usual Keybed it has a very unique feel. Firm but not semi weighted.

[@danduncan7950]

I would like an 88 key Genos--I don't want to pay CVP prices.

[@robfriedrich2822]

A used Genos is way better, than the PSR SX900, especially you have so much space for all different expansion packs and premium voices you can get for free from Yamaha. Most of the advantages of the Genos 2 exists in the Genos, as being light, being small, having single audio outputs, 2 MIDI ins and outs, registration banks with 10 single memories, huge internal user drive, huge memory for all Tyros 5 audio styles and nearly all expansion packs and premium voices, you can get for free, revo drums and ensemble mode, SArt2 voices and so on.

[@brianaltman7034]

I bought a genos 1 for 2k with speakers as well but like all keyboard makers there has really only 2 big upgrades in 5 years same with my 4x now couldn't they have put lights under the sliders then and it's funny because now the genos 2 have them personally I don't think I'll spend another 5k I'll wait for the 6 uc if you set it up right using the master eq oh boy it'll sound just as good and I love G1 ok thanks brian a

[@LeighWilbraham]

Has anyone recently bought a Genos?

[@tcrosslinho5565]

I am coming around to thinking that there is no organ that matches the quality of sounds and drum patterns. So Genos with a lower manual and pedals might be the answer to my wants. Just a pity that you can't have more sounds on at the same time. Wersi wins on that one.

[@LeighWilbraham]

If reality nobody would stack more than 3 voices together as it starts to sound like mush. The Wersi can’t ever sound like a Genos, but the Genos can sound like a Wersi!! 😅

[@tonyvandoorne6933]

@Leigh,Totaly agree. I Love my Genos very much,especially the EuroOrgans. Maybe you can demonstrate the Euro&Us organpack? Greetngs from Belgium. 🙋‍♂️

[@tcrosslinho5565]

@@LeighWilbraham You maybe correct there. I wonder how many voices most users use.

[@idemditto]

We know the answer now, wait a few day until the new Genos 2 will be released.

[@moogy77]

MOTARIZED FADERS!!!

[@dennbaker1]

Yay

[@dennbaker1]

3:17 3:20 3:22

[@chrystina5604]

I can make new styles with my Tyros 5

[@LeighWilbraham]

Yes you can. But you don’t have the same voices which make your styles sound more realistic. Thats the difference.