Yamaha announced today their new advanced digital workstation Genos, a further development of the best-known TYROS5. Compared to the previous versions, Genos comes with twice the sample ROM, a better audio processing infrastructure and more real-time control. 1.8 GB of internal, non-volatile flash memory and 256 notes of true stereo polyphony gives musicians a lot of space and endless playability possibilities.
I can’t say anything more about this but the sound can convince me. A criticism is the price of $6.799 USD that is something too high is in my opinion. Digital workstations like the KORG Kronos cost less and have more synth elements than the new Genos. We will see how musicians will use this workstation. Not yet convinced by the feature list of it because I miss a lot of feature what must be inside a workstation from 2017. The Montage from Yamaha is in my opinion more interesting but maybe also another musician target.
Features:
- New Sounds
- Genos features nearly twice the amount of AWM2 sample ROM as the Tyros5 that chronologically preceded it, including new Yamaha CFX and C7 concert grand Voices. Brand new Revo! drum and special FX Voices use more dynamic sampling and round-robin triggering to create startlingly human rhythm parts.
- Also new are Kino strings, developed with film and TV scoring in mind. Yamaha says that their sound quality is on par with the best software scoring libraries, and they use similar stereo techniques — such as panning different players in the string section to different channels.
- New brass Voices are also on hand, as are new guitars (acoustic and electric), basses, synth leads and pads, accordions, and more.
- 256 notes of true stereo polyphony
- Articulation Element Modeling (AEM) technology automatically chooses the correct instrument articulation (a way an instrument can sound depending on how it is played) in real time according to the player’s keyboard technique: key velocity, tempo, legato versus staccato, and so on.
- The player can also select specific articulations (bowing techniques, guitar slides, brass fall-offs, and much more) using the three Articulation buttons or connected controllers such as pedals.
- Audio Quality and Massive Effects Power
- 32-bit DACs on the main outputs for smooth sound. Also included is a S/PDIF digital output for computer recording, providing better-than-CD-quality resolution at 24 bits.
- Expanded DSP provides 28 insert effects, which may be stacked and distributed in any way players need — even all 28 on a single Voice. These use the same Virtual Circuit Modeling (VCM) technology as high-end Yamaha mixing consoles, emulating the sound and behavior of classic compressors, choruses, rotary speakers, reverbs, and much more.
- Among the new VCM effects in Genos are Real Reverb, numerous classic guitar and bass amp models, stompboxes, and improved rotary speaker for organ and damper resonance for piano.
- Control and Interface Features
- Yamaha says that Genos offers more real-time control than any songwriting or performance workstation ever made. The Live Control section provides nine assignable sliders and six assignable knobs. Above these is a crisp OLED strip showing the setting each knob or fader controls at any instant, so the player doesn’t need to delve into the main display in order to make changes on the fly
- The main display is a brilliant 9” color touchscreen. To its right, six large Gateway Buttons quickly navigate to Genos’ major modes of operation such as Style and Voice selection, Song mode, and more. Below these are six assignable buttons that let the player cue custom actions or changes.
- Ten registration buttons (with multiple banks) save and recall virtually all Genos panel settings. Registrations can now be organized into Playlists for quick access at gigs that might cover diverse types of music.
- Multi Pads trigger one-shot musical phrases and hits to spice up performances while the keyboard is busy playing the main instrument Voices. Via the Audio Link function, the Multi Pads can trigger user-created audio files for even more customization.
- Styles and Recording
- 550 Styles, across all musical genres from pop to jazz to classical to rock to hip-hop to EDM to regional and world flavors.
- Each has many selectable variations, intros, fills, and endings, musicians who want utterly original accompaniment can craft their own Styles in the Style Creator — either by editing factory Styles or from scratch, thanks to the full-featured 16-track MIDI recorder that resides under the hood.
- To develop an original idea, pick a Voice and Style, work out the arrangement, and then record it as a MIDI song. The MIDI Quick recording mode automatically assigns all the keyboard and accompaniment Style parts to the proper channels.
- A MIDI Multi recording mode is also present for more advanced users who wish to build songs a track at a time. Then, overdub more Voices, add a vocal track right onboard (using the highly realistic and flexible Vocal Harmony features if desired), and record the result as a stereo WAV file.
- Mix everything to audio — what the player’s fingers are doing, what the Styles are doing, mic input, and even the Multi Pads.
- FSX semi-weighted premium keyboard action with aftertouch, enhanced touch response for very expressive playing, and high-precision, durable construction.
- Dual Song Player lets the user crossfade smoothly between two audio Songs (or one audio and one MIDI Song).
- Play back Songs continuously using Song List function.
- Arpeggios add 216 motifs and riffs to performances using MegaVoices, going far beyond the abilities of traditional arpeggiators.
- Vocal Harmony and Synth Vocoder: Apply realistic multi-part harmonies to a vocal coming through the mic input, or use the Synth Vocoder for classic “robot voice” effects.
- Premium Packs to expand Genos’ capability by adding new Voices, Styles, and more, including even higher-quality content than the factory presets. Yamaha Expansion manager for Mac and PC.
- Personal Packs to manage Voice, Style, Song, and Registration content efficiently.
- Huge 1.8 GB of internal, non-volatile Flash memory.
- WAV, AIFF, SoundFont, and even REX support for creating original Voices and Drum Kits.
- XLR-1/4” combo mic input with phantom power.
- Four sub outputs allow routing of different aspects of the performance to different listening destinations, mixer channels, etc.
- Downloadable Cloud Audio Recorder app (iOS) to record via WiFi and share via SoundCloud.
- Downloadable SongBook+ app (iOS) for managing scores and lyrics from an iPad.
Yamaha Genos will be available with a MSRP of $6.799 USD.
More informations here: Yamaha Genos
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