Six years since the launch of the original Genos arranger workstation, which superseded the Tyros line, Yamaha has announced the Genos2, headlined “From Tribute to Timeless”.
The phrase “game changer” is rolled out once again, but let’s take a look at what Yamaha has squeezed into its latest premium instrument to see if that’s worthy.
For a start, Yamaha has added FM synthesis to its tone generation, on top of AWM and AEM sound technology. This means you’re no longer restricted to working within the world of samples (amazing though they may be) but can utilise the real-time synthesis possibilities in similar ways to the synth pioneers on their revered DX7s. The original DX7 presets are available in Genos2, available with a simple voice search, and as you’d expect, there are many new FM presets built in.
Yamaha has packed in an enhanced set of voices and styles “inspired by the songs you love to play and perform” (how it knows, I am not sure — mind-reading AI perhaps?). The expansive library contains styles for a wide variety of genres so perhaps there is something for whatever you like to play. Yamaha says its instrument sampling and vertical integration guarantees consistency and quality — and to be fair, Yamaha rarely lets us down at any level.
Genos2 “isn’t just a powerful instrument; it’s a command station”. This means you get style dynamics control giving you control over every nuance of accompaniment. There’s also Real Ambient Drums which claims to offer the feel of a live drummer. Oh, and although I just joked about AI, wouldn’t you know that Yamaha has included an AI chord mode which intuitively guides a player’s accompaniments based on what you play. Now, auto and computer generated accompaniments may be something you love or hate, but as a solo performer, you’ll probably only be looking at the likes of Genos2 if you can see the advantages such a system brings. I guess anyone can make accompaniment sound cheesy, but it seems as if Yamaha has built in enough to give you a fighting chance of making it sound good.
And speaking of solo performing, having control over your own microphone might just be something you drool over (though you might end up fighting with any PA/sound engineer guys standing by). Yamaha has a professional-grade mic input and studio quality effects, meaning you really can cut through your own mix.
The controls are definitely tailored with live performance in mind, though of course they are also handy wherever the Genos2 is being used. There’s a Live Control Surface featuring customisable knobs and sliders for quick, on-the-fly adjustments, updated main and sub-displays, playlist and set organisation, lyrics data display, vocal harmony, and chord looper.
It seems as if Yamaha is comparing the Genos2 to its other high end workstations, the PSR-SX900 and PSR-SX700 – at least, that’s what it is happy to compare the features of.
Genos2 is currently listed at $5,699.99 (RRP $6,599) and is available now.
More coming soon.
Specifications
Here are the full specifications provided by Yamaha, and how they compare to the original Genos. These are provided by Yamaha and the usual caveats surrounding accuracy.
| Genos2 | Genos | ||
| Color/Finish | |||
| Body | Color | Black | Black |
| Size/Weight | |||
| Dimensions | Width | 1,234 mm (48-9/16″) | 1,234 mm (48-9/16″) |
| Height | 151 mm (5-15/16″) | 138 mm (5-7/16″) | |
| Depth | 456 mm (17-15/16″) | 456 mm (17-15/16″) | |
| Weight | Weight | 14.2 kg (31 lb, 5 oz) | 13.0 kg (28 lb, 11 oz) |
| Packing Box | Width | 1,460 mm (57-1/2″) | 1,460 mm (57-1/2″) |
| Height | 270 mm (10-5/8″) | 270 mm (10-5/8″) | |
| Depth | 540 mm (21-1/4″) | 540 mm (21-1/4″) | |
| Control Interface | |||
| Keyboard | Number of Keys | 76 | 76 |
| Type | Organ (FSX), Initial Touch/Aftertouch | Organ (FSX), Initial Touch/Aftertouch | |
| Touch Response | Normal, Easy1, Easy2, Soft1, Soft2, Hard1, Hard2 | Normal, Easy1, Easy2, Soft1, Soft2, Hard1, Hard2 | |
| Other Controllers | Joystick | Yes (Assignable) | Yes |
| Control Knobs | 6 (Assignable, with LED gauge) | 6 Live Control knobs (Assignable) | |
| Sliders | 9 Live Control sliders (Assignable, with LED gauge), Cross Fader | 9 Live Control sliders (Assignable), Cross Fader | |
| Art. Switches | 3 | 3 | |
| Pitch Bend | – | – | |
| Modulation | – | – | |
| Display | Type | Main Display : TFT Color Wide VGA LCD | Sub Display: VA (Live Control view) | Main Display : TFT Color Wide VGA LCD | Sub Display: OLED (Live Control view) |
| Size | Main Display : 800 x 480 dots (9 inch) | Sub Display: 512 x 48 dots | Main Display : 800 x 480 dots (9 inch) | Sub Display: 589 x 48 dots | |
| Touch Screen | Main Display : Yes | Main Display : Yes | |
| Color | Color | Color | |
| Language | Main Display: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian | Sub Display: English | Main Display: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian | Sub Display: English | |
| Panel | Language | English | English |
| Voices | |||
| Tone Generation | Tone Generating Technology | FM, AWM Stereo Sampling, AEM technology | AWM Stereo Sampling, AEM technology |
| Polyphony | Number of Polyphony (Max.) | 384 (128 for Preset AWM Voices + 128 for Expansion AWM Voices + 128 for FM Voices) | 256 (max.) (128 for Preset Voice + 128 for Expansion Voice) |
| Preset | Number of Voices | 1,991 Voices + 75 Drum/SFX Kits | 1,652 Voices + 58 Drum/SFX Kits |
| Featured Voices | 106 S.Articulation2, 437 S.Articulation, 141 FM, 40 Sweet!, 81 Cool!, 188 Live!, 25 OrganFlutes, 123 MegaVoice, 11 Ambient Drums/SFX, 11 Revo Drums/SFX | 10 Revo! Drums/SFX, 76 Ensemble, 390 Super Articulation!, 75 Super Articulation2!, 82 MegaVoice, 40 Sweet!, 81 Cool!, 160 Live!, 24 Organ Flutes! | |
| Compatibility | XG | Yes (for Song playback) | Yes (for Song playback) |
| GS | – | Yes (for Song playback) | |
| GM | Yes (for Song playback) | GM (for Song playback) | |
| GM2 | Yes (for Song playback) | GM2 (for Song playback) | |
| Expandability | Expansion Voice | Yes (approx. 3 GB) | Yes (approx.3.0 GB) |
| Editing | Voice Set | Style & Voice Set | |
| Part | Right 1, Right 2, Right 3, Left | Right 1, Right 2, Right 3, Left | |
| Effects | |||
| Types | Reverb | 85 Preset + 30 User | 59 Preset + 30 User |
| Chorus | 107 Preset + 30 User | 107 Preset + 30 User | |
| DSP | 363 Preset (with VCM) + 30 User | Variation: 358 Preset(with VCM) + 30 User | Insertion 1–28: 358 Preset(with VCM) + 30 User | |
| Insertion Effect | 1-28: 363 Preset (with VCM) + 30 User | – | |
| Master Compressor | 5 Preset + 30 User | 5 Preset + 30 User | |
| Master EQ | 9 Preset + 30 User | 5 Preset + 30 User | |
| Part EQ | 28 Parts | 28 Parts | |
| Others | Mic effects: Noise Gate, Compressor, 3 Band EQ, Vocal Effect: 23 | ||
| Arpeggio | Yes | Yes | |
| Vocal Harmony | Number of Presets | Vocal Harmony: 54, Synth Vocoder: 20 | Vocal Harmony: 54 | Synth Vocoder: 20 |
| Number of User Settings | 60 *The number is the total of Vocal Harmony and Synth Vocoder | 60 * The number is the total of Vocal Harmony and Synth Vocoder | |
| Mic Effect: Noise Gate, Compressor, 3 Band EQ | Vocal Effect: 23 | |||
| Accompaniment Styles | |||
| Preset | Number of Preset Styles | 800 | 550 |
| Featured Styles | 720 Pro, 69 Session, 11 Free Play | 491 Pro, 39 Session, 10 Free Play, 10 DJ | |
| Fingering | Single Finger, Fingered, Fingered On Bass, Multi Finger, AI Fingered, Full Keyboard, AI Full Keyboard | Single Finger, Fingered, Fingered On Bass, Multi Finger, AI Fingered, Full Keyboard, AI Full Keyboard | |
| Style Control | INTRO × 3, MAIN VARIATION × 4, FILL × 4, BREAK, ENDING × 3 | INTRO x 3, MAIN VARIATION x 4, FILL x 4, BREAK, ENDING x 3 | |
| Other Features | One Touch Setting (OTS) | 4 for each Style | 4 for each Style |
| Chord Looper | Yes | Yes | |
| Style Section Reset | Yes | Yes | |
| Unison & Accent | – | – | |
| Expandability | Expansion Style | Yes (Internal Memory) | – |
| Expansion Audio Style | Yes (Internal Memory) | – | |
| Compatibility | Style File Format (SFF), Style File Format GE (SFF GE) | Style File Format (SFF), Style File Format GE (SFF GE) | |
| Songs | |||
| Preset | Number of Preset Songs | 9 Demo Songs, 1 Preset Song | 9 Demo Songs, 11 Preset Songs |
| Recording | Number of Songs | Unlimited (depends on the drive capacity) | 16 |
| Number of Tracks | 16 | Quick Recording, Multi Track Recording, Step Recording | |
| Data Capacity | Approx. 3 MB/Song | ||
| Recording Function | Quick Recording, Multi Recording, Step Recording | ||
| Compatible Data Format | Playback | SMF (Format 0 & 1), XF | SMF (Format 0, Format 1) , XF |
| Recording | SMF (Format 0) | SMF (Format 0), approx. 3 MB per Song | |
| Multi Pads | |||
| Preset | Number of Multi Pad Banks | 507 Banks x 4 Pads | 448 Banks x 4 Pads |
| Audio | Audio Link | Yes | Yes |
| Functions | |||
| Registration | Number of Buttons | 10 | 10 |
| Control | Registration Sequence, Freeze | Registration Sequence, Freeze | |
| Playlist | Number of Records | 2500 (max.) Records per Playlist file | 2,500 (max.) Records per Playlist file |
| Lesson/Guide | Lesson/Guide | Follow Lights, Any Key, Karao-Key, Your Tempo | |
| Search | Yes | Registration Bank | |
| Demo/Help | Demonstration | Yes | |
| Overall Controls | Metronome | Yes | Yes |
| Tempo Range | 5 – 500, Tap Tempo | 5 – 500, Tap Tempo | |
| Transpose | -12 – 0 – +12 | -12 – 0 – +12 | |
| Tuning | 414.8 – 440 – 466.8 Hz (approx. 0.2 Hz increments) | 414.8 – 440.0 – 466.8 Hz (approx. 0.2 Hz increments) | |
| Octave Button | Yes | Yes | |
| Scale Type | 9 types | 9 Types | |
| Sub Scale Setting | Yes | Yes | |
| USB Audio Interface | Yes | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes (Audio) * May not have this functionality depending on the country | ||
| Miscellaneous | Direct Access | Yes | Yes |
| Text Display Function | Yes | Yes | |
| Wallpaper Customization | Yes | Yes | |
| Display Out | HDMI (1,280 × 720p max.) | Yes (by using a commercially USB display adaptor) * For a list of compatible devices, access the “Yamaha Downloads” website. *Genos generates a 800 x 600 size image for external display. The size of Genos main display is 800 x 480, so there will always be blank areas at the top and bottom of the image. | |
| Voices | Harmony/Echo | Yes (with Arpeggio) | Yes |
| Panel Sustain | Yes | Yes | |
| Mono/Poly | Yes | Yes | |
| Voice Information | Yes | ||
| Styles | Style Creator | Yes | Yes |
| OTS Information | Yes | Yes | |
| Songs | Score Display Function | Yes | Yes |
| Lyrics Display Function | Yes | Yes | |
| Song Creator | Yes | No | |
| Multi Pads | Multi Pad Creator | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Recorder/Player | Recording Time (max.) | approx. 0.8 GB (80 minutes) per Song | ? |
| Recording | WAV (44.1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo) | WAV (44.1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo), approx. 0.8 GB (80 minutes) per Song | |
| Playback | WAV (44.1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo), MP3 (44.1/48.0 kHz, 64/96/128/256/320 kbps or VBR, mono/stereo) | WAV (44.1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo), MP3 (44.1 kHz, 64/96/128/256/320 kbps, stereo) | |
| Lyrics Display Function | Yes | No | |
| Time Stretch | Yes | Yes | |
| Pitch Shift | Yes | Yes | |
| Vocal Cancel | Yes | Yes | |
| Storage and Connectivity | |||
| Storage | Internal Memory | Yes (approx. 15 GB) | Yes (approx. 58 GB) |
| External Drives | USB flash drive | USB flash drive | |
| Connectivity | Headphones | Standard stereo phone jack (PHONES) | Standard stereo phone jack (PHONES) |
| FOOT PEDAL | 1 (SUSTAIN), 2 (ART.1), 3 (VOLUME), Function assignable | 1 (SUSTAIN), 2 (ART.1), 3 (VOLUME), Function assignable | |
| Microphone | Yes (Combo Jack), Phantom Power (+48 V) available | Yes (Combo Jack) , Phantom Power (+48V) available | |
| MIDI | MIDI A (IN/OUT), MIDI B (IN/OUT) | MIDI A (IN/OUT) , MIDI B (IN/OUT) | |
| AUX IN | L/L+R, R Standard phone jack | L/L+R, R | |
| DIGITAL OUT | No | Yes (coaxial) | |
| LINE OUT | MAIN (L/L+R, R), SUB (1,2), SUB (3,4/AUX OUT) Standard phone jack | MAIN (L/L+R, R) , SUB (1, 2) , SUB (3, 4 / AUX OUT) | |
| USB TO DEVICE | Yes (x 3) | Yes (x 3) | |
| USB TO HOST | Yes | Yes | |
| Wireless LAN | Yes (*) Standards: IEEE802.11b/g/n (IEEE802.11n 5 GHz: not compatible), Range of transmit frequency (channels): Models for Europe and Brazil: 2401–2483 MHz (channels 1–13) Others: 2401–2473 MHz (channels 1–11), Maximum RF output power: 14 dBm, Security: WEP, WPA-PSK (TKIP), WPA-PSK (AES), WPA2-PSK (AES), WPA/WPA2 mixed PSK, SAR value: 0.258 W/kg * May not be included, depending on your area. Check with your Yamaha dealer. | Yes (*) , Standards: IEEE802.11b/g/n (IEEE802.11n 5GHz: not compatible) *May not be included, depending on your area. Check with your Yamaha dealer. | |
| Amplifiers and Speakers | |||
| Amplifiers | – | – | |
| Speakers | – | – | |
| Power Supply | |||
| Power Supply | AC power cord | AC power cord | |
| Power Consumption | 37 W | ? | |
| Auto Power Off Function | Yes | Yes | |
| Accessories | |||
| Included Accessories | Owner’s Manual, AC power cord, Music Rest, two Music Rest brackets | Owner’s Manual, AC power cord, Music Rest, two Music Rest brackets | |
