Genos 2 (61)

[guitpic1]

61 Keys works fine for most folks.

That said, I had no idea how much added versatility 76 Keys gives to an instrument. 

[mcbrown]

Back in May 2014 I instigated a survey of who owns or is planning to buy a T5 61 Vs T5 76. Here is the link.

https://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php/topic,25681.msg184649.html#msg184649

Very likely why Yamaha only produced a Genos 76.

Murray

[Will49]

I owned the forerunner to the 6700 - the PSR-5700, with 61 keys and some incredible sounds and features.

Hi Gary. I think you'll find that the PSR-6700 in 1991 was the first of the two, with the PSR-5700 following in 1992 (as stated by Jørgen here):
http://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php/topic,9283.msg336680.html#msg336680

Many did comment that it was a rather confusing method of model numbering/naming at the time. Making more sense in that particular respect was the model that preceded the 6700, it was called the PSR-4600... I owned one of those too. Crikey, where have all those years gone to?!

Best regards,
Will

[soundphase]

61 Keys works fine for most folks.

That said, I had no idea how much added versatility 76 Keys gives to an instrument.

I very largely prefer 76 keys for split feature usage. Style/Left/R1 R2/R3 => average : 76/4 = 19 notes. 61/4 = 15 notes

[Gunnar Jonny]

61 Keys works fine for most folks.

That said, I had no idea how much added versatility 76 Keys gives to an instrument.

Coming from many years of Technics KN's and othe 61's, my first 76 keys was Ketron SD1, loved it, next Roland G-70, loved that too, and when got T4, I really missed the 14 keys not there.
Love the 76 Genos keys, and weight is quite lower than T4 because of 'plastic fantastic', and measures not much more than T4.

There are allready some rumours about that Yamaha will continue T series. Probably a false rumour, but I won't be surprised if PSR series will be replaced by Tyros, and Genos continue deeper into the pro workstation / synth direction. Only time will tell.

(But, when see arranger demoes at YT and look at the average age of the public, one can start wonder. The big question probably is if there is as much new customers added when old ones see the 'end of the road' that make any brand or factory se as much income needed to continue the production)  

[EileenL]

Yes I did stick to 61 note keyboards when gigging. The 76 note Tyros 5 was so big that it would not fit into a lot of peoples cars and was very heavy. Genos on the other hand is much more compact and lighter to carry around. This seems to have been very well thought out by Yamaha and I believe it is the fastest selling keyboard so far. I am more than happy with mine. I also still have my 970 which is a great little keyboard and ideal for home parties etc.

[StuartR]

I very largely prefer 76 keys for split feature usage. Style/Left/R1 R2/R3 => average : 76/4 = 19 notes. 61/4 = 15 notes

I thought you couldn't split R1 and R2, just layer them? I'd love to find out I've been wrong all these years!

[soundphase]

I thought you couldn't split R1 and R2, just layer them? I'd love to find out I've been wrong all these years!

Style/Left/R1 R2/R3  => four parts.

[valimaties]

I thought you couldn't split R1 and R2, just layer them? I'd love to find out I've been wrong all these years!

R1 and R2 can't be split by Split Point in Genos (edited: all arrangers zone). It is a little bit annoyng this kind of split, but this is Yamaha vision of Split

[DonM]

I didn't realize that!  I'm staying with what I have for now, but that's something to file away for the future.

[mikf]

The 76 has several advantages besides additional splits, - it comes closer to full piano size for those who sometimes play that way, and more bass while playing that way, it gives more 'room' for chording positions in LH even with a single split and more room at the top end, especially important for playing in wider range of keys because in 61 key mode the keyboard is a bit of a C biased instrument. But there are trade offs in cost, size, weight. So people weigh those trade offs differently. Don't think it's simply about gigging versus non gigging, more about how you play, and what you consider important. Many gigging musicians will prefer the extra keys even if it makes it a bit bigger and heavier.
Mike

[panos]

61 keys,76 keys or 88 keys? 
For a little rat even to carry my house key with me is too much allready.
But then again, nobody is perfect.
I am moving to the songs section to listen to some beautiful music, too many numbers here...   

[sunny]

A 61-key Genos should be cheaper, encouraging many to buy it.

Sunny.

[Gunnar Jonny]

A 61-key Genos should be cheaper, encouraging many to buy it.

There will most likely never be any 61 keys Genos, and if, it will not be any much lower in price.
Simply because of the production costs and the amount of units they have to sell to make it profitable. If it was available before the 76 keys, maybe, but not now when 76 is a fact.

But, next models of PSR (or mabe it will be that a new T serie going to replace the PSR) will probably have a lot of Genos features to offer.....
Only time will tell. 

[EileenL]

I agree,
  The 76 note Genos is selling so well and fast that I can't see a 61 note ever being produced. I think the nearest will be when the successor to the S series is released in a couple of years maybe.

[valimaties]

Yamaha improove their keyboards and add features to some top of series, as they did with T5 and PSR970... PSR970 has some new features over the T5, newest sound processor, Drum Setup, Live Controls, that T5 did not have them. Even so, T5 is seen in other way sa PSR is...
Genos 2, I think will carry out the T2 vs T1 history : they will move registrations, in place of registrations they will put the sliders, probabli they will cange the fixed screen with a motorized screen, and of course they will add more new features.
Personaly, I will love to see the fills detached from mains (as new buttons), I will love to see a style bar reset button (this could be implemented also in Genos by an assignable function), I will love to see a flip touch screen, and the back of keyboard more linear to be able to use L jacks.

Regards,
Vali

[keynote]

Hi Mike, I think you'll find that the PSR-9000 Pro was not the first 76-note Yamaha arranger, as I had a 76-note PSR way back in 1991... it was called PSR-6700! I wonder how many of you guys here have actally owned one... or are even aware that such an arranger ever existed? 

Regards,
Will


Hi Will. You're right. I didn't know about the PSR-6700. Thank you for enlightening me.  After doing a little research I found out it was in fact a high-end model that cost around $3,000. It also weighed a ton as Eileen so succinctly stated. At 53 lbs. it probably wouldn't have lasted too long in today's market since most arranger players are either older and/or retired. Yamaha clearly wants to change that image and that's why the Genos is now being marketed to a younger generation.  Electronic Dance Music has also grown in popularity and the Genos is more geared toward that genre of music just like the Montage.  Young people don't want to lug around heavy equipment either and so kudos to Yamaha for making the Genos lightweight and thereby extremely transportable. For what it's worth my 61 key Tyros 3 weighed more than the Genos.

The Genos is also the bee's knee's as far as aesthetics but that PSR-6700 doesn't look too shabby either. And you can buy one on ebay for around $100 from what I understand. Depending on how good it sounds it could be a good starter keyboard for some young arranger enthusiast. As for me personally I think I'll stick with what I have. 

[StuartR]

Style/Left/R1 R2/R3  => four parts.

Guess I don't count style as a part (doesn't have a selectable voice per se)

[Kaarlo von Freymann]

Hi Mike, I think you'll find that the PSR-9000 Pro was not the first 76-note Yamaha arranger, as I had a 76-note PSR way back in 1991... it was called PSR-6700! I wonder how many of you guys here have actally owned one... or are even aware that such an arranger ever existed? 

Regards,
Will

I had the 6700 and it was absolutely fantastic. I switched to the  5700 because it was easier to handle. As a fact they shared some of the same styles and  still have the 5700.  I has some wonderful  4 bar and 8 bar styles I dearly miss on the later models. The country style fits Rambling rose better than anything I have found on later models. 

Cheers
Kaarlo

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[KeyboardByBiggs]

My first Yamaha arranger style keyboard was the mighty PSR-6300. Man, was I blown away by that thing! Good times. 


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[rbackes]

Hi,

here in Germany we have a proverb: "The only difference between men and kids is the price of their toys". So much to the discussion about "toys".

But reading through this thread I found 2 points for a "Genos 61":

- Portability: A 61 Keys version could be made a bit less wide  - if the internal PCBs allow. It may also weight ~500gr less for that around 15 cm less plastic - as all internals have to arranged to fit in that smaller housing. For a gig, you need the keyboard, a stand, a chair, the PA, a microphone with stand, a lot of cables etc. Do those 500gr really count ?

- Price: Some feel that less keys have to cost less. But I think those 15 keys are the cheapest of all components. So there is no real production price advantage, but the customers feel the 61keys version has to cost at least $100 less. The main cost points to create such an instrument are those that are invisible: the sound library and the software.

So I don't believe that Yamaha will create this 61 keys version. Especially as the current version sells great.

Yours

Rainer

[EileenL]

My 6700 was a great keyboard but only had 50 styles so I got to work and converted many Tecnics styles which you could do by just recording the parts from the Tecnics into the 6700. And with 76 notes it was a great beast of its time.