Alex Christensen and Genos

[Sokratis1974]

My dear friends .
It's been almost a year since Yamaha showed us three  (to this day) mysterious Videos with which they were preparing us for the coming of a new Arranger/Workstation Keyboard.
The new Yamaha Genos .
Those videos showed us three splendid versions of well known Dance musical pieces from the 90s,from the well known producer Alex Christensen  and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
The title given to all three of these videos was Yamaha (Genos in action) ....
Genos in action ?
But what we never understood was what Genos was playing in these videos ...
Was it a Style? ...
I did not find a similar Factory Style for as long as I have been searching.
After many hours watching these videos, I honestly still do not understand what Yamaha wanted to say through these videos.
Because they definitely had something they  wanted to tell us and that puts me in many thoughts ...
And Yamaha's obsession with all three of these videos, with Alex Christensen and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, makes me think even more.
What relationship can this whole fantastic result have with an Arranger Keyboard? ...
Of course you'll tell me that perhaps Mr. Christensen just improvised by making Patterns that he used with sounds (Drums, Bass, Pads), from Genos ...
But this, in my opinion, is of no value and I think it is not at all reasonable to present a new Arranger in this way.
It might have been more valuable if it was shown that way on the Montage, which is clearly a Workstation, rather than the Genos..
Because the real thing is to present a complete musical production that took place with the Genos, and not a complete musical production that simply involves the Genos.
Because here we are talking about an Arranger, and although Yamaha calls it an Arranger / Workstation the real characteristic of Genos is the Arranger (so far at least) ...
So you could expect through such a presentation to see something like that ...
The only information available is the title on the site (Genos in action) ...
And we'll think ..

What exactly does Yamaha present to us? ..
Styles? ..What Styles?? ....
Sounds .....What  sounds ... ??
Since leading is the symphony orchestra ...

What exactly does it show us? ...
We do't hear anything more in these three videos except for an Electro Beat some Arpeggio Synth Bass and some Synth Pads which could now be produced very easily by any other Arranger, Workstation when programmed properly ..
All the more so when we combine the result with the leading Preamps, Compressors, Analog Console, FX, etc., which have a Studio like the one shown in the video, and which can literally transform a sound ...
Is it all reasonable?
Is it random? ...
Or is it just an impulse drive? ....
Why is it so mysterious?
Why has Yamaha never  given us an answer for all of this ??
A mystery still unresolved today ...
I am thinking of a lot but I would't want to risk putting it publicly ...
It's just all that it made me think and I'd like to share it with you ..
As you may have realized with the transition to a Linux-based operating system, all new instruments are now an open architectural basis, each manufacturer can develop each instrument beyond the Basic Specifications.
We saw this very clearly initially at the Korg Pa4x where Korg presented it with 400mb Ram, and finally through the compress samples that it gave us through an update, we have now reached 800mb, as we also had the addition of the Kaoss Application which even this did not originally exist, but was added via an update, and included as a Standard on all subsequent models.
Also in Genos, there was no mention of Audio Styles (User), but in version 1.30 Yamaha gave us the Audio Phraser where through this program we can make User Audio Drums (like Audya & SD9) and store them as Audio Styles, which can be reproduced, with 1.30 Filmware.
And here again I start thinking ...
After the company moved beyond the features of the instrument what can it mean ? ...
And trully ...
What exactly does Audio Phraser mean ...
I automatically think about musical tones (phrases) and not just to Drums Grooves ...
Why did Yamaha give this name to the program? ...
Is it preparing us for something or is it random? ...
I just make a reasonable question and I dream ...
And finally, with these three videos, Yamaha prepares us for something that can come in a future update for Genos?
I do't know anything ... I just wonder ...
I make some thoughts by reading the facts ...
There may be nothing of what I think.
But the facts themselves made me think ...
Anyway, Genos is a really exciting Arranger, and I'm happy with it.
I am just  waiting  for Yamaha to fix some basic problems in order to move on.
I hope for the best to come ...
If they come ....



Video 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHdbmEGyyNg&list=RDjHdbmEGyyNg&t=112

Video 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSJhKv1ZGIk&index=8&list=RDjHdbmEGyyNg

Video 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWLkgGZpJWE

[JohnS (Ugawoga)]

I
I am with you .

I think too much gloss is put out.

What about tutorials on Audio Phraser, mixing to final stage , more In depth sequencing, more about settings on effects and what they do.
There are a load more things that Yamaha could do ,like releasing a book on In depth Genos,not just the a,b,c of pressing buttons.
Yes, more on sound programming etc.
All you get is how to make files and things that you can pick up quickly, not the understanding of msb, lsb or sys ex implications..
Daws like Cubase go Into everything.
There is so much In the Genos to discover


All the best
john

[metcam]

At this moment the Audio phraser is not working well for me at all.

The Drum audio loops created as a REX files are much much better and working for Me 100%.

Regards.

[Sokratis1974]

At this moment the Audio phraser is not working well for me at all.

The Drum audio loops created as a REX files are much much better and working for Me 100%.

Regards.

Yes I know that.. Its a problem and for me also...
I waiting the new update to fix it...

[Bill]

Hi All

Although not directly related to the topic -- there is a style available for "Rhythm Is A Dancer"

http://www.camaro24.pl/en/snap-hit-rhythm-is-a-dancer,id18567.html

Bill

[Gunnar Jonny]

Camaro24 styles is also to find at the YamahaMusicSoft site, so they are probably 'Royal Supplier' for Yamaha as well ... 

[Henni]

Hi Sokratis my old Ketron friend,

Glad to see you back in the Yamaha camp as well. Wow, right into a Genos you've invested. I am so happy for you. Yamaha sure makes fine arrangers. If you like to create more than just plain music only, then Yamaha cannot be beaten.

Henni

[vbdx66]

Hi All

Although not directly related to the topic -- there is a style available for "Rhythm Is A Dancer"

http://www.camaro24.pl/en/snap-hit-rhythm-is-a-dancer,id18567.html

Bill

Hi Bill,

Interesting. They also produce styles tailor-made for the PSR E453/463, which is sufficiently rare to be worth noting.

I have often been wondering why Yamaha doesn't commercialise styles which are keyboard specific and which take advantage of the panel voices and effects of each particular keyboard.


Regards,

Vinciane

[Sokratis1974]

Hi Sokratis my old Ketron friend,

Glad to see you back in the Yamaha camp as well. Wow, right into a Genos you've invested. I am so happy for you. Yamaha sure makes fine arrangers. If you like to create more than just plain music only, then Yamaha cannot be beaten.

Henni

Hi my friend Henni.
Yes you are right... Genos is a exciting Arranger.
However I waiting the next update to fix some serius problems and made to expand more with more possibilities.....
Best Regards

[AlBags]

I have the album (imported special version from Germany)
It's really good .. re-re-updated club commercial hits from the 80's.
How big a part the Genos plays, is anyone's guess!
My guess is ... Not That Much!

Only other way is to ask Alex or Yamaha .. and they will both keep 'shtum'! 😊😊

Al

[vbdx66]

Apparently Alex and the Berlin orchestra are producing a new album. Here is the teaser :

https://youtu.be/7nbshn-U-JM

Maybe we will know more about the Christensen/Genos relationship when this new album is released 

You'll notice that this new album is being recorded in the Abbey Road studio... maybe the Beatles Mellotron will be used in the production     

By the way: I have done some research but I have been unable to track this "Berlin Orchestra". My bet is that it was specially made up for both albums, and that Christensen doesn't give further information because he wants us to make a confusion between this (albeit very good) Berlin Orchestra and the real thing: the Berliner Symphoniker. Nice move, Alex!

What do you think, guys and gals...?

Cheers,

Vinciane

N.B.: if anyone is able to spot a Genos in this new trailer I owe him/her a fresh beer (or a nice cup of tea) 

V.

[DerekA]

Sokratis, I reckon you are overthinking your original point.

Those videos were just a marketing campaign thought up by some creative types. The wanted to create a bit of hype and buzz around the new product. They were not really aimed at communities like ours, who would be interested anyway; they were aimed at getting new kinds of customers interested.

Now it's very unlikely that anyone will actually use a Genos in this kind of studio setting unless Yamaha pay them to do it (only because there are alternatives which are better suited). But since when did marketing people ever let reality spoil a campaign ... 

[EileenL]

On the track Rhythm is a Dancer you will see Genos several times selecting the style and using the effects knobs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHdbmEGyyNg

[Sokratis1974]

Sokratis, I reckon you are overthinking your original point.

Those videos were just a marketing campaign thought up by some creative types. The wanted to create a bit of hype and buzz around the new product. They were not really aimed at communities like ours, who would be interested anyway; they were aimed at getting new kinds of customers interested.

Now it's very unlikely that anyone will actually use a Genos in this kind of studio setting unless Yamaha pay them to do it (only because there are alternatives which are better suited). But since when did marketing people ever let reality spoil a campaign ... 

I completely agree.But time will tell.

[vbdx66]

Hi Eileen,

When listening to the audio track of Rythm is a Dancer, are you able to recognise one or more Genos styles which were used for the video? And was is just the drums or the fully-fledged styles? I am curious.

Regards,

Vinciane

[EileenL]

You can see the styles that are used on Genos screen and also the adjustments being made by the sliders and Knobs. These all sound excellent when played on the keyboard. Sky pop and Party anthem are two of them.

[Eric, B]

I know the dance rhythms in Genos in and out since this is my main genre.
The music heard in the video does not contain any Genos sounds or styles. Only real instruments.
The teaser was to demonstrate that the Genos is a great composer tool to get great ideas.
You record your ideas in the Genos go to the studio and use real instruments.
There are several composer videos on the Genos website stating this.
As stated by Frank:
The Genos info was leaked prematurely so they had to come up with something to keep us busy until release date.
I agree that it seemed a little misleading ...
All this does not diminish the power of the Genos engine and you can make some fantastic music 
Eric

[AlBags]

Hi All

Although not directly related to the topic -- there is a style available for "Rhythm Is A Dancer"

http://www.camaro24.pl/en/snap-hit-rhythm-is-a-dancer,id18567.html

Bill

Hi ..

Yes! I have this style ... and it's good.

Al.

[vbdx66]

Hi Al,

Do you think this style will be usable on a DGX 640/660 or a PSR E453/463 or does it contain data such has megavoices or SA voices which less sophisticated keyboards will not be able to understand?

Regards,

Vinciane

[AlBags]

Apparently Alex and the Berlin orchestra are producing a new album. Here is the teaser :

https://youtu.be/7nbshn-U-JM

Maybe we will know more about the Christensen/Genos relationship when this new album is released 

You'll notice that this new album is being recorded in the Abbey Road studio... maybe the Beatles Mellotron will be used in the production     

By the way: I have done some research but I have been unable to track this "Berlin Orchestra". My bet is that it was specially made up for both albums, and that Christensen doesn't give further information because he wants us to make a confusion between this (albeit very good) Berlin Orchestra and the real thing: the Berliner Symphoniker. Nice move, Alex!

What do you think, guys and gals...?

Cheers,

Vinciane

N.B.: if anyone is able to spot a Genos in this new trailer I owe him/her a fresh beer (or a nice cup of tea) 

V.

Hi ... Thanks for the 'heads up'
I hadnt realised there was a 2nd one ..

So I Pre-ordered it today!  About €20 delivered to UK from Germany, as soon as released .. they say date is 19th October 2018. This listing on Amazon.de has track listing (under the mp3 download listing)

https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B07FTT54YT/ref=tmm_msc_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Looking forward to.

[AlBags]

Hi Al,

Do you think this style will be usable on a DGX 640/660 or a PSR E453/463 or does it contain data such has megavoices or SA voices which less sophisticated keyboards will not be able to understand?

Regards,

Vinciane

Hi

I'll analyse it ,, and let you know next day or so.

Al.

[Sokratis1974]

I know the dance rhythms in Genos in and out since this is my main genre.
The music heard in the video does not contain any Genos sounds or styles. Only real instruments.
The teaser was to demonstrate that the Genos is a great composer tool to get great ideas.
You record your ideas in the Genos go to the studio and use real instruments.
There are several composer videos on the Genos website stating this.
As stated by Frank:
The Genos info was leaked prematurely so they had to come up with something to keep us busy until release date.
I agree that it seemed a little misleading ...
All this does not diminish the power of the Genos engine and you can make some fantastic music 
Eric

OK dear Eric.
So is it a public deception?..Yamaha is an honest company so I don't think that could be it.
The meaning Genos in action keeps troubling me though..
What mean Genos in action if not play any sound or style of Genos?

[Sokratis1974]

On the track Rhythm is a Dancer you will see Genos several times selecting the style and using the effects knobs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHdbmEGyyNg

Hi Eileen.
The styles that where selected is not the styles, that plays in videos...
You can to check it. 

[valimaties]

NEW: Alex Christensen & The Berlin Orchestra - Blue feat. Bars & Melody (Official Video)

[vbdx66]

Hi to all

Very strange... Alex Christensen has been D-Jing on stage with a Genos on several occasions (and even brought one with him in the Abbey Road studios during the recording sessions with Bars & Melody)... but he never plays it!!! Same thing during the New Year's party in Berlin on January 1st... M. Christensen's Genos on the stage is not even powered up!!!

So I am wondering whether the Genos is being used at all by M. Christensen for musical purposes, and whether he simply rather did not receive some advertisement money from Yamaha to appear with the Genos on stage or in the studio, or on Instagram pictures etc. This is called "product placement" I believe.

Indeed, since Alex Christensen his one of the  most famous DJs in Germany, if he appears on stage with a Genos, this could attract German EDM-oriented youngsters to buy the Genos now, or else the next flagship Yamaha arranger in a few years... nice move Yamaha!

After all, as the baby-boomers slowly grow older and pass away, Yamaha will need to renew its pool of high-end arranger players...

Just my 2 cents,

Regards,

Vinciane

[panos]

I don't see those videos to be on the official Yamaha channel.
I think that some guy just decided to name those videos "Yamaha Genos teaser" because they probably sponcored by Yamaha music as far I can tell from the headphones they are using and some shots of a Genos.

Nice arrangments though 

[Eric, B]

OK dear Eric.
So is it a public deception?..Yamaha is an honest company so I don't think that could be it.
The meaning Genos in action keeps troubling me though..
What mean Genos in action if not play any sound or style of Genos?

Beats me. I wish I had an answer. It has been discussed on several forums and lots of speculations, but we never got an answer from Yamaha ...
Eric

[Eric, B]

Hi to all

Very strange... Alex Christensen has been D-Jing on stage with a Genos on several occasions (and even brought one with him in the Abbey Road studios during the recording sessions with Bars & Melody)... but he never plays it!!! Same thing during the New Year's party in Berlin on January 1st... M. Christensen's Genos on the stage is not even powered up!!!

So I am wondering whether the Genos is being used at all by M. Christensen for musical purposes, and whether he simply rather did not receive some advertisement money from Yamaha to appear with the Genos on stage or in the studio, or on Instagram pictures etc. This is called "product placement" I believe.

Indeed, since Alex Christensen his one of the  most famous DJs in Germany, if he appears on stage with a Genos, this could attract German EDM-oriented youngsters to buy the Genos now, or else the next flagship Yamaha arranger in a few years... nice move Yamaha!

After all, as the baby-boomers slowly grow older and pass away, Yamaha will need to renew its pool of high-end arranger players...

Just my 2 cents,

Regards,

Vinciane

Interesting. I tend to agree ...

[Eric, B]

I don't see those videos to be on the official Yamaha channel.
I think that some guy just decided to name those videos "Yamaha Genos teaser" because they probably sponcored by Yamaha music as far I can tell from the headphones they are using and some shots of a Genos.

Nice arrangments though 

I agree.
Eric

[Sokratis1974]

I don't see those videos to be on the official Yamaha channel.
I think that some guy just decided to name those videos "Yamaha Genos teaser" because they probably sponcored by Yamaha music as far I can tell from the headphones they are using and some shots of a Genos.

Nice arrangments though 

Hi Panos.
These three videos were presented one year before by Yamaha Official Site.
The period from 14 September 2017, to 16 October with title: Genos in Action...
After the release of Genos these videos were deleted from Yamaha's site.

Also in this new video of Alex (0:15) you see the Genos again....
Once again Alex chooses to have a scene of the Genos on his newest video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nbshn-U-JM