Yamaha Genos 2 61

[tomtomsf]

I believe EOL means "end of life". End of the line, end of the road, that's all folks!

Tom G.

[Lee Batchelor]

Thanks Tom. Finally, someone who isn't too lazy to type the words!!

[mikf]

Ton - I dont believe that popularity of keyboard playing late in life has anything to do with the baby boomer generation. That's just coincidence because The baby boomers just happen to be the group around when the technology became available at reasonable cost. I believe it is simply a senior thing and will continue to be popular. And seniors are a huge and constantly growing market segment, living longer and with more money than ever before. There is now more than 2 billion people in the world over 50 years old. It's not a market that is dying, it can only grow. I don't know why people keep posting that the demand for easy play keyboards will die out with the current seniors, there is zero evidence that is the case.
As for getting more expensive, also not the case. They are actually getting lower in cost relative to their capability. You might personally think that $4000 is a lot to spend on a TOTL arranger, but the mid level keyboards are now outstanding and at around $1500 not much more than an impulse buy for many of the younger seniors.
Mike

[ton37]

What is E.O.L? I wish people would type stuff out and stop assuming we all know these abbreviations .

Yes, I'm a baby boomer who can still afford a new keyboard and am not too lazy to type out the whole sentence !

OK, boomer, I Fr xcus, Ur right.. hate to C it

Don't worry, I won't add any more nonsense to my post  . I (and almost everyone) are just guessing. Only Yamaha knows (hopefully?).
One thing I still have to say.... like many here we have donated a considerable amount of capital to Yamaha by buying their keyboards, right? Then why does Yamaha not communicate with its customers, that is not much to ask? E.g. (for example)  to those who have registered there kb (keyboard ) on Yamaha's account. Is that the 'arrogance' of power? For the rest I will stop speculating ... and leave it to future time ;-))

[EileenL]

We have chosen to spend money on our Yamaha keyboards knowing them to be reliable with great after service. Others may choose to spend there money on other hobbies even Bingo. What ever you choose it will cost you money so why keep complaining about what is and what isn't. If you are enjoying using your choice then surely it is giving you your money's worth.
  Speaking of keyboards I wonder how many actually use all the features we have at our finger tips and I don't mean with the aid of special programmes or computer devices. Just pure keyboard. I keep seeing all these requests for different things to be added but who will really use them.
  Life is very short so enjoy what you have and let the future take its course.

[stephenm52]

We have chosen to spend money on our Yamaha keyboards knowing them to be reliable with great after service. Others may choose to spend there money on other hobbies even Bingo. What ever you choose it will cost you money so why keep complaining about what is and what isn't. If you are enjoying using your choice then surely it is giving you your money's worth.
  Speaking of keyboards I wonder how many actually use all the features we have at our finger tips and I don't mean with the aid of special programmes or computer devices. Just pure keyboard. I keep seeing all these requests for different things to be added but who will really use them.
  Life is very short so enjoy what you have and let the future take its course.

Plus one, you couldn't have said it any better.

[mikf]

..... like many here we have donated a considerable amount of capital to Yamaha by buying their keyboards, right? Then why does Yamaha not communicate with its customers, that is not much to ask? E.g. (for example)  to those who have registered there kb (keyboard ) on Yamaha's account. Is that the 'arrogance' of power?

Cmon Ton, get real, you can't really believe this. Like most people here you have probably "donated" considerably more capital to car companies, have they shared their future design plans with you?  
Mike

[Lee Batchelor]

No worries, Ton. You keep on speculating along with several other forum members. Meanwhile, I'll download a copy of the most recent urban dictionary with abbreviations and acronyms !

With rumors of a new model, there's always been, and forever will be speculation on its design and new features. It's perfectly normal for people to say, "I hope they put this on the new one" or "I hope it can do this." It's like a little kid a few weeks before Christmas hoping he or she gets a certain toy. People are allowed to dream. In fact, I believe the best musicians are those who allow themselves to dream. What would have happened if Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Ronnie Millsap decided they couldn't play piano because of their blindness handicap? There have been some tremendous artists who have improved our lives by overcoming their own incredible odds.

Requesting these extra features is a compliment to Yamaha. Inadvertently, we're saying, "Yamaha can do anything." New features can help expand the musical horizons of those who have the courage to try treading on undiscovered ground. The SA2 voices on the Genos have pushed me to learn how sax, trumpet, guitar, and string players handle their instruments. I got hired by a band because I brought the Genos to the stage with another band and just played the organ, piano, and e.piano voices. The other band's leader came over to me after our show and asked, "What other voices does that keyboard have?" I let him hear the demo tracks for the voices mentioned earlier. He nearly fainted. He also hired me on the spot.

The moral is, I can now play musical parts I was never good enough to play before moving from the T5 to the Genos. Do you get the point? With newer features and improved voices, those with the desire WILL become better players if they are willing to harness those extra features through their own, as of yet, undiscovered abilities. So don't tell people to settle with what they have.

I agree that adding new features to a keyboard will never be a substitute for hard work and a ton of practicing. Those who are happy with the current Genos may not have the need nor the desire to want anything else. That's fine but don't let that idea be the meter stick by which the rest of us measure our limitations. The more Yamaha listens to what we want in the Genos 2, the better players we can become. We'll certainly remain loyal customers and not wander over to Korg or someone else.

[mikf]

 A forum like this is a focal point for arranger enthusiasts, so we will always see these wish lists of sometimes quite esoteric features.
However, I also think it might be misleading about what is actually happening in the market place. There will be flagship arrangers for some time, and they will incorporate some of those dream features as Lee says.
But as I have said before, I think the bulk of arranger buyers just want to be able to play 'Moon River ' and sound decent, and have little interest in many of these advanced workstation type features. More and more decent quality, but simpler, and lower cost keyboards are becoming available that address this demand, and incorporate the latest easy play and accompaniment technology - without all the frills.
For me the DGX 670 is a perfect example. It has a full 88 piano keyboard, and most of the current arranger technology, or at least the parts that most people need. And  costs less than $1000. The SX700 another example, cheap, easily portable, fits in a bedroom and does most things average buyers need. 
I suspect this is becoming much more important to Yamaha and other manufacturers than the flagship, all singing, all dancing keyboard that Genos represents. They might sell ten or more of these to every one Genos in the future. In a way you could say that these will do to Genos type keyboards what the original PSRs did to the home organ market.
So while I think its likely that a new Korg flagship is about to appear, its also possible that Yamaha will be saying ... so what....
Mike

[Lee Batchelor]

Excellent points, Mike. To your thoughts, we may see more of a Genos "meant for geeks" in the next release, while the real bread and butter to Yamaha will remain the lesser keyboards for the Moon River players, as you wrote - great analogy.

I managed a Radio Shack store back in the early 70s. Their business philosophy was to sell bits and pieces like resisters, tubes, cables, etc...to cover the basic overhead. The profit margins were generated by the sale of the larger stuff. Sound familiar?

[EileenL]

I do think it possible that we will see another flag ship but not because Korg have just released one. Again what will be will be.

[ton37]

Cmon Ton, get real, you can't really believe this. Like most people here you have probably "donated" considerably more capital to car companies, have they shared their future design plans with you?  
Mike

As I was quoted I will give a short reaction: Hi Mike, I also know how 'big' companies behave... but I don't have to agree with that way of dealing with the customer! I would rather see them better inform their customer about possible future products. I'm aware that it may be a voice crying in the wilderness  ? I advocate the more 'asertive' consumer than the 'following' consumer. That's what I meant by my comment... 

Btw.. I like to read comments and points of view, even if they are not always mine. I have no problem with that, just fooling around every now and then, keeps the mind sharp ;-) And aside, on this forum there is always polite and reasoned discussion in a decent way! Thnx. to all contributers!! 

[mikf]

Ton - I spent my working life largely on the other side of this, being the person setting and implementing  development strategy for large corporations. It's not arrogance or power mongering that dictates the need for  keeping info tight. It's just common sense. Customers are not bound by confidentiality agreements so everything you discuss with them is the same as telling your competitors what you are planning. That's typically a bad idea in a technology business.
Mike

[JohnS (Ugawoga)]

Hi
I reckon Eileen is an secret agent for Yamaha and if Eileen thinks it is possible,  I say there is no smoke without a fire

I am now waiting for a clip around the Lug Holes

[soundphase]

Hello to all.

Generally Eileen doesn't say such kind of things.... And I seem to remember Eileen was also more positive for a new flagship release before the Genos was really released ...

So, a little bit of hope?

Regards
Soundphase.

[EileenL]

I am just voicing an opinion because in all honesty I can't see Yamaha just stopping producing Flag ship arrangers.