a marriage made in Heaven ?

[john smies]

Hi all,

With the introduction of the new Ketron keyboards two years ago ( Ketron Event) there were some threads here paying attention to these keyboards and their merits in comparison to the Yamaha arrangers. With the introduction later on of the Genos 2 interest waned but with the introduction of the EVM module  (simply put the ketron event in a tiny box with a monitor screen or tablet) it might be interesting to some of you. In particular worthwhile watching is this video by one of the UK's leading yamaha keyboard authorities, recommended. :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvnrd4JAW_w&t=1927s

greetings,
John Smies

[Chalky]

"One of the UK's leading yamaha keyboard authorities" - these YouTubers give themselves very grand titles these days!

[maartenb]

I'm pretty sure Leigh Wilbraham isn't calling himself by this title. It's probably a description by John, probably to honor him.

Leigh is a great player and has made a lot of Genos 2 videos. Highly recommended!


Maarten

[Sam Wacker]

I'm pretty sure Leigh Wilbraham isn't calling himself by this title. It's probably a description by John, probably to honor him.
Leigh is a great player and has made a lot of Genos 2 videos. Highly recommended!

Have to agree. Although he states he's from Staffordshire, UK the way he pronounces certain words (and then corrects himself, to "Estuary English" has all the hallmarks of Merseyside, not especially Liverpool but within the region. John Lennon used to do this too. But it could be Birmingham,UK.  If he is a Northerner then I can understand his no nonsense approach to comments on his YouTube channel. He doesn't take prisoners or entertain fanboys of certain brands who seem to be looking for an argument. But at the same time he is really helpful.

He tells us he has played since he was 6, starting on organ. This shows in his left-hand chord positions with 1st and 2nd inversions and chord voicings. He is involved in the Yamaha Club and I used to be a member in the early days. I'm scared to mention who was running the club when I was a member in case they are no longer with us - but  the Club was another helpful group of enthusiasts who gave advice, sold stuff and put on events.

Leigh's videos on YouTube are really excellent. I was fascinated when he-linked up a relatively inexpensive keyboard as a lower manual with some 'magic box' in true organ style. He then proceeded to play an orchestral piece using Genos 2 sounds on both keyboards  The fact that he is now a Yamaha demonstrator, and I met a few of them, speaks volumes. In another video he played a snatch of a Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler guitar fingerstyle riff from the song Romeo and Juliet, perfectly. This was just in passing while he was "erm", "erm", talking about something else. With him it's all about finding a job you love and then never having to work a day in your life.

[maartenb]

In another video he played a snatch of a Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler guitar fingerstyle riff from the song Romeo and Juliet, perfectly.

Hi Sam,

If you could find and post the link to this video, you'd make me very happy!


Maarten

[musicman01]

Hello,

Don't be tempted too much by the Ketron Event or EVM (module)!!
The Event is a very expensive device, and the EVM is not much cheaper.
I know several people who bought the Event, and almost all returned it.
The comments are, the still outdated control structure and most sounds are still from the old generation Ketron, and sound modules like SD2 & SD1000.
Btw the SD1000 costs €440. The EVM module with screen €3000.
Remember that Genos2 has much more to offer, and the styles are the best there is!!

PS: The saying goes "the grass is always greener on the other side"!!

[Sam Wacker]

If you could find and post the link to this video, you'd make me very happy!

Watch this space.

[Del]

Leigh's videos on YouTube are really excellent. I was fascinated when he-linked up a relatively inexpensive keyboard as a lower manual with some 'magic box' in true organ style. He then proceeded to play an orchestral piece using Genos 2 sounds on both keyboards.

Hi Sam
I have this exact set up that Leigh showed on that video, the magic box is called SIPARIO X by Labs4music, I love it.
Not sure I would follow the steps of the Ketron EVM Module, if I was going to get something at that price I would consider the Korg PA5x to sit above my Genos2
Del

[Sam Wacker]

I have this exact set up that Leigh showed on that video, the magic box is called SIPARIO X by Labs4music, I love it.
Not sure I would follow the steps of the Ketron EVM Module...

Thanks for the information. I will read the specs for the SIPARIO just in case I contradict myself [G2 will be my last etc...] and buy another inexpensive lower keyboard. 
In what seems like an eternity ago, I had the Tyros 2 on top of the 9000 Pro. I must be missing something here because I'm not sure how the Ketron is relevant, but then I don't know much about them. Each to their own and I'm not sure I want to engage in dialogue about the EVM Module- it's always a matter of personal preference and needs. And to follow from John's opener, some mixed marriages work, some don't.

[john smies]

Hello,

Don't be tempted too much by the Ketron Event or EVM (module)!!
The Event is a very expensive device, and the EVM is not much cheaper.
I know several people who bought the Event, and almost all returned it.
The comments are, the still outdated control structure and most sounds are still from the old generation Ketron, and sound modules like SD2 & SD1000.
Btw the SD1000 costs €440. The EVM module with screen €3000.
Remember that Genos2 has much more to offer, and the styles are the best there is!!

PS: The saying goes "the grass is always greener on the other side"!!

Here we have the classic Yamaha fan response....Allow me to digress......I have been playing Ketron arrangers for over ten years now ( after having played Korg for nigh on 15 years). I have had the Ketron Event for two years now ( and yes it is a very expensive piece of gear.) Since last week I also have the Genos 2 on trial and it confirms two things to me
1
The Genos is by far the best KEYBOARD on the planet and many of its sounds/samples are superior to the ketron, alas....However the point remains that when I hear the Genos 2 I still hear a KEYBOARD be it of supreme high quality. As an amateur/home singer I prefer hearing a band ( or its nearest proximation) to back up my vocals. THIS I do hear with my ketron event.
So in conclusion I would say , and here I Leigh Wilbraham would probably support me, if you can afford it a combinaton fo these two is simply a killer set up.
2
While I have just sung the praises of the Genos 2 as well I still thinkt that throughout the years yamaha has always made incremental improvements on their totl arrangers and I am not surprised reading in different places that for instance the new SX920 at half the price of the Genos 2 , is a very worthwile consideration. So would be the EVM event module....but then, each to his own !!
Below a link to my youtube channel with my version of a BeachBoys song on the Event.
greetings to you all,
John Smies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-y8lRTOMuk

[Gunnar Jonny]

Btw the SD1000 costs €440. The EVM module with screen €3000.

Musicman, this is a great example of compare two total different products.
SD1000 is a 'clean' soundmodule and should be compared to EVS, not the EVM.
EVM is 'Event arranger in a box', it would be like have a Genos2 without keys and controlled via external screen. Price difference should be obvious in this case.. 

Btw,  the grass may as well be greener at the other side. It's about personal taste and needs, and of course how filled the bankaccount are.
To add EVM to G2 or even Korg Pa5X or other brands may be as close to heaven as it is possible to reach within arranger keyboards sphere.

[Sam Wacker]

If you could find and post the link to this video, you'd make me very happy!

Watch this space.

Well, I revisted several of Leigh's videos on YouTube to no avail. I know I didn't dream this but intensive binge listening has not produced the "snatch' of several seconds that would make you very happy.  For my own needs, I am creating an Excel spreadsheet of all his videos relevant to Genos 2 and considering whether to add another column for additional information. This is because the title does not always reflect the total content as he moves into other areas. For example, on the "Writing Songs..." video he does quite a good tutorial on changing styles and multi-tracking which is to be expected, but not not mentioned in the title.

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By the way, as I suspected, from his use of English and humour, he is a Northerner.  His videos are 'monetized' so you'll need something like uBlock Origin to avoid the ads that can be distracting. When Genos 2 first appeared, his viewing figures were in 6 figures but are dwindling - hence his establishment of the Genos 1 & 2 Club (Patreon) Here's an example from YouTube of how he deals with discord:

"@johngolding1068
1 year ago
The adverts are a major problem. They are so frequent and pop up mid sentence and I haven't seen one yet I am interested in. The information you provide is very useful and appreciated but if you don't mind some constructive comments, you do tend to waffle a lot and wander off the point.
 
· @LeighWilbraham"

1 year ago (edited)
Sorry I'll refund you the fee you paid to watch.

[maartenb]

Thank you, Sam, for your hard work!

I appreciate the effort!

Maybe, one day, you'll accidentally stumble across it? Or maybe I do!


Maarten

[Sam Wacker]

Maybe, one day, you'll accidentally stumble across it? Or maybe I do!

It's frustrating as Mr Wilbraham seems to be worried about copyright strikes, so only plays bits of tunes in some videos and even
then mixes them up musically.

[Del]

The main reason Leigh Wilbraham plays bits of song then goes into something else that he makes up is so he can monetize off the video's he creates,if they generate enough views, if he play's the whole song and gets a copywrite strike that money will go to the owners of the song he plays, most of his video's is his own work.

[Sam Wacker]

The main reason Leigh Wilbraham plays bits of song then goes into something else that he makes up is so he can monetize off the video's he creates,if they generate enough views, if he play's the whole song and gets a copywrite strike that money will go to the owners of the song he plays, most of his video's is his own work.

Of course!   I suspected this was a contributing factor. It does tend to call into question his insistence that he's not in it for the money. Nothing wrong with that but better to be upfront about it, methinks.