I am a Yamaha keyboard player - currently  playing the Genos 1 and before that the Tyros 4.
Just recently I saw a demonstration of the "guitar strummer" feature used on the Korg PX5 to create a Pad that can be used with styles.
I was blown away with how good the actual guitar strumming sound was!
I am wondering if this is something that Yamaha might be thinking about adding to the next version of the Genos line of workstations.
Have any one heard anything or seen this feature as well ?
What do you think ?

Mark

Here is a HOW TO for Yamaha keyboards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KVzxlxsM78

Drake

Thanks, Drake
It was an interesting video to watch and it shows that it can be done on Yamaha keyboards.
But the Korg method with dedicated keys for upstroke, down stroke and other strumming patterns to choose from seems much simpler and the results are very good.
It would be worth Yamaha developers to take a look and I am sure something similar could be added to the Yamaha instrument.

Quote from: porterma on Apr 04, 2025, 05:26 PM...
But the Korg method with dedicated keys for upstroke, down stroke and other strumming patterns to choose from seems much simpler and the results are very good. ...

I agree that it's quite easier on Korg. Yamaha doesn't use dedicated (black) keys for effects (upstroke, tapping, etc.) and so, if we wish to create more complex strumming on Yamaha (like this), then we need to use MegaVoices -which in some way complicates creation even more.
I can't comment about the resulting differences, because I don't have Korg... but it sounds good enough on Yamaha.

Bogdan

I said all the time that Korg's Guitar Mode is far better than Yamaha's one. Yamaha's guitar mode is something very primitive, and without any knowledge about how this works, I bet most of users don't even try it, it is already hard for advanced users. For those users which most of the time only open keyboard and plays with midis or factory styles, it is too much effort.
For me, Korg remains the best in guitar mode (when it comes on how to do it, so software/os related)! The sound could be increased if you use some insert effects on the guitar channel!

Regards,
Vali

Quote from: valimaties on Yesterday at 09:26 AM...Yamaha's guitar mode is something very primitive, and without any knowledge about how this works, I bet most of users don't even try it...

And I agree again. Guitar mode isn't really explained in manual and so I have spend several days to find out how it works. But once we get past that, using Guitar mode is as simple as other normal modes.
More difficult is to create good guitar strumming rhythm, which by it's nature, can be quite time consuming process. And because of that Korg is better: it makes things easier for creator.
And about "most users don't even try it"... Well, big majority of keyboard owners don't create styles anyway 

Bogdan

Maybe a bit off toppic, but if you working with a DAW, I can highly recommed one of Ample Sounds virtual guitars which have a built in strummer.
Here's one of my favorite, a Martin D-41 Acoustic Guitar Guets are not allowed to view links. In order to access the links, please Register or Login

I mean, I play guitar so I understand how guitar strumming works; most of the time I program guitar "the old way" without the sound effects, re-record as a midi, then run through Megaenhancer, and then back into style parts (midiToStyle).

But yes I understood the tutorial video Drake linked, but then again I also understand guitar, and I understand megavoice. I've actually programmed a couple of styles with guitar megavoice; it's not as time consuming as the video shows because for clarity, he individually modifies each note (I'd use multiple note select, much quicker but also harder to understand in a tutorial).

I've tried the PA5x guitar mode (just now). And yes, it's far easier to create strumming (and it has megavoice effects!) but it's really hard to get started; I've never opened up a manual for a Yamaha arranger (Yamaha synth workstation, yes. Likewise, I've never needed to read the manual for a Korg synth workstation, but the Korg arrangers I find difficult to navigate). But once you're in there, yes, it's easy to create a pattern (copied from the Roland guitar mode).

Well sort of; I could get into guitar mode and played with the strumming patterns, but when I hit acmp start, it never record armed, so I just got the metronome; nothing I played was recorded. Also, on the video he taps measure and rolls from 1 to 4; I tap measure and nothing happens (because I couldn't see when he record armed. It's kind of goofy that you have to record *arm* in record mode; by default Yamaha style & pad creators are always record armed; as soon as you start, it's recording)

I tried to enter guitar mode for pads and it wouldn't; I had to look up the tutorial just to get *into* the guitar mode! And it was still difficult to get into (everytime he says "How? It's really easy" I then have to rewind the tutorial several times to see how to jump to the next part)! Seriously, Mark, swing by and try our PA5x for yourself; a good chunk of the problem is the workflow is so unlike what we're used to, so part of that is most certainly a preexisting Yamaha bias. But similarly, a style that takes me 10 mins to make on Yamaha takes me a few hours on a Korg. No undo for one thing

BTW, this is only creating a strumming pattern for a *pad*; not part of a style. You can't really conflate the 2; if you're doing strumming patterns in pads, Yamaha already has many patterns available.

Nobody complains that you can't create your own strumming on a workstation synth (neither Korg nor Yamaha has onboard editable arpeggiators); they just include a lot for you to select from. Funny enough, Korg's acoustic guitar strumming on their synth workstations isn't particularly good (no 'megavoice' type effects, so their own PA5x is infinitely superior to Kronos/Nautilus in that regard). But when it comes to Yamaha synth workstations, even going back to the MotifES (from 2003!) the guitar strumming is better than a current Kronos/Nautilus!

Also, Roland already had a fantastic *in style* guitar strummer back with the G70 (2015) and E80 (2008). Which is exactly how the PA5x guitar mode is modelled after! Didn't prevent Roland's TOTLA line from vanishing, unfortunately.

In QuiRobinez's video, once he exits from the sub menu that tells it the new pad is a guitar type, his record arms (green dot on the left turns red). When I tried it, it didn't. I couldn't find anywhere to record arm; this is a PSR tutorial, but I'd appreciate if anybody happens to know how to record arm in pad record mode?

This isn't good for my high blood pressure :p
Mark