4 days with Genos - my honest short review.

[Toril S]

Thanks Tyrosman. 😀

[MINKYCATS]

Hi Toril,

I'm so happy to hear that you are getting on so well with your new Genos and that you are finding the touch screen easier to use than you anticipated. Looks like you are already enjoying the features of the keyboard after just a few days. Well done - it makes a nice review.

Also glad to hear that you had a good deal.

I look forward to hearing more of your lovely music when you feel that you are ready to share it with us.

Now get on with enjoying your new keyboard lol. 🐱

Kindest regards

Trevor (MINKYCATS)

[Toril S]

Thanks Trevor!

[Tyros5Mad]

Hi Toril,

I am so happy to hear your verdict on the Genos. It is the best arranger keyboard from Yamaha no doubt.

Now sing me a song. No wait, I will sing you a song. I have been fiddling with other stuff and have not actually played my keyboard for some time now. But today I sat down for about four hours and just played all my songs one after the other. My neighbours popped in to listen and soon we had a party going on (it is Saturday here in Australia). Time to do a new recording.

Regards,
Richard

[Toril S]

Thanks Richard. Sure you had a good time😀

[hans1966]

Hi Toril, congratulations on your new Genos. I'm glad you're enjoying it. You will have fun for a long time. Hans

[alanclare]

Toril

I'm so happy for you and your new Genos. It would appear that you and it were made for each other, and your local store closing provided the opportunity for you to be brought together.

Happy days lie ahead!

Alan

[beykock]

When one is used to work with a touch screen it looks not easy to me to go back to the " old " Yamaha screens.😧

Once Toril is "  ready " to sell her T5 ( which she does not need anymore 😻) and her S975, I am almost sure she will add the great SX900 to her keyboard collection very soon, IMHO.

Best wishes, Babette

[Toril S]

Thanks Hans and Alan!

[Bud2]

It is so nice to hear of someone who has eyesight problems saying that they love the Genos and is easier to use than the Tyros because I know of two people who have no sight problems saying how much they don't like it and it is harder to use than the Tyros and after I spent an afternoon with them showing them how easy it was to use and they said yes it is now you have shown us how to use it, with the offer of any further help should they need it I was more than happy to help them, just give me a call, I said. I now learn they have gone back to the Tyros, saying how they couldn't get on with it but never once rang me for more help. I just can't understand people like this.
Anyway I am so glad you are enjoying the Genos and find it so easy to use.
Bill

[Toril S]

So kind of you to offer them your help Bill! I am sure I will need some help from this forum. But I am pleased with the intuitive interface of the Genos, so I am definitely going to keep it. I still have my Tyros 5, but I will most likely keep that too! I am so glad there are no audio styles on Genos! I have also imported my favourite T5 styles, and other styles I use often. I just love my Genos😀

[motekmusic]

Hello Torril,


So happy to hear of your new keyboard.
Congrats to you and to the Genos who really got a super owner.


cheers
elaine

[Toril S]

Thanks dear Elaine!😀

[stlpianoman]

Hello, I am recently a new member here and I would like to add to your post.
I have been a Genos owner for about two years now.
I am a blind user and if I can use it, anybody can.
If you have some vision issues, there are some things that can help.
First, Yamaha has provided a speech assistance called voice guide for the Genos.
Do a youtube or a Google search on the voice guide for the Genos and check it out.
It allows a blind person to touch the screen and get a voice verification of the item on the screen.
It is not 100 percent as of yet but it will get better in time.
By touching the screen the voice guide reads all of the style and voice names.
It also can read the entire home screen and sub menus.
Here is how it works.
The direct access button is a voice guide preview button.
Press and hold the direct access button and then touch the screen
The voice guide with speech reads the current item you are touching without actually activating it.
When you find the one you want, release the direct access button and touch the screen again.
You can also assign the foot pedal 2 to be the preview function.
Make sure your genos software is updated.
This was not available in the original operating system.
I have also, with the help of some close sighted friends, have made a overlay template for certain screen such as the multi-track record and the mixer screens.
Using thin wood, about 1/4 thick, I cut a piece that cover most of the screen.
Thin laminate flooring is good for this.
Like I said with the help of my sighted friends,
we measured out the coordinates locations of the items on the screen and drilled holes in the template.
For example, the multi-record template has 24 holdes in it, 3 rows of 8.
The top row of 8, holes mutes and unmutes the track.
The second row of 8 holes open the screen for selecting the recording source for that track.
Use the dial to select the source and then press exit.
The third row of 8 holes arms the track for recording.
There are 2 extra holes on this template.
Right above hole 8 on the top row is a hole for the "record mode".
Just to the right of that is another hole.
This hole is for turning on and off the metronome.
I think you get the idea.
Marking the top and sides of the screen can be helpful.
You can purchase these little stick on bumps on the internet that help blind users use equipment that have a slick pannel.
At the top of the multi-track recorder template I place 6 of these small bumps.
For example, these bumps line up with the 6 items at the top of the screen.
"save" "step edit" "settup" "new" "menu" and "exit"
All I need to do, is to slide the template down just a little and then touch the Genos screen right above the bump.
On the mixer screen template the holes allow me to adjust the volume stereo position and much more.
If you have any friends who are blind or have vision issues, feel free to pass this info on.
Also I would love to connect with those who would like to share this kind of stuff.
Vissit my webpage:
http://www.markdew.com
My email address is:
jmkeybd1@charter.net
Mark AKA stlpianoman

[Georgeandmarj]

I am a Genos player and I raise my hat to you for your ingenious solution, I found it a steep learning curve but for a blind player it must have been a mountain. Well done,happy playing.

[Bud2]

Well done Mark, you certainly didn't give up and I admire your perseverance and not to give up at the smallest thing.
Bill

[Toril S]

Well done Mark! Very creative solutions!!! Thanks for all the good advice!