Next update to Genos

[Lloyd E]

It's been a very long time since YAMAHA has updated the Genos.  What should Yamaha release for updates?  Lloyd

[Lee Batchelor]

I suspect they're done because they're too busy being nicer to the Montage owners . There are a lot of good requests that seem to be easy for Yamaha to implement. Of course, I'm not a software developer and it may be more difficult than I think. They also may want to have us invest in Genos II to get those needed updates. That's how the marketing guys and bean counters operate.

[soryt]

They cant solve the Monitor out problems , they cant make a decent page fore programming Mfc10 , they cant make a decent voice editor program on i pad or Pc for the Genos
But they can make this al working om a Modx ? , Why

Soryt 

[Lee Batchelor]

They cant solve the Monitor out problems , they cant make a decent page fore programming Mfc10 , they cant make a decent voice editor program on i pad or Pc for the Genos. But they can make this al working om a Modx ? , Why Soryt 

Because they simply choose not to. Until Yamaha admits that the Genos is far more than a "sit down with friends around the keyboard and sing a few songs in the living room," diddly squat will be added for us players who bring it to the stage or studio.

They've created an exceptional monster, in a lot of ways better than the Montage and yet, they stifle so many neat things we could be doing. The answer: buy a Montage. Boy, are they smart  !

[Antonio]

Hello  everybody,

In my opinion, they do not know where to start!
And if we made specific requests, what do you say ?

[PierreSW]

Because they simply choose not to. Until Yamaha admits that the Genos is far more than a "sit down with friends around the keyboard and sing a few songs in the living room," diddly squat will be added for us players who bring it to the stage or studio.

They've created an exceptional monster, in a lot of ways better than the Montage and yet, they stifle so many neat things we could be doing. The answer: buy a Montage. Boy, are they smart  !

On Yamaha's website, this is what follows:
Digital Workstations
Endless possibilities that give you an incredible collection of sounds, styles, effects and virtual voices.

Not correct according to me, as Yamaha has locked editing capabilities in its keyboards.

[Seagull29]

Hi,
I agree with PierreSW. While the Genos is a very good instrument but it is not the monster we want us to believe it is! Its direct competitor, the Korg Pa4X offers much more openness to all levels. The Genos is not a real WorkStation but a big plug & play quick and easy to use. It is only that, even if it sounds good and satisfies those who do not want to go further, which is quite respectable. But as a professional musician, this is not for me a professional instrument as much as can be the model mentioned above which offers not only the plug & play but also all the tools of creation and customization of an instrument . At least we can stand out and be more original.
Regards
Seagull29

[beykock]

Some Genos owners are not happy with the present updating situation.
Others are very pleased with the Genos as it is today.

Sorry I am confused. 🚦
Babette

[tyrosman]

why oh why does Genos need an update when every thing is fine. Genos is a brand new system yous lot are all Making mountains out of mo hills on this forum and the way I see it this forum is flaming Joke you have all slate Genos from Day one on this forum

[Lee Batchelor]

Tyrosman, I think everyone who owns a Genos is pretty happy with it. It's perfectly fair to want certain "streamlining." I don't own the Korg, but if it can do as the previous posters say and it's a much older design than the Genos, then it's fair to ask Yamaha these questions. In some ways, Yamaha dropped the ball.

To generalize that feelings of condemnation exist on an entire forum is not accurate either. My Genos does everything I need, however, there are some minor improvements that would be very helpful. For example, the lists from which we can choose various items need to be in alphabetical order. The fact Yamaha won't fix this is not for the lack of ability but just plain arrogance. They hate to admit they're wrong. In my industry, information may be accurate, but if it's difficult to retrieve, then it's useless. Alphabetizing increases retrievabilty. Several convenient, dedicated buttons have been removed from the Genos that existed on the Tyros 5. They've been replaced with "drilling through menus." That is a huge step backward. Nobody who must use a computer or software enjoys drilling through endless menus or scrolling. Those activities are kept to a minimum in well-designed products.

A lot of product designers today have no concept of usability. I suspect it's because they let the computers do all the designing for them and forget that humans use these products – not computers!! I recently bought a new car that has so many things that are just counter-intuitive and stupid. It's the same thing. The engineers let the computers do all the work without checking to see if the product actually works in the real world. As an aside, this car used to be designed and built in Japan. It was flawless. It is now designed and built in America. It has one issue after another. But I digress...

Yes, my friend, we have a few legitimate suggestions.

[stephenm52]

I'd like to see a function to automatically alphabetized items in the playlist.

[Lee Batchelor]

Agreed, Steve. The Registration List function on the T5 had it. All they need to do is add a simple command button linked to some VERY basic code!! Why does Yamaha drag their feet on concepts that date back to the DOS days of 1980???!!! They are so brilliant in other ways but they (like so many other so-called "brilliant companies") miss the obvious basics.

[frozzers]

This is a small ask but, to speed up things, I'd like to see in the text entry function:

1. capitalization of the first letter, then automatically going to lower case. This seems to be the default option for mobiles, tablets etc nowadays.

2. the apostrophe moved to the main 'abc' screen.

Chris

[Fred Smith]

I'd like to see a function to automatically alphabetized items in the playlist.

I don't understand this. If you want it in alphabetical order, why wouldn't you create it that way?

Surely the function of a playlist is to specify the order in which you want to play the songs, which is unlikely to be alphabetical.

Cheers,
Fred

[Lee Batchelor]

Fred, we don't all use the playlist like a set list. As I mentioned before, the T5 showed all songs in the Registration file in List view or ten at a time. I prefer the List view. You're right that the Playlist default is alphabetically until you add a new song. Then you have to re-order it manually (just the one song) or create a new list. A dedicated command button would be very handy.

[EileenL]

Yes  Fred,
  I set playlist registrations up in the order I will play them and to match the order I have my music in.

When we buy these keyboards we expect to have to set them up as we want to use them and also know that some things will be different.

Updates will be issued if they are thought necessary and are faults on the machine, but because some things take a little longer or are different don't always call for updates.     

[Lee Batchelor]

Eileen, you're correct but it is also true they shouldn't take away things that worked very well in past models . That seems to be one way companies these day claim they've "improved the new model." Not always a good thing.

[overover]

... they cant make a decent page fore programming Mfc10 ...

Hi Soryt,

what do you miss in "Menu - MIDI - External Controller" display (which IS the page to make the desired settings when using the MFC10 or another suitable MIDI Controller)?

Have you already looked into the Genos Reference Manual, pages 138 - 141 ("External Controller—MIDI Controller Setting")?


Best regards,
Chris

[Fred Smith]

Fred, we don't all use the playlist like a set list. As I mentioned before, the T5 showed all songs in the Registration file in List view or ten at a time. I prefer the List view. You're right that the Playlist default is alphabetically until you add a new song. Then you have to re-order it manually (just the one song) or create a new list. A dedicated command button would be very handy.

Fair enough.

And I also miss the List View of the T4.

Cheers,
Fred

[tyrosman]

the way I see this also is you all have to get used to this new instrument good thing,s will happen in good time and I think the best way is to make you own Registrations yes play list is good. every one should be enjoying Genos in stead of moaning about it I have enjoyed Genos since the day I got it yes ive had ups and down,s with it but it all soon fits in to place 

[BenoitM]

why oh why does Genos need an update when every thing is fine.

Everything is fine ? I can't agree...   
There's a lot of discussion on this forum about bugs on the Genos...
See my post : https://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php/topic,47387.msg372061.html#msg372061

If you are happy with this on a +4000€ keyboard, that's fine, we are all using it in a different way, but the fact that everything is fine for you doesn't mean that it is fine for everyone. The fact that several people are not completely satisfied with their Genos is understandable, and not simply a 'hill vs mountain' problem...

A new Genos firmware is definitely needed to correct those bugs. Waiting for a Genos II is not an option, Yamaha's policy is really strange... As a customer I really wonder what are they thinking  

Benoit

[EileenL]

I think what confuses some is that Genos is different to the Tyros series of keyboards and some things because of this can not always be done the same way. This dose not mean there are bugs every where.
   Most things we did on Tyros can be done on Genos but may take a little more time. Once used to Genos it is quicker to operate with the touch screen and Gateway buttons.

[valimaties]

I don't understand why some people are not agree Genos has bugs and need a firmware update ! 

Regards,
Vali

[DerekA]

Has Yamaha ever publicly committed to providing bugfixes for anything?

History on the arranger lines shows an initial flurry of fixes for real clangers, then nothing.

It works just fine for *most* people, so I wouldn't expect any further updates ...

[soryt]

Hi Soryt,
what do you miss in "Menu - MIDI - External Controller" display (which IS the page to make the desired settings when using the MFC10 or another suitable MIDI Controller)?

Have you already looked into the Genos Reference Manual, pages 138 - 141 ("External Controller—MIDI Controller Setting")?
Best regards,
Chris

Chris,
If you did have the experience with the Tyros series you know that it had a specific MFC 10 page in the Midi Menu , i know the pedal and external pedal sttings of the Genos .
But it doesnt work so easy as it did on the Tyros series , and there are some functions you cant program anymore on the Mfc10 on the Genos ( DSP/rotary slow/fast) , it should
fore the Yamaha developers a easy job to solve this problem , But once a product is running for a Year they dont upgrade anymore and are making  all there effort in the new model ( Genos2)
But that is the Yamaha way of working , still the Genos is the best sounding keyboard these days , but it isnt nice that Yamaha gives so less for the long existing customers in the
arranger market , if you look at the Synth division they make free nice software and sounds for product wich cost the half of a Genos .
Regards , Soryt 

[overover]

Chris,
If you did have the experience with the Tyros series you know that it had a specific MFC 10 page in the Midi Menu , i know the pedal and external pedal sttings of the Genos .
But it doesnt work so easy as it did on the Tyros series , and there are some functions you cant program anymore on the Mfc10 on the Genos ( DSP/rotary slow/fast) , it should
fore the Yamaha developers a easy job to solve this problem , ...

Hi Soryt,

thank you for clarification! Yes, there are some differences here ...

P.S.
I expect the next Genos update in early 2019. Yamaha definitely has to do something in the near future, because Genos can NOT yet be called "finished".


Best regards,
Chris

[Seagull29]

I don't understand why some people are not agree Genos has bugs and need a firmware update ! 

Regards,
Vali

Because these persons are not professional and use Genos just for pleasure. Also they are not specialists of electronic instruments and find that is enough for them and for fun. Genos is an "old" concepted keyboard arranger even it has good sounds.
Regards
Seagull29

[Wouter1972]

"...use the keyboard just for pleasure and fun..." Isn't that always the intention, regardless?

[Seagull29]

Hi,
I don't think so. I'm professional musician and arranger-keyboard are, for me, tools to compose or make pre-titles to show. And, also, with personal sounds. Yamaha said that Genos is a professional work station but you must have a computer to build sound with YEM, modify or build a special style is not easy. Where is pleasure and fun when you can't make all you want ?

[keynote]

Has Yamaha ever publicly committed to providing bug fixes for anything?

History on the arranger lines shows an initial flurry of fixes for real clangers, then nothing.

It works just fine for *most* people, so I wouldn't expect any further updates ...

Well there is a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there will be an update on the horizon for the Genos. The reason I say this is because there is a new Genos Owner's Group on Facebook. Ben Harrison who is a Yamaha employee is the moderator of the group. When I received an invitation to join the Group here is part of the email message that was sent to me below.

"As a member of this community, you'll have the opportunity to connect with other Genos owners, share tips and tricks, and showcase your performances and creations. You'll be among the first to know about firmware updates, new content, clinics in your area and much more. You'll also be treated to live interactive videos with Yamaha product specialists, through which you'll learn more about this incredible instrument and have your questions answered by the experts. There will even be exclusive giveaways and special promotions only offered to members!"

I received the invitation less than a month ago. Unfortunately it is only available for Genos owners living in the USA. But the point I wanted to make are the words contained in the message. "You'll be among the first to know about firmware updates, new content, etc." So even though Yamaha usually just fixes the worst bugs and then moves on it might be different with the Genos. Although we're approaching almost eight months since the last update one way to look at it is perhaps Yamaha is in the process of making a monumental update that will add many goodies and also fix any potential bugs and/or glitches. For instance, Korg really came through big time with the Pa4x OS 2.0 update. It made the Pa4x seem like a new keyboard because of all the improvements. It would be nice if Yamaha supported the Genos in a similar fashion. But I am also a realist so even though I'm hopeful there will be more updates it wouldn't really surprise me if there weren't any more because of Yamaha's tendency to fix the worst bugs and then move on to the next task which in this case would be the Genos 2. 

Mike