So, what are they? I did a quick scan through the Genos1 and Genos2 Data List files and compared. Because this is a manual scan, I don’t guarantee completeness. [Too lazy to write a script…] I ignore certain voice categories like synth pads and leads. When a new synth voice is named “Blippity Bloop”, what does that mean without auditioning the voice itself?
I’m also passing on the new FM voices in Yamaha Genos2. You can easily identify the new FM voices in the Data List and you don’t really need me to do that. Check. I will say, almost every voice category has FM voices.
New Genos2 MegaVoices
MegaVoices are a good place to begin analysis. In addition to being the sonic stuff in Styles, MegaVoice waveforms are also the building blocks in Super Articulation (SArt) and Super Articulation 2 (SArt2) voices.
On your own, take a look at the MegaVoice maps in the Data List. The maps give a good idea of the low-level waveforms behind the voices. Yamaha give MegaVoice, SArt and SArt2 voices a lot of love and attention. The new MegaVoices show me where Yamaha have gone to great lengths to sample new instruments and to design new patches from those samples.
Here are the new Genos2 MegaVoices:
Basis Variants Category ---------------------- ----------------- ---------- SectionHorns 1, 2, Live, Dyn Brass PopHorns 1, 2 OberkrainerTrompete OberkrainerBaritonHorn OberkrainerKontraTuba OberkrainerBassTuba Whistle Woodwind OberkrainerKlarinette ClassicNylon Open, Neck Guitar ClNylonTirando OberkrainerGuitar ElJazzFinger OpenHmr, ... Bass ElJazzPick Open, ... VlBassPick OpenHmr, ... AcJazzOpen Extended1, ... RBillyBass FingerOpen, ... MonoUprightBass
In order to keep the list short, I abstracted away variants like “1”, “2”, etc.
Bass instruments got a BIG lift. Decoding the names, Genos2 gets Electric Jazz bass, Violin bass, Acoustic Jazz, Rockabilly and Mono Upright. It’s all about the bass, baby. By “Jazz Bass,” I assume they really mean “Fender Jazz Bass.” By “Violin Bass,” I think they mean “Höfner Violin Bass.” Is that where Paul’s bass went?
“Oberkrainer” is another, possibly unfamiliar, term. Oberkrainer music started out with the Avsenik Ensemble lead by Slavko Avsenik. It is a form of popular music in Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, northern Italy and Benelux. Pretty much Alpine music. Let’s see Diddy swing that. 🙂
When you see a whole group of MegaVoices and styles devoted to Oberkrainer, you know where Yamaha sell a lot of arranger keyboards.
New Genos voices of the playable kind
With that background in mind, let’s look at a summary of the playable voices (as opposed to style-oriented MegaVoices). Again, I have abstracted away variants in order to be concise.
Basic voice Category ------------------- ---------- CFX Piano CharacterGrand RockGrand CinemaGrand FeltPiano U1 (upright) U3 (upright) Filmharmonic Strings Cinematic SectionHorns Brass ConcertTutti ConcertTrumpets ConcertTrombones ConcertFrenchHorns PopsConcertSection CrescendoHorns DynamicTrumpets LeadTrumpets ConcertMutes TrumpetTutti CrescendoTpts SoftHorns&Bones PopsConcertPad Piccolo Woodwind PopPiccolo CelticFlute Whistle Shakuhachi Dudak ClassicalNylon Guitar E.Bass Bass ElecJazzFinger ElecJazzPick ViolinBass AcousticJazz Rockabilly Vibes Percussion OrchTimpani TubularBells Handbells (FM) HolidayBells (FM) SoftBells (FM) etc.
Genos2 got a significant upgrade in the piano department. Martin Harris (Yamaha) mentioned that the Genos2 CFX has more velocity levels than Genos1. Unfortunately, the pianos are still rooted in the XG synthesis and effects architecture — no Grand Expression, no Virtual Resonance Modeling, no half-pedaling. Yamaha product silos reign supreme. Again.
Sampled electric pianos (EP) pretty much stayed the same. Genos2 got real FM EPs, of course. There are also a few new combi voices like “FeltRoads.” I use the Montage/MODX character pianos and dig them.
Sadly, the Genos2 organ category remains the same. Genos2 did not get the Stage YC rotary speaker sim. This omission would kill my desire to upgrade. [Dumb move, Yamaha.] Out of step with the Oberkrainer additions, no new accordions. Nothing new in the choir, either.
String-wise, Genos2 gets new “film” (cinematic) strings. The Kino strings had a lot of character and the new cinematic strings offer a different color with which to paint.
Jerry Bruckheimer would like the Genos2 — more brass, pop and orchestral. Genos2 is fat with brass.
Woodwinds got a few upgrades. Piccolo is finally promoted to SArt2. Pipes are the big news: Celtic flute, whistle, shakuhachi and dudak. Sadly, no SArt2 bagpipes. [It’s a long way to the top.]
I already mentioned the new nylon guitar and basses in the MegaVoice section above. You got the picture. Club punters will find new EDM basses galore.
I don’t usually spend too much time on percussion, leaving that for chimpanzees and bongos. However, there a few upgrades worth noting: vibes, timpani, tubular bells, handbells. There are so many bells, they ring louder than my tinitus. 🙂 Seriously, this stuff can be used in liturgical music without shame.
Pads are pads. Synths are synths.
Drum kits
Yamaha are featuring the Genos2 Ambient Drums and have the kits to prove it:
RockKit DirtyKit PopKit IndustrialKit VintageOpenKit TrapKit VintageMuteKit ClubKit JazzStickKit ChillKit JazzBrushExtended PunchyEDMKit CinematicPercussion TightEDMKit ProductionKit JazzBrushKit SymphonicPercussion
The ambient drums borrow mic’ing technique from sample library provides using two or more microphones to capture room ambience. The Genos2 user (or more likely, the style) decides the dry/ambient mix.
Summary
That’s my quick — possibly incomplete — comparison. I hope my analysis will help you with your decision to upgrade or buy. Genos2 builds on a very strong Genos1 foundation. New buyers should take the plunge if they have the dosh.
The new Montage M got the pianos, Kino strings and a few other new waveforms and voices. Genos2, however, got a lot of stuff that Montage didn’t get. Will Yamaha provide those waveforms and patches in a Montage M update? Who the heck knows. Always buy on the basis of what you see and get TODAY. Never bet on updates.
Copyright © 2023 Paul J. Drongowski