Okay,
let me point out a few things:
- I already own an SD1, a VA7, an XV 3080, an Akai 2800 and an Ensoniq ASR 10r (for what it's worth); besides, I don't sing at all, so when I stepped inside the shop basically I was saying to myself: "Let me see if I can find some new, interesting sounds to use in one of my next songs".
Well, I didn't!
What I have found is that the Tyros has a better sound quality (it's clean, and some of the sounds, like the electric pianos, are really sparkling, but the saxophones (and I might add also the trumpet, the flugelhorn and the trombone) were really too thin to be of any use to me: if I were to record a big band arrangement with these instruments, nobody would think "Wow, it sounds like the real thing!"
But the fact that some sounds are weak does not subtract from the overall sound quality, which is very good. For example, I have seen that Terry plays a lot of New Age music; well, I think that he will love the Tyros, because the sound is clean, sometimes even delicate and thus is perfect for New Age textures.
Always speaking of the Tyros, I think that the acoustic piano is good; Roel is right, however, when it points out to the lack of the dinamic response, but that could depend from the keybed: the Tyros keys have more or less the same feel as the PSR 2000 (Scott often refers to them as "flimsy") and it's really difficult to play a good piano from a flimsy keyboard. The sound, however, at least to me, is good; when I came back home I played the VA7 and I realized that they have a lot in common, so, if someone wants to know how the Tyros acoustic piano sounds, can try a VA7 and have a rough idea.
Now speaking of the Genesys: I have already tried to say, in a kind manner, that I did not like its looks; personally I could add that the fact that GEM is planning to release a version without speakers is a proof that they realized to have made a mistake. However, I could have lived with a poor design (I don't like much my VA7 or my SD1 either, design-wise), but then, coming to the styles, they did not add absolutely anything to what I already own and, speaking finally of the sounds, when I first heard the demo's on the GEM website, I thought that there was way too much reverb and I asked to myself "Why? What are they trying to mask?". Finally, when I played the keyboard, I did not in any way associate the overall sound with terms like "sparkling", "lush", etc. I have admitted that some sounds are really good, like the saxophones or the acoustic bass, but the overall quality of the sound did not convince me. Of course, this does not mean much, because I also think that my SD1 does not sound as clean as my VA7, but when I had to choose a sound for the sax solo in "Sweet Home Chicago" I did use the SD1, because the sound, even if it's not "clean", had other qualities, that were necessary for that song.
I even wrote that I would like to use the Genesys to record a jazz number, with just saxophones, acoustic bass and drums; too bad that I could not use the piano, because to my ears it was too metallic and that's a pity, considering that GEM makes excellent digital pianos.
Maybe, if I could borrow or even rent a Genesys and take it home for one week and record a song or two, MAYBE I would end up buying one, if I had no other keyboards or modules,
BUT...
since I had to pay more than 2500 dollars to do that and see IF I change my mind, then my answer is "No, thanks: I can think of many better ways to spend my money".
I hope I have been clear enough.



[This message has been edited by Dreamer (edited 10-24-2002).]