Hello everybody,
As a GEM keyboard enthusiast and an owner and as one of the vocal people in this forum for keyboard enhancements, I thought I would share my first impression of this keyboard.
This keyboard really deserves a detailed review and look by musicians. Unlike any other keyboard, this one truely defines a new frontier in keyboard technology. For the last few years, all top arranger keyboards looked the same and offered the same specs but with only slight variations. GEM offered Wk/SK series several years ago that truely changed quality of keyboards (starting from WK4) at least in my opinion. Now we have Genesys.
The first thing that strikes me is that the company, General Music, has made every effort to listen to THIS FORUM... TO US in the synthzone. The most important features of this keyboard were a result of our own suggestions. Let me give you some examples:
If you look in the archives, you will find that I strongly insisted that a dream keyboard must contain all flash. I said that I really do not like all of the factory drums and sounds and I would really like to change them in any old/present/future keyboard and I would really like the opportunity to define what my keyboard will have. Therefore, I strongly suggested all flash ram instead of ROM.
In our discussion, we talked about a CDR. In order to save all presets or transfer new presets to the keyboard, you have to use, either a CDR or external scsi device. I know most people would rather use external scsi device, but my DAW system is not scsi based and therefore, CDR is truly the right option for me.
I also suggested that it would be truly nice if the keyboard can record its music on the harddisk so it can be transfered later to a DAW as a file, instead of real time recording.
In my comparison with Yamaha sounds, I pointed out that one of the reasons that Yamaha sounds are better is because Yamaha invests in quality speakers. If you play other keyboard's sounds via Yamaha keyboard speakers, they will sound better. I suggested that WK8/6 speakers were not of good quality. Genesys is reported to have the best speakers system ever. This is on the expense of weight and size.
We wanted better quality sounds, and it seems to me that the way Genesys is handling sounds, by separating the actual sound from the secondary vibrations that accompanies the sounds and also providing dedicated effects for those secondary vibrations, the keyboard is promising to offer new edge in sound quality.
I am glad to hear that the number of sliders did not decrease but increased. Interestingly enough, this was one of the suggestions in the GEM forum in synthzone, somebody suggested a separate slider for the vocal harmoney.
What does this tell me? This tell me that we have a wonderful person representing GEM in these forums who have been listening to us and contributing to our discussion. I am very shocked because I have never seen a person dedicated to listening to musicians and implementing their "DREAM" requests. Many thanks to Chris Anthony. There are so many other details and features of this keyboard that will be revealed later for our pleasant surprise... I am sure.
There are few objections of course to this keyboard:
1) Some say: "very nice" but I already have my own computer based studio. I also do have one but I do not see the my keyboard as a replacement to the studio... instead of that I see it as complementing my studio. For example, I personally asked for recording on the keyboard, because it makes the transfer of audio tracks from the keyboard to the studio very convenient and increases its quality. There are things you want to do at the studio, but there also things you want to do at the keyboard only, and some at both.
2) Weight. I agree about the weight, it is heavier than expected. But it is half of the weight of my sk880ps.
However my question, would I want to give up any of the features mentioned above for lesser weight? NO.
3) size and shape. This keyboard looks weird because of the way the speakers are positioned. I was wondering if you can buy a case for it. It will be really nice if GEM can provide free soft case with this keyboard.
4) price: this is the most controversial topic here now.. and people will most likely disagree with me. So please be patient with what I am going to say... (and be nice too
) I believe this keyboard is really worth $1000 MORE than any other keyboard. There is not anything like it and offers so much TRUE cutting edge features. I posted once to say that I do not think PSR9000PRO is worth $3000. I thought that keyboard is worth $2000 MAX. The problem becomes how to offer a keyboard in this over-inflated keyboard industry for a fair price. Fair to the consumers, to the producer and to music store owners. The answer is I do not know.
Finally, I am very excited about this keyboard, I have many thoughts to share and so many questions, but I will end up with one question: what about a new oriental kit and support for 1/4 tone music.
Thanks of reading
[This message has been edited by sk880user (edited 01-23-2002).]