Product: Gem Genesys XP Expander
Price Paid: USD 1250 USED
Submitted
07/25/2009
at
05:19am
by
George
Ease of Use
:
9
I am using latest OS version....I think 2007 ?
At first I thought there were only a couple hundreds sounds. Then I studied the manual more,and learned that this thing has about 1500 sounds,an huge collection. The piano is REALLY good,as are most of sounds....in fact,it's hard to find an average sound. Even the harmonica,bandoneon,etc....are very high quality.
The sequencer holds an huge 250 000 events,so it's quite high capacity.
The machine even has a 40 gb HD and a DVDrom/ CD burner !
Very nice screen. The manual is well written but I wish that instead of 120 pages there were 200 pages....I like very exaustive manuals so that you can know the machine from inside out.
The styles also sounds great,the intros and endings are something that I even like to study!
The machine is built like a tank (maybe a bit overbuilt,as it's quite heavy and bulky,but the advantage is that I am not stuck with plasticky keys as on most arranger jeyboards from Yamaha,etc.....
Key feel to me is very important because it boosts my confidence and my setup feels professional. I am going to buy a Casio CDP100 very soon (88 keys hammer action ,and weights only 12 kg! )
Also the Genesys has 32 MB sample RAM, and it works very well if you want new piano or lead sounds....you could just have a collection of 32 mb single sounds to use when you compose or perform as the lead instrument.
Features
:
8
it has a good sequence. I wish there was a Cubase-like piano roll,as in the Yamaha QY700 or Roland E series,as the Genesys has a big and hi-res screen.
But still,there's a punch in / out pedal feature,so I guess you can fix any wrong notes!
Poliphony is 64 notes,which is suffiecient,but could be better at this price.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
No Opinion
There are instruments labelled 'Real' for every category (Realguitar,RealSaxTenor,etc)
Well,these sounds are REALLY good! I love the saxes (wow) ,the violin,strings,the piano. In general there's always something to satisfy your needs here,as pretty much all the sounds are high quality,but a nice bunch really stand out. Even the harmonica and bandoneon
Reliability
:
8
I think it's even overbuilt....pretty heavy and bulky compared to my GEM WX expander. I'd only keep the screen of the XP and make the machine smaller and lighter in weight.
It's build it's high quality,.though....I never understood how Yamaha gets away with their flimsy and plasticky build on their keyboards
As it is,it's clear that they made the XP gigworthy
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I think the company closed,but frankly it does not affect the fact that I still have a great machine. And it feels really killer with a cheap weighted-keys controller keyboard
Overall Rating
:
8
I bought this because I am sick of computers. After 9 years of hell,I am going hardware again,and bought the Genesys as my main MIDI composition tool. I am also buying a Tascam 788 audio multitracker,and along with my hammer action keyboard and guitar and amp,that's all I'll need to write music without all these stupid PC errors.
I wanted an arranger but not a keyboard as these have flimsy keys and make me feel like an hobbyst. There are not many expanders with a sequencer...only the Ketron X4 and the Genesys. The latter has better specs (more sample ram,etc)
All in all,I am rather happy with the machine and I want to learn every nook and cranny about it so that I can use it to write my music creatively.
This instrument is not cheap but I don't think these guys have stolen my money either
