I think we need to look to the past as a strategy/pattern for the future. Yamaha, Roland, and Korg i.e. the Big Three have used a fairly structured business model which apparently suits them best. They have updated previous keyboards with not only OS updates but also new hardware versions of existing keyboards. Tyros 1 led to Tyros 2, Tyros 3, etc. Now the Genos is basically a new concept arranger workstation keyboard that was built from the ground up. It is currently the Crème de la Crème of arranger keyboards in my opinion. But so was the Tyros 5 when it was introduced back in 2013 although it was basically a cosmetic update to the Tyros 4 with better sounds and a 76 key version. Four years later the Genos was released. So what's my point?
I think there will be a Genos 2 but like others have suggested probably not in 2020. I do expect a new Montage at Winter NAMM 2021 but that's beside the point. I suspect Yamaha could release the Genos 2 at the beginning or end of 2022... right around the holidays. Usually that's how the pattern usually manifests. First a new TOTL traditional workstation keyboard is released i.e. Montage etc. Then a year or so later a new top-of-the-line Arranger is announced. This is basically how the Big Three have operated since day one although not always on a three year update timeline. If the past is any indication of the future then Yamaha and the others will probably continue rolling out new hardware versions of existing keyboard products as well as original concept keyboards built from scratch like the new YC61.
All the best,
Mike
PS: A Latin song created on my Genos for your enjoyment : Latin Pop I live in the U.S. but relatively close to the Mexican border town of Tijuana if that helps.
I disagree that Genos was build up from scratch..
Genos is essentially a Tyros 6, with a new user interface on top of it.
All the age old quircks are still there under the hoof
Its needed for backward compatibility
But its also holding Yamaha back in going forward..
There is nothing build up from the ground with the Genos.
Its the same old wine just in a more luxurious bottle..
Luckilly the wine still tastes good..
But there is so many things holding trough innovation at bay, and that will stay as long as there is full legacy support..
Is there an easy way around this for developers
No there isn’t..
My best bet is that they could give people options to choose old or new...
For example , if the develop a totally new styles format, with many many things like dynamic accomapniments and audio tracks other then drums, and maybe even a totally different layout, they have to build 2 engines for style inside,... the old one and the new one... depending on the file type, the Arranger would choose the right engine.. you could even have 3 or 4 of these auto accompaniment engines..
If you want a more modern sequencers, you need to keep the old one and the audio player, while developing somethingbnew that combines midi and audio tracks like a daw... and maybe even supprts clip launching..
And then there is the panel voices, the left hand voice being part of the style is also one of those things, holding the Genos back... you could offer the olld 3right one left as a basic interface... and have an 8 part modern montage like setup as a pro interface...
To overcome the legacy problems, you need to start new from scratch.. and offer legacy support as a sepperate service... with the current touch screen interfaces this would very well be possible..