Interesting topic !
pj, I think there is a small but important detail you've overlooked. Each Part has a Common setting where you can impose Note Limits to all Elements. For the CFX Concert the setting is as follows:
- Part 1 Note Limits: C-2 to G5
- Part 2 Note Limits: C-2 to G5
- Part 3 Note Limits: G#5 to G8
- Part 4 Note Limits: C-2 to G8
By soloing the Parts you can verify that only Part 1 or 2 (depending on velocity) will sound for all keys below G#5, and Part 3 is responsible for all keys above G5. So, in fact it's not a layer, it's a split. What that means is, below G#5 nine levels of velocity switching is used to generate the sound. Above G5 the same CFX samples are used, but only eight of them, CFX ppp St is not used.
If you compare that to the CFX Stage, you will see the same split. Elements 1 to 5 (five levels of velocity switches) will generate sound below G#5, Elements 6 and 7 (two levels) will sound above G5, and Element 8 cares for the key off samples.
Moreover, besides some differences in filter settings, you find that for Part 3 the Release value for the Amplitude Envelope is 127, so it's extremely long sounding. But this holds true for the high Elements of CFX stage too.
Clearly we have more details in the CFX Concert compared to CFX stage. 9 vs 5 below G#5, 8 vs 2 for the higher keys. It may for sure pay off when performing some delicate solo piano pieces.
Let me add tow remarks. In your article you wrote:
When I connect Genos to MODX, I can the first three MODX Parts in the CFX Grand Performance by sending RIGHT1, RIGHT2 and RIGHT3 on MIDI channels 1, 2 and 3. You get a pretty decent concert grand. You won’t hear any of the key-off sounds because the Genos is not transmitting on channel 4.
To play the MODX CFX Concert using Genos (or any other master keyboard) as a controller you may set the MODX MIDI I/O Mode to "Single" (Utility / Settings / Advanced / MIDI I/O Mode). MODX Parts 1-8 will then respond to single MIDI Channel (to be set in MIDI I/O Ch., defaults to 1).
A further remark to BenoitM:
Genos clearly supports triggering key off samples, just play the S.Art Flamenco Guitar. BUT, when creating own voices it's not available for us regular folks that have to use YEM.