Geist 2... Can I import vocals into it and trigger from pads?

Absolutely. I just picked this up last month, and I think the ability to resize the GUI is going to immediately make you happy. You can display up to 64 pads per engine now (but would avoid that since you immediately lose the advantage to the larger GUI).
 
Pads are assigned by default to MIDI keys (ref the manual), so you can import, slice, assign, and fire as you choose.
 
If you used gated mode (on self), there is no limit to the length of the file that I have found yet (i.e., you can put a track on a pad and play the entire thing through in Geist).
 
As you build things, is best to keep saving the engine you are working on, since can import engines separately, similar to track templates, but are limited to 8 engines total (per instance). This will save pad FX, etc as you build them up.
 
Not delved much into the transmod stuff yet, but all of the features you mention are there. The GUI resizing was a massive improvement unto itself (but some things are still incredibly hard to hit inside that new GUI).