This isn't a big big thing but I like it.
I use the stylemaker to change the instruments on an existing style, then save it renamed. It's like getting a completely different style. Lately I'm into techno-synth sounds and this is very easy to do.
George Strait style with sawtooth piano and slap-bass.
I'm a sick man ... I know
Hey, great idea. This would be a new venture for me. Could you describe the steps you take to create your own style by using the existing resources? Everytime I open the style I get oevrwhelmed by all the boxes and buttons and drop downs that I feel like a deer in headlights. So, please be gentle in your explanation for this wannabe getting past the newbie stage.
First class idea! It increases the value of your BiaB a good bit, to be able to get extra styles at will, for low effort and no cost. Small edits can yield big results.
This will sound simple-minded, Ricke, but your best friend in the Stylemaker is blind persistence . The thing looks like such absolute hell the first time you open it. Then it's already less daunting on the second visit, and so on. Very soon, things begin to make actual sense, especially once you start working on some manageable aspect. There are a couple very useful tutorials reachable through the Help option; take advantage of those, and of the Help screens for the individual menus.
To change patches, click on the PAT button. You get a patch-change menu that's pretty much self-explanatory. There's no real way to screw it up, even if you screw it up.
There are easier ways to change patches temporarily, but doing it in the style can be good. The main thing is to get started and give it a try.
Rubberball, the changes you made are nowhere near the same class as this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLkOYHYQ2tc
I do pretty much what allis said. Just changing the patch is easy. Now, if you want to mess with the drum beats and such there's a little more to it, but still not real tough. Sometimes I change the probabilty numbers (or whatever you call them) to make some phrases play more or less often.
Just noticed what you said, allis, about easier ways to change patches temporarily.
What I do now is pause the song, change the instrument, then save+ the whole song. Lot of steps. If I just change the patch while the song is stopped, when I start it again the instrument jumps back to whatever it is in the style.
I've looked and looked for a box to check or uncheck someplace to make it easier.
I could really dig a way to just try out patches without the stylemaker or save+, if you know a way I'd be most grateful.
Save+ is excellent to specify patches for the entire song -- sounds that will play all the way through. For a one-time shot, it would generally be more sensible to prepare your tune using Save+ than to change patches in the Stylemaker.
If you only want to try out some different sounds, change the patch number while it's playing and have a listen. Changes won't "stick", as you correctly point out, but you can quickly hear many patches in context and remember what sounded right.
Also:
At any measure, you can change patches using the "Bar Settings" . These will then automatically change as the tune plays through. Right click on the desired measure, select Bar Settings, follow your good sense (and the menu's Help screen). Change all patches at every bar, if you want. This is not for real-time tinkering, but for finished arrangements that change sounds during the course of the tune.
Bar Settings is a big powerhouse menu that repays careful study, if you're not used to using it yet.
I knew bar settings had that, but never think to use it. Looks save+ is about the easiest way for me. I understand why the styles hang onto their instruments as a default.
I figure too, that Band in a Box is an auto-comp program and not a sequencer. I find it way easier to set up an arrangement in Band in a Box, but then MIDI it to Power Tracks to try patches, record mixer moves, etc.
Tonight I think I'll mod a Euro-synth style with bluegrass instruments...
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...I find it way easier to set up an arrangement in Band in a Box, but then MIDI it to Power Tracks to try patches, record mixer moves, etc.
That's a natural course to take. BiaB has been given some improvised sequencer functions as a convenience over time, but it's still a dreadful sequencer, compared to any real one.
But any method that keeps the ball rolling the way you want it is going to be good.
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Tonight I think I'll mod a Euro-synth style with bluegrass instruments...
Wail on! It's delightful to hear somebody having this much fun.
Kind of hard to connect "Death Metal" with the joy of life that song speaks of. Truly a practice that some mutual exclusivisms never shall stand side by side.
Allis, Thanks for your encouragement. I suppose the eating an elephant one bite at a time is the way to approach it. I am going to look into the tutorials you mention. As for the instructions, I stopped using them after I found they were not in synch with the features in some of the things I was looking for. Going in.. If you don't hear from me... send for the troops!
Update: I just took a look at the "Exploring Styles" tutorial on the site. It was very informative (being I am a visual person). It not only shook some of the fear I had whenever I looked at the Style window, but it also gave some neat instructions on how to mix up the feel in a song. I sensed what may be a nice feature in that the measure previous to the change, the shift subtly segued in so that on the first beat of the next measure you were smoothly into the new feel without that freight train effect of jumping styles with no transition.
Like I always say, "Just another new toy within this product that will keep me indoors this weekend!" I sure do hope it rains! You guys at PG are incredible!
RickeG
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...As for the instructions, I stopped using them after I found they were not in synch with the features in some of the things I was looking for.
I imagine there must be Help screens, somewhere, that need updating or something. But I don't know where they are: Those are in general the best thing about BiaB. Some of the menus are downright mystifying, and it's a great relief to hit Help in the bottom right corner and have nice lucid directions appear to explain each item. So my own experience is the opposite of yours. You oughtta give them another chance.
Many are defeated by the Stylemaker, so it's nice to hear somebody decide to give it a go. Just keep shining that bright light in its face. It will crack and yield up its secrets.
A very easy way to create hybrid styles with realtracks (without having to use the style maker at all) is like this:
1) the active instruments are at the top of the screen with radio buttons beside them. Right click on one that you want to change...
2) a floating menu appears. Click "ADD/REMOVE REAL TRACKS"
3) pick a new real track from the list that appears
4) repeat with other instruments until you have the instruments the way you want
5) right click again on any of the instruments, click "ADD/REMOVE REAL TRACKS" but this time instead of picking an instrument, click the button that says SAVE STYLE
6) give your style a new name (I don't know if the 8 character limit is still in effect, but might not be a bad to keep the name short), and save it in the root directory where all the other styles reside.
7) next time you're in the style picker, rebuild the list. Your saved style should show up in the category "OTHER STYLES FOUND" or "MY STYLES"