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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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So I decided to try my hand with StyleMaker. I've been wanting to do this for along time because I am intrigued about BiaB works behind the scene an I how might use it myself. The tutorial was pretty clear but I found I was unable to use it as published.
I am told that when I have the StyleMaker open (I am editing ZZLITROK) I can select a pattern and play it by pressing F4.
Well, when I do this it does play the pattern, but dies not stop after the two bars, it seems to go on, silently, and then the lead-in starts again but then their is silence as it goes through the pattern.
I've tried to look at YouTube tutorials but there is virtually nothing on StyleMaker except for an ancient 1997 clip which is useless.
Any help would be appreciated
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
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I suspect this is probably a long-time bug, as I don't believe StyleMaker has been significantly worked on in a long time.
I've used it a few times, but for most users, I suspect it could use somewhat of an overhaul to make it much more user friendly. Not a dig; just an observation. Obviously, Notes Norton has used it to great effect (and probably why I have purchased pretty much all his styles). But it definitely can be daunting for the average user (and it doesn't need to be).
One thing I would love to see is if BIAB could import Yamaha styles to create a BIAB style. I know it wouldn't be perfect, but it would go a long way to increasing the library of MIDI styles.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
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jonel,
In addition to John's thoughts, I suggest you use a MIDI style that does not begin with ZZ. Styles that begin with ZZ are BIAB's built-in styles (rather that on-disk styles) and these may not work the same in the Stylemaker.
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2013
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One thing I would love to see is if BIAB could import Yamaha styles to create a BIAB style. I know it wouldn't be perfect, but it would go a long way to increasing the library of MIDI styles. +1. (maybe it will be a surprice in the december release)
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3)
Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Although that is precisely the style used in the PG tutorial.
However, it has the same problem in in other styles because that is where I started and finally went to go exactly by the tutorial.
It seems to work OK other than the critical problem I reported. Jford is correct, PG Music would seems to have abandoned it. The manual is clearly not up to date on this issue because, somewhere along the line, the software has changed and it no longer works with regard to the tutorial.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Which tutorial are you following? I'm curious and would love to have a look. I know of Tutorials #5 and #6, but it's been a while since I last worked through them. Also, have you seen the video made with BIAB 1997? This also offers useful information.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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many moons ago - in the days of floppy discs - i created a style based on ZZLITROK which has an added midi hammond organ. that style - and the original - was incredibly useful for lots of 60s covers. all i did was import rthe organ from another style and save the result.
Last edited by Bob Calver; 09/29/25 06:47 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 547
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I have had trouble with StyleMaker from the minute I started to work with it.
I thought this would give me a better idea of how BB works behind the scenes because creating patterns that BB would generate would be something I could use in my own work.
So … I read the 2025 manual from Page 280. This was a great help and I felt I was in a position to start working with this feature. My first stop was to use StyleMaker to create a pattern, but this turned out to be a disaster. I was able to create a pattern for each of the instruments but the real problem came when I tried to audition my patterns. I could start the pattern by pressing Play on the StyleMaker button. Two bars were played and then, in silence it carried on for many more bars, pressing Stop in StyleMaker did stop the silent play. However, when I subsequently pressed Play again from StyleMaker, there was complete silence, even though I could see from the mixer that audio was playing. I then I discovered a workaround; I could press Play in StyleMaker and then press Stop on the main screen. That way I could at least audition my patterns, although I couldn’t seem to solo them. I thought perhaps that my style was to blame for the issue, so I went back to the manual to do the same with the tutorial using ZZLITROK.STY but this gave me the same results.
Next, I tried the StyleWizard to create a style from a Midi file. I found this process a real mess. I tried loading my own midi. This sounded good as a Midi song when it was played in its entirety from the Melody part but after that it went downhill. It loaded the Midi, correctly detected the chords. It didn’t, couldn’t or wouldn’t recognise the time signature of the midi which was 3-4. BB wouldn’t even allow me to change this manually. When I generated and enabled the style I only got the Melody part playing, seemingly out of sync. I think this might have been combination of 4-4 and 3-4 perhaps, but it wasn’t good. When I muted the Melody part I got nothing from the other parts.
In frustration I thought I might try the tutorial in the 2025 manual. I managed to create the Violet.STY style. I tried to find the example song V_TEST.MGU without success. I loaded an MGU of my own but then couldn’t find Violet.STY that I had just created and again, no success.
I’m always ready to blame myself because I have made many mistakes in the past.
All I ask is, can anybody demonstrate that these two tutorials, those that I have mentioned above, actually work! I would be really grateful.
Noel, you said you have worked through these before. Could you try it with 2025 and embarrass me by showing that it all works. Oh, by the way, I did look at that ancient video on StyleMaker. It might have been presentable at that time but it uses a completely different interface. The main screen has evolved every year since then (and no sound). I won’t say any more because I might be the one wearing egg on my face. Sorry if this looks a rant, it isn’t, I just wanted to explain so that somebody might put me right.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Jonel.
I'll have a play around with stylemaker over the next few days and see if I can shed any extra light on it.
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Noel. You've helped me in the past and I'm hoping it might be something I'm doing wrong.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Jonel,
My apologies. I have been pulled in other directions at the moment that take precedence over creating a tutorial for Stylemaker. I'll get back to this as soon as possible.
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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