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#387519 12/31/16 09:22 AM
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Is this a good idea, or a can of worms opener?
style selections
-F

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I think the intent behind the idea is good and the idea could be very useful; but, I don't think the idea will gain traction.

Whoever started the Wiki has a good idea but there is no guarantee PG Music will use the list as a reference to update the built-in song list.

Some users may update the list for a song or two but will then fall by the wayside. Others will not provide sufficient information to be useful.

Points 1 & 3 need to be fleshed out better to create a list many will find useful. Not only do many artists cover the same song, some artists release several versions of the same song. The listing needs to detail Song, Artist, Version before giving information about what style and instruments are used. If midi, midiSuperTrack, Loop or UserTracks are included in a style additional information maybe needed such as where to obtain the UserTracks or what VSTi was used.

Finally, since BiaB receives an annual update, what year version was used? As an example many all midi styles created ten years ago do not sound as good as they can because the program capabilities have changed so much.

Of course all this is just my opinion and I am by nature a pessimist.


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Jim, I was going to be a Pessimist but I didnt think it would work out.
I would hope it had Promise. The Stylepicker listed tunes often make no sense - example - clearly 3/4 waltzes with 4/4 sw8 suggested?! Come on!
Maybe I'll add a few of my covers.
The danger is that Readers/Users might expect note by note and instrument by instrument perfection. BB isn't like that.
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I have been mulling over this same idea for awhile. My thought was, perhaps it could be on the PGMusic site as a separate Forum, under the User-to-User section, called something like "User Style Suggestions". That way, you wouldn't have to go "off site" to get at it, and it would likely get more traffic.

I can see where Jim's ideas regarding specific information would be helpful, but I think a lot of songs may not need as much. For example, (and I've used this before in another thread), I used the style _UKES140.STY for Izzy's version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World. If we had such a Forum here, I would use the Song Name as the Title, then just add the Style name in the body of the post.

For many songs and styles (especially modified styles), you would need to add more information, but even with just that much, searching within the Forum for either of those song names or that style, should get you the suggestion that I used.

I for one, would be happy if people posted their song Title and the name of the style they used, even if they had modified the style, and just labelled as (say) "ZZJAZZ (modified)". At least it would give me a place to start without having to wade through a ton in the Style Picker. <grin>
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I would welcome a forum topic on this with user suggestions or at least, have the ability to add your own songs/configurations to the existing list on your personal installation and could be shared in the forum.


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<<Is this a good idea, or a can of worms opener?
style selections
-F>>

<< clearly 3/4 waltzes with 4/4 sw8 suggested?! Come on!>>

Clearly a can of worms opened. One thing that happens on many popular song remakes is a time signature change. There are sure to be aficionados of each version.

"Oh Darling" by the Beatles is one example I'm aware of.

Beyond that, BIAB offers each of us the opportunity to wear the hat of producer of our work whether it is an original piece or a cover. Not a problem or issue, but when I'm searching through the Stylepicker, I find dozens of styles that will work with the project I'm on. As the Producer, it's my job to keep the project on track and make sure the song I output sounds the way it is intended. That is the same task a real Producer in a major studio working with a real artist has. They carefully study and choose the right musicians playing the right instruments in the right style so the song is an accurate reflection of what it should sound like.

It is meticulous work but also necessary in a big studio project. Peter Gannon recently addressed this subject in another post by creating a very useable and clearly recognizable cover version of "Hotel California" taking only a few minutes to find a suitable style and create. Knowing how to properly search the Stylepicker and choosing the right solo guitar was the key to his success as well as his point that it's not that difficult to do.

Matching the style to the chord progression is another key to success. The Stylepicker has a feature to play a style over your chord progression without having to load it into the chord chart. This feature allows you to quickly audition many styles while hearing how the style will play your song. As Dr. Gannon demonstrated, the style he chose sounded quite different over the chord progression he entered than how the demo played. One would not equate "Hotel California" to that style simply by listening to the demo but that style worked quite well with the song.

Charlie




Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 01/01/17 02:01 AM.

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In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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