It would also be nice if they could make styles more user friendly, it takes a lot of work finding the style you really want
Good morning Graham. Well, it's morning here anyway. Regarding Stylemaker searches, I use a search technique that's always been there but I recently learned how well it reduces time and effort when locating appropriate Styles. I have 6,762 Styles. Filtering by type, the breakdown of styles are 3,287 RealStyles and 2,696 Midi Styles. There's a bit of overlap I assume to account for hybrids because those total to more Styles than my total Styles liste.
I start a Style search by filtering the type to Midi only. It reduces my search count initially by nearly 2/3. But it seems the midi Styles have other benefits as well. Many of the midi styles predate the RealTracks era and these older styles many times were created with a specific groove and recognizable feel of an actual song or Artist Style than what I find with RealTracks.
RealTrack Styles are more of a group of instruments that play well together than a style developed based on a commercial released song or the groove of an Artist in mind. RealTracks are based on audio of recorded chord progressions and sequences and while they have a definite groove, as you know, there's no really good way beyond the filters provided by the StyleMaker to narrow searches. The midi Styles have many recognizable grooves so I'm searching and adding RealTracks that play well with the specific groove of my project.
For instance. If you're trying to find a Style similar in groove to the Bee Gees 'Stayin Alive', check out Midi Style Bgees2 Pop 16th. Temptsns2 Style gives you a similar sound to 'My Girl'. Norton Styles and other third party styles provide thousands more. My point is that it seems in time gone by, Midi Styles were constructed more to resemble an actual song or replicate the genre or feel of specific artists. For me, with additional filters to reduce my initial search, midi Styles yield faster and more pertinent results.
Now days, using this search method, I'm quickly locating a Style that sounds like the right groove. I also find I'm including some elements from the midi style into my project. It's really improved me getting the 'sound' I have in my head where often times using RealStyles, I'll choose a RealTrack style that sounds great with my projects, key, tempo and chord chart, but varies from my original melody or groove. Hope this helps you a bit.