When converting the 7 instrument styles to the 5 instrument BiaB limitation, I sometimes combine two parts,
sometimes leave out one that seems to duplicate or be irrelevant, sometimes use one part for the A substyle and another for the B (or C&D), and make other "artistic" decisions.

Also, I try to take advantage of the BiaB's "engine" to make the styles more musical than the keyboard counterparts, using the BiaB StyleMaker masks, macros and other tools. I also add more drum rolls and sometimes ignore the ones that came with the keyboard style, if they don't work well with BiaB. Like the 1940s Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer song, I accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

So in the end, my styles are definitely not carbon copies of the keyboard style (that would be impossible anyway) but instead styles that have been inspired by the keyboard styles.

When writing styles I use the VSC that comes with BiaB. True, it's not the best sounding synth, but that's the beauty of working with it. If I can get my styles to sound decent with the VSC, they will sound even better on a good synth.

I've also done the demo files on either the VSC or a SoundBlaster card (I used the SB on the older styles - before the VSC was available). I could use a better synth, but the way I figure it is that many people are probably using the VSC. If I made the styles sound better by using a better synth, those people will be disappointed with their purchase. On the other hand, if the user has a better synth, he/she will be delighted with the purchase.

I also do my demos with the first pass through BiaB. Sure I could run it through a dozen or so times and pick the take where BiaB chose the best patterns, but I just don't feel good doing that.

Now when I play for my own enjoyment, or when I make backing tracks for my duo, I don't use soft synths at all. I have an array of hardware synths and samplers, and I choose the most appropriate sound of each for every individual track.

I have nothing against soft synths, but I prefer hardware. The synth that I bought when I was using the Atari computer is still working, and hasn't needed an upgrade or anything else. It still has a couple of stellar sounds on it. I don't know of any software device that worked on the computers of the 1980s that still work today.

Plus there is only about 5ms latency (for all practical purposes no latency) and I can mix and match that unit with all my newer modules and synths with no noticeable latency at all. I think the Akai sampler has the greatest latency at 6ms. So when mixed together, they sound together with for all practical purposes equal latency.

One more thing. They are all plug-and-play. I can move them to another computer simply by moving the MIDI or USB cable, no installation disks to worry about, no stress on the computer's CPU, and no problems.

Of course there is more than one right way to make music.

To read how I use BiaB to make my band's backing tracks, go to:
http://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.html

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Last edited by Notes Norton; 10/07/10 04:29 AM.