StyleMagic creates Intros from MIDI song ?

[tyros2009]

I am about to purchase StyleMagic but have a few questions first:
1) can StyleMagic imports a MIDI song (or part of it)  as intros / endings ?
2) do I need MIDIWorks to edit, enhance MIDI songs (notes modification, individual note velocity, etc...)

I have been using Style Creator on my Tyros3 to modify / create styles but this is a painful and time consuming project.

[Joe H]

#1: StyleMagic can load MIDI songs file to make styles.  Yes you can select any part of the song by placing an INTRO Marker where you want it to start and END_SEC marker where you it to end. Then select CASM Auto Create and Remove END_SEC marker from the TOOLS Menu.  All the correct CASM settings will be set automatically. You can now save the Section to disk from the Sections Manager screen and import it into a style you are working on.

There is a simple explanation on how to create styles here:  https://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php/topic,61950.msg475061.html#msg475061

#2: You will have to buy Midiworks to do any editing of a MIDI song file.  When you go to buy... contact Thomas first and let him know you want to buy both programs and use the same dongle for both programs.  I have done this for myself.

Joe H

[tyros2009]

Thanks for your detailed answers and tips.
I wlll buy both software. Can't wait to try them.
I currently spend about 2 hours to create intros for one song !!! and with a many drawbacks.

[tyros2009]

Already ordered Style Magic and paid for it. 'Waiting for online delivery.
I expect a few weeks learning curve just to get Intros into styles.
I believe copy / delete  various part of a style (intro, main A, B, C, D, etc...) is quite simple.

[Joe H]

In StyleMagic there is a feature in the Channels Manager to transpose individual tracks of a MIDI song file to C Maj scale.  Each track will display a + or - indicating how many semitones are required to get the track in the right key signature.  You can check and uncheck boxes for each track to change each track individually.

Joe H

[tyros2009]

I got Style Magic software today. I spent a few hours to figure out of to create Intros, Endings from MIDI files.

1) I play Intro(s) on the keyboard while recording it as MIDI file, always add a DRUM FILL and the end of the Intro(s)
2) same for the Ending MIDI song

To be clear, each intro / ending is saved as separate MIDI file (I could record all of them in a single MIDI file, but that will be the way after I am more proficient with Style Magic.

3) for each of these MIDI files (2 intro and one ending), I load each in Style Magic, and create a .sec file (named as : <NNNN>-I2 for intro2, <NNNN>-E2 for Ending2 for example. NNNN is the name of the song I am creating the style for.

4) then I open the original style file in  Style Magic, delete its Intro2, Intro3 and Ending2. Next, I load those <NNNN> file in approprate sections.

5) save the result as <NNNN>.sty file

This process will be much shorter (15 mins per styles).

[tyros2009]

Small ISSUE:
I had to copy track1 to track16 in the MIDI file as track1 is not used by Style Magic for creating style sections.
When loading new style in the keyboard, track16 does not sound like the MIDI file.

To overcome this issue, I had to re-record track16 using Style Creator, all other tracks remain as in MIDI file. That cost me an extra 15 mins.

Any suggestion to avoid this issue is greatly appreciated.

[tyros2009]

For some styles, Style Magic set Piano as voice for all tracks 11-16, but for some others, Style Magic leaves them as in the MIDI files.
Still need to figure this out.

[Joe H]

Small ISSUE:
I had to copy track1 to track16 in the MIDI file as track1 is not used by Style Magic for creating style sections.
When loading new style in the keyboard, track16 does not sound like the MIDI file.

To overcome this issue, I had to re-record track16 using Style Creator, all other tracks remain as in MIDI file. That cost me an extra 15 mins.

Any suggestion to avoid this issue is greatly appreciated.

Try going to CASM auto create or go into the CASM editor and select Default settings for each Part.   It should play right after that.  You understand that a style will not sound the same in StyleMagic as on the keyboard.  This is normal.  There is some code in the keyboard OS that translates the playback to sound correct.

Joe H

[Joe H]

For some styles, Style Magic set Piano as voice for all tracks 11-16, but for some others, Style Magic leaves them as in the MIDI files.
Still need to figure this out.

You need the select a Voice from the multieditor (piano roll) there is a bar at the bottom of the screen where the Voices are saved.  Click or right click on the Voice marker to change the Voice.  If there are 2 Voice markers just delete the one you don't want (Piano) I think it is a right click to see the eraser or you can delete in the Voice dialog box.  It's been awhile since I used StyleMagic.  You need just one Voice marker inserted at the beginning of each Section.  Also I think you can do this in the STY Console. There is a double slash at the top of the screen labeled ALL.  (check the boxes you want to keep messages for each Part) Like Style Creator, this will insure the same Voice and other settings is used on all Sections for each Part. Try selecting the Voices in the STY Console. When your style is finished you could load into Style Creator and select each Voice for all parts.  Style Creator will correct each Voice.  I like to do my final mix on the keyboard.  Then I know exactly how it will sound.

Joe H

[tyros2009]

Hi Joe,
thanks so much for your tip. I made good progress since yesterday with your tips.

You understand that a style will not sound the same in StyleMagic as on the keyboard.  This is normal.  There is some code in the keyboard OS that translates the playback to sound correct.

I do understand this part. I connect my Tyros3 to my PC with an USB cable and configure Style Magic to use it instead. So SM (style magic for short) sounds correctly on my T3 speakers (and headphone).

Here is the sequence of events:
1) load midi file for the intros/ending in SM, then use Multi Editor to add start/end markers
2) then Functions -> Create CASM, Functions -> Remove end SEC
3) in section manager, when I play the section created by this MIDI file, it sounds with correct voice
4) then I save the SEC file. Repeat for other intros & endings
5) open the base style in SM, remove the intro/ending sections I want to replace
6) load in the new SEC files
By this time all the tracks 11-16 have piano voice !!! And track#9 and #10 have Standard Kit1 as drum kit !!!
It appears that the issue is created by SM when saving the SEC file (step #4 above)

You need the select a Voice from the mult ieditor (piano roll) there is a bar at the bottom of the screen where the Voices are saved.  Click or right click on the Voice marker to change the Voice.

I will take a look at this.

[tyros2009]

The voicing issue above only occurs for some styles, for some others, there is no issue.
For now, I temporarily fix it by using Style Creator to manually revoice channel 8 to 16.
The two RYTHM channels (9 and 10) of the intros (which I created) section are limited to only 4 choices (shown on screen) by Style Creator on Tyros3. The actual DRUM voice category contains a lot more choices than 4. Selecting any main section and look at RYTHM voices, a much longer list of drum kits are shown.
My guess, Yamaha intentionally put a limit on voices for custom made intros. I could be wrong though.

[Joe H]

Tyros 3 does not support expansion packs.  This began with Tyros 5 and PSR S970.  I have access to all the expansion packs loaded in my S970 including drum kits in the expansion packs and all of the expansion pack Voices for other style Parts and Right and Left Voices in OTS,

Joe H

[tyros2009]

For now, I temporarily fix it by using Style Creator to manually re-voice channel 8 to 16.

I explored Style Magic some more and found that I can manually change voices and volume for the intro channels to match with the one of the main variation I recorded the intro with.
FINALLY, the style created by Style Magic play well inside Style Magic as well as on my Tyros3.
I am pretty done with this particular goal. Money well spent on this Style Magic software.

Many thanks to Joe H for useful tips.

A side note: my main career was in software development so I am quite familiar with how software works, now RETIRED and have lot of time to enjoy music.