How to record "any" LICK or PHRASING into your custom styles.

[DrakeM]

Here is a little but IMPORTANT item which I just discovered in the last 6 months or so.

As you know you have to record in the key of C (we all know this rule).

As you may have noticed in the past, that when you record your note phases using the STYLE CREATOR in the Bass, CHD and PHR section of a style not ALL the notes recorded correctly and/or they will not play back correctly once the style is saved or when you transpose the style into another key.

But if you record your notes (i.e. lick/phrasing) using the PAD slot of the "main", you can record ANY note there and then the keyboard will play back ALL the notes correctly (even if you transpose the key of the style). After recording in this section of the style part you can then move the recorded Pattern you just made to any of the other sections of the style by using "copy and paste." Once you have your recording in its proper location you can then adjust the Reverb and Chorus settings to your liking.

When you are recording your lick (or riff phrase) into the PAD you must also go to the PARAMETER tab. The default PLAY CHORD (in the lower right of the screen) is set on "M7" by Yamaha. You need to select the "Maj" choice, which is the first option at the top of the list. Then your recording will be recorded as you played it. Now it will not sound correct while you are in the STYLE CREATOR mode (I don't know why that is). But once you save the style and then use it in your regular playing mode, it will sound correct.

If you were finding that you could not record your own "lick/phases" into PHR1 correctly, you can move your recorded phase from the PAD section to the PHR1, and it will play correctly.

I have never read anywhere else on the forum that people have discovered this tip and so I guess it is not mentioned in the manual either.

I have been using this new technique the past couple of months, and it really speeds up my time on creating my custom song styles. I can record any phrasing pattern now, it's simple and easy to do using the STYLE CREATOR on the keyboard.

Regards
Drake

[panos]

Thanks for the tip Drake.
I believe this is got to do by how a Yamaha keyboard "understands" the pad section by default in compare to the other 4 style parts (drums,bass,chord,phrase).
In style parts you can check the tab called "Parameter".
I thinK that the NTR,NTT and BASS settings are those parameters which make your recording to play as you have record it and don't change the notes(except if you change the scale)

Usually the partameters for the pad are
NTT : ROOT TRANSPOSE
NTR : CHORD
BASS : OFF

e.g if you record a part in phrase 1, the parameters by default I  think they will be: transpose/melody/off

If you record in phrase 2 will be: fixed/melody/off etc.

If you move (or assembly) a part to another position or to another style,
it will still have the parameters that you orifinally have chosen.

So,if something thta you have recorded doesn't sound right while you are playing,try to change those parameters and maybe it will sound as you wish.


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[DrakeM]

I have not been able to understand and follow the discussions here at the forum on the style's parameters and things like the settings. I just never have been able to grasp the tech lingo that is being discussed.

You are correct about PHR1, that sometimes you can get it to record correctly. I think that is what has had me confused (for years) about what is going on with the style. As sometimes it worked, but most of the time it did not work. So, I was questioning my memory and thinking it didn't work. I talked myself into thinking I just imaged that it worked in the last style that I recorded a lick into one of the Phrase slots of the style.

Plus the other thing, you stated that PHR1 might work correctly for recording but PHR2 never works, very confusing for Yamaha to set them up that way.

The good news is, every time I have recorded in the PAD slot of the style it has worked for the past two months, that is about 4 or 5 of my last custom styles that I have made.

[panos]

Keep it that way Drake,
Your solution looks simple.
And the simpliest solution is always the best.

I have just tried to explain why this may works with the pad part and not with the other parts when you record a part in style creator.
I don't think there are many users that understand 100% how these parameters work.
Neither do I of course.
I just mess around with them untill they suit to my chord fingering in AI fingered mode and make the part to sound right

[DrakeM]

I am adding some additional information to my original post here and I will modify it above as well.

When you are recording your lick or riff phrase) into the PAD you must also go to the PARAMETER tab. The default PLAY CHORD (in the lower right of the screen) is set on "M7" by Yamaha. You need to select the "Maj" choice, which is the first option at the top of the list. Then you recording will be recorded as you played it. Now it will not sound correct while you are in the STYLE CREATOR mode (I don't know why that is). But once you save the style and then use it your regular playing mode, it will sound correct.

I just noticed this today. It was driving me crazy. Just another Yamaha quirk to screw with us I believe. 

Regards
Drake

[DrakeM]

Here are 3 pictures to clarify the location of the PAD to use to record your riffs and licks.
The Pad is location in the Style Creator and not in the Multi Pad section.

[BogdanH]

hi Drake,
The way I see style channels (or tracks), there's nothing special in using Pad. That is, all voice channels have the same options. They differentiate only in their default Parameter/SFF settings (NTR/NTT, RTR,...). Means, if you apply Pad settings in some other channel (except Rhy1 & Rhy2), it will behave exactly the same as Pad.

What is important to keep in mind is, that channels differ in capabilities:
Rhy1
-here you can select any type of voice (DrumKit, Percusion or Voice).
Rhy2
-this channel allows selecting DrumKit only
Bass, Chd1, Chd2, Pad, Phr1, Phr2
-these channels allow selecting Voice and Percussion only.

Btw. there's an interesting thing about Rhy1... We know that notes (keys) are fixed in Rhythm section.. that is, pitch doesn't change when we change chord (otherwise we would get some weird drum playing). So, why would someone use voice in Rhy1? I mean, we usually wish notes for voice (piano, flute, etc) in style to change according to chord we play. In this case however, we get voice playing the same note all the time, no matter what chord we use. So, what's the point?
Well, there is music where we wish exactly this behavior. For example, Tchaikovsky's Arabian dance (listen to the rhythm strings).

Bogdan

[Jeff Hollande]

@ DRAKE

This is very interesting and very useful information and a great tool. WOOOOW !
Wonderful ! Congratulations. Thank you so much, Drake !

Would it be possible to create an example ( by using a preset style e.g. )and add a step by step overview ( in the right order : 01.02.03. etc. ) how to operate ( step by step : 01,02,03 etc. ) to get the best results, plse ?

BTW ... if my request is a bridge too far, plse forgive me and let it go.

Best regards,
JH - The Hopeful 

[vlbrgt]

A must have doc for those who want to know (almost) everything about styles and CASM parameters.
https://wierzba.homepage.t-online.de/StyleFileDescription_v21.pdf

Regrads
Etienne

[Jeff Hollande]

Hey Bogdan :

Can I send you a private message, plse ?

Thanks for your reply.
Best regards, Jeff

[BogdanH]

hi Jeff,
Of course you're welcome to send me a PM.. as is everyone else 

Bogdan