How many is to many?

[rattley]

Greetings!

I'm still going thru my styles collection and have easily become overwhelmed. Just by going thru all the styles here (Yes! I mean all of them!) I find many duplicates.............Or are they???     So many of the conversions between Yamaha models vary so slightly different that size wise they are identical. Look deeper and you can see differences. MIDI info is so tiny that changes sometimes don't alter the file size.  You have to listen to a style and hear the subtle differences. 

As an example:  NewCountry is a Yamaha style that has been around for a lot of different keyboards. You can hear how it evolves from earlier models to more current ones. And the term evolve doesn't necessarily mean that the newer models sound better.   What started out as a curiosity (Yes I have a cat) has become an obsession.  So many original styles from the earlier Tyros's sound better than the newer boards with the same styles. I prefer some over my Genos's style versions. Oddly NewCountry isn't on Genos.   I attached a zip file with 27 versions of that NewCountry style.  Listen to them on the same machine to see (hear) what I mean.

So where is this going?   Just an age old question that comes and goes around here over the years.   How many styles do you need?  Obviously I am insatiable. How about you?  -charley

https://ln5.sync.com/dl/65dbbd460/vid8w72t-9fq9d666-t9e6yzzp-7f45q7n2

[RoyceM]

Hi Charlie,

Speaking to your point, I've had three PSR keyboards: S900, S910, and now the S975.

When I make an arrangement, I keep a copy of the style that is always paired to that song.  I've noticed that some of the later versions of the same style name are so different that I could never get the effects/results that I got with an earlier version.

Because I keep a library of the style I use per each song, I can always borrow from it (make a copy) when my S975 doesn't have the effect I want. This gives me the best of both worlds, past and present.

I use downloaded styles too and maintain a separate library of interesting styles I might want to use in the future. I review these occasionally to see if they still hold my interest.

- Royce

[BogdanH]

hello Charley,
I think that you're not alone at being obsessed with collecting and sorting styles. And when you're at the point when you ask yourself "is it worth?" then you actually already know the answer: for you, it's not -it's a never ending mantra.

There are hundreds of styles already in keyboard and almost all styles we can download for free on internet, are the same built-in styles with minor changes applied. But you can make these changes by yourself when needed -that's what arranger keyboard is made for.
Let's say you wish to learn some country song that you just heard on radio. Now you have 27 (or more) country styles to choose from.. and at this point you will realize that none of these isn't even close. Yes, by using them you can play that country song, but result will be far from what you hoped for. And no matter which style you choose, it will always sound similar -means, all your country songs that you play, will sound similar.. which is kinda boring after a while.

The only styles that I have saved on my PC, are those in Yamaha expansion packs -because they do differ from built-in styles. That's all. I only learn maybe 10-15 songs per year, and so, how many styles do I need? As for playing for fun and practicing, these built-in styles are more than enough for me.
One might say "but you never know what song you will wish to learn in future". No I don't. But I do know that style for that particular song will probably not exist in thousands of additional freebie styles. I know that, because I was a collector once.

Every keyboard player has his own approach and opinion about this... you just need to find yours 

Bogdan

[Graham UK]

I download all available styles, it's all part of our wonderful hobby, but I've learnt to be very strict so only a few are keepers.

The remainders go in the trash.
For a different approach, play a song with a style you would not normally use with that tune and get some interesting results.

Play a 3/4 tune with 4/4 style or 4/4 tune with 3/4 style.
This will help your timing.

[rattley]

Hi!

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I don't need a shrink. As far back as my earliest arrangers style auditioning has always been a favorite past time. Some of my best song sessions are playing songs with styles that aren't song specific. Or playing the same  song using several totally different genres. I try unconventional arrangements, chord progressions, tempos, instrumentation. Some nights things click........others they do not!  Sometimes you just get playing and things just happen. I have a theory about the difference between a professional player and an amateur.  A professional MUST play to a schedule and give a satisfactory performance. Amateurs can play whenever THEY want and can be as disciplined or not depending on MY mood.  "The show must go on" is not a factor.

I don't sing so my arranger performances usually count on the style as being the star. I like letting the style do the work to showcase the song. Other players seem to follow the opposite discipline. The melody  (or singing) drives the song. Better melodies come from better accompaniments.

I can't wait until tonight's keyboard performance begins!  -charley