Style Creationg with PC - a musician toolkit - suggestions for workflow

[Mark]

Hi Everyone, recently I was wondering what is the workflow of musicians who create styles on Yamaha Keyboards.

I play Genos, but this question is easily applicable to all the models of Yamaha keyboards.
To shortly describe what I've found so far:
I started to dive into this field a couple of years ago (on and off, as time permits, I'm not a musician or something).
I've learned how to use style creator and realized its shortcomings. Then I learned about external CASM editors and purchased Style Magic software. Then I started to learn DAW (Cakewalk because it is free and integrates with Mix Master via "Go To" option - and I needed a basic midi recording facility). Then I came across the issue of shifting notes that indeed exist in Cakewalk (posted the question here some time ago and found a half-working solution)...

Long story short, I've realized that there is no one recommended "silver bullet" solution. I could only dream about the day if Yamaha could provide full-fledged tool that integrated with keyboards and handles of aspects of style creation (has a descent midi editor, understands Sy*** messages, properly handles CASM section etc.)

So my question is to the musicians who create styles professionally or amateurs like me: could you please describe your process of style creation? I mean what is your "technical" approach of doing things, what are the "pain" points and things you've found convenient? Maybe we could share thoughts on that matter and "borrow" ideas from each other...


Here is what I currently do:

I suppose some people prefer to create the style entirely in DAW and then adjust stuff on the keyboard itself in Style Creator.
other musicians might prefer to use style creator and edit parts of the style in Casm Editor (by E. Osenenko) or Style Magic.
I personally probably belong to the second category of people - I try to create styles in style creator and then "polish them" in the Mix Master and Style Magic.
So my approach for now is:
1. Create a folder in the Disk On Key for the style I wish to create (usually I call it starting with a letter 'a' so that I'll see it on the first page of the screen), so If, for example, I want to create a style called "MySongStyle" I'll create a folder "asong" in the root folder of DOK.
2. Do "baby steps" and after small fine-grained modifications save a new version of the file. I always "promote" a counter suffix:
Example: after 3 fine-grained modifications "asong" folder on my DOK contains the following files (all having .sty extension although genos doesn't show it):
- MySongStyle.1
- MySongStyle.2
- MySongStyle.3
I do this because after each modification I can compare the last version of the style to the previous one and decide whether I like it, should keep modifying or even discard the last modification altogether by deletion the last version of the file.
3. Now, let's say I would like to edit some Part on PC (I can use step editor of course, but sometimes it is just way easier and visually much more clear to use PC tools). So to avoid various DOK "removals" from Genos and plugging into PC and then going back and forth multiple times I've bought myself a KVM USB Switch. It looks like this: https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Selector-Computers-Peripheral-Switcher/dp/B01N6GD9JO
So I place the DOK into one of those 4 USB ports in the front panel of the KVM switch, push the button on this switch and my DOK disconnects from Genos and appears on the PC. Then I open it with Mix Master / Style Magic and edit and bring it back to the Synthesizer by pushing the button on the switch once again.
Since I'm not entirely satisfied with the events-shifting issue I currently tend to not use Cakewalk (haven't considered other DAWS, like Cubase) - maybe it doesn't have event shifting issue, I haven't tried that actually. I see that Mix Master, despite having a wonderful Go To option doesn't really integrate with Cubase and other "full-fledged" DAWs as far as I understand (am I wrong)?
I do think I should start using DAW because usually (I believe) its midi editors go way beyond (visually and from the convenience standpoint) the midi editor of style magic.

Thanks a lot in advance for sharing your thoughts and ideas

[BogdanH]

hi Mark,
After reading "your way" of creating styles, I'm afraid I can't add something of value for you. The reason is simple: I create styles exclusively on keyboard -which is "my way" (for my type of music).
Let me explain the reason for my decision...

At first I tried DAW approach and I soon realized that I'm spending more time by fiddling with DAW (+related stuff) than with actual style creation. I also realized that I don't create "better" styles on DAW than on keyboard -at least not for my kind of music. Yes, one can create more complex things in DAW, but that has less to do with quality. When I say "complex", I mean music that's more of Vangelis (or Yanni) type.
For simple (easy listening & dance) music, I see no benefit in using DAW. Here the idea is important: how to make a style that sounds like a real, 3-5 person band. For example, combining "right" instruments that complement each other, .. creating interesting bass pattern.. insert some percussion just at the "right" time.. making a Phrase that makes style "unique".. etc. -without making style too busy.

And that I can do on keyboard.. so why should I bother? Yes, style editor on Yamaha could be better (so we could make certain things easier & faster). But for me, it's still faster than by using DAW. Once I know what exactly I want to have (in Drums, Bass, etc.), I just record patterns and put pieces together.
I'm aware that I'm not making the best styles out there -but that's not because I'm not using DAW. It's because my "artistic side" has limits 

Just my personal experience,
Bogdan

[Mark]

BogdanH, thanks a lot for answering and sharing your experience.

I think your way is totally fine, I also understand that the approach might depend on the type of music. We all, pro musicians and hobbyists have different musical tastes and abilities to express ourselves in music. One of the reasons I've decided to start this thread, besides obviously learning by myself, is to share ideas and approaches for making styles

[ckobu]

When I create a Style, I use the method that best suits what I want to do. I always start with the Style Creator on the keyboard and if no major interventions are needed, that's how I end the process. When I want to process the Style more precisely, I use the computer, MixMaster > GoTo > WGWorks. XGW has no problem with moving notes and that's why I prefer it to Cakewalk. I have made many videos on my channel explaining how to edit the Style. I think this one best describes how to approach the job when we want to use a computer.
https://youtu.be/PM3htJysPmQ

[pethep]

Try this one: Style Magic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We8T9B-tG4M

[Mark]

petherp: Its already a part of my toolkit - a great tool indeed