Adding/Deleting/Changing Notes in StyleMagic - Unlocking Styles

[HarleyRider]

I've read that in the Multi Editor section of StyleMagic that adding, deleting, changing and dragging notes in style channels is easy!  Is that true, and if so, can some point me in the right direction on how to do it?

Also do style files have to be unlocked before try can be modified by StyleMagic?

[HarleyRider]

I wish to make changes to notes in style section channels like in CHD1 and CHD2 of the MAIN A section of a style.  I also often import style channels from other styles to improve the style I will be using.  Both of these tasks can be achieved with a lot of effort within Style Creator.

I have read that StyleMagic can achieve both these tasks, presumably with less effort, along with other interesting things.  However, with considerable time spent over the last two days, I can not confirm that either of these things can be done with StyleMagic.  I have downloaded the demo version and watched the videos.  The English annotated videos are 5 and 6 years old.  The newer videos are in a foreign language.

Maybe this software does do what I want, but I have no way of figuring out what it will do.  I guess the developers are not interested in serving the English speaking market.  Im at a dead end!

I would appreciate any additional support that forum members can provide.

[Joe H]

Try working from the Mixing Console screen.  Select Main A, then the style Part you want to change, You can easily change the notes from there. It's a piece of cake!  We have to work with the program to understand its conventions.  I understand your frustration.  It's a good program but English is a second language for Thomas (which he is still learning).

Joe H

[HarleyRider]

Joe,

Please provide more information because its still not making sufficient sense to me.

From the Edit menu, I select mixing console, then in the lower right of the screen I select Main A.  I then see the various channels that are part of the Main A section.  If I right click on the top icon for CHD1 (for example) I can then make changes to the voice being used.  If I left click on the icon, I am then presented with essentially the MultiEditor screen - I have been on this screen before. In the course of writing this post I happened to left click on an open area of the screen and did in fact accidentally create a note - yea. 

I was previously aware that I could edit a note by left clicking on that note.  Now I can create and edit a note.  But what is the trick to deleting a note?  For example, the note I accidentally created?

Then assuming I can then create and edit a note, how can I move it in "time"?  Do I have to delete it, then recreate it at a different horizontal location?

And then, of course, is there a way to import and export channels such as CHD1 in Main A?  I am aware of how to move, delete, copy, import and export style sections like importing a new Main A into the current style file being operated on.  I am hoping there are similar capabilities for importing/exporting channel parts.

Thanks for the help thus far.

[HarleyRider]

Joe,

Surprise, surprise.  It seems that I have possibly figured how to delete a note.  I was able to make it disappear by right clicking on it and dragging it off the screen.  I assume this essentially deletes it.  Is that correct?

If so, wouldn't it have been easy and simple to document these procedures rather than provide no info at all and leaving it up to the user to "guess his way" through the functionality of the product?

If all the above really works, then onto importing/exporting channel parts.

[Joe H]

Harley,

There are two ways you can delete a note. 

As you discovered... in the Channels Manager... Left-click on a channel icon then left-click the note you want to delete (execute), it will be moved to channel 1, then drag it to the trash can.  This operation is also intended to separate out notes particularly for drum channels, but can be used to separate notes to a different channel/part. Once the notes are separated (split), then move them from channel 1 (or ch2) by dragging the channel to one of the active part channels. (ch 9 - 16)

The second way to delete notes is to open the multieditor. While holding down the Shift key, left-click on a note (an eraser will appear)

Unfortunately there is no Export/Import for a single style Part.  I asked Thomas for this function. He said he liked the idea, but he never implemented it.  It's strange because we can Export and Import an entire Section in Sections Manager. Maybe he will include that function in his next update... but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Joe H

[HarleyRider]

Joe,

I have confirmed that I can add, edit, and delete a note.  I still have not found a way to move a note in "time" - other than delete it and recreate it at another location.  And it would be nice to copy and place a note to another location.  Maybe that capability is there but Ive not yet figured it out.

HOWEVER, I believe I have figured out how to "essentially" import a channel from one style to another!!

From Style X,  I export section Main A - which contains the CHD1 channel I wish to use in Style Y.   I then load Style Y into StyleMagic.  I then locate an unused section in Style Y and import the Style X section previously exported into that unused  section.

I can then go to the section I wish to import the new Channel CHD1, delete its CHD1 channel, and move the desired (new) CHD1 into the vacant location!

I have tried this procedure on the demo SW and it appears to work, but since there is no save, I can't confirm absolutely.

Described in simple words - rather than importing the CHD1 channel I want (or any other channel),  I import a style section that contains the desired channel, and then move that channel to the sections I want. 

This takes slightly more time than doing it manually on the keyboard, but if you want to do other things like changing notes and other control functions it quickly becomes a much better way to do things!

On another topic,  how long does it take to receive the dongle once I make the purchase?

[Joe H]

You wrote:

... "I still have not found a way to move a note in "time" - other than delete it and recreate it at another location.  And it would be nice to copy and place a note to another location.  Maybe that capability is there but Ive not yet figured it out"...

I think it can be done in the multieditor; I've never attempted that function.

... "Described in simple words - rather than importing the CHD1 channel I want (or any other channel),  I import a style section that contains the desired channel, and then move that channel to the sections I want"...

I avoided suggesting that because you were new to the program... you stated it better than I could have    I'm happy you figured it out. You will have a good time with the program.  It's got a great Voice Editor and Drum Editor.  BTW... the Drum Editor is only accessible when you select SInt.  Drum kits are only editable globally. So whatever edits you make to the drum kit it will apply to all style Sections and Parts. It's really nice to be able to Fine Tune or change Volume of a snare of kick drum, add or delete Reverb to a percussion sound, change the Filter and Resonance on an individual drum sound.

..."how long does it take to receive the dongle once I make the purchase"?

Usually just a couple of days.  One thing that is important... only have the USB stick you wish to be the dongle connected so the software knows what USB device to register as the dongle.  Thomas will then send the program specifically coded to boot from your USB stick. You can format the USB stick once it's a dongle and copy files to it and read and write to it.  The serial number of the USB stick is the copy protection code / ID that allows the program to boot up.  Another nice thing about StyleMagic is that it is portable.  If you copy the executable file to the USB stick, then you can plug it in to any computer and boot the program from the USB stick.

Joe H

[HarleyRider]

Thanks for the help.  I have ordered the S/W.  What is the procedure now?

And second question.  I would like to download the K/B supplied styles to the USB stick.  I have already downloaded the many free styles that I have found on the forum.

Thanks again for the help.  My first new style will be for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Iz.  With some luck I will upload the completed song with voice in the next month or so.

[Joe H]

You will get an email with a link to download StyleMagic.  Run the installer. The first time you boot the program you will have to set the instrument and MIDI connection.  It will be memorized so you want have to do that again. BTW... if you want to add expansion Voice lists to StyleMagic, you can do that. There are a couple of free programs you will need to do that... but it's cool that we can.  I've added 5 expansion Voices to my PSR S970 + Euro Dance file. In the past, Thomas has always offered updates for free, but has been thinking of charging for updates in the future.  We don't know what he has decided to do for the future.

I have a PSR S970, so I will give instructions for that.

To copy the keyboard styles...
1. Have your USB stick connected to the keyboard
2. Press the Style button
3. Navigate to Preset... you will see all the style folders
4. Use button 8 to select Menu 2
5. Select COPY, then ALL, then OK
6. Navigate to the USB stick and select PASTE

Now your entire preset styles are copied to the USB stick

Joe H

[HarleyRider]

I have completed my arrangement of the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Iz.  I used a style from Bart Kuijer, using parts A, Fill AA, and Ending 1.  Using StyleMagic, I modified CHD1 and 2, and took the cymbal crash out of Rhythm2.  Overall, this was much easier to do than manually on the KB.

Thanks for helping me to decide to purchase StyleMagic.

Now how to easily modify/create Multipad files?  Any thoughts?

[Joe H]

Two ways to load Multi Pads into StyleMagic.

1. Open the MP in MixMaster and use the GO TO menu setup for StyleMagic. 

2. Change the file extension from .pad to .mid so you can load it into StyleMagic.

If you you the first option, when you save the MP it will save it back to MixMaster where you can then save it as an MP.  If you use the second option, you will have to restore the .pad extension.

We can do great editing of Multi Pads in StyleMagic.  Too bad Thomas doesn't support Multi Pads.  I suggested it to him a long time ago.

Joe H

[Joe H]

BTW... After you save your edited MP, you can convert the Multi Pad to a simple one Main Section / 4-Part style and use it with Style Creator Assembly on the keyboard to add a Part or all 4 Parts to another style... or just use it as a Multi Pad along with a style in the normal way.

Joe H

[HarleyRider]

Thanks for the info.  Will work on it.