I think BIAB is a very intuitive and well laid out program. Some of the BIAB styles are ok Tom. I think my main objection to some of them is that many seem to be centered around the Jazz genre, and in truth, I don't think any rigidly structured styles can really do justice to that type of music. I do think though, that the BIAB jazz styles are the best of the lot in the program, and I am not very impressed with some of it's other genres. I do like BIAB as a drum machine though. It's easy to step enter and then modify variations of drum notes and patterns to create user styles. I still think a BIAB and Jammer Pro are better for composing than an arranger in some ways, because each automatically allows for changes in the note data inside of a single style variation ( there are several midi files and other comntroller data within a single style variation ). Arranger pattern variations are generally locked into one midi file or passage for each instrument per style variation.

XG works is a good program, but all the style data has to be entered or step recorded manually, and I find it to be cumbersome when I want to jam along to something or get an idea that I want to develop quickly. The approach and interfce could be better. Although BIAB also requires one to step enter chords ( unless you want the program to enter some random chords for you, based on how you configure it), the process and interface makes it much quicker and logical to do ( at least for me ).

OMB allows you to change chords and variations in real time. It is, however, limited to Yamaha format styles. One advantage though is that it uses Cakewalk type instrument files. I simply replaced the default ins defintions with the Motif ES definitions, and then changed the file name to OMB.ins, and voila, I now have the ES patches available from within to use with OMB. That was sooo easy. I can't do that in XG works, and I had to hand make ins files for Jammer Pro and BIAB ( totally different formats ) for both the PA80 and Motif.

The alternative to BIAB is Jammer Pro. In some ways the two are similar, but each approaches song creation in a different manner. I really liked version 4, as it was very quick and easy to alter styles to your own preferences and tastes. Jammer Pro Version 5 is more complex, and allows you to edit style data on a piano roll type sequencer, but along with this and some other improvements, the OS became much more cumbersome to me and all in all it's a disappointment for me. Still, you can make some complex stuff with it and it uses different algorithims along with several pieces of midi data per style variation to make it sound more random and therefore "real" vs a locked arragher style. This is also true of BIAB, but with a different approach.

Jammer Live would be an alternative to OMB, as it allows for instant live play like an arranger, but it uses only Jammer format styles, and no style editing capabilities ( at least in the version I used )

I haven't tried Live styler or Real time style performer as extensively, but I think our own Frank L Rosenthal knows a thing or two about these programs. They are similar to OMB in that you use Yamaha format styles in real time, but they have different approaches and interfaces as well.

Rikkisbears mentioned it and I agree. Most if not all of these programs have working demos that can give you an in depth feel for the programs, so I would recommend to try them all. I did, and subsequently purchased all of them at different times except for Live Styler and Real Time style performer ( I'm a happy OMB user )

There is also an excellent jazz based program called Jazz++ sequencer. It has algo's built in that allow for creation of unique drum bass and rythym / harmony instrument pieces. It was once a commercial program, but has since become open source and is now freeware.

AJ




[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 11-29-2003).]