I do use Jammer for creating drum and sometimes bass parts, but for style conversion korg provides a freeware tool that works well once you get used to using it. I sequence in XG works and cakewalk. I use XG works to asist in style to,style conversion because it plays all of the Yamaha styles ( and any style converted to Yamaha format ) from within by writing the pattern and chord in step time to a midifile. I can also use it along with the korg software to quickly accomplish Yamaha .sty to korg .sty style conversions. I am going to give EMC styleworks a tryout as well, but I'm not sure whether that will or won't make the process any easier ior faster.

The real challenge is in tweaking the styles so that they sound good once you get them on the PA80, but with all of the functions included in the Korg style sequencer, it is very doable. It probably takes me anywhere from about 10 mins to over 30 mins from start to finish to convert a style, and maybe a little longer to make a new one from existing parts of different styles ( that aren't on the PA80 already ) or from scratch, depending on what is involved with that particular style. That includes setting up 4 different voices for the STS settings ( single touch settings or in Yamaha speak One touch settings ). The Pa80 also has the style mix and match function so that any part(s) of an existing PA80 style can be mixed easily and quickly with another or several others. This includes taking one or more instrument parts from a single variation or all of the variations in a style if desired and mixing it with others.

Cheers
korg AJ

Ok, so what do u think would be "the best" software to create styles for pa-80 (or any other) from scratch?

Thanks for all your input guys.

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New Yorker

Well. If you need complex customs drums and like me you're not very good at doing them in real time, Jammer is very good at that, but I'm guessing that there are other dedicated software drummers that do well also. Jazz sequencer is also excellent for doing drum / bass patterns ( it's now freeware ), but it may or may not lend itself well to your style of play. I think you're going for a synth style. Jammer is pretty good for laying down rythym patterns on other instruments as well.


Xg works is excellent for working with the yamaha .sty format files, and also when using Yamaah Xg boards, as it has an xg editor program. If you're not going to use either, XG works is otherwise a very ordinary sequencer program that will work fine with any non xg keyboard but because there is no way ( that I know of ) to put a patch file into xg works for non xg synths, it's nothing special to use along with the PA80 just for the purpose of sequencing. Even Cakewalk express has nearly as many functions for just sequencing and is better to use if you need patch definition files.

Of course if you are going to sequence all your parts in real time, you have all you need on the PA80 itself. Any decent external sequencer can be added for editing if you think you might need to.

Korg AJ

[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 04-12-2002).]

Right, but is jammer pro an arranger software?

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New Yorker

Jammer pro is not an arranger software in that you can play it live like an arrnger keyboard. You can play from Jammer styles and step enter chords. The appeal for me is the flexibility in editing styles using a completely different approach than most other software or arranger boards, although Jazz sequencer also uses a similar approach but with a lot less options. ( but hey it's freeware). The approach is different because the notes are produced via algorithims that can vary ranging from the user exercising total control so that a specific note plays at a specific interval to completely random notes being produced based on parameters the user sets. Jammer live is true arranger software in that it functions in the way an arranger does, but Jammer Live users cannot make their own styles.

I'm not saying that Jammer pro is the the software to end all software, ( it isn't ), but it is certainly another useful tool in the arsenal for a player like me who might struggle with difficult drum patterns. There are trial versions available that will give you a good feel for what it can do. If you are interested in more info and a trial version, the link to Jammer is http://www.soundtrek.com

Cheers,
AJ