Ever since Yamaha and the SynthZone gave me the Yamaha PSR740, I have found that the styles on board are very useful, in many ways!

Not only can they be used in live performances, but they can be used as a learning tool as well. Personally, I find that styles are very useful. However, I do not like to use them in my music simply because they are not my creation and, on top of that, Yamaha has a copyright on them. Instead, I record my own styles using the awesome style recording feature!

I have actually learned a lot about drum rhythms and bass tracks just off of the styles offered by the Yamaha PSR740. For instance, if I would want to create a Rock song and I had no prior experience with Rock drum rhythms, I could simply get ideas from the Rock styles. Then, I could create my own style and rhythm using similar voices/instruments from the Rock style to get the same sound. On top of that, you can slow down the tempo of the style and study how the artist actually created the complex rhythms. Then, you could use those same methods in your own style, but add your own touch and "personality" to it! After all, I want the music to be created by me, not by the Yamaha style artists. My main goal is to make sure my music is composed by me and that my music is my own unique talent. I do not want to be some kind of copy or clone of another musician, I want my music to be of me!

With this said, after looking at many of the styles and studying them, I created my own! Actually, I have created a couple! I learned how to create my own fills and A (rhythm main, rhythm sub), B (rhythm main, rhythm sub), C (rhythm main, rhythm sub), and D (rhythm main, rhythm sub) sections...and I learned a lot from the drum rhythms that were already onboard the Yamaha PSR740! Of course, when creating my styles, my main goal is to make sure that they are unique and are my own creation. I do not do the bass, chord 1-2 tracks or any of the phrase tracks, I only create my own drum rhythm tracks. That way, I can have an awesome, ongoing beat in the background of my own song!

So, how many of you create your own styles? I think it would be interesting to share ideas about rhythm and style making. I have learned A LOT from the Yamaha PSR740's onboard styles and I know that I have more to learn!

Well, see you around everybody and have a nice day!
Ryan

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CHECK OUT THE PTRNET WEBSITES!

Performance Hall, Dedicated to Thomas Brothers Music: http://webquad.tripod.com/ph/

American Conquest Real-Time-Strategy Game: http://ptrnet.tripod.com/ac/

I generally don't use styles that often to make my own music. Rather, I use them as a scratch pad to help ideas get started. One thing you said rings very true for me as well. By listening and even picking apart some of the styles, I have learned a good deal about the way some of the genres of music that I hadn't played much before are put together.

AJ

But if styles incorporated into keyboards prevent you from using an instument you buy off the shelf from recording that work then that is a serious problem. While you may not choose to record a commercial track using an inbuilt style, that should be your choice and not a legal obligation.

To my knowledge there is no legal statement with Yamaha's PSR keyboards that indicate that commercial release of music using their styles is illegal. If that was the case then where would it stop. Would using preset arpegiators also present a copyright issue. My own personal view is whatever is released on a keyboard is completely free to use as you see fit, styles, patches or otherwise.

Incidentally music copyright only covers melody which styles don't provide. Rhythm patterns and chord accompaniment aren't covered by copyright to my knowledge. While the style files themselves are covered the use of those files is not at all restricted.

The day I see a big sticker on a keyboard announcing that it cannot be used for commercial purposes then I will simply pass by it. I have always considered any instrument to be a useful tool whether it was called a home keyboard or pro instrument. If it made a cool sound then that was all that mattered.


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 05-29-2002).]

Nigel you touched right on a question I had posted in another thread a while back...I really wanted to know if there is such a thing as copy right and as u said, where would it stop. Can I use the samples in keyboards, the drum kit, bla bla....if a copy right is made, they could technically prevent us from using anything on those keyboards.
I agree everythihng should be free for the choice of the musician.

As I said I consider anything the keyboard can do as your right to use. And any 3rd party sounds that you have bought, you have also bought the right to use them in any works you may create. Any sample discs that place restrictions on use should definately be ignored.

For decades hit records have been using known patches from current keyboards. It has only been GOOD publicity for keyboard manufacturers and has sold an extra 250,000 units.

Use the keyboard you have bought freely and don't worry about copyright issues, they don't apply here. You bought the the right to use the keyboard when you paid out your cash for it.

thanks Nigel

I guess I didn't read your post very well Ryan, because I hardly noticed the comment about copywrite issues and styles. To touch on what you and Nigel said, If I remember the dialogue correctly when Yamaha had directed Bob Gelman to remove some of their styles from the PSR style site, it was stated that Yamaha had no intention of restricting in any way the use of the styles that come with one of their keyboards. In other words, you purchase the board, you can use the styles to create music. There are no copywrite issues in that case. What Yamaha objected to was the posting of styles that could be freely traded / downloaded from a public forum. I stated above that I generally don't use the styles to create my own stuff, but in some cases I have used styles or certain parts of styles. Whether I use them or not is merely a personal choice, and has nothing to do with copywrite issues.

[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 05-29-2002).]

You all have very good points about copyright issues pertaining to styles...I agree with EVERYTHING you said! There was a discussion awhile back about controversy relating to Yamaha's styles...but now I understand since Nigel and everybody explained it to me! Thanks a lot!

But to be truthful, even though I am allowed to use styles in my music, I will not. The number one reason why I do not like to use Yamaha's styles is simply because they are not my creation...I did not put any effort into creating those styles. Therefore, I want my music to be my own creation - where all my effort, talent, and love is put into the composition! But don't worry, I have absolutely nothing against those who use styles. Styles are very useful in many ways: for live performances, as a learning tool, and more!

Again, thanks for clearing things up about styles!

So, does anyone here create their own styles from scratch, just as I do? I'm wondering this because we could share ideas and discuss style creating! Please feel free to leave your comments and ideas!

Well, see you around everybody and enjoy your day,
Ryan

------------------
CHECK OUT THE PTRNET WEBSITES!

Performance Hall, Dedicated to Thomas Brothers Music: http://webquad.tripod.com/ph/

American Conquest Real-Time-Strategy Game: http://ptrnet.tripod.com/ac/

I have created a few styles from scratch Ryan. Mainly though I have been working on conversions. I once had the PSR 740 and later the 2000, but I now have the Korg PA80. I also have the computer based Yamaha XG works sequencer, which utilizes Yamaha styles. Style creation is somewhat different when using the Yamaha format as opposed to the Korg variety. I guess it would be fair to say that much of it comes down to playing the notes, but there is a little more to it as well and each manufacturer approaches style making in a different ways.