Style making is done by some softwares, with Sonar in combination with those softwares that are free to download from the internet.
Typically, the Style maker software calls sonar, basically it automates the LOADING of MIDI tracks into sonar, where you can then do changes you want. When you are done, and close Sonar, the modified STYLE (MIDI) file is saved with the modifications or creations, and the other software takes it from there, and you finish it in the Style-maker software.
A yamaha Style is a MIDI file, with special headers.
I don't make styles, because there are tons of them available for free in the internet.
I do modify them, as to what instruments they play, sound-levels, and effects. But that does not need sonar necessarily, because there are also more convenient, free softwares to do those things.
Do a googly search for "Yamaha Styles editors".."Yamaha Style makers"..Go to the great "Unofficial Yamaha site", google that one too.
Some of those things can be rather laborious, though. There are some style-makers for sale, and style converters from other brands of keyboards to yamaha format.
But getting ready, good, working styles is just a few mouse clicks...Google "Yamaha Styles download".
I use Yamaha styles all in a computer with an arranger software, and do recording of MIDI, Audio simultaneously in Sonar LE, as I play and do some vocals too. I use voice-less MIDI keyboards playing separate synths. But that's not about making styles, though. But probably learning to modify them is a better starting place, than making them, because making styles, I believe, is a much higher challenge.
If it needs to be said, when one plays with styles as Yamaha's, one is not constrained to a track, and one can play spontaneously, for any length, in any key, improvise, not fixed for a duration of time.
With a single style, one can play any number of songs, one makes the song as one goes on. The style follows you, as musicians would, rather than one follow a pre-established track.
When I manage a sound-click account, I will post some recordings, with the interest of Sonar as a recording tool, though, but Styles is my way of playing.
If you have a more specific question, Jeff, I would try to answer, or lead you to some sites, where they deal with Styles and related issues. But you can surely find them..There are quite a few.
Best wishes.
post edited by NoKey - 2010/03/06 06:59:45