I have zero ethical concerns about backing tracks. I have never considered myself a “musician”. I am a music producer. I see no difference between bringing live musicians into the studio and recording them playing what I tell them to play or opening up my daw and all my wonderful toys and just constructing it myself. Thanks for the video, Henry.
Great topic! Here’s my take- if I were going to spend the time and money to rent a studio for the day and hire session musicians, whom I would select based on my musical foundation and the requirements of my personal songs, they would sound very little- probably unnoticeably- different than any REAL real musician I’d pick out of Band in a Box. I do spend time after I’ve birthed a new song to run through lots of REAL DEMO musician tracks, plugging in their real performances to my initial tracks in LOGIC. Only a very few times has the BIAB algorithm produced a “blip” or a “slip”, a “burp” or a “hiccup” I’ve had to mix out, so the Real Tracks are very strong. Of course, I mix and master those tracks in to produce a final song. In other words, I feel I am “hiring musicians” to play my songs virtually just as I would in a studio setting. I do use BIAB Audiophile to get the best mixes possible. So when I make songs, I add vocals and guitar, harmonica and a few percussive lines… and can only say my songs would stink without BIAB backing me. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I know from personal experience a point you brought up Henry. I love working with BIAB and creating songs. What I am not so good at is learning the songs and playing them myself. It's a great way to practice and become a better musician.
Great post Henry, I agree with your views on the subject. I worked for 20+ years as a semi-pro singer mostly using backing tracks with the occaisional band backed sessions. Many solo artists sprung up in the UK with the advent of Karaoke and the Music Licensing restrictions that were placed upon music venues at that time where any more than a duo meant forking out for a full music license at prohibitive cost to the venue and a sharp drop in available places for local bands to play. Whilst Licensing laws have changed in recent years solo acts and duos using backing tracks are still predominant throughout the UK in the majority of venues that are space and or noise restricted and thankfully the number of places that accomodate bands has increased to a decent level making for a healthy music scene for all players once again. My own experience as a musician/vocalist is that having a family to support I have had a full time job from the age of 15 and later a 30year career as a full time Firefighter has limited time available for music, honing my skills (or lack of) and finding others to play with that have compatible music goals so working solo with the aid of backing tracks was an opportunity too good to pass on. I've palyed guitar, bass and keyboards not very well but have been blessed with the ability to carry a tune vocally, no excuses here as, I know plenty of solo acts that sing and play an instrument along with backing tracks that are truly great performers along with a whole lot of hopefulls that are truly awful and still manage to earn a living with backing tracks. The ability to sing and play on my own has always eluded me, I am working on that though and even in my Seventies I am working hard to home my keyboard skills with a view to be able to accompany myself at the odd gig now and then or find a group of like minded musicians to perform with. Anyway, back to the subject of Henry's post. In my experience working with backing tracks has several advantages: 1. You are not limited by lack of musicians/performers available. 2. The ability for voacalists to perform alone. 3. No limit to the number of venues available to perform in. 4. Backing tracks don't play the wrong notes, out of tune or out of time. 5. No pissy or prima donna band members to contend with. 6. You can perform songs with no limit to instrumentation or Orchestration. Disadvantages are: 1. They are unforgiving, if you make a mistake it can stick out a mile and there is no one else to help you cover it so you must learn that skill too. 2. You don't get that band banter and joy of playing with others. 3. You are limited by the length and form of a song with limited space for improvisation. 4. Some audiences tend to think you can sing or perform anything and will burdon you with ridiculous requests. 5. When you do ocaisionally perform with a band it can be difficult to adapt to the way they interpret a song when you are used to using backing tracks which never change style or format. 6. Moreso than with live musicians/bands you will tend to get hassled by every person in the room that thinks they can sing to get up and do a number no matter how bad they are and most of them will be. There is also the danger that they will be so good at performing one particular song, they will make you look not as good and ruin your flow so beware who you let up to join you :) I could likely add many more that will come to mind but will finish up by saying that I see nothing wrong with the use of backing tracks so long as they are good and used in a professional manner, they open up so many musical oportunities for performers.
Excellent discussion, and very helpful. One key thing not mentioned here, but which I believe is critical, is transparency. If you're using backing tracks, and make it easy for the audience to be aware of that, no problem - everyone is on board and it's all about giving it your all with your live performance. If there's even a hint that you're trying to "pull the wool" over the audience in any way, that can have major repercussions.
Well transparency is kinda true BUT there are tons of bands I've seen where the transparency is not always obvious. Especially when you hear horns in the song and don't see any on stage. I personally have not witnessed any major percussions. I just see the audience enjoying the performance.
I totally agree Henry with the Backing Tracks as a valuable and important part of a show. Let the purist be prudish but as a I no longer have my lead singer who sang in 5 different languages along with my Mandolin and two percussionist. I’ve gone fully in to developing my own show and the difference is amazing including Real Tracks from biab as well as my years of music recording has given me a new sense of possibilities. Thank you Henry for tapping into a vital way older musicians can perform and sound they can be proud of. An audience just wants to see,hear and feel the performance. I also just purchased the Ultra+ pack and man are you right on with that recommendation. Keep em Coming Henry Thanks again, Matthew from California.
Great Talk Henry ,being a chromatic Harmonica ,as good as I am ,the backing is what keeps people listening past 2 or so songs ,A Great singer with out backing would have same problem ,A 2 hour playing with out backing would not last .
Backing Tracks Rule the Day . 10 or so Years ago Tracks were MIDi Big Big Difference since BNB Added Real Tracks . Keep the Senior Videos Coming Henry !
I have zero ethical concerns about backing tracks. I have never considered myself a “musician”. I am a music producer. I see no difference between bringing live musicians into the studio and recording them playing what I tell them to play or opening up my daw and all my wonderful toys and just constructing it myself.
Thanks for the video, Henry.
You're welcome.
Great topic! Here’s my take- if I were going to spend the time and money to rent a studio for the day and hire session musicians, whom I would select based on my musical foundation and the requirements of my personal songs, they would sound very little- probably unnoticeably- different than any REAL real musician I’d pick out of Band in a Box. I do spend time after I’ve birthed a new song to run through lots of REAL DEMO musician tracks, plugging in their real performances to my initial tracks in LOGIC. Only a very few times has the BIAB algorithm produced a “blip” or a “slip”, a “burp” or a “hiccup” I’ve had to mix out, so the Real Tracks are very strong. Of course, I mix and master those tracks in to produce a final song. In other words, I feel I am “hiring musicians” to play my songs virtually just as I would in a studio setting. I do use BIAB Audiophile to get the best mixes possible. So when I make songs, I add vocals and guitar, harmonica and a few percussive lines… and can only say my songs would stink without BIAB backing me.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Agree. Merry Christmas to you and yours !!
I know from personal experience a point you brought up Henry. I love working with BIAB and creating songs. What I am not so good at is learning the songs and playing them myself. It's a great way to practice and become a better musician.
It's a great way to become proficient at playing your instrument!
Great post Henry, I agree with your views on the subject.
I worked for 20+ years as a semi-pro singer mostly using backing tracks with the occaisional band backed sessions.
Many solo artists sprung up in the UK with the advent of Karaoke and the Music Licensing restrictions that were placed upon music venues at that time where any more than a duo meant forking out for a full music license at prohibitive cost to the venue and a sharp drop in available places for local bands to play. Whilst Licensing laws have changed in recent years solo acts and duos using backing tracks are still predominant throughout the UK in the majority of venues that are space and or noise restricted and thankfully the number of places that accomodate bands has increased to a decent level making for a healthy music scene for all players once again.
My own experience as a musician/vocalist is that having a family to support I have had a full time job from the age of 15 and later a 30year career as a full time Firefighter has limited time available for music, honing my skills (or lack of) and finding others to play with that have compatible music goals so working solo with the aid of backing tracks was an opportunity too good to pass on. I've palyed guitar, bass and keyboards not very well but have been blessed with the ability to carry a tune vocally, no excuses here as, I know plenty of solo acts that sing and play an instrument along with backing tracks that are truly great performers along with a whole lot of hopefulls that are truly awful and still manage to earn a living with backing tracks. The ability to sing and play on my own has always eluded me, I am working on that though and even in my Seventies I am working hard to home my keyboard skills with a view to be able to accompany myself at the odd gig now and then or find a group of like minded musicians to perform with.
Anyway, back to the subject of Henry's post.
In my experience working with backing tracks has several advantages:
1. You are not limited by lack of musicians/performers available.
2. The ability for voacalists to perform alone.
3. No limit to the number of venues available to perform in.
4. Backing tracks don't play the wrong notes, out of tune or out of time.
5. No pissy or prima donna band members to contend with.
6. You can perform songs with no limit to instrumentation or Orchestration.
Disadvantages are:
1. They are unforgiving, if you make a mistake it can stick out a mile and there is no one else to help you cover it so you must learn that skill too.
2. You don't get that band banter and joy of playing with others.
3. You are limited by the length and form of a song with limited space for improvisation.
4. Some audiences tend to think you can sing or perform anything and will burdon you with ridiculous requests.
5. When you do ocaisionally perform with a band it can be difficult to adapt to the way they interpret a song when you are used to using backing tracks which never change style or format.
6. Moreso than with live musicians/bands you will tend to get hassled by every person in the room that thinks they can sing to get up and do a number no matter how bad they are and most of them will be. There is also the danger that they will be so good at performing one particular song, they will make you look not as good and ruin your flow so beware who you let up to join you :)
I could likely add many more that will come to mind but will finish up by saying that I see nothing wrong with the use of backing tracks so long as they are good and used in a professional manner, they open up so many musical oportunities for performers.
Excellent discussion, and very helpful. One key thing not mentioned here, but which I believe is critical, is transparency. If you're using backing tracks, and make it easy for the audience to be aware of that, no problem - everyone is on board and it's all about giving it your all with your live performance. If there's even a hint that you're trying to "pull the wool" over the audience in any way, that can have major repercussions.
Well transparency is kinda true BUT there are tons of bands I've seen where the transparency is not always obvious. Especially when you hear horns in the song and don't see any on stage. I personally have not witnessed any major percussions. I just see the audience enjoying the performance.
Excellent points and I agree you conclusion is it helps more than it harms.
Thanks Charlie !
I totally agree Henry with the Backing Tracks as a valuable and important part of a show. Let the purist be prudish but as a I no longer have my lead singer who sang in 5 different languages along with my Mandolin and two percussionist. I’ve gone fully in to developing my own show and the difference is amazing including Real Tracks from biab as well as my years of music recording has given me a new sense of possibilities. Thank you Henry for tapping into a vital way older musicians can perform and sound they can be proud of. An audience just wants to see,hear and feel the performance. I also just purchased the Ultra+ pack and man are you right on with that recommendation. Keep em Coming Henry
Thanks again,
Matthew from California.
Thanks and I agree with you. It makes a huge difference in having a great show.
Great Talk Henry ,being a chromatic Harmonica ,as good as I am ,the backing is what keeps people listening past 2 or so songs ,A Great singer with out backing would have same problem ,A 2 hour playing with out backing would not last .
Oh I can definitely understand. Being a front man of any kind benefits greatly from backing tracks it the front man does not have an actual band.
Backing Tracks Rule the Day . 10 or so Years ago Tracks were MIDi Big Big Difference since BNB Added Real Tracks . Keep the Senior Videos Coming Henry !
Totally agree !!