Backing Track 2 5 1

[Tina Popielarczyk]

Abacking track is an audio recording on audiotape, CD or a digital recording medium or a MIDI recording of synthesized instruments, sometimes of purely rhythmic accompaniment, often of a rhythm section or other accompaniment parts that live musicians play along with or sing along to. Backing tracks enable singers and bands to add parts to their music which would be impractical or impossible to perform live,[1] such as string section or choir parts which were recorded in the studio. A backing track can be used by a one person band (e.g., a singer-guitarist) to add any amount of bass, drums and keyboards to their live shows without the cost of hiring extra musicians. A small pop group or rock band (e.g., a power trio) can use backing tracks to add a string section, horn section, drumming or backing vocals to their live shows.

Bands or solo musicians may use backing tracks to add extra instrumental or vocal tracks to a live performance, to enhance the sound (as in the employment of doubled backing vocals) or to replicate more closely the instrumentation heard on a recording (as in the use of additional recorded parts such as string sections which would be costly to reproduce live.) A singer or vocal group performing without a backup band may sing along to pre-recorded music. A music track without lead vocals may also be called a karaoke, minus-one track or playback. Music backing tracks are also available for instrumental practice and jamming by jazz musicians, to help beginning to intermediate performers play to a song's rhythm part or learn to improvise over chord progressions. Backing tracks are also known as jam tracks,[2] accompaniment tracks, karaoke tracks or performance tracks. If bought commercially, backing tracks often use session musicians to play the instruments and backing vocals, rather than using the original recording of a song, because the rights to use the original performance of the backing parts of a song by a well-known band would be very costly to purchase.

In electronic music, some parts which have been programmed are too fast or complex to be played by a live musician. Backing tracks are also used when some or all members of a group are miming the playing of their instruments, lip-synching or using guide tracks.

Also, certain situations may dictate that a backing track must be used; some television programs require that reality TV singing contestants perform only the vocals live to simplify the process of mixing the performance, because it means that the sound engineers do not have to set up microphones for different backing bands.

Prior to the advent of computers, backing tracks were generally employed through the use of audio tape synced with the live performance. In the 1980s, Timbuk 3 was an early band which openly used backing tracks in live performances. The band openly displayed their "boom-box" as the third (3) member in the band. Singer-songwriter Pat MacDonald wrote, performed and pre-recorded all the tracks. T3 started out as a cheaper way to busk on the streets of Austin, Texas.

Digital sequencers afforded a new option for bands based on electronic music: a sequencer could be programmed with the MIDI control data to play back an entire song live, by generating the instrument sounds from synthesizers.[3] Sparks were one of the earliest bands to use computer backing trackings, touring with a desktop in 1994.[4] However, it was not until the advent of the inexpensive portable computer (and more specifically, the digital audio workstation) that musicians were given any real choice beyond the use of tape. In the 2000s, the methods used for backing tracks vary; smaller bands frequently use CDs, DAT playback, MiniDisc or even an MP3 player; larger acts more commonly use computers or standalone MIDI-and-audio[5] playback devices with onboard sound modules.

The use of backing tracks has drawn criticism from some music critics. Many fans dislike the use of tracks live, feeling that they detract from the integrity and honesty of a live performance. The amount of criticism tends to vary with the number of backing tracks used.[citation needed] The playback of additional audio such as rapid, complex synthesizer parts or string section parts while a band plays live tends to draw the least criticism; the heaviest is usually reserved for backup tracks that include all or most of the backup band's performance.[citation needed] Some musicians have spoken out against the use of backing tracks; notably, Elton John said in 2004 that "anyone who lip-syncs in public onstage when you pay 75 pounds to see them should be shot." (Specifically, he levied this criticism at Madonna, who does use backing tracks on tour, although accusations of lip synching were denied by her management, who argued it is not the same as miming. John later rescinded his claims of lip synching, although he continued to criticize her use of backing tracks.)

However, some musicians defend the use of tracks. For instance, Pet Shop Boys state that "There's no sneaky secrecy about it" and that their electronically based music would sound "sloppy" if played live, a view that has been echoed by other electronic groups.[6] Roger Waters has admitted to using a pre-recorded vocal track to augment his live vocals on certain songs; his band member Norbert Stachel has agreed that it would be better for Waters to use the track than to lose his voice.[7]

Dare I say it, but I've neglected my Kemper for too long and now I can't remember what the set up is to play and MP3 or other source through it. I want to be able to plug my headphones in and play along to a backing track a night without disturbing anyone. I have hooked my MP3 into the Alternative input and the return input as I thought, but thats as much as I can remember. I recall I had to change something in the input, but the only one I can get a sound out of is by setting the input source to "Return Input Reamp", but then it takes on the characteristics of the profile i.e the gain, reverb etc.

First, you need a 3.5mm Male Stereo to Dual 1/4-Inch Male Mono Y-Cable Adapter, if you want stereo from your MP3 player. Otherwise, you'll get only one side (not mono on left and right). Then, connect the 1/4 plugs into the Alternative Input and the Return Input, the other end into your MP3 player (obviously).

Thanks everyone, I was basically plugging everything in as stated above but I was missing the bit about turning up the AUX IN, so extra credit to HELL-G for that last bit.

Thanks again, my better half is blissfully happy with the silence and me with the awesome tones in my head!!

I recently was asked if it was possible to put regular backing tracks onto a BB. The purpose was to replace a Digitech JamMan Solo XT, which apparently is no longer getting Mac software support. I found a backing track process that works. Apparently this idea had been kicked around before, but I never really understood how to make it work, and I thought there was a limit on individual wav file length in the BB, significantly shorter than the 100mb kit limit. It appears that I was wrong on that count, as I have made a 50+mb, nearly 5 minute long wav into a BB song. In short, this is how it is done.

Create the wav file. - It has to be 44.1khz (44100), 16 or 24 bit. I have always use 16bit with good success. The file will need to be less than 100mb, but for most reasonable length songs, this is not a problem.

In my experiment, for whatever reason, the new kit did not immediately appear in the Drumset list. I then quit BB Manager, and restarted BB Manager. After booting, I imported the drumset from the Save As location, and it was now in the list. Click the box to activate it.

Next, Create the BB song. You will first need to create a midi file that will trigger the note in your drumset. You will need to know the length of your wav file in minutes and seconds, or have an easy way to see the whole wav file in a DAW. I use Logic Pro X, so this is fairly simple.

Method 1 - Start a new Logic Project and add the wav to a blank audio track. You will now have a visual representation of the audio track. Create a new blank midi track. Add a note at midi 36, or whatever midi drumset location you chose for your wav. Drag the right end of that midi note to match up with the end of the wav, one long note. Select and export just the midi track. This will be your midi file for the BB .sng.

Method 2 - If you know the length of the song in minutes and seconds, you can skip adding the wav file to the Logic Project. Just create the midi track. Set the Logic clock display to minutes and seconds rather than beats and bars. Then, add a note at midi 36, or whatever midi drumset location you chose for your wav. Drag the right end of that midi note to reach the time required for the song - one long note. Select and export just the midi track. This will be your midi file for the BB .sng.

For those of you who wish to complain that this was not what the BB was intended for, yadda yadda, the point of this was to have a backing track player with minimal gear. You can haul just the BB and no other file player, if you wish. Yes, there are other ways to do this. Plus, if you want an alternative to the OPB with better sounding instruments, not limited by BB kit limitations, this will work. However, you will NOT be able to adjust the tempo of the song. Whatever tempo the song was created at is the tempo you will have.

Looking this over, once more, very little of what I discuss herein is done in BB Manager. Creating the wav is done in Logic, and then a tag stripping program. I use Switch. Creating the mid file is done in Logic.

The drum kit is just two instruments: the metronome, and the sample.

The main loop is a midi that triggers one metronome hit, and the fill is a loop that triggers the sample.

Swap out samples, and you can have any song or backing track

3a8082e126