Live performance of backing tracks... best way to get it done?

[BrianT]

I'll start by saying, I have not done this nor attempted to do it. I play the keyboard in a 3 piece band (piano, bass, drums, swing jazz). I have been contemplating doing some solo work on the side (not a problem with the two other guys, a bit of a different feel, they're way more upbeat, I'm more quiet / sultry).

Although I've done some stuff with background tracks in the studio, I really do not know how to translate that to a live environment, as in on stage. It's pretty basic stuff as far as the actual music. I just don't have enough hands to do everything completely live if I want to add the instrumentation and most of the stuff (keyboards) out there that I've heard that will "play along" are not really up to what I'm wanting to do (complex chord progressions, stuff like that), and I wouldn't expect it to be.

In years gone by, I had my trusty Fantom X8 with me wherever I went and it could do some pretty decent stuff live, but I had also recorded everything in the studio previously that was being played back so it wasn't just generated live on stage. But that was 20 years ago and it has long since been retired.

While I can just stick with the keyboard, perhaps split it and put some bass on the left, piano and strings on the right, and use some really basic drum sounds that are built in (Roland RD-2000 is the keyboard I typically use), I get to feeling pretty boxed in after a song or two. (My gigs are typically a couple of hours at least, 2 hours minimum.)

I'm not a fan of complexity on stage. I haven't even crossed over into a VST on stage yet though I do use one in the studio all the time. I've been reluctant to become computer dependent based upon the idea that sometimes computers don't cooperate and on stage and you don't necessarily have time to bring another one onboard IF you even have another one. (Yeah, I often have a backup keyboard and some redundancy with the sound equipment such that the show could go one even with some pretty serious failures.)

So how are people performing background tracks? I know people are doing it, I just haven't seen how it's done. I doubt it takes a whole lot of electrons to make it happen, I just don't have any kind of handle on what hardware / software makes good sense for live performance. Heck, a $20 CD player could probably do a lot but I have a feeling there are better options.

Not an emergency, and I don't HAVE to do anything if I just keep going with solo piano. I just sometimes want a little more.

 

[TedS]

Not 100% sure what you're asking. Pro "arranger" keyboards like Yamaha Tyros and Genos, Roland BK-9, E-A7, etc., have programmed auto-accompaniment "styles" that transpose in real time by inferring an appropriate chord based on the notes you're playing with your left hand, right hand, or both hands. The pro models also have the ability to record a previous performance on one or more tracks as MIDI, and then you can play live over top of them. (Recorded MIDI can be transposed with the "transpose" function, but it won't automatically transpose in response to the notes you play like the bullt-in styles and arps do.)

Arrangers are favored by "one-man band" type acts over synth workstations because they are purpose-built to provide backing. You CAN do something very similar with a MODX, Montage, etc. It might sound better and it will be more original. But it's a lot more work!

 

[BrianT]

I guess I'm not very good at asking questions.

I play piano. I have recorded some backing tracks in my studio that I can play along with (even sing with) live. What is the best way to play those tracks live on stage? Hardware? Software? CD player, probably not, but what?

I'm not talking about one song, I'm talking 20 or 30.

 

[happyrat1]

I guess I'm not very good at asking questions.

I play piano. I have recorded some backing tracks in my studio that I can play along with (even sing with) live. What is the best way to play those tracks live on stage? Hardware? Software? CD player, probably not, but what?

I'm not talking about one song, I'm talking 20 or 30.

MP3 player on your iPhone.

 

[BrianT]

MP3 player on your iPhone.

I don't have an iPhone but might perhaps be able to come up with something. Thanks.

 

[Biggles]

I don't have an iPhone but might perhaps be able to come up with something. Thanks.

Any phone or tablet can have MP3 backing track files on it and a simple connection to the keyboard is all that is required.

If you have a Smartphone or Andoid Tablet then that is by far the most cost effective way forward.

For better quality backing tracks you would need them recorded in a lossless format.

Unless, that is you want to spend £3000 on a top end arranger where chord progressions can be programmed thus leaving the left hand to play bass notes or to augment the right hand actions.

 

[BrianT]

Any phone or tablet can have MP3 backing track files on it and a simple connection to the keyboard is all that is required.

If you have a Smartphone or Andoid Tablet then that is by far the most cost effective way forward.

For better quality backing tracks you would need them recorded in a lossless format.

Unless, that is you want to spend £3000 on a top end arranger where chord progressions can be programmed thus leaving the left hand to play bass notes or to augment the right hand actions.

Definitely not wanting to go for a top end arranger at this point. Might be kinda fun to play with sometime down the road but right now, not practical.

I do have an android smart phone and an android tablet, those might be worth exploring, and I do kinda have my eye on seeing whether I could break the current mental barrier of getting something "i", perhaps a used ipad, not sure. I tend to start looking at $300 items, and gradually look at "just one more thing" added on, then I'm at $3,000+, get sticker shock, click off of it and forget it for a while, rinse repeat.

Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[TedS]

If you change your mind, a used Roland BK-9 can do that, and it would cost about $1300. FWIW.

 

[Nova2277]

Check out the Moises App for Ipad , PC .It works on all basic reordings , it splits out the tracks out so you can mute them or adjust their volume. You can save the tracks seperately and add to a daw if needed

There is a free version that will give you a feel for how it works.
Nova 227

 

[BrianT]

Check out the Moises App for Ipad , PC .It works on all basic reordings , it splits out the tracks out so you can mute them or adjust their volume. You can save the tracks seperately and add to a daw if needed

There is a free version that will give you a feel for how it works.
Nova 227

I'll check it out, thanks!

 

[BrianT]

If you change your mind, a used Roland BK-9 can do that, and it would cost about $1300. FWIW.

Dang it... now you have me lookin' at arrangers! LOL!!

As "spur of the moment" as I can be sometimes, maybe even though they're expensive, maybe I shouldn't blow them off too quickly...

 

[Guzinya]

MP3 player on your iPhone.

I use the Yamaha MODX+ and backing tracks stored as .wav files on a flash drive where the only limitation to the number of audio files is the size of the flash drive. In the “Live Set” area I configure each slot as “Audio”, locate the file I want, and select the performance I will play concurrently with the audio files. The MODX+ OS stores the name of the flash drive, folder name, and the file name. If the flash drive is not inserted you see the it can’t find the file, but when inserted all references are filled in. Just remember what is stored in the MODX OR MONTAGE, because if any of the names do not match you’ll get that same missing information.

Hope this helps. I chose this method because MIDI files are stored inside the MODX/MONTAGE and is limited to maybe 60 or so song files. With .wav files my entire repertoire is available once the flash drive is inserted. Also, you can see where you are in the song should you have too much to drink.

 

[BrianT]

I use the Yamaha MODX+ and backing tracks stored as .wav files on a flash drive where the only limitation to the number of audio files is the size of the flash drive. In the “Live Set” area I configure each slot as “Audio”, locate the file I want, and select the performance I will play concurrently with the audio files. The MODX+ OS stores the name of the flash drive, folder name, and the file name. If the flash drive is not inserted you see the it can’t find the file, but when inserted all references are filled in. Just remember what is stored in the MODX OR MONTAGE, because if any of the names do not match you’ll get that same missing information.

Hope this helps. I chose this method because MIDI files are stored inside the MODX/MONTAGE and is limited to maybe 60 or so song files. With .wav files my entire repertoire is available once the flash drive is inserted.

That's interesting! I hadn't thought of that type of thing but sounds very usable. I like the simplicity of it.

I am not sure if my Roland RD-2000, the keyboard I gig with currently, has the potential to do something similar, I haven't explored it.

Thank you for the thoughts!

 

[BrianT]

OK, I've been poking around looking at arranger videos. The more I look the less I like them.

I'm a player. Seriously, I play the keyboard at a fairly high level, maybe not as grand or flashy as some but seriously, I play. When I watch the videos of people playing arrangers, it smacks of pushing buttons to play this riff or that riff or this run or that run, instead of playing a riff or a run. It also seems to put every song into a "box". Yeah, there are a lot of styles. But I have yet to hear a style on any video that says, "Yeah, that's how I want to sound". I get that customization is possible. Too far out of the box and it's very tedious and I'd be asking myself why I didn't just create something from scratch.

It's not that I "can't" drop some coin on a wonderful new toy, I supposed I could. But I don't want to buy a great and wonderful toy that just isn't a good fit for me.

The longer I think about it, the more inclined I am towards creating some really simple backing tracks, which would be 100% mine, and 100% me playing them, and use them. After all, if I create them myself, I'll pretty much know them inside and out. It does kinda lock me in but even with that, there's nothing I couldn't change if I didn't like it.

Anyway, that's where my mind is going. So with that said, my original thought on how to best play those backing tracks is still very much in my mind.

Again, thank you all for the thoughts and discussion. I do appreciate it!

 

[Guzinya]

That's interesting! I hadn't thought of that type of thing but sounds very usable. I like the simplicity of it.

I am not sure if my Roland RD-2000, the keyboard I gig with currently, has the potential to do something similar, I haven't explored it.

Thank you for the thoughts!

Let me know how you make out.

 

[mididiot]

I've been using backing tracks on my solo Piano gigs for 15 years. The best ios app for me is Stagetrax 3. I have approx. 350 songs with various genres in it. When I select a tune the chart shows up and the plays. Love it.

 

[BrianT]

I've been using backing tracks on my solo Piano gigs for 15 years. The best ios app for me is Stagetrax 3. I have approx. 350 songs with various genres in it. When I select a tune the chart shows up and the plays. Love it.

Thanks, that looks quite functional, and quite reasonable in price. If I read right, it's $25.

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Guzinya]

I've been using backing tracks on my solo Piano gigs for 15 years. The best ios app for me is Stagetrax 3. I have approx. 350 songs with various genres in it. When I select a tune the chart shows up and the plays. Love it.

When I perform it’s just me, my kb, mic, and Evolve 30M PA. For break music I use my phone connected to the PA via Bluetooth. Like you I have 350+ songs. Almost forgot, I always carry a backup flash drive.

 

[Steve Bolander]

MP3 player on your iPhone.

Or load each song into a looper (i.e. Boss RC-3) as an individual phrase. As many as 25-30 backing tracking songs can be stored into a looper that can be called up by phrase number.

 

[nakeyer]

According to my experience - the sound of audio file - no matter MP3 or Wav, no matter what is the player you use - is the bad idea! Why?
1. You will have the backing file not from professional studio because the price of backing file from professional studio is too high you can allow yourself.
2. You will never have any possibility to make the professional backing file at home.
3. So - all what you really can do at home studio - make the some Demo backing file with some quality. At home studio you will think your file sounds good, but when you will try to playback it at the real stage - you will see the big difference.
The main reason why it is so - the not excellent Dynamic range of your Audio file no matter what player you will use.
The frequency range may be very good, but the dynamic range can not be good. There are a lot of secrets on the profession studio to make the audio file sounds with good quality.
If there are any professional sound-makers and sound-operators here - they will say you the same. REAL professional, not from the small village studio.
4. What to do - the only way, I think is to make the good MIDI file EXACTLY to the multitembral synthesizer you will use.
And using the "life sound" of REAL synth you will have the natural good backing sound. Even your synth will be not extra class - you will have the GOOD sound in your speakers on the stage!!
I always made MIDI files for my performances and playback them on the synth on stage.
Leave the MP3 player in iPhone to the teenagers...