MIDI Backing Tracks–Cheating or Not?

[myorgan]

A couple of years ago I attended a theatre organ performance where the organist used pre-recorded MIDI backing tracks to popular movie themes, and other music.

What do you think? Are using these backing tracks "cheating" or are they "fair game?" As someone who performs live in more structured performances, I'm not quite sure what I think of this practice. On the one hand, one may say, "It's there, why not use it?" Another may say, "Using 'cheats' is not remaining true to a theatre organ performance.

Where do you come down on this question?

Michael

P.S. The same could be said of playing in church with a MIDI track.;-)

[andyg]

For me it's simple.

If the backing track is the artiste's own work, something that they may have put many hours of work into - conceiving, arranging (leaving 'space' for the live parts), recording, balancing, mixing and then practising - then that's fine. At higher exam grades for electronic organ and keyboard it's actually mandatory to prepare and perform one piece in this way - and then expect a 'grilling' into how it was done in the Viva Voce / Discussion section of the exam!

There were some lovely cornet/theatre organ duets played by Bobby Hackett and Johnny Seng, and I'm currently working on something on the same lines. Not easy to get what's in my head into practice. The idea is to get the rhythm section and solo cornet parts recorded and then play the organ parts live. And I've done organ/piano duets that way too. I always tell my audience if something is played that way - it does irk me when someone says 'This is all live' when I can see and hear that it isn't.

However, if an 'artiste' - using the word somewhat loosely - is prepared simply to play along to a commercial MIDI file, or gets someone to record bespoke tracks for them, then that's clearly cheating. In an exam scenario, using such a backing track would result in disqualification, of course. I've come across it, I've even been asked to record backing tracks, and I of course declined - the young player who asked me had a short and unspectacular concert career! And I have an internet friend who went to a gig and watched the 'artiste' almost miming to a backing track. He recognised the backing track as he had created it!

I know a lot of people who play along to backing tracks at home, and if that's what they want to do and they're enjoying making music that way, fine. But as soon as you remove that practice from the home and put it on stage - and get paid for it - then it's clearly not on.

[myorgan]

Thank you, Andy. That provides a layer of distinction between what might be appropriate and inappropriate in a performance situation.

If I understand your last sentence correctly, it's not legal to use backing tracks publicly. However, what if you have arranged a MIDI track or backing track of a commercial piece of music. Is it legal then as your own intellectual property, having created the backing track?

Michael

[musicmaker84]

Personally, I have never used Midi tracks because I find it too difficult to play along to one. It's probably an admirable skill to keep tempo, not playing a wrong note, etc. and performing this way if it perhaps enhances the music in critical ways. Also, it always depends on the audience. People going to Organ Stop Pizza et al probably don't mind the backing tracks and they help with certain music in venues like that one.

On a personal and different note, I ditched the orchestrated styles for a while, and my playing has become better as a result of having to fill in the empty space with accompaniment and embellishments myself. So, I would rather like to see what I need to add to my playing to make the music better and worthwhile before resorting to backing tracks.

[myorgan]

Musicmaker84,

I certainly understand your pain. As our church doesn't have a "pianist" per se, I will record the piano part of a duet for the piano to play back. I will cue it up and have someone else start it and then I'll play organ with it. I wonder if that's legal, as I'm clearly playing with myself.

Michael

[Admin]

I have no problem with backing tracks as long as they meet andyg s criteria above and they add something that would not be otherwise possible. Hector Olivera has been doing this sort of thing for years, and its a built-in feature of modern home organs.

Perhaps the most impressive use of MIDI backing tracks today is the work of Nathan Avakian. Here's his medley from the film Slumdog Millionaire.

I've seen him perform this piece live several times and it never ceases to delight and amaze me. There's no way that I can think of effectively performing this music without a backing track. Here's another:

If the organ is to survive, it and its performers must evolve with today's music lest it become a dusty museum curiousity.

[myorgan]

Good points, all, Admin. We do need to evolve with the instrument and society.

Michael

[Nutball]

I completely agree with you and andyg, my thoughts exactly. I wish I had this feature because so much of what I want to play would otherwise require one or two more organs/organists.

[Philip Powell]

"We do need to evolve with the instrument and society." Not if the technology is replacing the instrument!

[myorgan]

Perhaps one of the biggest issues using a backing track, is having the same organ available from location to location. For example, if the manual MIDI assignments change depending on the instrument type, and then obviously the stop number (patch) will change from instrument to instrument. Time has to be taken to re-map everything on the organ.

On the other hand, the organ can simply be used as a controller, and the organ's sounds change based on the track assignment on the computer. It gets complicated for a normal organist, but it can be overcome with time. Getting all the technology in the right place can be much of the issue.

I wish I could find out how to turn the pipes different colors, though!:-B That's a goal for the future once *pple gets done messing with their computers' OS.

Michael

[andyg]

It's quite common for the artiste to playback the MIDI track on their own instrument and record it to WAV and/or mp3. They then play that audio track back with their live performances. That means that playback is not limited to their organ. I would have played my first full theatre organ concert a month or so again until COVID came along. It was billed specifically as 'Pipes Plus', and I'd have played part of the concert on Yamaha keyboards, as well as creating backing tracks to accompany myself on pipes. I'd have used the mp3 versions for reliable 100% playback. Once in a very blue moon, a MIDI file will play up!

[myorgan]

Once in a very blue moon, a MIDI file will play up!

Usually when you need it most!;-)

You haven't trademarked that name for a concert have you? I like it! When I've played with MIDI files on the computer, I much prefer that to a mp3 or other recording because I can see the progress of the MIDI file on the computer and stay with it, whereas the actual recordings are difficult to follow unless you've practiced ad infinitum.

Michael

[John Vanderlee]

I know Nathan personally and have been involved in many of his performances. Look at his Holiday clip at our shopping mall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AGndqsBZRY
The lady is his sister Claire.

It absolutely takes Theatre Organ in all directions. And yes on the "tracks" he has laid down every beat and note himself.

[Nutball]

That's funny, the guy at the beginning standing there like he's trying to figure out how it all works, or is it fake or something.

[John Vanderlee]

We spent two weeks at that Mall. You wouldn't believe the reactions of people. I could write a book. Overall it was very positive. The mall management loved us. Nathan was not the only performer. But definitely Unique.

[andyg]

Michael - 'Pipes Plus' isn't my idea, it was thought up by the Cinema Organ Society in the UK, so I guess it sort of belongs to them, even if they haven't trademarked it!

And playing along accurately to a backing track does take some considerable practice, and the track that John linked to is a perfect example of what can be achieved! Over here in the UK, my very good friend, the late Brian Sharp was doing this many years ago, probably before Nathan was born! :) He would record the drum track, bass line, guitar track, strings, piano, brass or whatever was needed, leaving the 'space' required for the organ parts to be played live. I learnt a heck of a lot from working with him and listening to how he did things.

[myorgan]

And playing along accurately to a backing track does take some considerable practice, and the track that John linked to is a perfect example of what can be achieved!

Andy,

You are NOT KIDDING!!! I'm used to watching a conductor all the time (Symphony & church), so when it cyomes to following a recorded piano, there is so much nuance one needs to be aware of. Even just a fraction of a second difference can ruin a performance. For that reason, when I've sequenced a piece, I often use the computer version on top of the organ, and follow a track (i.e. piano) so I can visually see what's coming up next and match it precisely. When playing with another human there are many visual cues you pick up on, but with a MIDI file they're not as evident.

Michael

[Sweet Pete]

I looked at Porta Studios for decades.Never bought one or used many.No computer recordings edited or otherwise.Analog multi track is my background for creation and production so performance is really everything.Yes I can read a lead sheet or chart,I expect more and always will.Would rather look at musicians than a screen so my keys are Nord not Korg!
I do enjoy this Zoom H6 Handy Recorder.Assembling backing tracks that I won't absolutely wretch to is not a problem.I don't need twenty four tracks,in fact it is not suited to my needs.
The little window on these portables has the same information as any Roland or Tascam or Yamaha multi track recorder,and it fits in my pocket.And the X/Y mic will sample whatever I choose to load into my Stage 3's! That it is bundled with Steinberg free Cubase won't get me off Samplitude anytime soon.If I need to go there,I'll use a real studio!
Removed the sheet music rack to make room for my Compact.Music is read off my tablet now.Not one digital control though on my performance setup,aside from Nord dials.
I get a big kick out of the "I use Mainstage" with a performance instrument like a Nord Stage.Sticks out like a pitch bend wheel on a 'Hammond'.You need that?
These backing tracks will never replace the players I interact with.Isolation has made me a better engineer though.Having a real Hammond organ on these is a deal breaker.
The Zoom H6 Black 2020 has less in the package than the old one.I have the remote and extra 2 XLR mic input module.Love this thing! 6 XLR's and analog dials/pads! All set!

[andyg]

When writing for Keyboard Player Magazine years ago, I was asked by a reader to test various brands and models of digital recorder, but single and multi-track. I can't remember all the ones I looked at without digging out the copy, but I recall Zoom, Sony and Boss/Roland being amongst them. They all had their good points but in the end I sent them all back, with the exception of the Boss BR600. 8 tracks for simple multi-track work, but with each having a 'hidden' subset of eight tracks, so I could go 64 tracks deep, but couldn't hear all of them simultaneously. But transfer them to PC with the supplied software and every track recorded would be there separately ready for import into Cubase. Handy.

It has built in condenser mikes that do a very good job of live recording, I've used it for Hammond and Leslie, theatre organ and classical organ. The batteries will run for a few hours if there's no mains available and its memory cards will go as big as Compact Flash will allow. I have a couple, the largest will allow for a couple of hours' recording.

The only disadvantage, as you point out, is that it won't fit in a pocket. I do have a small one that I bought for my historical group, but that's happiest recording conversations!

Once a backing track has been mixed and mastered, it's copied to mp3 and usually they instrument I'm using will do the playback. If not, I have a couple of mini mp3 players.

[Sweet Pete]

Not only fits in my pocket,records on multi formats including 48/96 resolution for Pro Tools.The mic pres on the H6 are superior in every way to the Roland or Yamaha.The Tascam is alright.The Zoom mics are also ,better than the Roland by far.Only knock on the H6 is the same as all of the 1/8" audio out types.I have a two tube headphone pre used for phones and tabs in line to boost the cans to 'closed AKG's' specs, which require at least one watt RMS.Once the weak headphone out has been 'fixed' it's hard to tell I'm not in a pro studio.My headphone mix is better than any overdub session I've done in years.Two 6K4 tubes,about 50 bucks for the headphone pre.Also fattens the two track playback considerably,nice highs!
After 'tracking' it goes into the playback strips for monitoring so I can record my overdubs to the tablet video and intercept the audio.Major improvement once audio is from the mixer to the 'I-Rig' type stereo interface.Shows up on Youtube sounding pro from inexpensive off the shelf gear.
This IS Keyboard magazine now,at least for me.And that is my review,as of 2020.No portable available has such a wide variety of features.Which is moot if it sounds like garbage.Zoom has a real winner here,been around now over seven years.
I remember using midi tracks in 1986.I have recovered nicely from that.....