Hi Paul,

First of all, let me preface this post by saying I am in no way a "purist"...I use, and love to use, an arranger at all my gigs.

Personally, having heard a few local duos/singles using MP3 as backing tracks, it looked and sounded like pure Karaoke, in my opinion.

Also, with MP3, you can't be as flexible as when using styles, or even SMF,...you are locked into the same changes (unlike style play) and the length of the tune (with SMF you can get around it using "markers").

I don't use commercial SMF myself; some of the "competition" does, and in a sense, they really aren't competitors, as I play the tunes "my way" and add more of my own touch to the music. I try to have my own unique sound, so I only use styles I've made myself, and I create my own arrangements as well.

It's not for everybody, but I am glad that it isn't, because I really don't want to sound like everyone else.

Mind you, I play all instrumental music, so I would find using SMF (and especially MP3) kind of boring...but that's my personal view.

To answer your question, I would say SMF (especially if you made them yourself) would be the more flexible of the two, and also your background sound would be unique compared to others using MP3.

Ian