Although I loved Tony's wonderful rendition of
"All The Things You Are", for me personally it's not one of my favorite "American Song Book" tunes,....
I guess as a singer who backs himself up with a mix many of means Live play, Arranger Kb, SMF, Mp3, etc, we all have our preferences. I try to sing songs I feel I can do well on stage using ALL tools at my disposal. Sometimes Live with styles, and there are songs that need more parts that cannot be achieved with repetitious styles alone, to get the arrangement I want to sing to. That can only be addressed by using my Arranger Kb & custom playing & recording different parts, instruments, etc, infused via multitracks & PC programs like Mixcraft into a SMF to create the desired arrangement I'd be happy with.
Here is one of my favorite standards "EMBRACEABLE YOU"...hope you enjoy.

Embraceable You

Donny really nice job on a great standard ...

Donny which style file did you use for that song?

Gary

Gary please read my process above, no style will suffice,....
it started as a simple SMF, which I deleted a few tracks & then I recorded on top of that 4 or 5 tracks using a Tyros 2 at that time to get the arrangement exactly as I wanted it.

OK, now I reread what you said above. I didn't recognize the style, that's why I asked.

Gary

Very nice vocal Donny. Its always a treat to get to hear you. Thanks!

Thanx Paul glad you enjoyed it..

Donny ... I have to add that your recordings always sound so 'crisp', and professionally done ...
I really enjoy listening to you"Straight From The Heart" CD ... thank you ...

Thanx Tony....wish I had more time to record....
but I will get to it when I can...both live & Studio.

Donny,

I'm a newbie with regards arrangers and this is the first time I have listened to one of your recordings. I love all the American Songbook standards and your rendition of All The Things You Are, was perfect to my ears.

I will never be able to sing as good as you. You are a true crooner

I look forward to hearing more of the same.

Ian

Thanx Ian for listening,....I think you meant "Embraceable You"

The only way I would be more impressed is if you sang this "live" over a style.

Nevertheless, this is still a very good job on one of my favorite tunes, and the SMF seems to work quite well, indeed.

Ian

Ian....dont know why some people are less then enthusiastic about creating a SMF backing track as it takes much more effort, creativity by the musician vs just a simple repetitive style where everything is done for you and you just operate it playing some chords etc,....not to mention the arrangements lack character many times also....styles are ok to a point,
but IMO the real talent lies in the creation of the arrangement for the song which you simply cannot do using styles using only a few parts. I'm glad we all have choices to mix it up and break up the monotony.

Well, I'm less enthusiastic about singing over a SMF pre-recorded backing (even if it was made or edited by the singer) than I would be about the performer playing it all "live", by changing chords at the proper time and using fills, intros, endings, and right hand support as needed.

Singing over a SMF edges too close to Karaoke in my opinion, but that's just how I feel...perhaps others would disagree, but I feel a previously-recorded backing takes the performer further out of the performance.

I'm sure both methods have their advantages, but I've always been more impressed with singing "live" while using a style and adding Right Hand parts to embellish.

Nevertheless, you did a bang up job on the vocal and gave the song your own personal stamp.

Nice work, Donny.

Ian

Thanx Ian...BUT,

Recording part tracks on a SMF is not an easy task to get perfect & requires alot of skill IMO....now if someone creates a "STYLE from SCRATCH" I would give that person big KUDOS ...but to play pre made styles that easily can be manipulated vs a commercial SMF "WITHOUT" the injection of the MUSICIAN adding his creativity "LIVE" into the recording is basically the same thing Style or SMF as your comparing above,....it's all in the talent of the creator. Im just a singer/musician who backs himself up with an arranger keyboard & I'm glad I can do it both ways for a living..

I'm glad your methods work for you Donny, but I'm still of the opinion that singing (with no playing) over a pre-recorded background is too close to Kareoke...the only difference would be the professionalism or talent of the vocalist.

Adding tracks to a SMF is difficult for some players, I suppose...I've never found it hard, as the correct chord changes have all been done for me ahead of time.

A Bossa style from "scratch" is still a Bossa style...to play a tune, the chord changes still have to be done by the player in "real time" unlike a SMF where the file's original creator determined what chords were used and where.

If singing over a SMF works best in some situations, by all means use one...nothing is set in stone. I just feel that singing over "live" style play (with Right Hand embellishments) is more engaging and less likely to sound exactly the same each time (again, my opinion).

i.e With style play, the performer can use Variations and Fills differently each time the tune is played...they can even spontaneously use a style from a different genre, or slightly alter a chord progression for a particular verse.

You don't need to defend your methods Donny...like you, I feel that the performer should do whatever it takes to get the job done as good as possible.

Ian

ok Ian I agree to DISagree..

...have some popcorn, Donny.

Disagreeing is normal on this forum.

Ian

I agree, Ian. For what it's worth, all songs, at least all the songs I know, are repetitious loops, no different than any style file. The style file does, however, provide us with breaks, fills and variations that can be utilized throughout the song as it progresses, so it does not sound repetitive.

Now, I occasionally use a midi file, some of which are really great, and when doing so, I'll usually comp with my right hand while singing the song. But, this technique, despite the fact that I am playing some of the parts, does border on Karaoke, IMO. However, no one in the audience really knows you are not playing, or for that matter, cares. They just want to be entertained, and that's why they're paying us. They could care less about our musicianship.

Cheers,

Gary

ok I'll agree top disagree again....let me also add I made alot of backing tracks playing live styles also on my Kb's...
as I dont always use a keyboard when I gig..mix it up baby!

I guess, unfortunately, you are right with the latter part of your statement, Gary. People just want to be entertained, and they usually don't care about musicianship.

I prefer to see an arranger player using a style, whether singing or not, and my next best preference would be to see someone playing piano or right hand embellishments over an SMF, again singing or not.

It's just when I see someone walk away from the keyboard whilst singing, and the instrument is still playing the entire background, including chord changes (and even solos) that I tend to totally lose interest.

But, that's just me. Most people are there to be entertained, but I'm more entertained (or impressed) by the performer's musicianship, whether that includes vocals or not.

Ian

Hi Guy's

I don't remember Sinatra and his mate's using an arranger, surely the vocalist is a "Musician" in his own right. In his case the band was just a bit more realistic LOL

As a result of Mark's comments, would you believe it, I am now taking singing lesson's and my teacher/vocal coach is encouraging me to use backing track's so as to concentrate more on the vocal. Who's right and who's wrong?

All the best

Col

PS: an iPad is hell of a lot lighter than a G70. The Voicelive Touch work's fine using the input from the iPad/tablet.

I'd say there are no "rights and wrongs", Col...just personal preferences and perhaps, expectations.

Best wishes for the success of your singing lessons...concentrating on the vocal, especially as a student, is paramount...the backing music is incidental in that case.

Ian

Col, your coach said this that you can continue improving....not the best way to perform..
I have several ladie friends that perform (sing) with tracks via computer..The "image" causes less respect for what they are doing.I also have ladie friends that also sing to tracks, but via a keyboard/computer combination...and they play in spots, also embellished with flute playing..They get much more credit..
BTW:, the respect and non respect come from their peers..
Always haul the G70...when it really counts..

Donny,

Oops! Yes of course I meant "Embraceable You".

I've just got to ask you about your singing history? Were you naturally able to sing like we hear you now? Different gender but you remind me of how perfectly in tune Ella sang.

Sorry about the mix-up. For a moment I thought "oh dear" I must have praised the wrong guy

Ian
(got all the right hardware, but my voice is software!)

Beemer....Thanks,....I just naturally sing the way I do,.....been on stage since I was 14, never took a singing lesson in my life, although I play a few different instruments like drums, guitar, sax, but being a drummer helps big time & is critical for your singing timing, etc, .....& I played with alot of great musicians, bands, etc, and many singers along the way ALWAYS absorbing little things from each one to developed my own style.

... you were Blessed ...

we were ALL given some sought of talent find out what it is and SHARE it with the world I say!

doing the best I can with what I've got ...