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#435551 - 08/03/17 04:33 PM
 
Re: Merish 4 MIDI Mp3 Backing Track Player & VH
[Re: Dnj]
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Senior Member
 
 
 
Registered:  12/08/02
 
Posts: 15593
 
Loc:  Forest Hill, MD USA
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What is missing with all these gadgets  is the visual effect and impact of a performing musician/entertainer. The audience can see you playing a guitar, keyboard, piano, synth, etc... They know it is YOU creating that music - LIVE! With the advanced record player/karaoke machine there is a significant part of the entertainment missing. This ain't rocket science. Those visual effects are a big draw - no question about it, despite what Donny predicts. Gary    
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PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!
  K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)
 
 
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#435557 - 08/03/17 06:19 PM
 
Re: Merish 4 MIDI Mp3 Backing Track Player & VH
[Re: Dnj]
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Senior Member
 
 
 
Registered:  12/08/02
 
Posts: 15593
 
Loc:  Forest Hill, MD USA
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I agree, Bill - but as you and many of us are well aware, finding a drop-dead, gorgeous gal that can stand in front of a live audience and belt out those tunes is akin to being struck by lightning, though if I recall, Fran had a couple working with him for many years on the beach.  Gary    
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PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!
  K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)
 
 
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#435563 - 08/03/17 08:27 PM
 
Re: Merish 4 MIDI Mp3 Backing Track Player & VH
[Re: travlin'easy]
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Senior Member
 
 
 
Registered:  01/16/02
 
Posts: 14377
 
Loc:  East Greenwich RI USA
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OK, a couple of things ...
  First of all, I guess I'm old, very particular, or both, because I did not see a smokin' hot chick in that video ...
  Now, about the unit - I can see it being used in some venues, especially if it is to augment the sound of a 2 - 3 piece group. It certainly seems to have a lot of good features, for someone who does not want to - or cannot - transport a keyboard around. Of course the video was staged, but I found it interesting that the people in the background were socializing, and not really dancing - but I guess if this 'box' were hooked up to a good PA system with a thumping bass, people would dance.
  As for tracks vs 'live' music, again it depends on the venue ... I think we all have seen dance clubs with DJs and crowded dance floors - well, is this any different? If people are going out to dance, as long as the music is stuff they know, is loud, and is thumping, they will dance ...
  However, if I am going to see a vocalist or musician perform, do I want them performing to backing tracks all night? I don't think so - BUT, that being said, I have seen those three young, great Italian singers - "Il VOLO" live in concert with an orchestra of about 16 players, and yet each one of them did one solo each to a backing track of a full symphony orchestra and singers. 
  As for the gigs many of us on this board play - NH/AL/Sr Centers, etc. those audiences do not care if we are playing an instrument or not. What they want is to be 'entertained'. I work gigs as a soloist with my KORG Pa900 and I also work gigs with a female vocalist using only 'backing tracks'. When we work one of those gigs, do people come up and say "OH, you didn't play any instruments" ? NO!!! they come up and say things like "we love your voices", "You two sing so well together", "We love your singing, especially the duets", etc. etc., etc. ... At a couple of AL places I work, I  am one of the very few who actually plays an instrument - even though I know that some of the other performers play keys, or guitar very well. They just don't want to go through the trouble of transporting and setting up additional equipment. I also find, that performing strictly as a vocalist using 'backing tracks', I have a certain amount of 'freedom' as an "entertainer", while performing with the keyboard gives me a different 'freedom' to express myself as a "musician".
  Now, as far as the future of music goes, the entertainment section of our newspaper on Thursday is filled with listings of what musician/singer/band is playing where (and chas, there are a good number of Jazz venues also). Now some of these 'acts' are 'tributes' where a guy does a Buble act, or another does Sinatra, or another does Dean Martin, all using 'backing tracks, but for the most part there are good musicians playing their instruments, so I am fairly confident that 'live' music will be around for a while yet ...  And as long as I am still around doing what I do, while I really enjoy being a 'vocalist', I will prefer to perform with my keyboard ... 
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