New Source for Custom Multitrack Backing Tracks

gtaus

Hey guys, just came across a karaoke website on the internet that is selling custom configurable multitrack backing tracks for $2.99 per title. You pay the $2.99 for the title, and can create any number of custom mixes for that title without having to pay anything more for each mix.

So here is what I'm thinking. I could make a custom mix of the bass track alone so I could hear exactly how they play it. And I could make another custom mix without the bass guitar so I could play along with the band. Depending on my role in the vocals for the song, I could chose to drop the lead vocals or the backup vocals and sing my part.

I can't tell you how hard it is to find good backing tracks for us bass players. Although backing tracks for guitar players are everywhere, it's next to impossible for me to find similiar quality backing tracks for the bass player. If anyone knows of some other way to get quality bass backing tracks, let me know, please.

Well, if anyone has any experience or feedback with this company, please let me what you think. For $2.99, I think I might try out a title or two to see what I can do with the music.

Here is the link:

Custom Karaoke/Backing Tracks @ $2.99 each
http://www.karaoke-version.com/

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

guitar3456

IIRC, most of the backing for those are simple midi notation and rendered through a program like NI's Bandstand.

Seems ok, but why not make your own of your own band. I know it takes time but there is no better way to get completed versions of your intro's, endings, compilation medleys, etc.

Our band did exactly that. Recorded each instrument of every song. Our bassist gets a set without bass, drummer without drums, etc. They also get a full mix so they can compare exactly how they played the song.

We started doing this years ago, and the band is very tight.

gtaus

The tracks are audio, and I don't think they just rendered midi tracks down to audio. The guitars sound real, at least in the songs I have checked out. Plus, both lead and backup vocals are on separate tracks. I know they are not midi.

The idea, for me, is to get some immediate tracks to play along with to see if I can play my bass part in the song. If a song makes it to the stage, then we get it recorded in on my multitrack recorder. At that point, I can play along with my band and mix out my tracks at home whenever I want. I have tried using both midi and Guitar Pro files to learn some songs. Unfortunately, neither of those formats have vocals. Also, the bass tabs in the Guitar Pro files of songs that I am learning are not very close to the correct playing. I suppose the song(s) were tabbed out by a guitarist who just threw in any bass line that followed the chord changes. The KaraokoNow songs are better quality and appear to have the original parts as played on the original tracks.

As to my band, it's hard enough to get 4 middle aged guys with work and other things going on in life to all agree on practice dates. I don't think my band is in a position to start collaborating on separate tracks for the songs. Especially when we all are learning the new songs at the same time. Hats off to your band if you can dedicate that time to getting the job done and laying down tracks for one another. We have not recorded any of our stuff until it hits the stage.

I guess maybe I should have a multitrack recorder recording during our practice sessions to capture some of the songs. Problem is, of course, is that we usually learn songs section by section and rarely throw it all together until we have all the sections down first. By that time, I pretty much know the song and don't really need to practice my part for learning. I'm trying to work up my part in songs before I practice with the boys.

It's not all bad, being in a cover band, I can always play along with the original tracks to learn my part. It is just a little difficult to mute out the bass track so I can play solo with the recording. Like I said, if I eq scoop the bass guitar out, I also lose the kick drum, which makes for other problems for me as a bass player.

I did go ahead and bought one title for practice, Jump by Van Halen. There is some off beat bass action going on in certain sections of the song and my timing sucks. So I bought that title and have one version of the song without the bass, and another version of the song with only the bass line. So I'm mixing the tracks at home on my DAW and really bumping up the bass while learning the line. Oh yeah, we also play it in a different key, but the KaraokoNow site lets you change keys too. That's a plus.

Thanks for the feedback. Best wishes.