backing.midi file or other ?

[terrrrry]

Hi Guys....nice to know you´re all out there.

I am a singer/ guitarist performing here in sunny Andalucia...Southern Spain. I´ve taken the descision to go down the backing-track route as a lot of my gigs are in hotels, weddings etc. and a bigger sound is needed. But........I´m not bang up-to-date with the latest technology. A few years ago, my mates were using mid-files and working with the backing.changing keys etc on their laptops.Is this still the way forward or have things moved on ? I´d be greatful for any feedback on this.especially by people who are performing live, like myself. Good Luck to everybody out there and just to say what a great site this is. Terry. Andalucia. :confused:

[shrekfingers]

http://www.planetofrock.com/

would this help??

[terrrrry]

Cheers Shreckfingers.The site seems pretty ( very ) good. Excuse me for being so dumb ( I´m from the Bob Dylan era where backing were the dudes in the Inkspots ) and I don´t know if you know about this, but the old midi-files could be messed around with on a laptop ie key-changes, taking out instruments etc. Is this possible with the mp3 format ? I would imagine so..........an even more stupid question, but can my mp3 be plugged into my laptop once I´ve down-loaded from, for example, the site that you put me onto ? Thanks for your :) time and trouble. Terry. Southern Spain.

[shrekfingers]

well I have never used Midi but I know what they are. I use GDT4 (Guitar and drum Trainer version 4) It can remove vocals but not individual instruments, or at least I have not been able too. I think it depends on how the song is recorded, the more tracks per instrument or vocal the more you can remove or manipulate each recorded track. GDT4 can speed up and slow down songs so you can pick out the notes for playing and change the speed and pitch. It does not support Midi however. This is the computer age, I am sure for the right price software you can manipulate any song anyway you want.

As far as your MP3 player, I think that site sells CD's which you would then rip to your Mp3, any mp3 file you can get onto you Harddrive should be able to be put on you MP3 player.

[terrrrry]

Thanks Shrekfinger.........I´ll keep you posted. One way or another I´ve got to get some backing......When I was gigging in the Canary Isles I used a drum machine, which was excellent.........but obviously limited to percussion only....

I managed to download a couple of kareoke tracks last night......of some old Eagles songs and could play over them quite comfortably. The beauty of the backing for me is that it gives you space to play some lead riffs and fills during the songs.

Anyway, Thanks again for your help and I´ll post again here when I´ve sorted everything out. Cheers. Terry. Spain.