I never use karaoke tracks or purchase my tracks from an on-line distributor.  The reason I receive such positive comments about my backing tracks is because of the way I produce them.  This article will explain how I do it and why they are superior to most backing tracks you can purchase commercially.

I began computer audio computer recording when it was just coming of its own.  In the mid to late 90's the technology was developing much more rapidly that it had over the previous years and computers were becoming faster and able to perform many more calculations than ever before.  So I got into it relatively early.  When I started recording my backing tracks I could manage only about 6 to 8 audio tracks without bogging down the system.  Today, it is not unusual for a good computer system to handle 20 or more audio tracks with effects (reverb, delay, compression, etc.) 

The problem I've always had with karaoke tracks and most tracks purchase from an on-line facility is they are basically "dead".  By that, I mean there is no "liveliness" in the recording.  It sound like a recording instead of sound live.  The secret to getting the tracks to sound as "live as possible" is, well, a secret.  But there is a way to do it.  Now I realize that some of are saying, "It's still a recording".  That is correct.  I think we all can accept that it is recorded music and that mean it will never sound as "live" as a live band will sound.  But there are many things that can be done in the mixing and mix-down process to get the track to sound "as live as possible".  Herein lies the reason that I receive the positive comments I do from vocalists and musicians who hear the tracks.

PA SYSTEMS

Obviously, no matter how good the track is, if you're putting it through a "Mickey Mouse" PA system it's not going to give you good results.  I've actually seen some singers bring a boom box and put a microphone in from of the speakers in order to amplify the track!  So, naturally I'm assuming you are going to use a good, quality PA system.  

All of my tracks are .wav files.  I don't mix down to mp3.  MP3 files are compressed and deadens the sound quality.  Not only that but every time you copy the file it reduces its fidelity even more.

WAV files used because it is an uncompressed file and retains the integrity of the dynamic range of the original mix-down.  When performing, I run many backing tracks through commercial DJ software via a laptop computer.  The headphone output of the computer is run to the mixing board which is then output to a couple of quality speaker drivers (I personally use JBL EON 15) as well as a sub woofer if the venue calls for it.  This will support most average size venues.

MAKING THE TRACK 

I like to make each track sound like the original recording.  That is where I start.  Many whole philosophy about entertaining is that people don't want to hear "MY" version of their favorite song.  They want to hear their favorite song sound like they remember it.  So my goal is to sound like the original.  I keep this same thing in mind when performing.  I am not an impersonator.  I know I don't sound like Neil Diamond or Frank Sinatra.  However, I get comments all of the time from people who tell me "You sound just like Neil Diamond".  I try to use the same vocal nuances that the original artist uses as well as many of the other unique attributes they may have incorporated into the song in order to make the song sound "like the original".  And having a backing track that is musically on a par with the original and sounds "live" is a great advantage.

Therefore, the first thing I start with is the original song as a guide track.  I typically do sections of the song at a time.  For instance, I will start with the intro.  I will record all of the various instruments involved in the intro.  I may or may not do the detail work until the very end when the whole song has been completed (things such as drum fills will happen last).   I then move on to the verse, chorus, bridge, lead instrument parts, respectively (if I am playing the lead instrument part-which I almost always do, then I leave that out of the track.

I begin with a basic drum track.  I start by programming (playing) the kick and snare drums, then adding the high hat.  As stated earlier drum fills and cymbal crashes are not programmed until the very end of the song.

I use a drum program call "Easy Drummer®" by Toontrack.  I use the basic drum kit and it is more than sufficient for most any song I have ever needed to program.  I have other drum software which I rarely use except on the occasion I need something Easy Drummer does not contain.  The drums you hear on just about all drum software is "sampled".  This means that someone literally played each drum.  Each drum hit was recorded (or digitally sampled) so that when you "trigger" it (i.e. play it via a controller---I use a keyboard which is midi-ed with the computer sofware) you hear the drummer hitting the original snare or hi hat or kick drum, etc.

More to come.......