Backing track

A backing track is an audio or MIDI recording, which musicians play or sing along to in order to add parts to their music which would be impractical to perform live.

Bands or solo musicians may use backing tracks to add extra instrumental or vocal tracks to a live performance. For example when performing a song which features a string ensemble on the recording, but it is not realistic to include a string group or keyboard player in the performance.

Guitarists also use professional backing tracks for practice or performance. These are called guitar backing tracks and they are digitally remastered music tracks without lead guitar and vocals.

A singer or vocal group performing without a band may sing along to pre-recorded music. A music track without lead vocals may also be called a "karaoke", "playback", or "minus-one" track.

In electronic music some parts which have been programmed are too fast or complex to be played by a musician.

Backing tracks are also used when some or all members of a group are miming the playing of their instruments, lip-synching or using guide tracks.

Equipment

In most cases, a basic backing track will comprise at least two parts, the instrumental part (which will broadcast, or heard by the audience through the venue's PA System and form part of the music) and a click-track – a recorded metronome heard only by members of the band (sometimes only the drummer) through in-ear monitors in order for them to more easily keep in time with the backing track.

Two monophonic tracks like this can be provided by any medium capable of stereophonic (two-track) audio. For example CD or any Digital Music Player. One mono mix is heard by the audience, and another is heard only by the musician(s). More complex systems may include greater numbers of tracks sent to various channels for mixing by the sound technicians. The backing track may also synchronise with MIDI sequences (which control instruments or audio effects onstage) – video (for part of an audio-visual performance) – or DMX sequences to control stage lighting or effects.

To provide this sort of functionality a digital multitracker is required. This may be a standalone device, integrated into a digital mixer or DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), or DAW software running on a computer, for example Logic Audio or Ableton Live. Live is especially popular as it is designed with live performances in mind and allows for instant changes of tempo, song structure and effects, and improvisation with audio material.

In some cases, backing tracks are recorded entirely live using a real band. These backing tracks provide musicians with the perfect practice and jamming environment by pre-recording a performance of a live band.

A click track may also be used in songs with no backing tracks in order to keep the bands playing in time with tempo-synched effects such as delays, tremolos and arpeggiators.

Issues

The use of backing tracks ranges from situations in which it is obvious they are being used, to cases where they are being used to simulate a live performance (as in lip synching). The former is not usually as controversial as the latter, provided musicians are not dishonest about what they are performing live.

There is debate amongst music fans and musicians as to whether it is "cheating" or spoils the experience when backing tracks make up a disproportionate amount of a live performance.

Some musicians criticize the use of backing tracks, because it makes the performance less flexible. Most backing track systems do not allow users to improvise changes in tempo or quickly alter the structure of a song.

Examples

• Acoustic Alchemy - Add extra percussion and brass parts into their smaller-scale live performances using Logic Pro.

• The Album Leaf - Use backing tracks for the complex electronic glitch beats in songs such as "Twentytwofourteen"

• Athlete - Use backing tracks for orchestral parts, or synth parts which cannot be played by their keyboardist.

• Beyoncé Knowles - Uses backing tracks of her own recorded backing vocals.

• Coldplay - Pads and orchestral strings such as in "Talk", "Politik", and "X&Y".

• Death Cab for Cutie - Occasionally use backing tracks for soundscaping, for example in "Transatlanticism."

• Ehron VonAllen - Has only two members in his live band, and no drummer. They use an Apple Laptop Computer (plus a TASCAM DA-88 for backup) to play backing tracks including drums, percussion, sound effects and vocal harmonies to recreate the sound of their album tracks as closely as possible.

• Evanescence - Uses backing tracks of orchestral arrangements and backing vocals.

• The Flaming Lips - Play along with backing tracks in concert

• The Go! Team - Make extensive use of recorded brass section parts in songs such "The Power is On"

• Hard-fi - Make use of recorded keyboard parts.

• Kasabian - Use a lot of synthesizers and more recently strings, but have no keyboard player on stage.

• Keane - Play along to recorded bass and synth parts sequenced using Logic Pro.

• Mogwai - Use Ableton Live for loops and backing tracks in live performances.

• Mariah Carey - Was Caught using a Backing Track during a performance of her recent single Touch My Body on "Good Morning America".

• Muse - Use Logic Pro to control audio recordings and also MIDI sequences to control MIDI intruments and effects. For example the synth arpeggios in "Bliss" and the orchestral strings in "Butterflies & Hurricanes"

• The Pussycat Dolls - Use backing vocal tracks and their backing vocalists often lip-sync.

• Ronii - Uses backing tracks to add extra parts when he performs as a duo with just himself and a drummer.

• Snow Patrol - Use Fluqe's "On Stage" software, which allows them to use MIDI Program Change Messages from an external MIDI controller to switch between a "virtual setlist" of Logic Pro audio projects containing audio recordings and MIDI sequences.

• The Who - One of the pioneers of backing track usage. They've used tracks for "Baba O' Riley", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Join Together", "The Relay", "Helpless Dancer", "Bell Boy", "Doctor Jimmy", "Love, Reign O'er Me", "Sister Disco", "Who Are You", "You Better You Bet", and "Eminence Front".

• U2 - Use Digital Performer to control audio recordings and MIDI instruments. This is evident in songs like "Bad", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "Mysterious Ways", "City of Blinding Lights", and "Beautiful Day". They first used backing tracks on the Unforgettable Fire tour.

• Zero7 - Use Ableton Live to add percussion and brass parts to their live performances.