Elton gives it to Madonna. - Beyond Tiki

T tikibars Tiki Socialite Aku Hall, Chicago Joined: Apr 11, 2002 Posts: 2034	T tikibars Posted posted on Tue, Oct 5, 2004 11:32 AM I saw Krafterwrk in '97 or '98 and the Robots got the more applause than the humans did! I remember a point during the 1970s when ELO got in trouble for playing along to tapes. Even though I was like 10 at the time, I remember thinking: What do people expect? Their records have an orchestra, a chior, 5 layers of guitars, and backwards instrument effects. OF COURSE they'd need backing tapes to do that live! ...I guess this sort of insight is why I ended up a recording engineer for my living! :) But, I think there is a fine line to be drawn. In 1984-1986 I saw Depeche Mode a few times, and of course a lot of that music was coming off of tapes too. No drummer on stage. Drum machines on the records. But drums were heard at the show. Where are the drums coming from? Tapes! (drum machines of that era were often too unstable for live use, so they were probably taped). Was ELOs behavior justified? I think so. Was Depeche Mode's? I think so. But a friend of mine who toured with Britney tells me that her entire show is 100% pre-recorded, except for her speaking between the songs. Sorry, even if I liked her music, I'd feel ripped off. Her justification (and this goes for most of her ilk) is that their show is a complete entertainment package - the dancing, the costmes, the lights, the stage, the video, the pyrotechnics, etc. Doing the music live with all of this going on is unfeasible. Broadway shows use pre-recorded music sometimes (some shows do use live music, some don't), and no one complains: the audience goes to see a complete entertainment package, and making the music happen live is cost prohibitive and technically too difficult with all of the other stuff going on. Now, I can see this point, but still, if I am paying for a show that bills itself as a music concert, not as a play or something, I want the music to be as live as possible. There are times when justifiable use of backing tapes is OK (as in above ELO and DM examples), but these pop acts that tae their entire show? Well, all I can say is that I am glad I don't likeheir music anyway, and amtherefore not tempted to waste my money so show up and listen to a CD. PS- clarification for non-tech types: ProTools is a studio tool, not a live tool... usually.

I saw Krafterwrk in '97 or '98 and the Robots got the more applause than the humans did!

I remember a point during the 1970s when ELO got in trouble for playing along to tapes.

Even though I was like 10 at the time, I remember thinking: What do people expect? Their records have an orchestra, a chior, 5 layers of guitars, and backwards instrument effects. OF COURSE they'd need backing tapes to do that live!

...I guess this sort of insight is why I ended up a recording engineer for my living!
:)

But, I think there is a fine line to be drawn.

In 1984-1986 I saw Depeche Mode a few times, and of course a lot of that music was coming off of tapes too. No drummer on stage. Drum machines on the records. But drums were heard at the show. Where are the drums coming from? Tapes! (drum machines of that era were often too unstable for live use, so they were probably taped).

Was ELOs behavior justified?

I think so.

Was Depeche Mode's?

I think so.

But a friend of mine who toured with Britney tells me that her entire show is 100% pre-recorded, except for her speaking between the songs.

Sorry, even if I liked her music, I'd feel ripped off.

Her justification (and this goes for most of her ilk) is that their show is a complete entertainment package - the dancing, the costmes, the lights, the stage, the video, the pyrotechnics, etc. Doing the music live with all of this going on is unfeasible.

Broadway shows use pre-recorded music sometimes (some shows do use live music, some don't), and no one complains: the audience goes to see a complete entertainment package, and making the music happen live is cost prohibitive and technically too difficult with all of the other stuff going on.

Now, I can see this point, but still, if I am paying for a show that bills itself as a music concert, not as a play or something, I want the music to be as live as possible.

There are times when justifiable use of backing tapes is OK (as in above ELO and DM examples), but these pop acts that tae their entire show? Well, all I can say is that I am glad I don't likeheir music anyway, and amtherefore not tempted to waste my money so show up and listen to a CD.

PS- clarification for non-tech types: ProTools is a studio tool, not a live tool... usually.

Post #118128 by tikibars on Tue, Oct 5, 2004 11:32 AM