Thank you for saying what you said i am one who does about 200 dates a year or more and i use midi files and i have never sounded better i play with them and my following love it so you are right on . and i am a real Musican and not a faker thanks Again i was starting to get offended untill i read your post well said.

I'd be more interested in how many arranger players can actually play along with a drummer, a GOOD drummer. You guys make all drummers seem incompetent.

Someone that's never played with a drummer and is addicted to playing along onboard styles had better pass at the opportunity unless he's willing to face the music...so to speak. Ha! Ha!

Sure, an onboard style may seem to have perfect timing but it's that "perfect" timing that makes it automated. They don't call it automatic accompaniment for nothing.

If it's indeed "perfect timing", why do bands, be it Rock bands, symphonic orchestras, and the likes insist on having a human drummer? After all, they'll have one less to split the monies. Because it can't do what a human drummer can. Simple as that. A human -even an inhumane - drummer can improvise on the fly, add embellishments, give a rousing solo, change tempo at the snap of a finger. An arranger style is statically predefined.

Oh, and a drummer can play bare-chested, flex his biceps, twirl his drumsticks (the non-edible kind unless you're a woodworm or termite) and, most importantly, get chicks. Why else do you think Chas picked up drumming?

JMHO

Taike

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Bo pen nyang



[This message has been edited by Taike (edited 01-02-2011).]

Hi,
first up, I've never " Performed ", with a band, midifiles or an arranger.
As an outsider looking in, what difference does it really make what the backing is, as long as you're doing your part.

I remember when midifiles first came out
(late 80's , I think), I was paying $30 per midifile. I had very few. haahaa
I was happy when I bought my first keyboard, I had backing.
Eventually midifiles, as the hobbyist market grew, got way cheaper. A lot of them wouldn't have been suited for the pro market, but for me as a hobbyist, they were ok, I was able to play along on my piano. (Personally, I found playing along with piano, more difficult than playing the arranger.)

One disadvantage I would imagine in using a midifile, versus keyboard , is that the performance is set, unless you have some sort of function, to be able to extend the performance if required.
On my Korg , I sort of found a way around it by cutting a midifile into sections and triggering them in style play mode.

By the sounds of things, each of the methods, live band backing, midifiles, arranger playing , has it's pro's & cons.
Main thing is, you're doing what works for you, and you're out there performing. Congratulations.

best wishes
Rikki



[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 01-03-2011).]

Amen Rikki
That is how many of us see it.
Bernie