[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 06-21-2010).]

Fran is DA MAN!!!!

Wow! A picture of Fran's butt. You really need to tone down your lipstick, Donny.



chas

'Job'? Just starting a midifile?

Roel,..What do you have against midifiles? Fran does a great job on stage.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 06-20-2010).]

As what? A MC? Is there anything inherently wrong with a midi file? No, not for the one that created it. It's only when you use one (commercially prepared midi file) to present yourself as a musician that I have a problem with it. If you want to use one in a club (while pretending to play, thereby perpetrating a fraud on your audience), fine, but don't post one as an example of 'your work' to a bunch of guys (like here on SZ) that know better. Then it just becomes a joke.

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not (not likely, since this is an 'arranger' forum), just playing an arranger in style mode is something of a 'moral' compromise, even though there is at least SOME skill involved. If you need something to play during the breaks, an mp3 is probably a better choice, so I can't think of an instance where a midifile (used in this manner) would be justified. The one exception might be the OMB that steps away from the keyboard, mike in hand, and sings, with no implication that he is playing his/her accompaniment. As far as the audience knows, he/she could be singing to a karaoke track, which, in effect, he is doing. No problem there. Why? No fraud.

Maybe it's just me, and I'm being overly self-righteous, but whenever someone presents something that is obviously not their work but implying that it is, I find it, at the very least, annoying. Same goes for those that champion these people. JMO, of course.

chas

Sometimes there is a lot of skill involved when playing in style mode, although I suppose that depends on the player and the type of music.

What way of playing an arranger would you call skillful? Are some arranger players more skillful than others, Why?

The inherent design of the instrument is for style play, and/or playing over a MIDI file...and of course, recording/multi-tracking.

There are some pieces that I play, in style mode, that I would term "difficult" for any type of keyboard player (pianist, organist, synthesist) to play on an arranger.

Also, there are some midi files that would challenge a player, even as good as you, if you took out the keyboard parts and played them yourself.

I don't believe that your blanket description of arranger players, which infers that they make a "moral" compromise or require at least "some" skill(implying a small amount) applies in all cases...wouldn't you agree?

Ian

PS...I agree with your last statement that "pretending" to play over a SMF, especially one not of your own making is annoying...in fact, I think it's awful.

You make some good points, Ian. I probably shouldn't have used the word "moral", but it IS somewhat of a compromise since at least a part of the total sound is generated by a computer. This all assumes 'style mode' play, of course.

As to 'skill level', I didn't mean to imply that anyone who plays an arranger automatically has a lower skill level than those that play other types of keyboards. That's ridiculous. Rory plays a S910. YOU play an arranger. Diki plays an arranger. Joe Ayala (sp) plays an arranger. All of you are rather formidable pianist/Keyboard players who could certainly hold your own without the assistance of an arranger. IOW, there are more reasons to play an arranger than because you're a lousy 'conventional' keyboard player. So my intent was not to imply a sub-par skill level JUST because you play an arranger. Heck, Russ plays an arranger (occasionally) and you can't get any more 'purist' than he is .

As to you other question, "What way of playing arranger would you call skillful?", I started to say 'full piano mode' in conjunction with 'style play', but upon reflection, I'm going to say, ANY WAY YOU APPROACH IT THAT SOUNDS GOOD AND HAS BEEN MADE UNIQUE BY YOUR REALTIME, PRIMARILY KEYBOARD, INPUT. There is obviously also a good deal of skill in setting up registrations, patches, pads, etc., that will enhance a particular performance, but I think we are talking about the performance itself, here.

This is another one of those topics that gets rehashed every so often, but in the end, I think we're talking about musical honesty, here. At least that's what I'M talking about.

chas

Fran posts a great Video of one his shows years ago and everyone is knocking it...why?
So Chas are you saying Fran is a faker in this video? or what? Again lets not forget Styles are just small midi files also....
I guess it Purists time all over again.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 06-21-2010).]

Are YOU saying that that's him playing that background accompaniment?

chas