Watch this demonstration from 18:20 to the end to see a true expert KB artist create a song track by track from scratch,.......this is why I love backing tracks custom made vs repetitive styles......
a player can really be so creative...
awesome demo here and on an older SY99 model also.
This can easily be done on an arranger Kb also.

Donny, ALL songs are repetitive, whether they're played on an arranger keyboard, or by a live band. That's the nature of the beast. Creating a song, track by track, on an arranger keyboard is not rocket science, and for the most part, the vast majority of the players I know have done this from time to time. Those that use midi files, are, unfortunately, limited to the length of the file itself. When the file ends, it's over. Those of us that play live, have lots of options, including the ability to work through the variations, change right hand instruments, string out the time frame to fill the dance floor, or shorten it because the audience doesn't seem to respond to that particular song. Granted, some keyboards will allow you to loop that midi file to a specific spot and string it out, but it's repetitive as well. You're only option to help alleviate the repetitive nature of the midi file is to comp with your right hand.

A song's variety is what we, as musicians and entertainers, put into that song. Our creativity is what makes the song interesting and entertaining. It really doesn't make a bit of difference whether that song is played as a midi file, style file, or by a band - it's what WE put into it that makes it work.

Cheers,

Gary

Gary...good post,.....So now we're getting someplace in understanding that it is all good no matter how we do it,.....and by mixing it up,... using ALL available sources of musical creation, without animosity toward one way or the other is what I am trying to relay to everyone!.....again I reiterate,....

"a Buffet with only one food item on it isn't very appetizing....
But,.... give me a Fully Loaded Buffet from soup to nuts and I'm in Heaven and so is everyone else at the affair!"

I was never much for ALL sources of music creation...I simply like picking a style (usually one edited by me) and playing a tune, being able to repeat as necessary, change keys, and even the style without a hitch.

As far as track by track recording, I spent many years in recording studious doing just that, as arrangers hadn't progressed to the point where they could be viably used in recording. It's tedious and time consuming and necessary in some cases.

Having the style saves the person recording a lot of time, and in a studio, time is money. Using an arranger, I could lay down a complete bed of drums, bass, and rhythm guitar in one simple pass. A workstation isn't as powerful in that respect, and although it does offer other options, they wouldn't appeal to me.

I've heard performers using their own homemade SMF and others using commercial files, and unless the former was a very experienced player, the latter were usually a lot better. In most cases, the only person who knew the difference was the player. A fixed backing track is just that, fixed, and even using markers, it always comes out pretty much the same overall...it's just a recording of the backing tracks of a particular song...same chords etc.

It's no doubt very handy for the entertainer who is primarily a vocalist first, and a keyboardist second.

I don't envy today's OMB performer, as it appears they have to spread themselves rather thin and use all kinds of extras, and, again, the audience doesn't care one iota...as long as they are being entertained.

Ian

Ian don't feel bad for us Omb perfomers,....life in the trenches is better then ever every night!!!
I wouldn't have it any other way.

It was never really a job for me, Donny, hence there were no "trenches" to deal with in my case...everything usually "flowed" right along...of course, that happened because I made sure I was prepared for my gigs.

The clinician work was hardly what I'd term "work"...it was a lot of fun, I got to meet some great people and equally great players, and I got to use the latest and often the most expensive gear for just being to play reasonably well and to be able to get along with people. The money was pretty good too.

Playing music is not "work"...it's not called "playing" for nothing, yuh know.

I just wouldn't want (or need) to compromise the way I like to play music, and I was glad to be able to have the choice and opportunity to retire.

Ian