A question from the clueless

[1sttimelongtime]

I have another question for you all. I am reading my way thru the back posts on this board and I came across this in the soundstage thread.


(Stevie SEEMS more together mentally than Ozzy & his guide vocal tracks in concert)


Can someone tell me what a guide vocal track is?

What is Ozzy (or anyone else who uses them) doing with them in concert? How does it work? I love Ozzy dearly, but when I went to see him a few years ago at Ozzfest I was saddened by how he sounded. I think he sounded better on some youtube footage of more recent shows, so perhaps he was just under the weather. Or maybe it is the guide tracks??? Whatever they are!!!

[michelej1]

As I understand it, it is a simple arrangement of the song that has already been recorded. So, you use it to keep yourself singing in synch.

It's kind of like paper. If you write on a blank sheet of paper, your sentence may come out crooked and sprawled. But if the paper is lined and you have that line to guide you, you can write straight across the page, in neat sequence.

A guide track helps the singer keep their vocal going straight, in tune, in synch with Jana and Sharon, etc.

Michele

[kennation]

Originally Posted by 1sttimelongtime

I have another question for you all. I am reading my way thru the back posts on this board and I came across this in the soundstage thread.


(Stevie SEEMS more together mentally than Ozzy & his guide vocal tracks in concert)


Can someone tell me what a guide vocal track is?

What is Ozzy (or anyone else who uses them) doing with them in concert? How does it work? I love Ozzy dearly, but when I went to see him a few years ago at Ozzfest I was saddened by how he sounded. I think he sounded better on some youtube footage of more recent shows, so perhaps he was just under the weather. Or maybe it is the guide tracks??? Whatever they are!!!

Almost like KARAOKE... If you have ever heard a karaoke track without someone singing you can hear voice tracks underneath in areas where most singers would have trouble. This allows the performer to adjust, much like the paper writing theory given above. It simply aids in getting the right note, or key, or phrasing.

[HejiraNYC]

From wiki:

Singers may also use guide tracks to help them remain in tune with the musicians; these may not be audible to the audience. Inexperienced singers, or those with limited skills, may sing along with a foreground voice track. This last usage is essentially the same as lip synchronization, although the live singer's voice may in some cases be combined with the recorded vocals or the recorded track lowered in volume. Vocal guides are sometimes used both by professional entertainers and in amateur karaoke performances. This technique was used extensively by Milli Vanilli, and occasionally by Ashlee Simpson (especially in an infamous Saturday Night Live performance, before which she was having voice problems).

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_track"

I'm pretty sure FM used some guide vocals on the SYW tour- "Say Goodbye," "Peacekeeper," "Don't Stop," etc.

[1sttimelongtime]

I never thought I would regret sleeping thru music class!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, I appreciate it.