CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

#1

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 1:08pm

There is one aspect of sound design that is almost never discussed on Broadway: backing tracks, which have been used in musicals since the 1980s. In Broadway's "Chicago," for instance, the show's sound designer, Scott Lehrer, says there are about five of these tracks—recorded vocals of songs that play along intermittently with ensemble members who may not be able to sing loudly, or may stop singing, often because they're dancing too strenuously.

Does anyone know specifically which numbers use prerecorded tracks?
Broadway Turns Up the Volume - As mics and backing tracks multiply, the theater world is divided

#2

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 3:37pm

According to Hal Prince's book CONTRADICTIONS, Follies used click-tracks for some of Loveland back in 1971 because of the strenuousness of the dancing. It's not a new thing, I guess, but I was unaware of it in Chicago.

#3

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 3:44pm

Prerecorded vocals and click tracks are NOT the same thing.
A click trick is LITERALLY a series of clicks to keep time. Prerecorded sweetner tracks are very common.

#4

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 7:32pm

yes, dance heavy shows frequently use pre-recorded vocal tracks.

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A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

#5

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 7:39pm

The background tracks used in Follies were in Who's That Woman.

#6

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 7:41pm

The only thing I have to say about the sound design for Chicago is that it is HORRIBLE and needs to be re-done. I saw it for the first time 2 weeks ago. The sound was quiet, muffled, and a lot of lyrics were unintelligible.

#7

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 8:04pm

Any recorded track is referred to as a click track because they are linked to a click track. The recorded vocals, effects or elements go on top of a click track, where the click is played to the conductor and the orchestra then follows the track, not the cast.

#8

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 8:24pm

I THINK (not positive) Mamma Mia! uses a pre-recorded background track for "Gimme Gimme Gimme". I'm basing this on the fact that I've seen the show several times over the past few months from the front row and can tell pretty well when someone is actually singing live vs. mouthing the words. Some of the ensemble doesn't even bother mouthing the words during this song, not to mention, to me, it always sounds EXACTLY the same. Again, I have no confirmation of this, it's just what I've observed. I think they may use one for Voules Vouz too.

#9

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 8:33pm

there are click tracks that carry no pre-recorded sound at all; i know of two being used now which simply keep the band synchronized with silent animation. they are click tracks, but they are not pre-records.

#10

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:05pm

The only part (right off the bat) that I think is prolly pre recorded is the "Nowadays" whistle...attributed to Jason Patrick Sands. I mean, that part has to sound perfect, hence the need for a recording.

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"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#11

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:32pm

Voulez Vous
My Own Best Friend

#12

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:34pm

You Can't Stop the Beat became well known as having used vocal sweetening.

#13

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 10:43pm

You know your "Chicago" stuff JB... I mean "Theatre Boi". : )

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"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#14

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/15/15 at 11:59pm

I thought the singing in Mama Mia was done off stage in a sound booth.

#15

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 12:10am

^ Yes that does happen, but when the entire cast is onstage, they add tracks as well for some dance heavy segments.

#16

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 12:41am

Chicago doesnt use many click tracks.

Mamma Mia uses a bit more mostly when it's the full cast on stage, other times there's about 4 people in the booths providing vocals. It's very common knowledge.

Nail me to the cross and whatever, I'm not christian, I never said I'm currently in Chicago. I have a long history w the ol Chicago and Mia, I'm sorry for giving correct info.

And yes my email I have registered here is TheatERboi not RE cause it wasn't avaliable at the time, it's over 20 years old and I barely use it

#17

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 2:51pm

If you notice in some theaters in the pit there is little rooms where singing can be recorded and or done for the show so that is probably what some shows do, the have most of the ensemble singing in the little recording rooms while the dancers who have to be strenuous dancing onstage sort of singing

#18

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 3:11pm

Where have you seen vocal booths in the orchestra pit?

Yes, off-stage singing is common. Sometimes there's a specific "area" that the singers will be in with a mic and conductor video monitor, other times they just stand in the wings and sing.

And yes, pre-recorded vocals for dance numbers are common as well (more common than you'd care to know). These are called "sweetening tracks." Sweetening tracks ALWAYS accompany a click track.

A click track is for the conductor and musicians, and does NOT necessarily mean there are pre-recorded vocals being used. Click tracks are used for several other reasons, some of them being: to keep a song's tempo exactly the same every time (so the performer(s) stop bitching); to sync with video/projection content; to align with an automation sequence.

#19

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 3:21pm

Rock of Ages used offstage vocals heavily throughout. In addition to the ensemble at some points, the swings would also be in the offstage booths, which is very rare.

#20

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 5:21pm

There are recorded vocals in Rock of Ages, mostly for vocoder effects. And Dennis's line in the finale is pre-recorded to allow for a glitter cannon exploding. He speaks the line without pitch as well, in case the song is in a different key for any event necessitating transposition.

#21

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 9:52pm

If My Own Best Friend is pre-recorded, then kudos to them for updating the arrangement. It was distinctly different at one point the last time I saw it, with Jennifer and Carly. I've seen the show about sixty times, so I definitely recognized the difference.

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#22

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 9:59pm

Who's That Women and Loveland/Loveland Breakdown used pre recorded tracks, as mentioned (apparently they were very hard to synch right.) Of course offstage singing is pretty common--the dancers who aren't chosen at the beginning of A Chorus Line then sing the ensemble numbers from a booth, etc.

#23

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/16/15 at 11:14pm

I can confirm MAMMA MIA! sweetens the medley at the end of Act I, plus "Dancing Queen" and the title song, at least.

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#24

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/17/15 at 10:07am

I'm old-fashioned/old-school. Broadway musicals should sweeten themselves with LIVE singing only - w/extremely rare exceptions (like the Chicago whistle) & plays that use pre-recorded vocal scene change music.

#25

CHICAGO Broadway use of prerecorded tracks

Posted: 3/17/15 at 12:19pm

Pre-recorded vocals have been used on Broadway for several decades - roughly half the time the genre of the Broadway Musical has been in existence.