POLL- In Live A Cappella, What Counts as Cheating?

7/28/2011

Take the Poll!

Technology is a pervasive and growing part of live performance for a cappella groups, but how much is too much? At what point do you feel that you're just not watching a live a cappella group anymore?

Take the poll and let the world know where you draw the line.

For this poll, "cheating" is defined as any act which would make you personally feel as if you weren't really watching a live a cappella act, but instead something else.

Please check all that apply.

17 Comments

Wes Carroll link

7/28/2011 06:45:22 am

I don't see the value of the distinction. Do you enjoy performances that fit an arbitrary set of "a cappella" criteria more than one that does not? Of course not.

So... who cares? ...and why?

Live in care link

8/19/2012 07:19:13 pm

You are sharing, such a great information about the
POLL .A CAPPELLA I like the way you explain the things. Thanks a lot...

pure asian garcinia link

9/8/2014 01:35:48 pm

I was guessing if you could write a little more on this. Although it was a superb effort. But, I'd be very grateful if you could elaborate a bit more.

acapellaluv

3/14/2016 04:16:37 am

What do the biggest aca-groups use....like Ptx, Home Free, Straight No Chaser, Perpetuum Jazzile, Naturally 7, Rockapella, Voiceplay, Take 6, The Real Group, etc?
.
In general...?

Jonathan Minkoff

3/15/2016 12:22:53 pm

Some of the biggest groups use voices on microphones with octavizer on bass, eq on all parts, a little reverb and delay and that's it. Some use tracks that either they hear and you don't or that are actually played to the audience. As one example, Take 6 recently performed in NY with instrumental tracks and also played some instruments. Not so aca! Hope that helps!

Jonathan Minkoff link

7/28/2011 07:19:36 am

The topic of "cheating" in live a cappella is a frequent topic of discussion, particularly among those who make a cappella music.

That's who cares.

Why?

I think people are interested in defining their art form.

This poll isn't to determine whether good music is being made. It's just to see where people generally feel the boundaries are between a cappella and "something else" in a live context.

For some people, whether Dylan played an electric guitar instead of a folk guitar made all the difference in the world.

Niels link

7/28/2011 07:48:07 am

I don't quite know how to word it, but I've had the experience that some would say (I wouldn't) that using a prerecorded click-track that activate effects, echo, harmonizer etc. at very specific times, rather than "just" having the effects that a sound engineer can manage counts more as 'cheating' than otherwise.

Sam Rogers link

7/28/2011 07:51:40 am

For me, "cheating" is changing the sound put in the microphone, as opposed to emphasizing or repeating different parts of that sound. I only very rarely cheat in my show, but I sure do love listening to cheaters!

Jo3 Oliva link

7/29/2011 04:00:11 am

Having been in a group that has used canned drums for almost 20 years I know some people think it’s cheating. They rally behind the “acappella means without instruments” cry to which I retort that it means “in the chapel style” so unless they’re singing church music they don’t get to define it any more than I do.

Personally, I cringe when I hear pre-recorded vocals being passed off as live. That bothers me only because the average audience member is being duped. When someone like Sam Rogers (it was nice to meet you in Toronto by the way, Sam) uses a looping pedal I don’t think anyone in the audience would be duped into thinking he’s actually singing all of those parts. When the girl from Sonos (I don’t know her name) drops her voice down 2 octaves to sing bass I don’t think the average audience member thinks she’s actually singing that low so I say it’s fair game.

To me, if you truly feel that you’re not severely duping an audience and can look them in the eyes when you’re mingling after a show and know in your heart that what you presented on stage was an authentic representation of “who you are” as a group then I answer No to all of the above. Just like the music has changed over the years, so does the technology and if it suits the style of an act, then they should use it in my view.

Jim Frewen

7/29/2011 07:25:25 am

Actually Joe, the meaning in both the Oxford and Webster dictionaries is "without instrumental accompniment" while the origin of the word comes from the Italian for "in chapel style". Now I don't want to argue with an Italian, about Italian, but here's the links. :-)

(I think you have to copy and paste)

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/a+cappella

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20cappella

But I agree with what you are saying about duping. I think the word is integrity. There should be intregity in a live performance.

Using a drum machine is not an integrity issue, as long as you are not telling your audience, you are making all of the sounds live yourselves. As an a cappella fan, I prefer that the drum machine not be used. But general music fans might not care and enjoy the show. I will still enjoy your show, beccause I love harmony. My faescination though, is what can be accomplished by the human voice by itslef.

Live looping is obvious to the audience and the performer is doing it on the spot live as he/she goes. Using an engineer to do the live looping is less authentic but still authentic, in that he performer is still making the sounds live, albeit with help in looping.

But using pre-recorded vocal tracks, to maked it sound like there are more voices is deceptive. It's not live.

As for what the engineer does with sound of a performing voice, as long as it only enhances a performer's already existing talent, and it doesn't make someome like me who sings bad, sound good. Autotunig could make me sound good, right? :-)

In the end, for me as an audience member, I want to come away from a show feeling that the amazing performance I have just seen is credible as a live performance. that performaners blew me away on their own.

voxleo

6/16/2013 06:00:19 am

". My faescination though, is what can be accomplished by the human voice by itslef."

This ^^. The looping is pushing it, but I'd forgive a simple copy of the just captured live material being looped in a live performance PROVIDED it is not just to make the sound bigger or like there are more singers, but that it makes something possible like singing harmony or in a canon with oneself as part of the live show and the audience is aware of its use for that purpose.

I don't mind alterations to the "performance space" such as mics which make it possible for people to hear what there is to be heard, but I don't feel as though the sounds should be altered directly for correction or enhancement. That part should be up to the artists to impress or not as they are able to do, particularly if you are speaking of a contest format and not just casual listening.

Dylan Bell link

7/30/2011 03:45:33 am

Hi folks

I said I'd do it, so, here goes... my latest article: "Rules In A Cappella: Who Gives a Fa-La-La?". Head over to http://www.dylanbell.ca to view it. Jon, feel free to repost in your "Guest Blogger" section if you like. Enjoy!

-dB

casino gokkasten link

10/28/2012 07:48:33 pm

I'm sure that if someone wants to study this topic deeply, he can feel free to contact you personally.

acapellaluv

9/15/2015 01:52:25 am

Heard Home Free live, with & w/o mics: Awesome!! Here's an orig. song, sung 3 diff. places,can you tell me what's used/not used to enhance their sound? UTUBE: Home Free: 'I've Seen'-1) (official vid)..2) 'Sing Off'(bhs
interview)..3) 'Crazy Life Tour'..Pls answer here...Thx !!
.**P.S.
Watch their insane beatboxer(plays trumpet,bass,keys, drums!), in action: 'Adam Rupp Drum Solo 8-17-15' !!!!!

Jonathan Minkoff

9/15/2015 01:23:36 pm

Home Free are good friends and great singers. If you can't tell if they are using enhancement or not, then maybe it doesn't matter! If it does matter, write them a note and ask. They're super friendly!

acapellaluv

10/4/2015 10:02:43 pm

Thx for answering this HomeFry who's just wondering.
Quiet Adam's so crisp & solid..Watching the vid, what do you think of his vp skills? :)

acapellaluv

10/4/2015 09:58:05 pm

Thx for answering this HomeFry who's just wondering, Quiet Adam's unbelievably crisp/solid..Watching the vid, what'd you think of his vp skills? :)

POLL- In Live A Cappella, What Counts as Cheating?

Leave a Reply.

Jonathan Minkoff
& Guest Bloggers

What's Up?

What's Next?

What's Shakin'?

Archives

Categories

POLL- In Live A Cappella, What Counts as Cheating?

Leave a Reply.

Jonathan Minkoff & Guest Bloggers

What's Up?

What's Next?

What's Shakin'?

Archives

Categories

Jonathan Minkoff
& Guest Bloggers