Using MP3 backing tracks is my preferred format for running back tracks when playing on stage. I create backing tracks every week and have been doing so for some time now.  I’ve tried tracks in .WAV format as well but to be honest I find that the files are simply too large. The more stuff you put on a track, backing tracks with vocals for example, the larger the files become and .WAV are often ten times larger in size than the same track in an MP3 format. Some musicians would make the argument that .WAV files sound better than MP3 but I personally have tried both methods and I just can’t hear a distinguishable difference between the two. I think that when you finally end up with your tracks being pumped through a house PA system (thousands of Watts) and the sound of your own drums and guitars being added to the mix, with the natural room echoes etc, you simply aren’t going to hear the difference between the two formats no matter how discriminating your hearing is.

It doesn’t really matter though, if you prefer MP3 that’s great, if you prefer .WAV files,  that’s just great as well. I mentioned above about the size of the file. As I’ve stated elsewhere, I play in several bands at any given time and between all of those bands we run backing tracks, sometimes using an MP3 player or sometimes using a Minidisc player.  The file size becomes a problem when using the Minidisc player in particular. These machines use MD Data discs onto which the tracks are recorded. The problem lies in that an MD Data disc is only good for about 72 minutes worth of music in a two track (left/right) format. If you use a lot of tracks then you run into the problem of requiring more than one disc and you’ll be required to change them as your sets progress. I own a number of these discs and have had them become corrupted for no apparent reason, rendering them useless. They can be a tad difficult to find as well.

My preferred method of running MP backing tracks is by using an i-Pod or MP3 player of some description. You can use .WAV files on most of these players as well but I (we) always choose to use an MP3 format for our band backing tracks. I have used the .WAV format on MP3 players before but (and maybe this was coincidental) we ran into problems with the sound of the files breaking up, even though the same file would play just fine on a computer. In that particular band we decided that MP3 backing tracks would be what we used in the future and we’ve had no similar problems ever since.