Why is it necessary to separate the parts?

[Hobotivo]

Maybe this doesn't apply to you, but I know that when I'm playing games that mimic the "plastic guitar" gameplay, and if I start missing notes, I can still hear the guitar...it really detracts from the gameplay. When that happens, for a lot of gamers, it doesn't feel like they're playing along with The Beatles...it feels like they're listening to The Beatles and pressing buttons on a video game controller. It just isn't the same, and it really isn't the true Beatles experience.

It's the line that separates it from "Beatles Video Game" to make it "Beatles Experience".

How often do you completely miss a note, ie, fail to strum it? Me, hardly ever. If it "bleeped" when I did, instead of being silent I wouldn't care much, if at all. (I might miss a few on really long sequences of the same note or chord, especially those which need alt-strumming, which I'm still not very good at. I'll check in RB, there's not much of that in TB:RB.)

The experience is a bit weird anyway, charting piano and other instruments to guitar is hardly "realistic" is it? But that doesn't worry me either, it's fine by me.

And one guitar that plays whatever notes from John and Paul's guitars makes for the best gameplay at that point in the song? That's not remotely realistic either, but does it detract from the gameplay? No, not for me anyway! I'd much rather have that technique than being forced to be either George or John all the way through an entire play session, which would be the "realistic" alternative.

[Hobotivo]

... and important for bringing the parts you play to the forefront of the mix.

AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF THIS GAME THAT I LOVE!!!

Is that actually true? Do they slightly boost the instruments that have been charted? It must be pretty slight because all the songs sound (to my elderly ears!) very close to the original mixes I know and love.

[TimmoWarner]

Is that actually true? Do they slightly boost the instruments that have been charted? It must be pretty slight because all the songs sound (to my elderly ears!) very close to the original mixes I know and love.

I know this is true in Regular Rock Band for sure. I can't say I've noticed it in The Beatles as much... I appreciate it a lot when playing bass.

[MurphyRock]

I'm pretty sure that the best of session musos would be able to replicate the playing of the individual Beatles instruments and voices with incredible fidelity, those guys are GOOD. For the vocals only accurate pitch would be required, they wouldn't have to actually sound like the Beatles.

A) You've got to be kidding me.
B) Sacrilege!

If this game had been covers of The Beatles songs as opposed to The Beatles' own music, I would never have bought it. Even in RB2, I sometimes don't download DLC of songs I like because they are done by an inferior cover band (example: T-Rex's "Bang a Gong" - how dare they try to cover that!).

The separation of tracks has to be done because it is necessary to vary the volume of the different instruments. Just for instance, when a wrong note is played, that instrument has to be muted.

[PCTraitor]

Wow I do not understand how this guy really thinks that the removal of the sound isn't necessary. If you want to test it just play the game on no fail, do not plug in your guitar and when you hit a wrong note make a sound with your mouth to represent the missed note. It's a totally different and shallow experience. You really do feel disconnected from the game. If this guy cannot get that then there is no reasoning with him.

[skysaw]

Is that actually true? Do they slightly boost the instruments that have been charted? It must be pretty slight because all the songs sound (to my elderly ears!) very close to the original mixes I know and love.

It is absolutely true. This really started to be noticeable when I started charting my own band's music for the upcoming RBN. If all instruments are playing, you should be hearing the song in its original intended form. But if you just play by yourself on one instrument, you will hear that part just a bit louder than it otherwise would be.

[Hobotivo]

It is absolutely true. This really started to be noticeable when I started charting my own band's music for the upcoming RBN. If all instruments are playing, you should be hearing the song in its original intended form. But if you just play by yourself on one instrument, you will hear that part just a bit louder than it otherwise would be.

Interesting, and in that case it's not surprising I've never noticed it because because I don't recall ever having played alone. I'll give it a try. But, given that you didn't notice it until you were charting for RBN, do you really think that it's important to the gameplay?

[Julio_Strikes_Back]

Having the instruments separated into individual tracks helps with both the audio and gameplay aspects of the game. If the tracks become separated, it becomes easier to create a higher-quality digital mix since there are more components that can be adjusted. And after all, it's "The Beatles: Rock Band," not the other way around. I'm glad that such effort was put into splitting the master tracks to make the music sound better, which is the focus of the game.

Also, having a note drop out of the track of the instrument you're playing on when making a mistake adds a bit to realism and also helps remind you of which specific part you missed. It is personally interesting to me, as a Beatles fan to get the sense of actually affecting their performances through the game. The experience would be totally cheapened if the changes you suggested took place.

[Billy-93]

if it wasn't seperated they couldnt take out the guitar parts that say the guitarist might miss without muting,vocals bass n drums at same time.

[gamegyro56]

Why would it not be possible to hire very competent session musicians, or even a Beatles tribute band, have them play the instruments as accurately as possible, and then use their notes on the display, still with the "real" Beatles music playing?

I'm pretty sure that the best of session musos would be able to replicate the playing of the individual Beatles instruments and voices with incredible fidelity, those guys are GOOD. For the vocals only accurate pitch would be required, they wouldn't have to actually sound like the Beatles.

That's a stupid idea.