What is the difference between MR and AR in Korean music?
Short answer
In Korean music slang, MR is the instrumental backing you sing over, and AR is the full recorded track including the original vocals. Singers practise or perform live over MR; playing AR means the recorded voice is heard too. Neither is an official standard term, so confirm which file a venue or editor wants.
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Explanation
MR and AR are industry shorthand in Korean performance, broadcasting and singing practice. They are often glossed as 'Music Recorded' and 'All Recorded', but these are not standard English terms. In English, say instrumental, backing track or karaoke track for MR, and original track or full mix for AR.
Miming over AR on stage is lip-syncing. In between, some performers sing over a backing track that still contains recorded backing or guide vocals, described in Korean as laying AR under MR.
Karaoke-room tracks are often re-recorded arrangements made by the karaoke company, so they can differ from an MR taken from the original recording. If you need the original arrangement, look for an official instrumental first; otherwise you can reduce the vocal in an AR you are authorized to use.
| Term | Vocals | Typical use | English equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR | No lead vocal | Practice, live stage, auditions | Instrumental, backing track |
| AR | Original vocal included | Listening, lip-sync, reference | Original track, full mix |
| Inst. track | No vocal (official release) | Album instrumental | Official instrumental |
| Karaoke track | No vocal (often re-recorded) | Karaoke practice | Karaoke track |
Frequently asked questions
What does 'MR removed' mean?
Usually the opposite of vocal removal: the accompaniment is reduced so the voice remains. Vocal removal turns AR into MR.
Can I turn an AR into an MR?
AI source separation can reduce the vocal to get close to an MR. Backing vocals or reverb may remain, so listen to the parts you will use.
What should I confirm before handing an MR to an event?
Agree the file format, song version, key and start and end points, and check you have permission if the MR comes from the original recording.
Make a backing track from your own file
Upload an audio file you are authorized to use (MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, AAC, OGG or MP4, up to 50MB). Conversion costs 1, 2 or 3 credits for low, medium or high quality; changing the key adds 1 credit.
Upload a songRelated guides
Sources
Each source was opened and checked on the date shown.
- Backing track — Wikipedia (checked )
- Lip sync — Wikipedia (checked )
- Karaoke — Wikipedia (checked )