So what do you guys prefer for your click track. A long (set long) track with the clicks programmed including pre-established in between songs breaks or a playlist with different tracks (including inter songs breaks) and zero track separation?
Either way really. Separate projects for songs is usually easier come mix down time and organizationally but for tracking drums the only concern is the size of the audio file. 6-8 tracks of drums at 24bit for 45 minutes (typical album length) would be a really large file. Personally I like cow bell for the click sound.
These days, there's usually a media track. Bigger acts might have different mixes sent to their IEM. I've heard U2s tracks. Bono & Edge have different features on their mix. My guess is they have a sympte set-up w/ a monitor mix. I've heard a couple of the Roger Waters ones as well. Listen closely to this, it has the media track. I think at this time, they were using 1 track for everyone [ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtCXHWCfRFI[/ame] Each song should have it's own time track...
Very interesting. Big discussion last night at rehearsal about the subject. Fact is there is more than one way to skin a cat. Some folks are very set on their ways and dismiss any other alternatives.
here's a couple more samples... https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/70399170/03-Another%20Brick%20in%20the%20Wall%20%28Part%201%29.mp3 https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/70399170/04-The Happiest Days.mp3 listen all the way through, they are short enough... Not sure whos mix these are. Maybe Roger's? Seems only wanted the click, guitar & vocal in the IEM. The IEM had some static. Not sure if that was from the recorder's receiver, or if the system was having issues that night...
No prob... The main thing is to use the technology to make things easier for you. You could hook up a multi-track recorder (whatever you've got - computer/hard drive recorder, etc) to a sequencer. Have it programmed & at the touch of a button, the sync for the song starts. Make whatever cues you want. You can always just do a click track, or add in all sorts of cues to let you know where you are along the way. I've heard some even for the ending of a lead solo, where the guitarist might be getting lost in himself, where it announces back into the verse/chorus - 2-3-4- etc., etc. If you do go all out, you can add all sorts of stuff, since you already have a sequencer running. Do you have a sound effect on the recording that can't be performed? Add it! Want thicker background vocals? add a lower level along w/ the live ones. Possibilities are limitless...
iphone and such can also trigger midi wirelessly. Lots of free apps. My son has a metronome on his iPod and sticks an earbud in one ear. Having all band members cue on a set track though can be disastrous. I'd rather have everyone following the drummer.
Until Alan Hayth joined us recently, the Mondo Jelly Kings performed with 24 bit drum tracks that I record and master for live sound performance. Still do for initial rehearsals on our new tunes. Each track has it's own channel in the DAW. Each track has a lead in of stick counts or actual drum intros. The click track became irrelevant. Choosing and starting each track to play is done with a remote unit (Frontier Tranzport into Samplitude on an Alienware laptop). The audiences didn't seem to mind. But life is much better with a real live interactive drummer, both for input on final arrangements and the energy/sound in live performance. Back in the day, when I used reel-to-reel recordings with extra vocals, guitars & keyboards - we ran a click track in the monitors along with the recorded sounds, but only the instruments were fed into the PA. That also worked very well. Audiences didn't seem to catch on and thought we were producing all that with the on stage instruments. ... of course, other musicians were neither fooled, nor amused. Heh-heh. Cheers
