How to Use Pre-Recorded Backing Tracks Live 2/3

Hello and welcome to this week's article!

Last week we have seen how to use a backing track on a live context, but this time we must take a look on HOW to make this backing track, to load on the drummer's mp3 player.

Let's load up on our favourite DAW a project and create a midi track and and some audio one.

The audio tracks should be in mono, since only one channel of the mixer will go to the PA.

We should set the tempo track properly, with the right metronome and checking out for tempo changes inside the same tracks, leaving 8 metronome hits before the actual starting of the song, so that the drummer can hear 4 hits, then give the other band members the other 4, and then start the song.

First we make the tempo track, then we create in the midi track an event, of the lenght of the whole song, and we insert the metronome writing the midi part, with the beats and the accents, using a sound that will be easily recognizable by the drummer, even when playing live.

About the audio tracks, we will have to make a mix with all the things we want to have in the base, for example backing vocals, vocal harmonies, orchestral sections, and so on, and to make sure everything is perfectly on time with the click.

When it's time to export we must keep the audio tracks central so that the sound goes evenly both on the left and right channels, while the click part must be all panned LEFT, so in the mixer we will send the left channel on the drummer's headphones and the right channel on the P.A., and the audience will not hear the click, only the backing track.

My suggestion is to use a limiter to make the final volume even among all songs, and to make sure that all songs not only have the same levels, but also the metronome on the same side!! :)


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