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how do i record to a click track?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:31 am
by AoD
so were going into record an album and were gonna spend alot of time and money on it.. our dude says the best way to do it is with a click track and have the drummer go over the recorded guitars and bass ...
this is totaly backwards on how ive ever recorded anything before. im sure it will come out better this way, but i have no idea where to start. how do we make click tracks? we have lots of random and awkward tempo changes and it seems like it would be too complicated to sit and try to figure that shit out because ive never really paid attention to counts and stuff, its always been on feeling it out... do i just set a metronome and figure out the tempos that way or what? whats the easiest way to do this?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:45 am
by Richard The Duke
Whatever you do, do NOT illegally download a torrent containing Finale. There is no way on earth that you could use that program to do what you want.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:49 am
by AoD
ok. i totally have no idea what you are trying to tell me. word.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:53 am
by Richard The Duke
:no:

get a program called Finale and use it. It is magic--trust the Duke. you will need to know extremely basic music theory and you will be able to make click tracks with odd time signatures.

If thats too complicated, just make a click track with Guitar Pro.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:57 am
by Pfl?yd
The studio will probably be able to build a beat map for you--for an extra fee of course--if you don't know how to go about doing this.

I suggest doing it yourself though in pre-production because it will really give you a good perspective on what you are doing, and it will put everything under the microscope; something you want to be doing BEFORE the clock is ticking.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:19 am
by PABassPlayer
Lars will come to your house and show you how it's done...

Seriously, most studios will set it up for you. Alot of the "A" room cookie cutter pop cover bands do their entire live shows to a click track. You will often see drummers wearing headphones to make sure they don't go too fast during Fallout Boys - Sugar we're going down.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:45 pm
by Pfl?yd
PABassPlayer wrote:Lars will come to your house and show you how it's done...

Seriously, most studios will set it up for you. Alot of the "A" room cookie cutter pop cover bands do their entire live shows to a click track. You will often see drummers wearing headphones to make sure they don't go too fast during Fallout Boys - Sugar we're going down.
What's wrong with using a click live? :fur:

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:04 pm
by Lord of This World
i remember your drummer being good. does he have any experience playing to a metronome? if you can't don't want to record live maybe try recording some scratch guitar for him and then recording your final guitar parts over his drums. when i used to record metal songs my feel was always better and more dynamic when i recorded over drums instead of a metronome.

just remember you don't HAVE to use a metronome. some people make great stuff with click tracks, some people sound lifeless and mechanical with them.

definitely experiment and practice before you guys go in there. don't wait until then to figure out what you're gonna do.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:30 pm
by CFH Eternal
Pfl?yd wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:Lars will come to your house and show you how it's done...

Seriously, most studios will set it up for you. Alot of the "A" room cookie cutter pop cover bands do their entire live shows to a click track. You will often see drummers wearing headphones to make sure they don't go too fast during Fallout Boys - Sugar we're going down.
What's wrong with using a click live? :fur:
It is dissappointing to find out The Mars Volta uses it. :tdown: :x

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 5:13 am
by Lord of This World
CFH Eternal wrote:
Pfl?yd wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:Lars will come to your house and show you how it's done...

Seriously, most studios will set it up for you. Alot of the "A" room cookie cutter pop cover bands do their entire live shows to a click track. You will often see drummers wearing headphones to make sure they don't go too fast during Fallout Boys - Sugar we're going down.
What's wrong with using a click live? :fur:
It is dissappointing to find out The Mars Volta uses it. :tdown: :x
where/how did you learn this?

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:07 pm
by croninburg
I don't see how that can be possible.. I know that Jon Theodore recorded all of his parts for Frances the Mute to a metronome though.

Regarding the click track thing, we've always just recorded the drummer with the guitarists playing in his headphones, then recorded all the other instruments on top of that. If you do your tempo changes by feel then this will probably sound more natural. There's nothing wrong with doing it this way, the reason that the engineer will be keen to record you to a click is that it makes editing much, much easier for him - which will save you some time and money. Like everyone's said, just make sure that everyone knows what they're doing before you get to the studio..

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:12 am
by Cynosure
CFH Eternal wrote:
Pfl?yd wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:Lars will come to your house and show you how it's done...

Seriously, most studios will set it up for you. Alot of the "A" room cookie cutter pop cover bands do their entire live shows to a click track. You will often see drummers wearing headphones to make sure they don't go too fast during Fallout Boys - Sugar we're going down.
What's wrong with using a click live? :fur:
It is dissappointing to find out The Mars Volta uses it. :tdown: :x
Doesn't seem like they do at all, they sound like shit live imo.

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:31 am
by AoD
yeah we all talke dabout it, not happening.

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:31 pm
by Pfl?yd
CFH Eternal wrote:
Pfl?yd wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:Lars will come to your house and show you how it's done...

Seriously, most studios will set it up for you. Alot of the "A" room cookie cutter pop cover bands do their entire live shows to a click track. You will often see drummers wearing headphones to make sure they don't go too fast during Fallout Boys - Sugar we're going down.
What's wrong with using a click live? :fur:
It is dissappointing to find out The Mars Volta uses it. :tdown: :x
I don't see the problem with it. LOTS of bands have a click in their monitors. My band does video syncing so it's a necessity that the drummer and I have a click mix in our in-ear monitors. That, and with six people onstage, the stage sound can be a mess, especially in some venues without really strong FOH support. So it's nice to have something to latch onto.

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:32 pm
by DeathSion
dude..it's just playing to a pulse at a certain tempo.....really just as hard as sitting down with a meter that your drummer or yourself can tap the tempo into...figure out the tempo for every riff..write it down riff by riff..along with the number of beats you play that riff for. if your tech is good he'll be able to punch you in riff by riff for scratch track..along with the tempo change on each riff.

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:48 pm
by Lord of This World
DeathSion wrote:dude..it's just playing to a pulse at a certain tempo.....really just as hard as sitting down with a meter that your drummer or yourself can tap the tempo into...figure out the tempo for every riff..write it down riff by riff..along with the number of beats you play that riff for. if your tech is good he'll be able to punch you in riff by riff for scratch track..along with the tempo change on each riff.
most human beings don't play the same consistent tempo like a metronome. if his drummer isn't used to playing to a click it will sound pretty bad at first. some drummers like chad smith have an incredible sense of time and can even shift between specific bpms at will during a song. the chili peppers don't even use a click to record but you probably wouldn't notice it at first when listening to them. some drummers don't use a click and sound great. think about how many classic rock albums that were recorded live with everybody playing at once.

Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:02 am
by AoD
yeah the best recordings ever were done 30 years ago before any of this click stuff. im not downtalking it at all, im actually just too lazy to figure out how to do it. but yeah we'll just practice a bunch and then do it the old school way i guess....

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:27 am
by eurotard with tekno
proper way is for everyone to play individually. and have all instruments on seperate channels on the mixer. so you can do the levels and EQ properly

have a bash together and get the track for you ears

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:13 am
by PABassPlayer
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 3:56 pm
by hektik
AoD wrote:yeah the best recordings ever were done 30 years ago before any of this click stuff. im not downtalking it at all, im actually just too lazy to figure out how to do it. but yeah we'll just practice a bunch and then do it the old school way i guess....
music sounds better when the whole band records at once, in my opinion. gives it a much warmer feel to it and creates some intense atmosphere, depending on the music yer playin'.

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 4:32 pm
by eurotard with tekno
PABassPlayer wrote:......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.
otherwise known as a worthless metranome

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 5:02 pm
by PABassPlayer
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.
otherwise known as a worthless metranome
AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....shut up.

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 7:00 pm
by eurotard with tekno
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.
otherwise known as a worthless metranome
AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....shut up.
wow. all you got from someone whoplays bass. with all yall got assholes like a nig

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 7:30 pm
by PABassPlayer
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.
otherwise known as a worthless metranome
AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....shut up.
wow. all you got from someone whoplays bass. with all yall got assholes like a nig
huh?

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:57 pm
by Pfl?yd
hektik wrote:
AoD wrote:yeah the best recordings ever were done 30 years ago before any of this click stuff. im not downtalking it at all, im actually just too lazy to figure out how to do it. but yeah we'll just practice a bunch and then do it the old school way i guess....
music sounds better when the whole band records at once, in my opinion. gives it a much warmer feel to it and creates some intense atmosphere, depending on the music yer playin'.
Feh. I do that for scratch tracks and then properly go and re-record most of it. I'm not big on "live" recordings for the most part unless it's like a punk band or something.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:43 pm
by SizlChest
The few times I have recorded demos with my band, we would record live, with emphasis on micing the drums. We didn't use a click. That way, we'd get a great drum recording with a live feeling, then go back in and track guitars and vocals.

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:29 am
by ~101 From Hell~
well if you know how to keep time while playing then recording with a metronome shouldn't be difficult. I recorded with a click track on my bands last recordings, piece of cake. and yes it makes it sound better, only because everything will be perfectly on time.

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:59 pm
by TRENDKILLCFH333
I would record it live with only the drummer listening to the click track to keep on time. As a guitarist, recording with a click track is extremely boring & doesn't provided the same vibe as a drummer. IMHO

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:02 pm
by PABassPlayer
3 posts, 3 newbs, 3 turds

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:13 pm
by TRENDKILLCFH333
PABassPlayer wrote:3 posts, 3 newbs, 3 turds
That's CREAMPUFF to you! :fu: :lol:

Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 2:25 pm
by The Doctor
Any and every pro audio software application has a metronome built right in.

Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 8:54 pm
by UNGODLIKE
yeh, has anyone here heard of a metronome?

Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:02 pm
by Richard The Duke
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.
otherwise known as a worthless metranome
AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....shut up.
wow. all you got from someone whoplays bass. with all yall got assholes like a nig
huh?
He is assuming you're black because you play bass

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:58 am
by PABassPlayer
Richard The Duke wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.
otherwise known as a worthless metranome
AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....shut up.
wow. all you got from someone whoplays bass. with all yall got assholes like a nig
huh?
He is assuming you're black because you play bass
Only from the waist down! :negro: :tup:

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 12:12 pm
by Pfl?yd
PABassPlayer wrote:
Richard The Duke wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:
eurotard with tekno wrote:
PABassPlayer wrote:......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click............click.......click......click.....click
click......click......click......click......click.........click......click...click......click
......click......click......click......click......click........click......click....click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click......click
......click......click......click......click......click......cli......click......clickck......click
......click......click......click......click......click......clic......click......click......click


I hope this helps.
otherwise known as a worthless metranome
AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....shut up.
wow. all you got from someone whoplays bass. with all yall got assholes like a nig
huh?
He is assuming you're black because you play bass
Only from the waist down! :negro: :tup:
That's gotta be awkward when you wear shorts.