Playing live with a backing track

Lethe

I was wondering what would be the best approach to playing live with a backing in track? In my case I was thinking of playing with a drummer and then prerecording piano or bass and playing along to that.
I think the drummer would have to have control of when which track/ loop starts etc so how would you go about that?
I've seen people use laptops to great effect (especially one of my favourite SA bands at the moment - Hokum) I think the drummer starts the track from the laptop. Convenient since he can just add his headphones to the laptop and always know whats going on. And it would include a click. How would one impliment this though? (I have some ideas, just checking for better ones)
Alternatively I thought of just loading everything onto me Jamman and playing stuff form there. I think a problem could be if the drummer doesn't get enough sound from that pedal and if he loses a beat its GG wp No re. Plus it would be hard to use a click with it.
So I think you all get my point, so chuck some ideas.

AlanRatcliffe

I've played drums with bass and keyboard parts sequenced. A click track and a drummer who can play to a click is essential (it's a specialised skill - most drummers are used to setting the time, not following it). He's also got to be comfortable playing with headphones on and be able to correct mistakes rather than let them slide.

The biggest thing is you need a way to get the click isolated to the drummer's headphones and keep it out of the main mix or other wedge monitors, so that means an interface with multiple outputs, software that can drive multiple outputs and a dedicated aux/monitor mix and headphone amp for the drummer.

Then you program every song with a two bar intro - the first bar is for him, the second he uses to count you in.

Jacquesg4j

+1 Alan,

We use track for 2 of the bands I play for, really helps out with backing vocals etc.
But one word of advice... PRE arrange and check that the venue has the right setup to cater for your track needs!

How our setup works is like this... we use the normal headphone jack out of the laptop that we all know is stereo, then we have the track with click in the left and the track without track on the right... Left then goes to drummer's headphones and the right to the desk... Drummer needs no band in his ears, our's looses time that way... Just the click track and he has to stick to that! and NO MISTAKES!!!!!

Lethe

Great advice. Thanks guys. I think it will easier to get a band rolling when half the stuff is programmed. No more late arrivals, failing to practice, out of time etc...

tentop

Lethe wrote: Great advice. Thanks guys. I think it will easier to get a band rolling when half the stuff is programmed. No more late arrivals, failing to practice, out of time etc...

I guess that's cool if you're into that half-programmed sound.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Pre-recording bass? Why? Is your bassist delinquent? I'm sure this thread raised Keira's eyebrow but then she takes care of all the business solo. There's a couple of cover bands around town that pre-record bass and keyboards etc. but it always throws me... I don't feel like I'm watching a "band"... that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it or think it's uncool though, just not "complete".

Malkav

My band does this but to a far heavier extent, we use a laptop in combination with a VS-100 to get 6 different outputs. This way our drummer has a click and we have 5 other outputs to use for panning synth layers, adding samples etc. Having a stereo setup where you can only send one mono channel to the desk and one click to the drummer is unfortunately very limiting. The biggest pain in the ass for us is levels, we have various synth sounds grouped for mixing in terms of attack and frequencies covered and then we have the bass and guitar signals to consider as well, so having uniform output from the bassist and I is essential. Also no matter how tight you think you are you're not tight enough, practice like tanks cause backing tracks can make every little mistake shine through like diamonds ?

tentop wrote:
Lethe wrote: Great advice. Thanks guys. I think it will easier to get a band rolling when half the stuff is programmed. No more late arrivals, failing to practice, out of time etc...
I guess that's cool if you're into that half-programmed sound.

Hell Yes! Or if you can't find a keyboard player that works for you in South Africa :?

slyd

Having a drummer play to the backing track; it's essential for him to have his "eternal reference" with the click-track in his ear.
I found the "discipline required" to play with a backing track, certainly produced a very good sense of timing, and structure in my music.
I don't say "go ye henceforth into the world of music, with back tracks", . . . . but it sure has it's place when you have to cater for smaller venues, but you still want the bigger sound. It WORKS ?

Lethe

tentop wrote:
Lethe wrote: Great advice. Thanks guys. I think it will easier to get a band rolling when half the stuff is programmed. No more late arrivals, failing to practice, out of time etc...
I guess that's cool if you're into that half-programmed sound.

There is that, but like Chad says, sometimes you just can't find the right people to jam with. Having slacking or inexperienced band members is really frustrating and inhibits the bands progress.

@Jack, I agree with you that it doesn't 'feel' right. But like I said above. I'd rather have a backingtrack rather than someone who can't play what I require them to.

@Chad, thanks for the input. will look into the VS 100.