Using LIVE drummer with backing tracks.

[warnock]

Hey....wonder if you can help with this idea.

 

Looking for easiest way to be able to use Live drummer with backing tracks.

 

Currently run backing tracks via mini disc player Tascam MD350. Was thinking of recording the backing tracks as mono using the L track as the backing track (FOH) and the R track as a click track (headphones to drummer)

 

Does this sound completely wrong?

 

Cheers

[Rendezvous]

Usually you would use it in the same mix, but as you are doing it live I would be inclined to look at your recording, yes he can hear the click and yes you can use the backing track. Depends on what you want to do with it all really. With my drummer he used to have headphones on a stage snake then into my main mixer with a dedicated input mix from the backing track on the input source. He could easily keep to it. On the other hand the use of wedge type stage monitors in the live environment, it purely depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you want to seperate it, record two seperate tracks, unless you are pushing for free tracks?.

 

Hope this helps?

Josh :)

[Matt-onstage]

Hey....wonder if you can help with this idea.

 

Looking for easiest way to be able to use Live drummer with backing tracks.

 

Currently run backing tracks via mini disc player Tascam MD350. Was thinking of recording the backing tracks as mono using the L track as the backing track (FOH) and the R track as a click track (headphones to drummer)

 

Does this sound completely wrong?

 

Cheers

 

in answer to your question this is the most common way I come across drummers with track. In fact we've got this situation 3 times at a festival we're providing for this weekend.

[Rob_Beech]

Agreed fully,

 

 

Though the drummer may want a blend of the 2. Alot of drummers have the MD (or other source) on stage with a rack mixer. Use the balanced outs (device dependant) to the stage box (other people with IEMs may want the click remember, particularly a keyboard player that has to start a song for example) and the unbalanced outs to a rack mixer whcih can then be mixed into the headphones. Very often the drummers monitor mix can be plugged into this aswell so they can mix their monitor mix, the track and the click together.

 

There's no right ad wrong way of doing it as such.

[parisonj]

As everyone has said, there are a number of ways.

 

Since most gigs don't really need stereo, the mono backing with a click is pretty common and cheapest/easiest.

 

You might want to feed both to the FOH mixer to generate a single send for the drummers cans, so they get an even balance in both ears.

Or even consider a mini mixer with the drummer, so he can boost the click for certain songs if required. The mini mixer also doubles as the headphone amp.

 

More elaborate solutions will need multitracking to some degree. Be it ADAT, DAW, whatever. It means you can retain stereo if necessary, or create stem mixes which can be balanced from venue to venue, or even provide clicks for other band members if you need to.

 

The same comment about mixing the feeds still applies.

 

In our setup, we run Cubase off a laptop, controlled by the drummer, which generates a number of stem mixes, plus a host of click tracks. We run the clicks to the drummers mini-mixer and the other members in-ear monitoring transmitters, and send the stems down to FOH.

The FOH setup generates the standard foldback, which is mixed to stereo at each in-ear transmitter and the drummers mixer.

 

Another thing is to decide what kind of click the drummer is most comfortable, straight beat vs swung groove, accents, etc. Metronome-style click vs some other percussion sample. The choice is pretty limitless but depends on the music and the drummer really.

[warnock]

As everyone has said, there are a number of ways.

 

Since most gigs don't really need stereo, the mono backing with a click is pretty common and cheapest/easiest.

 

You might want to feed both to the FOH mixer to generate a single send for the drummers cans, so they get an even balance in both ears.

Or even consider a mini mixer with the drummer, so he can boost the click for certain songs if required. The mini mixer also doubles as the headphone amp.

 

More elaborate solutions will need multitracking to some degree. Be it ADAT, DAW, whatever. It means you can retain stereo if necessary, or create stem mixes which can be balanced from venue to venue, or even provide clicks for other band members if you need to.

 

The same comment about mixing the feeds still applies.

 

In our setup, we run Cubase off a laptop, controlled by the drummer, which generates a number of stem mixes, plus a host of click tracks. We run the clicks to the drummers mini-mixer and the other members in-ear monitoring transmitters, and send the stems down to FOH.

The FOH setup generates the standard foldback, which is mixed to stereo at each in-ear transmitter and the drummers mixer.

 

Another thing is to decide what kind of click the drummer is most comfortable, straight beat vs swung groove, accents, etc. Metronome-style click vs some other percussion sample. The choice is pretty limitless but depends on the music and the drummer really.

 

 

Id like to thank eveyone for the comments. Really helpful il try a few methods with the drummer and see what we come up with.

 

Thanks again