Performing live with backing tracks

[thebigcheese]

My band is a two piece, but we have at least a couple songs that are going to need more than two instruments and we don't have other people to play with us live. We haven't done any live shows other than open mics, so we haven't had to worry about it yet, but we've got a show in January, so I thought I'd see how other people do it. The other guy sings and plays guitar and I usually do everything else (other guitar, bass, drums), so live I will be on drums. He's getting a Jam Man, which I think will help, but I'm thinking it might make more sense to run that into the PA system directly instead of running his guitar through it and into his amp because we'll need to fill in rhythm guitar parts and bass parts. Or does it make more sense to just plug in a laptop? How do other people do it?

[mikemorgan]

I used to make cd's using L and R for two track mixing. I tried the laptop thing until IPod's came along. I've learned that simple is better and hardware can fail in seconds. I usually have the whole show set up in my Ipod which is velcroed to my guitar. This runs to a volume pedal on my pedalboard. I'm careful to keep the backing tracks to a minimum, usually just two.

[thebigcheese]

Ohhh, that's a good idea. I could just set up a playlist... ooooo. I still want to see how the Jam Man will work out, but an ipod could be a good alternative and I wouldn't have to drag my laptop along. Easier to control, too...

[VomitHatSteve]

The setup I'm currently playing with is having one guy (me) in charge of backing tracks* and running everything (computer, vox, guitar) into a small mixing board on stage. Anything I want going through the looping pedal goes out through the aux send and comes back to a spare channel. This small board then goes to the main PA.

*Note: I really don't like backing tracks so "backing tracks" in this case is semi-randomized synth noises programmed into Reaper.

[timboZ]

I use the JamMan with a volume pedal. I don't plug my bass or guitar into it.
I only use the JamMan for loops or backing tracks. Also I built a foot controller so I can change loops without bending over.

[BruceM001]

I think one of the challenges you'll have as a live drummer will be keeping tempo with the recorded tracks unless there's a fairly noticable click track or even a simple snare/kick/hat track. You'll have to keep time with the recorded tracks and your partner will have to follow either you or the click track.

Or, record the drum tracks completely and play something else - either way your recorded tracks becomes the 'boss' of you guys - you have to follow what's recorded.

Although I never got to the gigging stage, and bearing in mind I was going to do a single, I'd record drums, bass, and an acoustic guitar. Then play lead on stage.

Don't forget to record count-ins.

[chamelious]

I used to do this. Playing live drums will be problematic as implied by the others, i'd play lead instruments live.

[thebigcheese]

Originally Posted by chamelious

I used to do this. Playing live drums will be problematic as implied by the others, i'd play lead instruments live.

Right. I figured that would be the biggest problem to overcome. Supposedly, the Jam Man will let you change tempo without changing pitch, so that could be useful if we can figure that out. I think we're going to try to do as much as possible without the tracks, but some of the songs lose a lot of their impact without the other stuff, I think. The reason I didn't want to have drums as the backing track is because I think that a live performance is more powerful with a drummer on stage.

And having something to change loops with a foot would also be good, I had assumed it came with one... The count ins are also a good idea, but the two songs we really need backing tracks for right now both have guitars with delay pedals, so as long as those are set right, I think we can deal (b/c you can't play at any other tempo without it sounding awful). One of them would actually start with the backing track and nothing else, so that would be easier.

[ggunn]

Don't forget to add thundering applause to your backing tracks. ;^)