Click Track or Drum Loop for recording?

[zenabi]

Does it REALLY matter if a click track or drum loop is used to record? Some say the drum loop isn't as CLEAN to the beat as the clicking of the click track and can lend to timing mistakes while recording. I've read a couple different things. The main reason is that one of our members has a tough time playing to a click track vs. a drum loop while recording. Which I'm having a tough time understanding. -Zen

 

[Farview]

The main reason for a click track is consistancy. If you can get that from a drum loop, use it.

If you are going to quantize the drums, a click will make it easier.

 

[xstatic]

I would use a click track instead wherever possible, but using a drum loop would still be tighter than not using anything

 

[Halion]

Personally, I hate clicks. They don't allow me to get into the feeling and groove of a piece, and the outcome (when I'm tracking myself) is always to clinical and soulless.

 

[Kronpox]

Personally, I hate clicks. They don't allow me to get into the feeling and groove of a piece, and the outcome (when I'm tracking myself) is always to clinical and soulless.

QFT. I can never deal with proper dynamics of playing and whatnot just playing to a clicktrack.

 

[RAMI]

Playing to a click is something that takes practice like anything else. It certainly is possible to groove while playing to a click, but not everyone can do it. Personally, I program a very simple drum beat when I'm doing my tracks; kik on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4. I usually track my drums last so I have a "band" to play to, even though it's all me.

 

[Farview]

Personally, I hate clicks. They don't allow me to get into the feeling and groove of a piece, and the outcome (when I'm tracking myself) is always to clinical and soulless.

It takes practice, like anything else. The thing is, drummers are used to being the timekeepers. They are not used to following and grooving with something else. If you have ever played in a latin band, you know, the ones with 6 percussionists all grooving around each other, playing to a click is the same thing. It is the same as that guy just playing 1/4 notes on the cowbell, you as the drummer need to groove to it.

It really is just a matter of how you look at it. If you see the click as something that holds you back, you won't groove. The click doesn't make your playing soul-less, the way you are playing to the click is soul-less.

 

[gecko zzed]

a matter of taste and of musical style

whether you use a click track or a drum loop depends on what you find gives you the best results.

i tend to go for a drum loop, because that way i get a sense of the feel of the song. I find it easier than a click.

Sometimes I want the music to be less rigid. In these cases I play without a click or drum.

I later go back and synchronise the tempo to what i've played, which then allows better control over subsequent tracks