Click track, What do you use.

[snow lizard]

I use the metronome in Cool Edit most of the time. It's just for my own use, no clients.

If I'm working on something that has weird time involved, I'll write a custom "click track" groove thing with the appropriate timing weirdnesses on my HR-16 and print it.

The Vic Firth cans help.


sl

 

[Track Rat]

I rarely use or suggest one but when the occassion arrises, I use an SR-16. Ed, that's good advise sir.

 

[ez_willis]

I always use 1/8 notes, and use two different pitches of a percussion instrument. Usually something like a bongo doesn't mess up the drummer much. I don't use anything like a click, or cymbal sounding thing because drummers usually can't hear it.

I won't use 1/4 notes because it is IMPOSSIBLE to "groove" with a 1/4 note click track!

Yep. I use my sr-16 with a cabasa or shaker on the 1/8th's and something like a block or triangle on the whole note, 'cause I'm not that good and it helps me keep track of where I'm at.

 

[funkydrummer]

i use a boss dr beat db 88 metronome usually on the talking setting. i use eight or sixteenth notes depending on the tempo. i've had this thing for about 7 years now and have been waiting for it to break so i can get the db 90. i dont think that's going to happen any time soon.

 

[brodgind]

I always use 1/8 notes, and use two different pitches of a percussion instrument. Usually something like a bongo doesn't mess up the drummer much. I don't use anything like a click, or cymbal sounding thing because drummers usually can't hear it.

I won't use 1/4 notes because it is IMPOSSIBLE to "groove" with a 1/4 note click track!

Totally agree! Most of my clients prefer to use either eighth notes or sixteenth notes of a couple of bongos and an accent on 1. The quater notes are just too distracting.

 

[andyhix]

I mentioned this in another thread recently, but since you asked...

I've been also using an SR-16. (can't believe how many SR-16s were mentioned here!) I use a straight rock beat - Rock 00 or 01 or whatever, if the song works with it, or I'll build my own if it's a weird beat. I have a custom drum set selected on the SR-16 with all the regular drums panned hard Left and a cowbell on the 1/4s or 1/8ths panned hard R. Play that into the computer, and you have the best of both worlds. The drummer can play to just the cowbells, and the rest of us can play to the Rock 01 beat, if we are tracking before the drummer.

 

[Motioneso]

I've used a variety of click tracks, and it was very much a love hate relationship. The one I used the most was a roland metronome running into a free track. When you're not playing it is annoying as hell, but I found it to be incredibly helpful for getting the "tightness" of the song down. For those of you who don't use clicks: I'm curious as to why not. I understand the obvious of it being annoying, but are there any other reasons to it?

I find that bringing in a guitarist and having him play through the entire song to a click (recording only scratch), then bring in the drums and bass make for a very enjoyable rhythm recording session, and even more so creates the image of a very tight band playing together.

 

[RAMI]

For those of you who don't use clicks: I'm curious as to why not. I understand the obvious of it being annoying, but are there any other reasons to it?

Most will spew something about it "taking away the feel" or something....The fact is, if you don't PRACTICE doing something, you won't get good at it. So it would be more honest if they just said "I don't practice enough with one to be able to comfortably play to one".
Anything takes away from the feel if you have to concentrate on it too much. Singing in key, bending your strings in tune, nailing a syncopated punch.....would all "take away from the feel" if you're not good enough (because you haven't practiced enough) at doing it without it throwing you off.
Same with playing to a click.

 

[amzavareei]

Dream Theater Spent a whole day making just the click track for one song off their upcoming album. The song is Pumpkin King, and it rocks!

 

[RAMI]

Dream Theater Spent a whole day making just the click track for one song off their upcoming album. The song is Pumpkin King, and it rocks!

Jeez....That much time on the click.....The click track better rock!!!!!

 

[Dogman]

So it would be more honest if they just said "I don't practice enough with one to be able to comfortably play to one".

This describes me to a T.....I can usually get decent timing to a click, but I then forget where in the song I am.... I'm bad....

I usually try at least 2 simple drum loops with fills, so I don't forget.

 

[travelin travis]

This describes me to a T.....I can usually get decent timing to a click, but I then forget where in the song I am.... I'm bad....

I usually try at least 2 simple drum loops with fills, so I don't forget.

I have to comp drum tracks (MIDI) because I suck at drums so bad. I've given up on the idea of trying drum rolls on a keyboard and I don't have the patience to program them. I don't need no drum rolls any way.

 

[RAMI]

This describes me to a T.....I can usually get decent timing to a click, but I then forget where in the song I am.... I'm bad....

I usually try at least 2 simple drum loops with fills, so I don't forget.

But Dog, if you lay your tracks down to loops, then you're playing to a click in a sense.

It's really more the drummer's job to learn to play to a click anyway. Once his/her tracks are down, the rest of the band can play to him/her. I say that even though drums are usually the last thing I record, so I do have to do my guitars, bass, etc... to a click, which I use a drum machine beat for.

 

[Dogman]

But Dog, if you lay your tracks down to loops, then you're playing to a click in a sense.

It's really more the drummer's job to learn to play to a click anyway. Once his/her tracks are down, the rest of the band can play to him/her. I say that even though drums are usually the last thing I record, so I do have to do my guitars, bass, etc... to a click, which I use a drum machine beat for.

Ah...I see. Yeah, I use loops and samples as a click, but playing to a "click" type click, I always space where I am, or I have to count, and still forget sometimes. That's why I like Ez-Drummer.....I can grab some decent rhythms pretty quickly, and they sound decent. I still need to learn to play better....

 

[punkin]

What H/W or S/W do you use for your click track?
Do you use just a click or drum samples?
Do you use the came click for the whole song or do you use different clicks for the different parts of the song?

I work in SONAR so I just break out session drummer. Select up a drumm feel that has a solid groove and go with it. I like this approach as you tend to "feel" the beat and work with it. Change up the drum style a bit and things just change a bit. I like doing things this way when writing or working out stuff. For recording...a straight clean click.

 

[jrhager84]

But Dog, if you lay your tracks down to loops, then you're playing to a click in a sense.

It's really more the drummer's job to learn to play to a click anyway. Once his/her tracks are down, the rest of the band can play to him/her. I say that even though drums are usually the last thing I record, so I do have to do my guitars, bass, etc... to a click, which I use a drum machine beat for.

........and this is why my band LOVES me. None of them can play worth a DAMN to a metronome, and I'm practically married to click tracks...One time, I was recording in a studio, and a breaker broke, killing the lights and the headphone amp (so no click), and I kept playing, but the initial shock put me slightly behind beat, cause in my head I thought the studio went out too, but decided to keep playing for the hell of it. They almost didn't even stop the track, because it was so close LOL

drummer = timepiece.... I learned that a LONG time ago.

 

[A Reel Person]

I've been using a tambourine & a maraca, with one in each hand,...

& just letting it fly! The manual method, eh?

When I go mechanistic on the idea of a click track, I've used my Roland TR-606. However, the AC-in jack is defunct so it only runs on batteries,... and I'd swear that the beat 'lags' over time, as the battery power diminishes, which is a problem. [Or maybe I'm just too high?!?]

Anyway, for real down & dirty rock & roll production, I prefer to bang it [a click track] out by hand. I think it has more "feel", or energy that way. I guess I mean more of a human feel. [An obvious point, maybe?]

I feel my recordings have been better when a basic click of some sort has been used as the basis. That may be a widely held opinion, I supposed, based on this topic. We use click tracks for a reason, for reference and to keep things tight.

I've also recorded with acoustic drums at the outset of a production, sans click, however I've been doing hand percussion for simple stuff. Over so many years I've done it so many ways. This week I've done the hand percussion/clic.

Sorry I didn't catch ur guys' posts yet! I dont' know where this topic is at this point, but that's my 2¢.

C'ya

PS: My recordings are usually stripped down & simple, so hand percussion does a great job as click track. Drums could be added later if necessary, depending on the song and/or what recorder I was using at the time, of which I have several.

 

[cello_pudding]

i make a midi with a 1/4 woodblock and put it on every session i do. i like how i can change the note pitch if i need it to cut through what's being played.

and sometimes...i don't use one just because i don't trust my headphones to keep it from bleeding. so if it's just instrument and vocal...i may not use one

 

[Ironklad Audio]

usually just the basic click in whatever DAW i'm using...depending on the material, sometimes i'll replace the click with a sample, usually kick and snare, but i don't get too fancy with it

 

[Cyrokk]

I was just subbing with a band who used a washy hi-hat pattern as a click and the band was all over the place. The attack was slow so they heard it "late", then it got lost under all of the other instruments. It was a trainwreck.

I stopped using the hi-hat for a different reason: the frequency would bleed all over the place, particularly in headphones and mixer channels. I stick with a click in my drum machine which disappears completely when removed from the mix.

I also stay away from 1/4 notes, preferring 1/2 notes or longer to grab a better feel.

If I ever get around to learning drums, I will probably play with a visual click.