Is it common for drummers to record to a click track?

[Rimshot]

Drummers usually record to a click track when the recording is a multi-track overdub recording (probably the way most people here record).
In a live studio session I never use a click track because there is an interaction and a flow to the music. If recording with other musicians that you work with and communicate with regularly, there is a more fluid time and things change a lot. You allow each other space and room to improv a bit and the piece isn't like a clock.

 

[Toker41]

I can"t program a click to our music as it has a lot of gradual timeing changes and sometimes our songs are different every time we play them as we work on a lot of visual cues and feel ... They also just seem to mechanical...

Why is it that the ones that need it the most, are always the first ones to jump up and say "it ruins the song", or "it makes it less human", or "it doesn't work with our songs"?
Sorry, but a click can't hurt. There is no such thing as "gradual timing changes". It's either on meter, or it's not. "songs are different every time we play them" means your meter is no good, and is all the more reason to practice with a click. Gonna be hard to do those "visual cues" when recording, and the drum tracks don't give you any visual aid.
Fact is, everybody should be able to play their part without having to see, or sometimes even hear, any other part. Never gonna happen if your meter is no good.

 

[LemonTree]

deja vu?

been a few first timers bouncing old threads lately...who's been banned lately?


Wish I knew how to quote without opening with one..John Sayers mentioned slashing and wrists...I wanna know if he witnessed that cause at the most extreme all I ever seen was the cans getting thrown off the closest wall when a drummer couldn't play to a click..one actually called his mother to come collect him and resigned from the band I was recording a while back because they were using spoken word samples that the guitarist had used to make the demos at a specific BPM..he made a big hoohah about leaving so I put a cowbell click on throught he monitors and gave him an 8 count to leave at 116BPM

 

[drossfile]

deja vu?

been a few first timers bouncing old threads lately...who's been banned lately?


Wish I knew how to quote without opening with one..John Sayers mentioned slashing and wrists...I wanna know if he witnessed that cause at the most extreme all I ever seen was the cans getting thrown off the closest wall when a drummer couldn't play to a click..one actually called his mother to come collect him and resigned from the band I was recording a while back because they were using spoken word samples that the guitarist had used to make the demos at a specific BPM..he made a big hoohah about leaving so I put a cowbell click on throught he monitors and gave him an 8 count to leave at 116BPM

wait...you engineered "don't fear the reaper"???

 

[harveyrai]

i've found that using a click track has improved my drumming and musical memory. helps keep me from running away on my drum rolls and staying within the measure. also find it useful for vocals and setting up the basic foundation of the song. Plus now that you've recorded at some known bpm (as opposed to a jam) u can start taking advantage of effects in your sequencer and know they are set for the same bpm.

the recordings definitely sound a lot tighter too if using a click. I dont think it affect's one's performance either. To me a click track is as important as lane markers on a highway. It's a very useful guide/conductor. But most importantly i feel the click offers a known timing reference which comes in handy if u suddenly want to do audio/video synchronization.

i dont even turn on the other tracks if multitrack recording anymore, only the click. actually it speeds up recording too, cause now i find i'll just record parts to a click track, using any recording device. then when back at the studio just chuck the parts in and they shld all be synced to the song project bpm.

 

[undrgrnd studio]

what about playing to a visual click track???
does anyone fine that easier???or harder etc

I have a friend that's an amazing drummer who prefers the visual click. But I record him with no click all the time and never found a need for one. I have another friend that is great drummer but until he is absolutely confident of the changes in the song he has terrible timing mishaps. It's like he's hesitant to trust his instinct on the changes.

 

[Vhyle]

As a drummer, I will say that click tracks are a VERY good idea.

If I'm playing jazz, then I can get away with not using a click track. Otherwise, I always use one.

Especially when I record for my solo project where I'm playing all instruments, it's an absolute necessity.