@Sykedelik That's not necessarily true. For a lot of people, that's true, but I would recommend trying to apprentice with a recording engineer or record producer. That is what is going to teach you the most about this kind of stuff.
EXACTLY!!! That is the level of understanding you can usually only get from university-level educated drummers. Two comments I dislike hearing from a drummer: "I REFUSE play to a click" and "This song is boring."
YES BUT you are a drummer. Musicians count on you for meter, YOU SHOULD be able to play to a dry click. But the musicians need YOU for the feel of the song. 90% of musicians can play to a drummer that plays to a click but NOT TO THE CLICK ALONE, They need you for the FEEL
Right. But that's no contradiction. The thing is ... to play slightly before or after the click (either I want to push the song or play laid back) on purpose, you need to be able to play WITH the click first. Graham said it correctly: it's important to know the "1" in each bar, to hit the downbeat ... the creative side is everything in between. Of course it's my creative decision to give a certain feel to the song, but it really depends on the song and how prominent the drums should appear in the song - if it's a straight pop/rock radio song or some indie rock or jazz or funk. I'm a human and I'm not Steve Gadd or Dave Weckl, so I won't play that static like a metronome anyway ;)
My favorite tactic on recording a song, is that i will first record a simple drum track with a click and after that, rest of the instruments will be recorded. Then i simply record drums again, that i can get that right "feeling" to my drum playing.
This has always been my biggest question. What instrument do I record first when recording with a band? I'll gonna do this when I start recording bands
His view on click tracks is so spot on! I had to train myself to play with click tracks because it showed me my deficiency on timing that I thought I was good at. Good timing can make an average band sound good; so embrace it and you will be glad you did.
Click track are the spawn of Satan. They are the reason you have shit music because real musicians don't play at a constant tempo. Real music doesn't just have dynamics it also has tempos that go up and down. Click tracks result in robotic shit like you hear on a pop station.
I sinceriously don't get the hate for clicks. Not only do you get to sound more professional when you record, you can also use it to see your efficiency at different speeds. I hated clicks for a while too, but then I started playing with good musicians and realised I had to up my game to be on par with them.
Dude this is one of the best videos about recording in a home studio, it deserves at least a thousand likes. The honesty and the actual TRUTH of your content should be realized not just heard. "If you don't like click tracks then you're just not good", I've have my fair share of meeting musicians who can't accept that fact. Great job Graham.
LOVE that click track explanation! So many musicians especially guitarists (im one so i know..) are so afraid of criticism and avoid critiquing and being honest with themselves. Same goes for writing songs. If you aren't bobbing your head and craving to listen to your song again, you should scrap it. Cause if you aren't wanting to listen to your song, no one will.
I'm mostly a drummer, i started playing when i was 15 years old. i learned by ear, playing on top of deep purple and led zeppelin albums, so i used to think i was good. But then i went to record an album when i was 19, i was awful, i couldn´t keep a steady simple beat, i couldn´t believe that. After that i started to study for real, learning to read scores, different styles, i learned everything i could. i'm 32 now i play a little bit of keyboards, some guitar, and i know my way around the drum kit, It was perfect to embrace the click, the click gives purpose to whatever idea you are playing, in fact it's the relationship between the ideas a musician have and the pulse of the song that gives a certain feel to a part. Study with a metronome is much more than follow a click, it's understanding accuratelly what's between those clicks, and use this knowledge in real time when you are playing it's amazing. Embrace the click!!!!!
Preach! Love the discussion on the click. 100% honest. One thing to add on recording order: one of the most important ingredients in a good recording is musicians playing with feeling. This can be hard when doing serial recording as recommended in the video because other band members aren't there to vibe with. You may find that one or more members of your band have the ability to "get into" a song all by themselves. If you notice this I would track them first (or early in the process) as their energy in the recording will be heard by, and will positively affect the energy of, the band members recording after them and will result in a much better recording. JuPeRi below mentions another option to get the same result which is to have band members record again once all the parts are recorded so they can vibe off the full band's sound.
My first attempt at recording, I couldnt align all my recorded tracks, even if i do it visually it still sounds out of synch. Then I clicked this metronome looking icon on the DAW. Started recording with that and i never looked back.
My recording partner and I have learned that the click track is the glue that holds everything together. With the click, everything stays tight and can become tighter as the track develops. When you're "on the grid", editing is easier and quantizing can be used to really tighten up a track. Work flow: we also use a guide track (click, vox and instrument) then add drum and bass, then layer everything else on one at a time. It's a formula that really works!
First time I recorded guitar I thought there was something wrong with Logic. Funny how recording yourself reveals so many flaws in your playing but it’ll make you so much better! I still struggle to keep in time but have gotten so much better.
What you said about using a click track makes absolute sense. Yes, I remember the years of when my music teachers used a metronome-the noise used to drive me crazy! Thanks very much for this video!
Graham is always putting out great info, and great positive energy! Most YT'ers just put out "one & done" vids, Graham makes vids with info that I/you/we can go back and reference over and over if need be. And he's always living by his own advice "Helping others prosper, before asking for help to prosper". Such an awesome channel. Keep it up, and wish ya all the best, Graham!😉👍
Also, I have a decent basement(finished) home studio, and have enough room to track a drummer. What would you recommend for isolation in a temporary situation. "Movable" walls, or such?
Overdubbing four brass parts by myself for a friend's track taught me so much and showed me that I'm not as good of a trumpet or a mellophone player as I thought.
I try to convince artists that come in my studio to treat the click like another member of the band that is always in time......embrace the click....dont fight it........
I agree 100% with your click track rant. I played guitar for 8-9 years, never using a metronome or click. Then I started playing drums (with a live band and only a few months of any drumming experience) where I needed a metronome to make sure I was in time and after 2 years on drums (never touching a guitar in that span of time) I picked up my guitar one day just to jam and found my rhythm and general musical intuition was SOOO much better. Maybe it was my better understanding of subdivisions, maybe it was the fact that I just missed playing guitar and my passion was renewed, but I sincerely believe that spending 2 years playing to a metronome and diving into the intricacies of the rhythm section is what made the biggest difference.
It's true, I used to hate click tracks as a young drummer, it was against mt punk roots! But I've come around - really helps with editing too. Butch Vig forced Dave Grohl to use a click for Nevermind, and Grohl resisted at first but had to admit that it just sounded better.
“Guess what, it is my video“.😅😅 Love you, Graham. ❤️ I follow you since years and I’ve learned so many things from you. Thank you for all your work you put here to teach interested musicians to help them to improve their musical skills. Thank you for being there as an elder brother who shows us the right way, therewith we don’t get lost in the inefficient techniques. In addition, you’ve very good pronunciation and you explain everything clearly. Appreciate your work. 👍
Great advice. Today I learned that after the scratch track, to begin with the drums. It's the backbone of the song. I'm new to drumming, so I was recording it last, but then all of the other instruments I recorded would be muddying up my click track and sending me off time. I will try it out in my next song. Thanks again.
I grew up playing with it from my youth. I swear by it but It. My first studio experience from the early 80's a realized they were recording a metronome to a track and playing to it. I have been playing with sequencers since I was a teenager so the click is nothing knew to me.
Best alternative to a click-track: programmed drum loops. Just because I hate the sound of click tracks in garageband, whenever im working on something i'm laying down a fitting, solid drum loop. This helps me have the freedom to record the real drum last and sound real tight.
Great video and great tips. Our whole channel is based around live performances in studio so it's great to see some useful information come through. Definitely will take notes!
Agree with Graham about the click track. I don't think it is always necessary if you have a good drummer, but you should always be able to play to a click if you need to, and obviously if overdubbing.
The click is such a basic thing that people somehow have a problem with.. Regardless of type of music, any musician should be able to play in time to a metronome or even a rhythm track..
one thing that helped me playing to a metronome is start the metronome playing a minute before you intend to record, sit with your guitar and tap your foot, bounce your leg, just move to it for a minute. then do your recording. youll feel like youve synced up with it even before you start playing.
Another excellent point with this tutorial. Being a drummer and having a home studio, I have no idea how you can't have a click track. Almost impossible if you want to be tight. I play with a few guitarist and show them they are off the beat. Seems like that they can't get over that hump to get better. When playing live as a drummer I don't follow anyone, play to that click, play as we practiced. Either get on that train or get off.
I use the behringe x-air 18 as my interface, it's amazing as an interface and live mixer, most gigs that I do usually uses up to 18 channels, but in the studio, I have 10 channels on the drums, still have enough for piano (stereo signal) guitars bass and vocals, it's an amazing investment over all. Highly recommend it.
I used to hate click tracks until I adjusted to it. I used to be thrown off by the higher pitched click down beat that would turn into the 4 in my head. This was because a conductors 4 in a 4/4 was an up in motion. Removing the higher pitched click on the down beat helped me flow better. I also discovered I think of music more often in 1/8th notes than 1/4 notes. Often I'll adjust to 1/8 notes and follow the click more comfortably. Once I discovered those couple adjustments I started to prefer using a click track.
Tascam us1641 for the new guy thats wants to start recording drums. I also recommend tab everything on guitar pro. You'll have your tempos and timings in notation all there visually.
This is very interesting. I've always recorded drums first and I've always used a scratch track as well. I have also always recorded every member separate, seems to sound better overall anyways. Didn't realize it was called over-dubbing, I just thought it was called tracking.
There are no two ways about it: USE A FRIGGIN CLICK TRACK WHILST RECORDING! And if tempos are changing within the arrangement: Map out the tempos within the song (most DAWs can do that) and record then. Problem solved.
I have a house with a basement, so I consider myself lucky for recording purposes. What I've done to solve the "play live together" problem in my single big basement room is this: 1. Use a click. Agreed this is almost non-negotiable, except with the best drummers. (And most of them are happy to work with a click because they understand the implications for recording.) 2. As long as the drummer is OK with it, I may use an electronic kit (Roland TD25KV) and Superior Drummer to track. I get almost all the nuance of their personal performance but without giving up a live interplay between musicians. 3. The bass runs direct in case some magic happens. Maybe overdub it later, but it again, it gets the band comfortable because they are really playing together. 4. I throw a heavy blanket over the guitar cab (usually a small combo) and mic that. Again, this can be overdubbed later, but it helps the musicians feel like they're playing together. Maybe I'll keep the track, probably not. Usually I can throw a small PA speaker up in the room (if using electronic drums) so people can hear the vocals as a guide, and get into the performance. The only thing I care about keeping from this session is the drum track, so everything else is gravy. Then I can build it up in exactly the way Graham describes here. This process works with regular mic'd acoustic drums too, if I use headphones in the room instead of any other speakers. Great video!
Can use a loop of your choice as a click track as well as a clicking 'click track'. (I tend to use bass loops for a click track - in Logic Pro -X which I use there are thousands of loop choices - including drum loops )
Bro. I Love this Video. You just really helped me out and you're THEE most helpful person I've found so far because you actually HAVE a Website and HAVE resources I can FIND and LOOK at to help with my home studio. YOU EVEN GIVE TIPS and TRICKS for DAW and professional recording. So for all of that I AM GREATFUL and ill be subscribing, Dropping a Like, and adding this video to a reference playlist I have for USEFUL Information on the topic.
Very clear explanation on metronome (click). It usually takes some time to explain my clients what you put in simple and cathegorical (hard?) words. Guide track is really excelent. If they have a DIY recording I make a (variable) tempo map using Melodyne 4 to be ready to add actual recordings. Thanks Graham for your inspiring videos. Regards for Argentinian Patagonia. :)
You have to be “in the groove” this doesn’t mean bang on every beat like a robot, you can be laid back or pushing forward but somewhere along the line you have to hit a marker or the timings will be off and sloppy. A click can be frustrating at first because as pointed it shows timing flaws, then when you lock in it feels unnatural and mechanical but eventually you learn to work with it, and it’s at that it frees you as a musician. It takes time but it’s worth it!
we always use cklicktracks, even the drummer is as tide as quantizised. had this weekend a singer who first tried without, but agreed the second track was ways better using clicks in addition to the drum. its a MUST
ive had a home studio for many years and you are so right about the CLICK TRACK!!!!!! if i had a penny for every time a musician said to me "i dont need a click track" id be rich. i wont work with any one who refuses to use a click, just not worth my time or aggravation.
I use drum loops (ex: EZDrummer) and for me it's the same as a click track, but it's more musical so you can get really more simply into it. Click tracks ok but some click noises are just unusable for making music But I'm alone so my drums are already composed in MIDI and quantized when I record the other instruments
I practice to click track all the time, I don't typically record with one. Sorry to me it perfect tempo sounds mechanical, I guess it can depend a bit on style too.. Try putting a click to the classics, you will find they rarely stay in time. I agree it does expose issues and makes studio tricks like move and coping chorus easier or really possible. If you don't to a click though make sure you capture a count in on the scratch/guide track. Can be removed later at mix down.
Hey all, I was thinking about this right these days, I want to report you my experience. I used to think the click was a must, but then when I recorded my blues-rock band where I am the drummer, some songs were definitely losing goodness when using a click. I noticed on my rehearsals recordings that I was slightly going faster on the ending solo, then I added some bpms to the click track on that point. We re-recorded with that click track, but still it was missing something. This haunted me for a while, then I listened to some old records with a metronome, and found out that many bands on 80 and 90 didn't use them. For example, I remember Queen: pick up the miracle album, is from 1988 and surely they had metronomes in the studio :) On songs like "my baby does me", where the rhythm track is a drum machine, if you use the metronome it follows the track all along its lenght (91 bpm). If you try doing the same thing on "was it all worth it", where the the drum is definitely a "real" one, you see they're not following a click. We ended up using the click on a song alone which was very rhythmic and for the other songs we recorded first drums and bass together without click, then the other tracks. It went way better. When I record a song by myself I am even forced to use a click because I have to play all tracks by myself, and there's nothing wrong with it, I like the result. But if you record a two or more members' band who already rehearsals together and perhaps have developed a kind of groove on the song, it might get lost if you use a click. YMMV :)
Thanks for the advice about adding a guitar scratch (that isn't permanent) to the click track. I was struggling recording drums over the click track alone...
Hello I am wondering what options there are for simultaneous multi track recording in a live setting. I've been using a focusrite scarlett audio interface where I can record stereo tracks through the 2 inputs and then over dub them in a software like audacity but I would like to record everything in a band setting at once. If I purchased a new audio interface that had for example 6 mic inputs would it record 6 individual tracks simultaneously that I could edit in post if the volumes weren't right. I've looked at analog mixers as well but to my knowledge the mixing is done before it goes to the computer so the sound recorded depends on what way you have your mixer set up and it is stuck as one stereo sound but I would like to be able to tweek each individual track separately after it has been recorded in case for example the bass guitar sounded too loud I could alter the track recorded from the bass amp microphone without it effecting the track with the drums vocals and guitar etc
In a black room Under sheets of silk Complimating while awake It takes forever to bleed away For nobody has heard my cries And now I lay here barely breathing You burst through the door And hold me so tight My final breath i loved you
Click track is like synth, midi or autotune, it depends on the vibe you want for the song. I can definitely see why you would want to avoid the click track, so that the tempo can more easily and fluidly have irregularities and/or change and follow a human vibe, instead of an electronic drum kit perfect beat vibe. Both can make good music; I want to make good music of both types.
Yes Click tracks are a need ...I multi-track ...playing all the instruments ...classical duets or rock stuff ...multi instruments ...could not do without a metronome .. :)
Great video. I totally agree about the click. I've been recording with one and it's HARD at first. Hey question for you. When recording each instrument at a time, which is what I'm starting to do, do you record certain sections of the song at a time for each instrument or just play the whole way through on each track? I've always done the latter, but takes a long time to do over each time you make a mistake. Thank you. I've watched a few of your videos when setting up my studio and they really helped. I liked and subscribed.
i think some people hate click tracks cause all song seems to have static bpm. Old songs could differ A LOT and that made it special and unique. Drummer have played to click track since the 70s though.
My drummer has 5 toms, a snare, 2 bass drums and 5 cymbals. He has two overheads, two mics for his snare, a mic for each tom (5), and a mic for each bass drum (2). That equals up to 11 mics to connect just for drums. Then I have bass, a vocalist and a guitarist (me). I have Logic Pro X and I have mics for everyone which would equal to 14 inputs all together. How do I record with this many inputs? I want to record one at a time because I do feel it's better in my opinion. In this case what do I get as for inputs? Should I get a mixer? And if so what mixer?
I gotta admit I always underestimate the importance of guide track, I'm drummer myself, so I am perfectly aware of click-track, and can play to it well, around 5:20 as you say rest of the band to play along the drum performance, I wonder if you prefer to mute click track when rest of the band is (individually) recording to the recorded drums, or do you keep metronome track enabled along with drums ?
Love your videos Graham! I agree about the click on all counts. Used them live so we could incorporate samples. Anyway my real reason for commenting is a funny story. Was working with this studio in NJ... we were tracking a live band and asked if they wanted the click track. 1 by 1, starting with the drummer, they all said nah. But then the singer says "I'll take some click". He was completely serious LOL ahhhhh anyway good stuff keep it up!
The click track is so important. But I think it can be a bit confusing if the click plays on every beat. Sometimes I prefer to hear the click only on the One. Basically, as James Brown and George Clinton put it, it is the foundation of funk music. Everybody just stomping all together on the One, and then playing the groove freely, but then coming back all together on the One. An example is James Brown's Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud), but there are countless others. Nice vid Graham!
I think click tracks are essential for tracks where you are overdubbing everything... But they aren't essential if you are in a tight band that tracks everything together. Floating tempos aren't the worst thing if that's your sound. Sometimes a chorus feels like it needs to be a little faster, which could be done with a tempo map but sometimes it's just not natural sounding. I wouldn't say that a click is pointless in any case but in some cases they can cause the performance to lack some of the feel of a good live band.
I really like what you said about click tracks. I admit I'm sometimes reluctant to use one because of the monotony...CLICK, click, click, click, CLICK, click, click, click. But I found them to be helpful because it's almost an immediate form of feedback to getting yourself to be a tighter player. For me, listening to my poor timing on some tracks only momentarily makes me cringe. Then I laugh at myself and rerecord it. :P think some of the click track hate might also come from people who've had bad experiences with them in lessons. On a side note, I kept a less-than-ideally timed guitar track because I liked how the notes on two and four were coming slightly ahead of the snare. Made it funkier, I think.
I hope you will reply😊 Do you have a video of a step by step on how to record a full band?? Like from set up, placing the mics etc. Thank you so much!!!! Great video by the way. So helpful!!!
Hey Graham, can you show us how you mix a hip hop/ rap vocal to a 2track (instrumental)? That's what I'm mostly working with on a daily basis. I've been following your advice for a couple of years now, but don't feel that it pertains to my specific flow completely...
What about using an e-drum connected to an USB hub while connecting bass and guitar to the audio interface? Will this work out for me or will I get unwanted latency issues? If so, how should I solve them?What about adding, via usb, a keyboard into the live mix?I own an apollo twin,by the way...Blessings.
I'm a vocalist, Guitarist, DJ, and Drummer Here's my lyrics, Copyrighted by me And now it begins! We may seem out of place And when we realize It's eyes staring us down Darkness comes forward Takes our hand, fully awake And it is you, for I cannot Seem to remember your name What is this ghastly place? All the horrors in the hour Strikes midnight Temple bells roar Twilight storm raging And it's consuming Energy
is there a way to record into a computer, but also be able to hear it live at the same time? I have a guitar amp, bass amp, and PA for vocals but am not sure how to route the instruments to both the mixer (for clear recording) while also being able to hear each instrument out of its own speaker. is this possible?
No, that is not possible (well, it is depending on what type of mics you are using and how good they are at picking up sound from behind. Look into Cardioid microphone pattern for more info). Whey you try to play sound from the speaker that is the same sound from that mic input, you will get what is called a feedback loop (the sound gets re-fed from the speaker into the mic, out the speaker, back into the mic, etc. to infinity which causes a high pitched squeel) this can damage any part in the loop (the mic, the pre-amp, the amp, the recorder, the speaker). What you can do (depending on your equipment) is, if all of your mics have a cardioid pattern where they don't pick up sounds from behind, then each person's instrument/mic can be routed into the mixer, then the Monitor (combined instruments) from the mixer can be routed to their amps, or to headphones for each person. An alternative would be to use something like a Jamhub, Roland HS-5 or Yamaha SessionCake (SessionCake being the most flexible as far as purchasing as each band member can be responsible for purchasing their own).
Agree on the metronome, but there are different situations. Sometimes tempo- and time signature changes sound way better when played live and are often easier to do by simply recording the natural performance ignoring the metronome. Some of my favourite albums are recorded without metronome and for the longest time I couldn´t put my finger on why they sounded better and more engaging. So click is useful for radio-oriented pop I guess, but for self-expression tempo changes are an important part of that, and the click becomes a shackle. No hate here, the click often has it´s uses, but it should not be considered a given.
Exactly Michael Jackson's Billie Jean click track, or metronome whatever era you're from, was difficult. Most drummers got good practice from that song
Any suggestions for proper tempo modulation with click tracks? I love them but I really can't figure out how to properly do accels and rits. I'd love to be able to use one because I'd hate to have to do recording and editing without one.
My problem with the click is that it can take emotion out. Not every song keeps the same tempo all the way through the song. Does it help when desperately recording? Sure, but it also makes the music less organic. This is only assuming the the click track keeps only one tempo rather than fluctuating between different possible sections.
thanks again Graham! i love you man! tips for a good mix is stellar! I'm gonna forward this to a few folks... I've said the same thing that you are saying to a few young folks that were crazy talented but could not stay on time!!!! It is really important when you are playing with other people!!! it seemed like that they were soooo arrogant and did not want to hear the truth?... One guy could not hear himself off even when I played it back to the rest of the band and everyone could hear it but him??? crazy ego... the metronome does not lie. don't be crazy ya'll!!! we all had to practice to get certain songs right on time. By the way, my drummer - actually plays live with a click track!!!! yup.. and it helps us ALL.. it keeps me or the others from speeding up or slowing down. :)
A lot of times some parts or whole sections of a song don't have any drum parts... or probably it's improvised... what can be done in that situation, because now there's no anchor for the band to hold on to...?
If you are talking about live recording/performing, the drummer has to always make shure he is giving some rithmic guide for the band to follow. Some drummers hit the floor with their foot in quarter/eight notes or soft hits with the drumstick.
So I just had 2 recording sessions at my homestudio. The first session failed by not playing to a clicktrack because our drummer doesnt like them. the second session we tought alright lets do guitar and bass to a clicktrack and let the drummer play them in later but we do have tempo changes in our songs, most of the time the choruses need to be about 5 bpm faster than the verses. Is there anyway to speed up the audio for those parts of the songs or just increase the tempo of the clicktrack for that part of the song? Thanks for your reply.
Hey Gram would you mind spending 20 minutes on mid side processing, mid side took over and there's nothing solid on it in terms of practical uses, do something about this please.
Step 1: Overdub every instrument track one at a time. Step 2: Delete each track and re-record it yourself so it doesn’t suck. Step 3: Vocalist records vocal track. Step 4: pitch correct and edit rhythm of vocals as well as you can. Step 5: get paid before you hand over any files.
I paid thousands of dollars to hear these words at music school, and people reject it when it was free? Come on, people, use a dang click
@Sykedelik That's not necessarily true. For a lot of people, that's true, but I would recommend trying to apprentice with a recording engineer or record producer. That is what is going to teach you the most about this kind of stuff.
Full sail type schools are a racket.
I'm a drummer. The clicktrack is my best friend. My job is to serve the song. Simple as that.
One of you does exist!!! Feel like I've just seen a unicorn 👏👏 Bravo that man
EXACTLY!!! That is the level of understanding you can usually only get from university-level educated drummers. Two comments I dislike hearing from a drummer: "I REFUSE play to a click" and "This song is boring."
YES BUT you are a drummer. Musicians count on you for meter, YOU SHOULD be able to play to a dry click. But the musicians need YOU for the feel of the song. 90% of musicians can play to a drummer that plays to a click but NOT TO THE CLICK ALONE, They need you for the FEEL
Right. But that's no contradiction. The thing is ... to play slightly before or after the click (either I want to push the song or play laid back) on purpose, you need to be able to play WITH the click first. Graham said it correctly: it's important to know the "1" in each bar, to hit the downbeat ... the creative side is everything in between.
Of course it's my creative decision to give a certain feel to the song, but it really depends on the song and how prominent the drums should appear in the song - if it's a straight pop/rock radio song or some indie rock or jazz or funk. I'm a human and I'm not Steve Gadd or Dave Weckl, so I won't play that static like a metronome anyway ;)
i wish all drummers were like you
My favorite tactic on recording a song, is that i will first record a simple drum track with a click and after that, rest of the instruments will be recorded. Then i simply record drums again, that i can get that right "feeling" to my drum playing.
This has always been my biggest question. What instrument do I record first when recording with a band? I'll gonna do this when I start recording bands
His view on click tracks is so spot on! I had to train myself to play with click tracks because it showed me my deficiency on timing that I thought I was good at. Good timing can make an average band sound good; so embrace it and you will be glad you did.
Click track are the spawn of Satan. They are the reason you have shit music because real musicians don't play at a constant tempo. Real music doesn't just have dynamics it also has tempos that go up and down. Click tracks result in robotic shit like you hear on a pop station.
I sinceriously don't get the hate for clicks. Not only do you get to sound more professional when you record, you can also use it to see your efficiency at different speeds. I hated clicks for a while too, but then I started playing with good musicians and realised I had to up my game to be on par with them.
Dude this is one of the best videos about recording in a home studio, it deserves at least a thousand likes. The honesty and the actual TRUTH of your content should be realized not just heard.
"If you don't like click tracks then you're just not good", I've have my fair share of meeting musicians who can't accept that fact. Great job Graham.
LOVE that click track explanation! So many musicians especially guitarists (im one so i know..) are so afraid of criticism and avoid critiquing and being honest with themselves. Same goes for writing songs. If you aren't bobbing your head and craving to listen to your song again, you should scrap it. Cause if you aren't wanting to listen to your song, no one will.
I'm mostly a drummer, i started playing when i was 15 years old. i learned by ear, playing on top of deep purple and led zeppelin albums, so i used to think i was good. But then i went to record an album when i was 19, i was awful, i couldn´t keep a steady simple beat, i couldn´t believe that. After that i started to study for real, learning to read scores, different styles, i learned everything i could.
i'm 32 now i play a little bit of keyboards, some guitar, and i know my way around the drum kit, It was perfect to embrace the click, the click gives purpose to whatever idea you are playing, in fact it's the relationship between the ideas a musician have and the pulse of the song that gives a certain feel to a part.
Study with a metronome is much more than follow a click, it's understanding accuratelly what's between those clicks, and use this knowledge in real time when you are playing it's amazing.
Embrace the click!!!!!
Preach! Love the discussion on the click. 100% honest.
One thing to add on recording order: one of the most important ingredients in a good recording is musicians playing with feeling. This can be hard when doing serial recording as recommended in the video because other band members aren't there to vibe with. You may find that one or more members of your band have the ability to "get into" a song all by themselves. If you notice this I would track them first (or early in the process) as their energy in the recording will be heard by, and will positively affect the energy of, the band members recording after them and will result in a much better recording.
JuPeRi below mentions another option to get the same result which is to have band members record again once all the parts are recorded so they can vibe off the full band's sound.
My first attempt at recording, I couldnt align all my recorded tracks, even if i do it visually it still sounds out of synch. Then I clicked this metronome looking icon on the DAW. Started recording with that and i never looked back.
During lockdown, our orchestra is still recording tunes and we use click tracks and they are a godsend.
My recording partner and I have learned that the click track is the glue that holds everything together. With the click, everything stays tight and can become tighter as the track develops. When you're "on the grid", editing is easier and quantizing can be used to really tighten up a track. Work flow: we also use a guide track (click, vox and instrument) then add drum and bass, then layer everything else on one at a time. It's a formula that really works!
First time I recorded guitar I thought there was something wrong with Logic. Funny how recording yourself reveals so many flaws in your playing but it’ll make you so much better! I still struggle to keep in time but have gotten so much better.
What you said about using a click track makes absolute sense. Yes, I remember the years of when my music teachers used a metronome-the noise used to drive me crazy! Thanks very much for this video!
Graham is always putting out great info, and great positive energy! Most YT'ers just put out "one & done" vids, Graham makes vids with info that I/you/we can go back and reference over and over if need be. And he's always living by his own advice "Helping others prosper, before asking for help to prosper". Such an awesome channel. Keep it up, and wish ya all the best, Graham!😉👍
Also, I have a decent basement(finished) home studio, and have enough room to track a drummer. What would you recommend for isolation in a temporary situation. "Movable" walls, or such?
You're the man Graham. Keep doing what you are doing. You are helping myself and so many other people way more than you know.
Watching your videos about the various aspects of being a musician and recording for beginners are an absolute joy to me. Thank you.
Thanks Graham! This cleared up a lot of the issues I've been having tracking myself!
Overdubbing four brass parts by myself for a friend's track taught me so much and showed me that I'm not as good of a trumpet or a mellophone player as I thought.
I try to convince artists that come in my studio to treat the click like another member of the band that is always in time......embrace the click....dont fight it........
I agree 100% with your click track rant. I played guitar for 8-9 years, never using a metronome or click. Then I started playing drums (with a live band and only a few months of any drumming experience) where I needed a metronome to make sure I was in time and after 2 years on drums (never touching a guitar in that span of time) I picked up my guitar one day just to jam and found my rhythm and general musical intuition was SOOO much better. Maybe it was my better understanding of subdivisions, maybe it was the fact that I just missed playing guitar and my passion was renewed, but I sincerely believe that spending 2 years playing to a metronome and diving into the intricacies of the rhythm section is what made the biggest difference.
It's true, I used to hate click tracks as a young drummer, it was against mt punk roots! But I've come around - really helps with editing too. Butch Vig forced Dave Grohl to use a click for Nevermind, and Grohl resisted at first but had to admit that it just sounded better.
i don't even record for bands at all, i do everything in FL Studio, yet this video is very helpful, as usual.
Frooty Loops reppin'
“Guess what, it is my video“.😅😅
Love you, Graham. ❤️ I follow you since years and I’ve learned so many things from you. Thank you for all your work you put here to teach interested musicians to help them to improve their musical skills. Thank you for being there as an elder brother who shows us the right way, therewith we don’t get lost in the inefficient techniques. In addition, you’ve very good pronunciation and you explain everything clearly. Appreciate your work. 👍
Great advice.
Today I learned that after the scratch track, to begin with the drums. It's the backbone of the song. I'm new to drumming, so I was recording it last, but then all of the other instruments I recorded would be muddying up my click track and sending me off time. I will try it out in my next song.
Thanks again.
This channel is a gem
I grew up playing with it from my youth. I swear by it but It. My first studio experience from the early 80's a realized they were recording a metronome to a track and playing to it. I have been playing with sequencers since I was a teenager so the click is nothing knew to me.
Best alternative to a click-track: programmed drum loops. Just because I hate the sound of click tracks in garageband, whenever im working on something i'm laying down a fitting, solid drum loop. This helps me have the freedom to record the real drum last and sound real tight.
You've just read my mind man, that's exactly the way I get my recording made. Bull's eye.
Rocking it Graham!
Great video and great tips. Our whole channel is based around live performances in studio so it's great to see some useful information come through. Definitely will take notes!
Agree with Graham about the click track. I don't think it is always necessary if you have a good drummer, but you should always be able to play to a click if you need to, and obviously if overdubbing.
Excellent perspective. Great advice, which I'm going to implement. Thank you for taking the time producing this video :)
The click is such a basic thing that people somehow have a problem with..
Regardless of type of music, any musician should be able to play in time to a metronome or even a rhythm track..
So true, the info regarding the click track, especially how it exposes you. Great stuff! Keep up the good work sir, thanks.
one thing that helped me playing to a metronome is start the metronome playing a minute before you intend to record, sit with your guitar and tap your foot, bounce your leg, just move to it for a minute. then do your recording. youll feel like youve synced up with it even before you start playing.
Another excellent point with this tutorial. Being a drummer and having a home studio, I have no idea how you can't have a click track. Almost impossible if you want to be tight. I play with a few guitarist and show them they are off the beat. Seems like that they can't get over that hump to get better. When playing live as a drummer I don't follow anyone, play to that click, play as we practiced. Either get on that train or get off.
i thought overdubbing was standard.
Recording all at once will always be more fun... for everybody!
Same lel
@@banigrisson and a much more accurate way of knowing how the set will sound when we play live
I use the behringe x-air 18 as my interface, it's amazing as an interface and live mixer, most gigs that I do usually uses up to 18 channels, but in the studio, I have 10 channels on the drums, still have enough for piano (stereo signal) guitars bass and vocals, it's an amazing investment over all. Highly recommend it.
I used to hate click tracks until I adjusted to it. I used to be thrown off by the higher pitched click down beat that would turn into the 4 in my head. This was because a conductors 4 in a 4/4 was an up in motion. Removing the higher pitched click on the down beat helped me flow better. I also discovered I think of music more often in 1/8th notes than 1/4 notes. Often I'll adjust to 1/8 notes and follow the click more comfortably. Once I discovered those couple adjustments I started to prefer using a click track.
you should start patreon, i'll pay.
Rishabh Kumar you can support by buying one of his paid courses on the website
Graham has one!!! here is the link www.patreon.com/recordingrevolution
Tascam us1641 for the new guy thats wants to start recording drums. I also recommend tab everything on guitar pro. You'll have your tempos and timings in notation all there visually.
This is very interesting. I've always recorded drums first and I've always used a scratch track as well. I have also always recorded every member separate, seems to sound better overall anyways. Didn't realize it was called over-dubbing, I just thought it was called tracking.
There are no two ways about it:
USE A FRIGGIN CLICK TRACK WHILST RECORDING!
And if tempos are changing within the arrangement:
Map out the tempos within the song (most DAWs can do that) and record then. Problem solved.
I have a house with a basement, so I consider myself lucky for recording purposes. What I've done to solve the "play live together" problem in my single big basement room is this:
1. Use a click. Agreed this is almost non-negotiable, except with the best drummers. (And most of them are happy to work with a click because they understand the implications for recording.)
2. As long as the drummer is OK with it, I may use an electronic kit (Roland TD25KV) and Superior Drummer to track. I get almost all the nuance of their personal performance but without giving up a live interplay between musicians.
3. The bass runs direct in case some magic happens. Maybe overdub it later, but it again, it gets the band comfortable because they are really playing together.
4. I throw a heavy blanket over the guitar cab (usually a small combo) and mic that. Again, this can be overdubbed later, but it helps the musicians feel like they're playing together. Maybe I'll keep the track, probably not.
Usually I can throw a small PA speaker up in the room (if using electronic drums) so people can hear the vocals as a guide, and get into the performance. The only thing I care about keeping from this session is the drum track, so everything else is gravy. Then I can build it up in exactly the way Graham describes here. This process works with regular mic'd acoustic drums too, if I use headphones in the room instead of any other speakers. Great video!
Can use a loop of your choice as a click track as well as a clicking 'click track'. (I tend to use bass loops for a click track - in Logic Pro -X which I use there are thousands of loop choices - including drum loops )
This is a great ad for clicktracks, I'm sold
Bro. I Love this Video. You just really helped me out and you're THEE most helpful person I've found so far because you actually HAVE a Website and HAVE resources I can FIND and LOOK at to help with my home studio. YOU EVEN GIVE TIPS and TRICKS for DAW and professional recording. So for all of that I AM GREATFUL and ill be subscribing, Dropping a Like, and adding this video to a reference playlist I have for USEFUL Information on the topic.
Very clear explanation on metronome (click). It usually takes some time to explain my clients what you put in simple and cathegorical (hard?) words. Guide track is really excelent. If they have a DIY recording I make a (variable) tempo map using Melodyne 4 to be ready to add actual recordings. Thanks Graham for your inspiring videos. Regards for Argentinian Patagonia. :)
You have to be “in the groove” this doesn’t mean bang on every beat like a robot, you can be laid back or pushing forward but somewhere along the line you have to hit a marker or the timings will be off and sloppy. A click can be frustrating at first because as pointed it shows timing flaws, then when you lock in it feels unnatural and mechanical but eventually you learn to work with it, and it’s at that it frees you as a musician. It takes time but it’s worth it!
Always love your videos. And you are so right about the click track. I know from personal experience both recording others and myself
Great advice as usual Graham. Cheers.
we always use cklicktracks, even the drummer is as tide as quantizised. had this weekend a singer who first tried without, but agreed the second track was ways better using clicks in addition to the drum.
its a MUST
Just the video i need. thanks man.
ive had a home studio for many years and you are so right about the CLICK TRACK!!!!!! if i had a penny for every time a musician said to me "i dont need a click track" id be rich. i wont work with any one who refuses to use a click, just not worth my time or aggravation.
Man, you give such brilliant advice in this video.
I use drum loops (ex: EZDrummer) and for me it's the same as a click track, but it's more musical so you can get really more simply into it.
Click tracks ok but some click noises are just unusable for making music
But I'm alone so my drums are already composed in MIDI and quantized when I record the other instruments
Very nice tips ......doubts cleared .........
Rendering one's click track is what I find really helpful :)
A great you tube channel - has inspired me in recording, thank you Graham !
The best idea is to set up your own home studio than wasting money and time chasing cheesy record labels .Rather DIY will save yiu big time
Well said!
I practice to click track all the time, I don't typically record with one. Sorry to me it perfect tempo sounds mechanical, I guess it can depend a bit on style too.. Try putting a click to the classics, you will find they rarely stay in time. I agree it does expose issues and makes studio tricks like move and coping chorus easier or really possible. If you don't to a click though make sure you capture a count in on the scratch/guide track. Can be removed later at mix down.
Hey all, I was thinking about this right these days, I want to report you my experience. I used to think the click was a must, but then when I recorded my blues-rock band where I am the drummer, some songs were definitely losing goodness when using a click. I noticed on my rehearsals recordings that I was slightly going faster on the ending solo, then I added some bpms to the click track on that point. We re-recorded with that click track, but still it was missing something. This haunted me for a while, then I listened to some old records with a metronome, and found out that many bands on 80 and 90 didn't use them. For example, I remember Queen: pick up the miracle album, is from 1988 and surely they had metronomes in the studio :) On songs like "my baby does me", where the rhythm track is a drum machine, if you use the metronome it follows the track all along its lenght (91 bpm). If you try doing the same thing on "was it all worth it", where the the drum is definitely a "real" one, you see they're not following a click. We ended up using the click on a song alone which was very rhythmic and for the other songs we recorded first drums and bass together without click, then the other tracks. It went way better.
When I record a song by myself I am even forced to use a click because I have to play all tracks by myself, and there's nothing wrong with it, I like the result. But if you record a two or more members' band who already rehearsals together and perhaps have developed a kind of groove on the song, it might get lost if you use a click. YMMV :)
Thanks for the advice about adding a guitar scratch (that isn't permanent) to the click track. I was struggling recording drums over the click track alone...
Excellent Graham 👍
Hello
I am wondering what options there are for simultaneous multi track recording in a live setting. I've been using a focusrite scarlett audio interface where I can record stereo tracks through the 2 inputs and then over dub them in a software like audacity but I would like to record everything in a band setting at once. If I purchased a new audio interface that had for example 6 mic inputs would it record 6 individual tracks simultaneously that I could edit in post if the volumes weren't right. I've looked at analog mixers as well but to my knowledge the mixing is done before it goes to the computer so the sound recorded depends on what way you have your mixer set up and it is stuck as one stereo sound but I would like to be able to tweek each individual track separately after it has been recorded in case for example the bass guitar sounded too loud I could alter the track recorded from the bass amp microphone without it effecting the track with the drums vocals and guitar etc
Awesome content as always 🙌🏼
In a black room
Under sheets of silk
Complimating while awake
It takes forever to bleed away
For nobody has heard my cries
And now I lay here barely breathing
You burst through the door
And hold me so tight
My final breath i loved you
Click track is like synth, midi or autotune, it depends on the vibe you want for the song. I can definitely see why you would want to avoid the click track, so that the tempo can more easily and fluidly have irregularities and/or change and follow a human vibe, instead of an electronic drum kit perfect beat vibe. Both can make good music; I want to make good music of both types.
This really had me thinking thank you Graham, for your help🦹♀
Yes Click tracks are a need ...I multi-track ...playing all the instruments ...classical duets or rock stuff ...multi instruments ...could not do without a metronome .. :)
Great video. I totally agree about the click. I've been recording with one and it's HARD at first. Hey question for you. When recording each instrument at a time, which is what I'm starting to do, do you record certain sections of the song at a time for each instrument or just play the whole way through on each track? I've always done the latter, but takes a long time to do over each time you make a mistake. Thank you. I've watched a few of your videos when setting up my studio and they really helped. I liked and subscribed.
i think some people hate click tracks cause all song seems to have static bpm. Old songs could differ A LOT and that made it special and unique. Drummer have played to click track since the 70s though.
My drummer has 5 toms, a snare, 2 bass drums and 5 cymbals. He has two overheads, two mics for his snare, a mic for each tom (5), and a mic for each bass drum (2). That equals up to 11 mics to connect just for drums. Then I have bass, a vocalist and a guitarist (me). I have Logic Pro X and I have mics for everyone which would equal to 14 inputs all together. How do I record with this many inputs? I want to record one at a time because I do feel it's better in my opinion. In this case what do I get as for inputs? Should I get a mixer? And if so what mixer?
You'd probably want a 16 input USB interface like Tascam 16x08.
I gotta admit I always underestimate the importance of guide track,
I'm drummer myself, so I am perfectly aware of click-track, and can play to it well,
around 5:20 as you say rest of the band to play along the drum performance, I wonder if you prefer to mute click track when rest of the band is (individually) recording to the recorded drums, or do you keep metronome track enabled along with drums ?
Love your videos Graham! I agree about the click on all counts. Used them live so we could incorporate samples. Anyway my real reason for commenting is a funny story. Was working with this studio in NJ... we were tracking a live band and asked if they wanted the click track. 1 by 1, starting with the drummer, they all said nah. But then the singer says "I'll take some click". He was completely serious LOL ahhhhh anyway good stuff keep it up!
The click track is so important. But I think it can be a bit confusing if the click plays on every beat. Sometimes I prefer to hear the click only on the One. Basically, as James Brown and George Clinton put it, it is the foundation of funk music. Everybody just stomping all together on the One, and then playing the groove freely, but then coming back all together on the One. An example is James Brown's Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud), but there are countless others. Nice vid Graham!
Excellent information, clearly delivered. Thanks! :)
I just bought a digital mixer i also.do live gigs so it made sense to me soundcraft ui24r
I think click tracks are essential for tracks where you are overdubbing everything... But they aren't essential if you are in a tight band that tracks everything together. Floating tempos aren't the worst thing if that's your sound. Sometimes a chorus feels like it needs to be a little faster, which could be done with a tempo map but sometimes it's just not natural sounding. I wouldn't say that a click is pointless in any case but in some cases they can cause the performance to lack some of the feel of a good live band.
I really like what you said about click tracks. I admit I'm sometimes reluctant to use one because of the monotony...CLICK, click, click, click, CLICK, click, click, click. But I found them to be helpful because it's almost an immediate form of feedback to getting yourself to be a tighter player. For me, listening to my poor timing on some tracks only momentarily makes me cringe. Then I laugh at myself and rerecord it. :P think some of the click track hate might also come from people who've had bad experiences with them in lessons. On a side note, I kept a less-than-ideally timed guitar track because I liked how the notes on two and four were coming slightly ahead of the snare. Made it funkier, I think.
I hope you will reply😊 Do you have a video of a step by step on how to record a full band?? Like from set up, placing the mics etc.
Thank you so much!!!!
Great video by the way. So helpful!!!
Hey Graham, can you show us how you mix a hip hop/ rap vocal to a 2track (instrumental)? That's what I'm mostly working with on a daily basis. I've been following your advice for a couple of years now, but don't feel that it pertains to my specific flow completely...
What about using an e-drum connected to an USB hub while connecting bass and guitar to the audio interface? Will this work out for me or will I get unwanted latency issues? If so, how should I solve them?What about adding, via usb, a keyboard into the live mix?I own an apollo twin,by the way...Blessings.
Nice energy in this video. I swear by the click track.
Great video as always. - from David @ Home Recording Made Easy
I'm a vocalist, Guitarist, DJ, and Drummer
Here's my lyrics,
Copyrighted by me
And now it begins!
We may seem out of place
And when we realize
It's eyes staring us down
Darkness comes forward
Takes our hand, fully awake
And it is you, for I cannot
Seem to remember your name
What is this ghastly place?
All the horrors in the hour
Strikes midnight
Temple bells roar
Twilight storm raging
And it's consuming
Energy
is there a way to record into a computer, but also be able to hear it live at the same time? I have a guitar amp, bass amp, and PA for vocals but am not sure how to route the instruments to both the mixer (for clear recording) while also being able to hear each instrument out of its own speaker. is this possible?
No, that is not possible (well, it is depending on what type of mics you are using and how good they are at picking up sound from behind. Look into Cardioid microphone pattern for more info). Whey you try to play sound from the speaker that is the same sound from that mic input, you will get what is called a feedback loop (the sound gets re-fed from the speaker into the mic, out the speaker, back into the mic, etc. to infinity which causes a high pitched squeel) this can damage any part in the loop (the mic, the pre-amp, the amp, the recorder, the speaker).
What you can do (depending on your equipment) is, if all of your mics have a cardioid pattern where they don't pick up sounds from behind, then each person's instrument/mic can be routed into the mixer, then the Monitor (combined instruments) from the mixer can be routed to their amps, or to headphones for each person.
An alternative would be to use something like a Jamhub, Roland HS-5 or Yamaha SessionCake (SessionCake being the most flexible as far as purchasing as each band member can be responsible for purchasing their own).
fuck!! you just blew my mind with your last 3 suggestions. that is exactly wtf i need. THANK YOU!!!
Agree on the metronome, but there are different situations. Sometimes tempo- and time signature changes sound way better when played live and are often easier to do by simply recording the natural performance ignoring the metronome. Some of my favourite albums are recorded without metronome and for the longest time I couldn´t put my finger on why they sounded better and more engaging. So click is useful for radio-oriented pop I guess, but for self-expression tempo changes are an important part of that, and the click becomes a shackle. No hate here, the click often has it´s uses, but it should not be considered a given.
Exactly Michael Jackson's Billie Jean click track, or metronome whatever era you're from, was difficult. Most drummers got good practice from that song
Any suggestions for proper tempo modulation with click tracks? I love them but I really can't figure out how to properly do accels and rits. I'd love to be able to use one because I'd hate to have to do recording and editing without one.
What would you suggest to mic, if you only had 2 mics for an entire drumset if you want a tight disco/funk sound?
My problem with the click is that it can take emotion out. Not every song keeps the same tempo all the way through the song. Does it help when desperately recording? Sure, but it also makes the music less organic.
This is only assuming the the click track keeps only one tempo rather than fluctuating between different possible sections.
thanks again Graham! i love you man! tips for a good mix is stellar! I'm gonna forward this to a few folks... I've said the same thing that you are saying to a few young folks that were crazy talented but could not stay on time!!!! It is really important when you are playing with other people!!! it seemed like that they were soooo arrogant and did not want to hear the truth?... One guy could not hear himself off even when I played it back to the rest of the band and everyone could hear it but him??? crazy ego... the metronome does not lie. don't be crazy ya'll!!! we all had to practice to get certain songs right on time. By the way, my drummer - actually plays live with a click track!!!! yup.. and it helps us ALL.. it keeps me or the others from speeding up or slowing down. :)
A lot of times some parts or whole sections of a song don't have any drum parts... or probably it's improvised... what can be done in that situation, because now there's no anchor for the band to hold on to...?
If you are talking about live recording/performing, the drummer has to always make shure he is giving some rithmic guide for the band to follow. Some drummers hit the floor with their foot in quarter/eight notes or soft hits with the drumstick.
So I just had 2 recording sessions at my homestudio. The first session failed by not playing to a clicktrack because our drummer doesnt like them. the second session we tought alright lets do guitar and bass to a clicktrack and let the drummer play them in later but we do have tempo changes in our songs, most of the time the choruses need to be about 5 bpm faster than the verses. Is there anyway to speed up the audio for those parts of the songs or just increase the tempo of the clicktrack for that part of the song?
Thanks for your reply.
You'd need to change the tempo of the click track at those points. I think most DAWs should allow multiple tempos.
Hey Gram would you mind spending 20 minutes on mid side processing, mid side took over and there's nothing solid on it in terms of practical uses, do something about this please.
Step 1: Overdub every instrument track one at a time.
Step 2: Delete each track and re-record it yourself so it doesn’t suck.
Step 3: Vocalist records vocal track.
Step 4: pitch correct and edit rhythm of vocals as well as you can.
Step 5: get paid before you hand over any files.
Can't seem to get the free download, i click the button but nothing is happening?
i like how he talks about overdubbing like its some big secret when almost all bands do it that way