In my last two videos, I showed you how to create a click track in Pro Tools and how to customize your click track using Xpand.
Before we leave the land of click tracks, there are a few more little tips I wanted to share. Enjoy!
Do you use a click track?
I came across a really interesting article today at MusicMachinery.com called “In search of a click track.” In the article Paul Lamere analyzes various recordings — from the Beatles to Britney Spears — to discover which ones were recorded to a click track. It’s a good read, I’d highly recommend checking it out.
In all this click track talk, it’s important to remember that the music should come first. We should use a click track to enhance the song, not sterilize it. Sometimes it’s just appropriate to NOT use a click track.
So, do you use one? Leave a comment!
ohhh that was great! I had never thought about using an audio click to help line things up or that it would help moving from one software to another. Tell me all your secrets!
Steve
Loops are definitely a great alternative.
I dont use the click track in pro tools. Usually I loop maybe a tambourine or something like that because I feel most musicians play with more feel with something more musical then that TICK tack tack tack… My advice would be something like that! – Gnúsi – engineer
I use a Click Track sometimes. I have to admit that I’d rather play with a drum machine or a drum loop, though. A Click Track, while helpful at keeping you in time, can also leave me feeling cold. When I do acoustic guitar recordings or a 2 track acoustic guitar recording, there have been times that I didn’t use a click track simply because I hated the way it felt. It felt too rigid.