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
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
Loops are definitely a great alternative.
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.