Yeah I use loops too

Gosh..how did you find this thread!?

have any plans bumping some threads from 2004..05 ? ..there were some good ones..

I do all the instruments, but I always use a click track. Even if I thought I didn't need it, I'd still use it. It doesn't make the music robotic or anything. Each instrument can be behind or ahead or on the beat as required, but the beat is still there and when it's accurate, the listener will hear it even if no one is actually playing it or playing on it.

Actually I should have said that they will *feel* it, even if no one is actually playing it and even if they aren't hearing it explicitly at any given time.

EDIT: <old thread, irrelevant reply>

ORIGINAL: John T

EDIT: <old thread, irrelevant reply>

I agree.

Bottom line is, if you can't play to a metronome then you just didn't practice enough with it and most likely suffer from bad timing (unless your a freak of nature). Flame ON (ala Fantastic 4--I gotta see that movie )

Gosh..how did you find this thread!?

You always come up with such amazing little factoids - doesn't seem to bother anybody else ...

it seems that with years of playing live still applies for recording. it really takes a dominent person in the song that really really knows the tune inside & out & with the click to play along whith him. or in my most recent cases of trial & error im really starting to lean real heavy on laying down a dummy rythmn trk & give it to the drummer for at least a week to work on & still theres no guarantee for a great performance. iv found there is just those days when u land that ''one'' that magical take & there aint no damn man made quantinize,audiocrap, or any other device that takes its place...................guess thats why some of those classic tunes are still with us 30yrs later............................i feel ur pain im goin through a deal myself love the guys im workin with but the hole thing lacks the 1 thing seat time...............................................priceless

This is a topic near to my heart. Personally, I refuse to track a band in my studio if the drummer isnt able to play with a click track. There are just too many timing issues that come up later to even think of fooling with it. I have tried it on several different occasions with consistantly poor results. If they want to record "live" in the studio and are willing to live with the results, thats fine, many bands have done this and continue to do it and have made good recordings this way.But to say that all the feel of a song or track is in the freedom of the drummer shows a lack of experience IMO. Its not a bad thing, you cant buy experience, but it still isnt correct. If you want to hear a drummer put some feeling into a track and still be rock solid go listen to the song "Rosanna" by Toto from the 80s. If you want something more "modern" give anything by Mike Portnoy from Dream Theatre a listen and then tell me it has no feeling. Put a metronome up to it, its dead on. Practicing to a click CAN make you boring and sterile if that becomes the end all goal. But EVERYONE, not just drummers should spend ten minutes a day just playing with a click and after a month listen to your playing. You will notice MORE feel, not less if you are doing it right, it will loosen you up for the "hard parts" and make things both smoother and more dynamic. Then the next time your in the studio, you can get on the guitarist about "pushing" the tempo!

ORIGINAL: Ognis

Because drummers are the worst musicians in a band.

Let me explain something to you. Drummers have a NATURAL feel for rhythm. When you put a metrodome (I know I spelled that wrong) to us, you throw us off. Simple as that. .

Man, how things change !. Back in the "disco Era" of the 70's when 10 piece horn bands were the norm and the drummer played everything behind the beat except the kick, your method would have been a real hoot. I can see it right now. Horn section players falling all over each other and REAL dancers numbering on average, 200 - 400 people on the floor in the average beach club around here falling down on the floor trying to follow the drummer who is in his own little world. Yep, he wouln't have lasted 1 night.

Hate to burst your bubble but, even then, drummers worked to a in ear metronome with tempos predetermined by the bands arranger, not the drummer.

Playing to a click is difficult for some people BECAUSE they can't keep time, because, they haven't practiced it for years on end. To busy recording, I suppose.