It's a tricky one for sure but I have done this myself. I am a solo performer and have used midi since it's conception for making my own backing tracks. I now use a combination of midi and audio ( bass) and all tracks end up as a WAVE file I play back live with Win Amp.
If the track is only available as an audio track here's the steps to take.
Import the audio track into a blank project. I have a template I have set up for this but any basic one will do.
First thing you'll need is the tempo. There are software tools like Virtual DJ that can tell you this but I can make pretty good guesses.
If the song already has a count in, then the 4 or 8 peaks will be visible. ( zoom in)
Drag the stereo audio track until the first spike is on the first beat of a measure.
Look at the next 3 beats and see if they line up, Keep changing the tempo until they all line up with the measure grid lines. Hopefully it will be a full tempo count and not a fractional. ( 123.4BPM ) You can check the accuracy of the track tempo by travelling along the timeline. I find all my tracks that were originally done by me with MIDI will be bang on at the end of the song still. If the track was recorded without a click so be it. don't worry, just need to match the beginning.
If there is no count in, Make one.
Insert a MIDI track. Ch 10. Set output to a drum soft synth.
Play along with the audio track hitting C# 3 on your keyboard for a few measures on the 1/4 beat.
Now drag this back to the beginning ( I like to strat at the 2nd measure) and drag the audio track ahead until the count in works.
OK that solves the no count in issue, now the real challenge, long guitar intro's
I have found that a kick drum works best. You are right that no one wants to endure 12 measures of rim shot or cowbell. Hi Hat can also work but is easy to loose track of. Experiment. The main thing is that if you use backing tracks this is a fact of life... drums start the song.
I don't really care if it was not in the original song.
So once you've established the tempo it is fairly easy to insert measures ahead of the audio track using MIDI drums.
Another cheater I have done is record my guitar part and mix it to a nice level, then play along with it, it might be a little phasey but It actually might sound better.
post edited by Cactus Music - 2014/01/25 23:49:48