click live

[got_a_matchgrip]

Some good advice, here.

Sharing the click on stage with a full band is HELL. Don't EVEN think about it.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LOL...I fully AGREE. [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]confused.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Unless you have other great timekeepers-to-the-click in the band & THEY want to hear what you're hearing AW, an entire-band rareity sometimes [img]wink.gif[/img] ] But more often than not - NOT. /;cp

I've been in a long running pop-top 40/"variety"/dance/rock bands & also a contempo-crossover-country/comedy/showtunes act, both of which had clicked/sequenced tunes AWA not.

I had a Mackie 12 ch board sub-mix, with stereo channels assigned for each accomp instrument [no elec gtr or amped-acou, on-stage amps are pa-lenty]:
Usually only the kick; sometimes low sn, & seldom toms [you might run into a prob if you have a smaller subbed-board & fairly good size kit along w all the accomp instrs],
bass, pno, strings/bells/whistles or pedals-steel [low in mix if at all],
vox [for harmonizing],
click/perc from Alesis SR-16 DM [mid-80s/mid-90s], Tama RW, or Roland sequencer, for me only [pre-sequenced to tunes' sequence].

DI/direct box snake [sometimes called "splitters," slang] to go between [tie-in with] the FOH board, sound/seq unit, & my rig.

I keep the bass & kick higher like Vinnie, with the click or "perc track" just audible enough. Pno, mid-level. Sometimes an acou rhythm gtr, low.

In this way you can adjust any & all indy instr levels, & keep your click audible at all times, w just a quick tweek of either hand, if soundcheck levels get out of hand live on stage during performance. This cuts the Murphy's Law quotient [of having to rely on a monitorman/middleman for your personal, in-the-moment mix] down drastically.

Most pro bands/sound-engineers tend to "work together" & make it easier at this, esp if they've been at it or together for a decent amount of time.

Rhythmatist also said it well:

If all you hear all night is that static click, it can eventually drive you mad.
If you are playing to sequences, simply add some percussion to the sequence; there's your click.
Use as little gear as you can get away with if you really have to go this route. From experience, the more you have to screw with the greater chance that Murphy's Law will bite you in the ass. I fired my electronics three years ago and I've never been happier (I'm only using a Mackie and mics now).

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LOL...& true...& everything else he [AWA everyone else] said.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 16, 2005 04:27 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]</font>

[Gary Linieres]

Update.....

I used a Yahamaha clickstation at our gig Friday night......freakin nightmare.

I took it straight in using standard in ear headphones (from my IPOD)...it was such a noisy gig (which is good coz there were loads of people)that I couldn't get a clear reference on the click when counting off. Which meant we were starting slightly out if sync to the click and of cause if you try and bring it back in line straight away there will be a discernable change in tempo....which isn't good for the dancers out there.

Plus I hated the click....too high pitched and annoying!!!!!!!!!

I have a roland TD-8 which I could program some sequenced, groove type 'clicks' ....which might be better.

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Gary