Ben Rector // Live in Minneapolis Oct 23, 2016 (Cory's In-Ear mix)

[@markreno2252]

Just searched for in-ear mixes on YT and ended up finding a band I'm now a fan of.

[@peter.4015]

Same.

[@derpepsch9292]

same!

[@sourtigershideout]

that bassist is ON FIRE!

[@joshewingmusic5287]

This mix sounds better than most stuff on Spotify...for real

[@jeffparis51]

Wow a completely computer formatted show with metronome loop and voice countdowns. Even the audience participation on Let the Good Times Roll is formatted to eight bar patter and eight bar audience singing. Zero left to chance. Even their “walk out” is timed. The drone note is “in the can” and I have a feeling the background vocals on the first song are partially canned as well. I listened to Ben giving a lecture on his methodology and it was basically focused on discipline and preparation. So this makes perfect sense. Decisions are made, sequences are worked out and rigidly adhered to. He’s a gifted singer and a brilliant musician who also has a degree in business and marketing. Perfection is the goal. I have no problem with any of it.

[@JohnLaco]

Believe it or not, this is the standard nowadays. Most pro touring bands have everything mapped out to a tee. Click, in ear monitors, tracks, cues - which are then fed to the lighting director to cue lights. With technology how it is now it makes for a seamless show night to night. The good thing is, artists like Ben have integrity in their performance along with perfection. 90% of what you hear is still the live band, and tracks are only used when the sound can't be replicated live. That stands for the background vocals, Cody Fry is just a monster. No tracks!

[@jasonwood7793]

I could listen to a whole show of that mix!!!!

[@Gondyr_Nocheinsson]

This amount of perfection would freak me out on stage, but mad respect for anyone involved in this.

[@OrbofShingeki]

I always come back to this. Its just too clean

[@canaanlawrence7351]

This is the definition of professional!!!

[@ChrisBakerDrummer]

this video never gets old

[@JoeKmetz]

Super nice for Ben to stop by Cory's jam sesh.

[@prestobeen]

I found this video researching IEM mixes. You guys are amazing. You’ve got a fan.

[@Fexiheit]

same :)

[@styxx05]

Same! Now I'm looking up the music. Loving you is easy was sooooo grooved I couldn't help but get with it

[@tommydanger60]

same, just ordered UE 11 pro ears, can't wait to dial them in!

[@clashcraft1413]

Haha same. But i search in 2021:)

[@ashiquemushtaq3333]

Same here 🙌🏽

[@ivomusician]

I love Ben.. (And I love you, too...!) So.. that is just absolutely amazingly f.. ing brillant!!! Thank you!!❤

[@tezzo55]

:-) Ridiculously good. The band is unfeasible tight. Perfection! Many many thanks!

[@keithzblewski4800]

It was so great to stumble upon this video today. I had tickets to this show, but missed it to be with my Dad who passed away the next day. Happy to see part of the show 4 years later!

[@djw34]

❤️❤️

[@brushzaid2484]

I'm sorry ... if it means anything. But I'm happy that you get to watch this video.

[@ChrisBakerDrummer]

Still watching this... and it still never gets old. Geez you guys were so freakin' good in concert.

[@lukescott8438]

that LD is on point with the lighting 😩😩 love it

[@IdentityDriveMusic]

I’d have to agree with you!

[@Omardottcom]

Wow, this mix is so nicely balanced and clean. Real smooth. 😮

[@flashanddancedj]

This is what helps a band be tight on this level... Awesome job

[@TheBigtrev1234]

I was at the show!! It sounded great!!!! Thanks so much

[@caseyadamsdrums]

Got new molds in and this is the first thing I cued up. Incredible engineering.

[@JacobShah]

Doing the same thing right now moments after my A12t’s came off the FedEx truck. This mix and group is that hot. 🔥

[@thebestoffooBoston-foofighters]

Drummer listening with my UE11's, WOW, what an incredible mix!

[@thedawsonbrown]

What about the full concert? I'd love to hear! I'd also love to compliment the mix of your in-ears. Sounds great.

[@cbrewster10390]

sooo tasty dude. I need this whole show from these ears.

[@ZachariahConnor]

Ok this is weird hearing cory playing with this much overdrive after a steady diet of vulfpeck and cory's solo stuff for last year

[@JorgeLTovar]

It is weird seeing him play with a Les Paul

[@obga18]

i need more of this and i needed yesterday

[@Millennial_Mike]

This is an incredible monitor mix!!

[@TimKebel]

7:24 Sir Duke, are you kidding me?!... * rocks so hard, that Head touches the floor*

[@ArtthurSouza]

Perfect mix, Bassist is so goooooood!

[@bark5318]

Any clue who it is??

[@StevenTaylortayste2000]

@@bark5318 Kevin Lee Macintire

[@bark5318]

@@StevenTaylortayste2000 thank you very much! The search is finally over 😅

[@wiltamo]

This is such an awesome audio perspective!

[@LandonConrath]

So mad I couldn't come! Sounds great

[@drumpetbass]

Love the Sir Duke thing at 7:20! Since this Cory's in-ear mix, I was expecting his vox to be louder...? They seem mixed for the house (because of how nicely they sit below everything else)

[@selahsoundschannel]

Cory, thats awesome man! Such a great guitar player!

[@1conzy]

didn't want this to end

[@peterseal4941]

Fantastic Video, just captures the whole feeling of the show. Cool view of a great band

[@andrewjustus2118]

Cory, thanks for posting! That was an amazing show! I saw you guys in Chicago. I wish more people would upload direct mixes. If I have to listen to one more boomy iPhone recording of a live song I'm gonna die.

[@alanrodoficial]

Love the mix

[@DoroTheExplorer]

So tight!!! 😮❤

[@cindeehaider2026]

Wow, that was a very cool perspective, answers a lot of questions, of course now there is more q's!!! Keep doing these!!!!

[@YeatzeeGuitar]

I'm super surprised how low Cory's vocal is in his own IEM mix. Same with guitar, I'd expect it to be way higher, can barely here it at parts. Or maybe I'm just weird in how I mix my own haha

[@Rjalicea]

He’s most likely listening to how his tone and playing fit into the whole mix, not just focusing on himself

[@YeatzeeGuitar]

@@Rjalicea Ya no I don't think so. This is a well rehearsed show, that stuff is already figured out. He's not improvising here.

[@TheMarquistador]

I was thinking the same exact thing. Maybe it's because I'm not listening in headphones right now, but I would want my mic way higher

[@bjmccoy5638]

nothing like a good sound man tunning in a good band. never fails. an nothing like a click track for band members helps.

[@go-to-H2O]

More! More! More!

[@bcampagnolo6759]

Can we get more IEM mix from the Wongnotes and as a general feature of the main KZbin show? How about as a concert VIP pass? You get a headphone amp or a wireless beltpack w/ the IEM mix and you can switch during the show?

[@xchjoek]

Loving you is easy is so funky!

[@LewisDavieMusic]

Something I've just noticed after my 20th listen - Ben has a pitch corrector that kicks in only on higher notes. That's clever!

[@joshedwardsOTR]

I didn't notice until I saw your comment. Its pretty prevelent in ABC

[@JohnLaco]

@@joshedwardsOTR Yeah I hear a little something right at 13:48 when he says "sit yourself down" but it's odd that that would be in an IEM mix. I can see maybe for FOH but for the guitarists IEM mix? Seems odd.

[@parengjec2755]

amazing sound engineer!

[@IFightRainbows]

I listened to this on my MEE MX2 Pro in ears and it SLAPPED

[@pacoside1092]

Eye opening!

[@JesseNorellMusic]

This is incredible. My preference would be to not play with a click, but with a click tone and mix like this, it's easier to not let it get in the way. Great work!

[@lmdevaney]

The click allows for visuals to be sync with the performance. Not sure they are doing that here but it is the norm for bigger acts these days. Musicians need to learn to play to clicks.

[@chrispfeiffer5178]

One. Two. Three.

[@suanmungk3678]

so tight!

[@cesararzola]

Wow. I love this. Keep it up man!!!

[@andrewjustus2118]

You guys were all amazing but THAT BASSIST tho...

[@styxx05]

He was so heavy on the pocket I think he ripped it.lol

[@hannahvanderhooft6029]

this is so dope!!

[@welkomingroep6a831]

This click is really nice. Do you know where i can find this one?

[@poppiano4everyone198]

Didnt know you as an Artist but I love the music..such feel good? My question, I see you guys have a very unique click (Tamb on the 1, and blimp sounds on the other beats), do you guy pre-record it and just run it in a seperate track routed to the IEMs?

[@davidcunninglinguist4549]

This whole band is smoking 👍

[@tobiasadolfsson9016]

Tight as a tiger!

[@eduardo.bortolato]

hello brother, is it possible to you send me an sample of your click used on these tracks? My drummer loves a lot and requested me this...

[@scottkinsey4392]

That is a good ear mix, is that FOH mix in your ears

[@caleconrad2332]

Where can I get that click sound.... it’s awesome!!

[@jamiejacob]

Did you ever find out!?

[@LewisDavieMusic]

Some say he's still searching to this day...

[@madsfranzen7351]

Ill take it too

[@daviddowns16]

It’s probably run through something like Abelton Live or a different DAW. It keeps everyone tight!!

[@EricduToit]

3 years later, I’m wondering the same thing. If you’ve found it or something similar, do share.

[@JacksonPlaysMusic1]

Thanks for sharing Cory!! Is anything tracked? I thought I might've heard a few gang vox but that's it!

[@PabloMartinez-xc6ln]

let me guess, the people who complain about playing to a click cause it is too robotic and have no feeling, are the same ones who just jam to pentatonic blues out of time (ps: clicktrack and musical directors are great)

[@hopeclayburnsax9369]

Amen! I’m the MD for a local band made of doctors and nurses and I’m thinking about getting a click in our in ears after hearing this because we struggle with rushing so bad.

[@danieletoroma867]

CORY.... RIG RUNDOWN???

[@CoryWongMusic]

for this tour i was using the Walrus Audio Mayflower and Iron Horse for drive, Fractal AX8 for most of my fx, and the Big Sky for verb. I ran a Kemper in the FX loop of the AX8, which might sound weird to most people but it works great.. when we're on fly dates i leave the kemper behind and just run amps in the AX8 so that way i check one less bag and one less thing to keep track of when flying. AX8 amps sound great, but not quite as good as the kemper imo. I run it all through a stereo cab made by Mission Engineering called a Gemini 2. it's pretty cool, stereo powered cab.

[@danieletoroma867]

Cory Wong Seeing so many guys switching to Kemper systems! Very interested! You run the same the with VULF?

[@CoryWongMusic]

with Vulf, i just record direct. but playing live we always use backline, so my preference in order is...Super Reverb, AC30, Twin Reverb... i love any of those.

[@xXGuitarGuyPFCXx]

Daniel Etoroma we need this!! I can see he is running a keeper but I NEED TO SEE MORE!!! Suuuuuccchhh good tone man.

[@xXGuitarGuyPFCXx]

Cory Wong I personally would still LOVE. A video rundown and maybe pointers on sculpting tone and a guitar tour maybe? :D

[@164Vault]

That guitar toneeeeee

[@grahamtolhurst]

What a fantastic and fascinating video. I'd love to ask how does the click handle the audience participation element of the song, is that a timed element or a click loop until ready? Really great show. More of these type of videos would be appreciated I'm sure.

[@obga18]

i think its humanly controlled at the PA system

[@grahamtolhurst]

Thanks, its really interesting. Gives flexibility mid-song

[@jlhowland24]

Dope.

[@JS45678]

May I ask why is an in-ear click needed when, at least it appears, the band has a drummer? I would think the drums would be in the in-ear of everybody instead of a mechanical click. Strange.

[@mattwilliamsmusic5960]

Because there are parts where the drummer is not playing that they need cues or counts for so everyone is on the same page. It’s also just nice to play with in my opinion. On loving you is easy, guitar drums, bass and keys comes in at the same time. Without the click the drummer would have to count everyone in and they don’t wanna do that.

[@yardmoose149]

Was there a nod to the Cissy Strut ahhhhhh-ya! that I heard?

[@yardmoose149]

sigh.. nevermind. Didn't know that was actually in ABC...

[@samarmstrong4160]

Who was on the keys 2? Are they to the right of the drummer so slightly out of sight for the camera? Killing the rhodes and organ parts

[@classifiedex]

Cody Fry. Alternates between guitar and keys.

[@ChrisBakerDrummer]

Love this!! Thanks for sharing some of the "behind the scenes" with us. I'm curious - who cues the click/count-ins? Are the vocal cues set or are they triggered live based on how the song's going? Amazing playing from you and the rest of the band. We caught you guys at the House of Blues Orlando show... so good!

[@ChrisBakerDrummer]

Jeff Blanchette right I was just curious if someone was cuing those programmed count ins from something like Ableton or if they ran the same track every night and the cues were always in the same place

[@CoryWongMusic]

+Chris Baker thanks! ... it runs off ableton. A countdown is setup for beginning of show right in to "Fear" and our and our LD also hears it so he knows when to cue the curtain and lights too. each song is its own cue but also can be manipulated night to night. some song forms are set, and others are more open in length/sections. On this tour Cody set up all the tracks, Jared starts and stops them.

[@ChrisBakerDrummer]

thanks for the reply, Cory! btw - neck bobbin'/stank facing the whole time to "Loving You is Easy". such a nasty groove!

[@chahsbb11]

Great video! Preciate the guitar IEM mix. Any chance I can get the click that you use for Ableton?

[@164Vault]

Couldn't get any more stratty with that strat at 6:42 !!!

[@bark5318]

Okay been scrolling down the comments without finding any info who the bass player is! Anyone knows? :)

[@JacobShah]

None other than the “Sweet Kevin”. Kevin MacIntire. An absolute legend. Pocket only matched by Joe Dart. 😎

[@doddsounds7650]

The whole band is so tight! Who’s on drums?

[@JohnLaco]

Jared Kneale.

[@davidgray2845]

You’re hearing his in-ear monitor. There’s a drummer, but most of what you’re actually hearing is a click track.

[@braydonlaborde1311]

Incredible mix! Cory are you using a Kemper? What is your foot controller?

[@gcavy1]

who's doing all the count ins? Is that their only job?

[@chrstphbch]

It's just a cue track running together with the click track and backing track

[@leonwilkeson]

Dang - isn't that click track a little loud in your ear? Maybe it just sounds louder in this format... Cool to see it from this perspective.

[@Killenmachine05]

alot of musicians find they want it a little louder, that way it kind of rules your mix and no matter what your click track comes first, helps keep things on.

[@JohnLaco]

I bet everyone has their click loud. When it's the one thing everybody is syncing to you gotta have it pretty hot to make sure everyone's locked in

[@4yangminho11]

9:30 so smooooooth

[@ENJTHETRAVEL]

every musician here hears the click and the tempo voice?

[@KingGodson316]

One of the greatest live Strat sounds I've heard! What are you using here?

[@CoryWongMusic]

2001 highway one strat with Seymour Duncan pickups. my favorite combo so far. the tone is still a tad spanky on the top end for me, but i'm working it out...

[@KingGodson316]

Right on! Sounds killer in your mix. Who is the drummer?

[@danieletoroma867]

Jared Kneale

[@clutchsharp2343]

hey Cory which IEMs do you use now at home?

[@AC-pu2eh]

So is this the click track that we’re hearing and that only the band hears in their mix ?

[@benodaboy]

seign cory with an LP is unsettling

[@Elibeachy23]

What guitar you playing that first song?

[@instrumentenfreak]

so...the keys are playback? :-(

[@michaelcarr5302]

instrumentenfreak I don’t think so. Notice in certain points of the video, there is another guitarist on far end of stage. Then he disappears...probably to a keys setup behind the drums in view.

[@jaramemitchell6383]

There’s a click track in his ear the whole time?

[@JohnLaco]

Yep. Everyone in the band has it.

[@gihanmadhusanka]

So u know software name for voice command and clik track making

[@jaggass]

That click track would drive me mad. You wouldn't get that with floor monitors.

[@nickallen2257]

Michael David Lol obviously you wouldn’t get that in floor wedges... but in ear monitors are game changers. Once you play with a click track a few times you wonder how you ever played without one before.

[@jaggass]

@@nickallen2257 It's easy to play without a click track.

[@nickallen2257]

Michael David yes it is. It’s also easy to play off time without a click track. I play both way, and I prefer to have a click track every time.

[@dave8832]

@@jaggass Not with my drummer it isn't :D

[@axleblaze123]

No way - is they how they are playing…… I can’t believe they have musical que’s

[@dannybrickwell]

Whole band is shit hot holy damn

[@jeffathanasio6150]

10:42 waaat

[@alejandrorada4206]

Nice sound & great playing, but those sequences just make no sense in a live concert ...what a shame : /

[@superbennyboi18]

Do you have one of these for when you guys were just at summerfest?!