How To SET UP Your BACKING TRACK/CLICK RIG For Big And Small Gigs

[@synthhero1347]

Honestly who gives this a thumbs down, the man is trying to help you, not even asking for a pennie(or cent) in his case. His knowledge and how he explains things is top class, I would to work with you Rob anyday

[@tambian89]

Idiots…the answer is idiots, because this video is a GOLDMINE. Thank you as always Rob

[@xOWARx]

The Internet doesn't know how to act

[@jonjeffries3265]

Punk kids..

[@toddscotdrumcovers2341]

This is the best explanation I have ever seen on this topic.

[@johndeer4936]

for real!

[@cosmewilliams]

Definitely

[@JJ-bm2jj]

I Agree 💯

[@anxee]

Agreed 💯

[@russellknipe5202]

Mate, you're a legend. Why other people can't make their explanations as easy as you have done, is beyond me. Thanks for this info and keep up the good work.

[@sssrbandtn]

I've watched a lot of these videos trying to figure out what setup I want to go with as my band starts implementing tracks and this is HANDS DOWN the BEST video! Thank you so much for walking through your gear!!

[@SuperZombie07]

This is cool, only thing I do differently is a mic stand and SM57 over my shoulder into the second XLR Jack in the mixer , so when someone turns around, I have ambient sounds and they can talk to me. I also just get kick drum in my mix from the board because I don’t like gated sounds of snare and Tom, I can get that in my over the shoulder mic. 👍

[@twoheronsdrumcircle8389]

This is awesome! Makes the whole process of getting started with live click SO much easier

[@bryllexdrums]

if you have single/mono DI box you can plug your left(click) direct to your mixer, and your right(backing track) to your DI box. from DI box use guitar cable(thru) going to your mixer. and thats it!! you have control both of your left and right.

[@howiethedrummer]

Great tutorial! The only piece of advice I think was missing is to always to bring back up cables to just in case one craps out. 👍

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

Spares of everything ! I have backing tracks on an old iPhone as well as the laptop.

[@VibrantFunk22]

True, I always buy atleast 2 of each to have spares handy

[@RexyFan]

Van Allen You laugh until your gear craps out just before you go on stage. And then you have to approach one of those guys you laughed at to ask if you can borrow a lead ... lol

[@stephenlennartz3466]

@@RexyFan Truth RexyFan! I have a buddy who plays in a duo professionally ... seriously it's all he does. He plays 6 days a week with an occasional 2 gigs a day. The iPad is at the heart of his system and yes he has a backup system -- another ipad PLUS a third system made up of CDs (yes he knows ... the CD thing is archaic). With all of the gigs he's played ... and he's been at it for 20+ years ... he did have to go to his backup twice. Not bad statistically. And honestly if one of my family members is getting married or I'm putting on a corporate event I want 'that guy or gal' who is professional enough and well prepared ... even when the main rig goes down. Thanks for your comment.

[@RexyFan]

Stephen Lennartz Agreed. I’d want them to be well prepared too. He sounds like someone I’d hire or recommend to others. 👍

[@brianbenedetti3225]

Love this Rob. So helpful. I just followed your instructions to a T and it all works great. The only difference is I can't find SoundCue anymore, looks like they may be out of business? I used Stage Traxx instead which seems to be doing the job well. If you or anyone else has a better option for a playback app, please let me know. Thanks again!

[@RJWPG]

Fan-bloody-tastic! Simple, straightforward explanation - in terms even a drummer can understand!😂 Thanks Rob!

[@matthewvoros9821]

This was awesome. I've been playing live gigs for over 10 years and am only now thinking about adding backing tracks. I knew nothing about the process and this video answered all my questions.

[@downswingdegen]

This is the best set up I seen. Clean and simple. Can’t wait to use it.

[@falquezfalquez]

Great video, just what I needed. Any chance you explain how to send the tracks in stereo to FOH?

[@cbusdrummer2011]

I am in the process of having in ears made. I have been looking for a simple explanation of how to set up a rig. Thank you thank you thank you for going through EXACTLY what to get and EXACTLY where to put it. This was very helpful. I've saved this video so I can reference it when my ears arrive. Thanks again, Dan Harper

[@sonnoroso]

Thanks for this, brother. Best video I’ve found so far about how to set up a backing track rig.

[@chrislysiak9561]

Hey Rob. Thx for the video. Would it be easier in the wedges situation to send the track to the DI box first, and then back to your channel on the mixer, while sending the click straight to the mixer?

[@TWMTWM-eb1lw]

Rob, thanks so much. Great tutorial. I wish everyone would do clear and focused explanations on their channels. Keep it going!

[@cedricceddybearfeazell2785]

Hey Rob, just bought the entire setup minus the IPad that I already own. Altogether I spent about $190 on everything. The only difference is that I bought the Xenyx Q802 usb. Pretty much the same mixer with the added compression and usb options. Very inexpensive setup for great pro application. Thanks for this video. It’s my first time doing any live audio anything lol. Much love✌🏾

[@mdrumt]

I've started playing nearly all songs in my band to click, important for us as we are a two piece and do live loops. I use my Android phone and a click app, Apple usb to aux, kz nz zs10 pros. I also have a duplicate of this setup in case I forget a particular bag or a cable dies. Man, it takes the guys work out of tempo, love it!

[@Flamadiddle2]

curious what click app you wold recommend?

[@CumulusSkies]

Hi Rob. Would you please make a video on backing tracks for those of us who’ve never used them and are completely ignorant on the subject? That would be greatly appreciated.

[@XxDRUMMERKIDD22xX]

awesome video man! I'm the "kid" trying to show the big boys what i got right now and i was stressing about how to set up a click with a backing track but your video nailed it! super simple and affordable set up, thanks again!

[@markprobin2995]

I went out bought the same mixer, got the same program for the ipad and this is all in a carry case and its just awesome, thanks so much.

[@ianmclean5541]

I love this guy! Rob...you rock. You are an incredible wealth of information to the working man and hobbyist drummer. All your videos are a tremendous resource. Thanks man.

[@doughuntart]

Had to laugh…. I was very impressed with your presentation and wanted to tell you, then I glanced at a couple other comments and notice I wasn’t the only one! You are very easy to listen to.Thank you for you clarity and the information. Nicely done.

[@stevenmejia4982]

Was searching info on this topic for DAYS. Saw Rob pop up on my KZbin feed. Clicked on the video, liked it before I watched it, cause it’s Rob duh.finished the video. Thanks for the heads up Rob! You my dawg!

[@AshStGreen]

Huge - some of the best advice on the second half of this video is to just plug the tracks cable straight into the DI (& use the through to come back into the desk should you like it) as that’ll prevent potential bleed from the mixer to the DI 🙏 Great video though man, thank you for this

[@bobomchobo]

From an Albertan drummer I want to say thank you so much for all the information you provide in your videos! I'm setting up an IEM setup as well as a track system for my bands. Fan-tastic.

[@bobbysbackingtracks]

This video will be very helpful for many. 😊

[@zacdrake]

Great stuff as always! Solid and very relevant for the modern drummer. Now, if we can just get the singer and lead guitarist on board with the "click track thing," maybe our shows will start being more consistent!

[@backbeatben]

Zac Drake plot twist, guitarist and singers cant perform to a click 😂

[@barfgameplay]

@@backbeatben My guitarist can't even play while tapping the rhythm with his foot x'D

[@thomashoy5484]

With a little more investment, you can muktitracker and a 4/4 Audio interface like a behringer umc404, and run stereo backing tracks with the click on a separate channel. If you load tracks as stems onto the iPad, you will have mix control over each instrument in your track. Multitracker is pretty slick. This, though, is a fantastic explanation for running mono backing tracks. Using a usb interface to output your tracks w/ m/t gives you four channels usb out of you include both the usb out and the headphone out. And a Bluetooth footswitch will allow you hands free operation of tracks. There’s a few good ones with 2, 4, or 6 buttons

[@grantmiller2040]

Thank you for this! Could not find any videos explaining this as good as you!

[@thejackbutlersociety-footh3275]

I love coming back to this every time I need it. Thank you beatdown!!!

[@sirwafflefries]

This is an awesome video. I also want to throw out there that for guitar players, you can also use the boss Rc-3 to load up your backing tracks on. I started doing this about a year ago and it is amazing for those who want full control out on stage. The pedal allows you to store up to 99 different tracks and you can switch between tracks with an external foot switch and you can run the tracks out to A DI and then to a mini mixer just like in this video. The key is that you don't have any inputs going into the pedal and you just run the pedal with an output to a DI and then to the board and this gives you a foot controller with all of you were stored backing tracks ready to use on stage 👍🏻

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

Stephan Baker That’s interesting, man. Cool tip

[@acoustically9201]

I've got this Boss and did use it a while back pre 2020 as a solo performer. I think I just used it by sending the track, minus vocals obviously, to the desk and used the stereo out to send a feed to my own monitor. Did you use it for a group?...e.g. did you have a drummer or someone else who wanted the click? Would the stereo out from the Boss to a mixer allow for panning left n right as per Rob's approach here?

[@BretSmith777]

Hi Rob, would you still use the wedge input (for your ear input), if it was a passive speaker and the input was powered? Might be too hot?

[@drag0n3y3]

I would suggest using option 1 because you wont have to go through the mixer to get to FOH. I have a similar mixer and it adds "character" to the tracks which i don't like. At least with option 1, only the drummer will hear the added "color" that mixers give to the input.

[@solwong1338]

I use this exact setup. When a drummer shows up and is ready with no fuss, he/she will probably get hired again. Thanks again Rob.

[@patrickr.452]

Thank you for posting this. I used this same basic setup for all of my 2019 gigs and it was sold as a rock.

[@neurotypicalgirlfriend5954]

Hey Rob, this is a great tutorial. Just about to do my first full band gig with clicks/tracks. I have a Soundcraft Notepad 124FX that I’ll be using for my drummer in a combo set up (some of us are on in ears and some are using wedges). Thanks for the clear and concise explanation... now off to buy the right cables. I’ll let you know how I get on 🙂

[@DepressedCapitalist]

This is great!!!! Clear and to the point. Now, If you are so kind to answer: I have backing tracks with lots of stereo instruments, panning effects and stereo delay tails. If I do the click left and music right method, i will lose all my stereo work. How can I go around this in the simplest of methods? Also, If all the members of my band need a click and music to play along with, do they all have to have their own separate mixer or can they plug into one main band console (im not talking about foh console but the band internal mixer). Thanks for your time. I'm good at composing tracks but this technical side kills me. Cheers

[@Frankisoul]

Getting a tutorial from a humble guy is refreshing

[@mickwade9499]

Great video. Concise, helpful, explained in a straightforward manner. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I do have one question since it wasn't something specifically covered: you're running your IEMs from the headphone out on your submixer, correct?

[@joelonsdale]

If your Send is not PFL, adjusting the volume on your desk will adjust the level of the send, in other words when you turn up the backing track in your headphones, the becoming track will turn up through the PA too...

[@lookmanostrings]

Great info!! I literally just bought that same mixer last week to set up for my drummer. But I don't use a DI box, I am going from tablet straight to the mixer L/R. Click is on the left, and drummer plugs into headphone, while I take the main out and send to FOH. I never want the FOH guy to get any click track LOL. I'm glad to see I'm on the right track. Thanks for this. Super helpful.

[@lookmanostrings]

@MR EW if you're not used to having a click I would first just have your practice sessions with a click, like a phone app. So you get used to it. A lot of drummers don't like a click because they can't ebb and flow up/down like old classic rock drummers. Click doesn't forgive lol

[@memphistennessee7266]

Can you do all of this same thing without a DI box? I assume you only send right Main Out (track) to FOH? You could also use left Main Out to send click to FOH if you wanted. (Also, note that that mixer has a "Control Room Out.") I saw some other comment about the DI box reducing mixer bleed. What is that? Is that why Rob uses DI box?

[@lookmanostrings]

@@memphistennessee7266 oh man this is like 3 or 4 configurations ago. I think I took right main out straight into a channel, 1/4 inch to 1/4 inch. Nowadays I have a digital mixer ( Behringer XR18) and I have a tablet, take 3.5mm headphone jack into split 1/4 inch left and right, into an ART DI box, and take the XLR Left and Right from the DI box and plug into the mixer. That way everyone that's connected to the mixer via IEM can hear the click and track.

[@erinhatcher1225]

Do I need a di box if I’m running my presonus 16.0.2 mixer? Beginner at setting up backing tracks. Thank you

[@FountainCitySoundscape]

Finally a clean and concise tutorial on this.

[@Ralkaneous]

Appreciate the video! Really gave me exactly the info I was looking for regarding setup and separating the click from the backing track!

[@dieselman7453]

Thank you from Ireland 🇮🇪 ur a good guy much appreciated

[@MichaelDionneDrummer]

I don't know why, but I just love going back to this video and see how you set this up! Makes me wanna get a similar system, even if I don't use a click or backing tracks live!

[@maldios17]

Thanks so much for making this video! I have been playing for 30 plus years and I now find myself having to run backing tracks. This tutorial is a life saver.

[@christianovalle4039]

How would this work with a sampling pad? Will i still need a duel box

[@arnoldanderson1501]

Clear, concise video. Thank you. I'm trying to convince my band mates to use in ear monitoring, your video will definitely help me.

[@ontheone9559]

Just watched this again, and it’s fantastic explanation of how to get there!

[@monktimusprime]

Thanks Rob I appreciate it. Good information ! Can you give a sample to where to do as if your on stage and play?

[@underwhelmer47]

Hi Rob , I loved your video, great explaination, alot of my doubts were solved in this very video however there's one doubt that still remains - How is the spliter cable actually separating the click track and the backing track. Could you explain the routing please?

[@memphistennessee7266]

Stereo to two monos

[@rmanning4]

Thank you for your video, super nice! What type of DI Box are you using and a link would be helpful to purchase the DI Box and cables. Thanks again.

[@tjnugent62]

I want to put together a way to play along with backing tracks. I just wanted to know exactly what I would need. I really appreciate your effort here. You are helping a lot of people. Merry Christmas!

[@j.jerome4073]

You are a treasure!!! Seriously great tutorial without all the personality bullshit! Love your style and knowledge man!

[@jairocerritos3213]

Very helpful! I will try this method once I get my set up! Seems very streamlined and super easy!

[@CSkibaRun]

Great video. I’m confused on one thing though. How is it possible to individually control the click volume separate from the back track volume? I understand your set up and how it works for live shows. I guess I’m more confused on how you achieve that coming from the person who made the backing tracks. Isn’t the click and the track on the same song? If you turn up either channel how does it not turn up both click and tracks?

[@DepressedCapitalist]

Hi. I think you have to create your track from the very beginning panning the click to the left and the rest of the music to the right. They have to be 100% left and 100% right so there is no "bleeding" of click and music. Then you export the stereo (from pro tools, nuendo or whatever daw you have) in that way. So you will have the left ONLY with a click and the right ONLY with music. Then with th Y cable you go to the mixer and you can control left and right volume independently. I hope this helps.... Cheers

[@konstantinoschatzistamatak277]

@@DepressedCapitalist But we need the bt to be stereo to the external sound ,how can be that if you get only mono sounds from ipad or whatever.Thanks.

[@BetoPerretta]

@@konstantinoschatzistamatak277 you are sending your recorded tracks hard panned to either L or R to a stereo channel on the main board. Your bt will come out R & L from the house system

[@konstantinoschatzistamatak277]

@@BetoPerretta thanks my friend!!!

[@memphistennessee7266]

​@@BetoPerretta But don't you lose any stereo effect in your backing track? The FOH is only getting mono from your right output, and then playing the same thing on the left and right on house, correct? Ex., the keyboard part in "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night" that bounces left to right?

[@SingerOfTruth76]

Just recently found your channel while looking for cheap in-ears. You recommended the KZTs. Thy're awesome. Now I'm obsessed with IEMs and want customs. Debating between 64 or UE. Love your content!

[@tyusmaximus]

Great video! Very helpful with both types of playback options. Thank you! If you were to add a Roland SPD-SX for triggering snaps, claps, etc. would you have to add a second stereo DI in order to send a stereo signal to the house and have the sounds go through the mixer for the same monitoring control or would you just send everything mono? Thanks again!

[@charlesduncan5584]

First of all, I really do appreciate your videos. I'm interested in how to figure out how I can set up music in the background as I play my drums with or over the music? Any advice or input would be appreciated.

[@jackmcallister1440]

Thanks for the help. My band is transitioning to click and tracks as we progress in the local scene. Much to learn!

[@ThomasBottiglia]

Thx Rob, I really appreciate your help!

[@basscubs]

Man, was searching and searching, this is perfect.

[@donnacompton4894]

I definitely agree. Excellent explanation!! What do you use for headphones?

[@coosminus]

Great video, one question though. If you pan left and right in your little mixer, isn't it that you will hear click and tracks one only in the left ear and the other only in the right ear? That's not ideal:)

[@wayneallen378]

Great video,Rob! One question, why the DI box? Why not go directly to mixer?

[@69garyo]

Great demo and advice, thank you for sharing your knowledge.....just one thing, one the latter scenario with just the drummer having the click, due to having panned the audio all the way , will it be in one speaker FOH coming from the di box??? Thanks again .

[@TheGarageBandSyndicate]

You don't have to worry about your device switching views if you get an Aircraft EFB Yoke Mount. EFB is just facing for Tablet. They are designed to clamp to the controls of an aircraft which is a rod similar in size to a cymbal stand. It works great especially if you use things like Drumeo.

[@minhuang8848]

Also make sure you need additional confirmation on your app of choice so you don't accidentally hit it or some residual sweat sends a touch input on touch screens - don't want to cue another track right in the middle of your performance

[@rickyrocket12]

Question, should you always use a D.I. between the sound source and the mixer and if so why?

[@thesillybilly]

So in doing this set up when you have your headphones on or in-ears in the backing track will only play through the right ear, and the click track plays through left ear? If so that would be hard to get use too. Or am I wrong??

[@AngelAsylum78]

This is awesome and simple… would you recommend plugging your inears direct to the phones out or would you put a headphone amp in line (like the behringer single set pack p1 or p2) ?

[@frasierbeast]

Thanks, Rob! Great video... didn't think of the dual-channel DI!

[@LewisMichaelMusic]

Nice video! But, I watched to the end wanting to hear your click (choice of sounds/subdivisions/etc.). Also, does the click only go to your left ear? Or do you pan center/ or listen in mono? Thanks.

[@GoSutto]

Thank you! This is the most clear and concise description of this type of setup I've been able to find!

[@PYMYs]

Thanks man! But why do you prefer panning track and click? I mix them L/R so that if for any reason I loose or remove one earplug I still can hear both...

[@davidmulholland6054]

Hi do you need one of those small boxes to play backing tracks on a mixer via a comp? I thought you could just connect directly?

[@fisch723]

Good explanation. So FOH is only ever going to get a mono feed for the backing tracks? Is that what most people do? Thanks.

[@jeffgibbs8477]

Hey Rob - what is your resource for the backing tracks w/click?

[@jvaz92]

Subscribed. Exactly what I’ve been looking for. This guy breaks it down so it’s easy to understand !!!! Thank you Rob.

[@SockerConny80]

Just what i needed, my own stuff was getting outdated and i just wanted someone to tell me whats worth getting. Thank you so much! (ordered the Behringer 802 and the dPDB DI as you made your closing comments)

[@joeybaronstudio]

i mean 3 stereo stems ,vocs,loops,and guitars,and i was sending midi pgm changes for keys and guitar rigs,,,it was cool!!!

[@michaelfraters831]

Rob is one the most awesome drumming resources on social media!

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

Thanks, man 🙂

[@charmedimsureband]

Thank you for this video, it was very helpful! Does the panning of the track to one side effect to sound quality coming out of the mains? If you had a track that employs the stereo field will that translate when panned mono? Thanks again!

[@norraun7943]

You are the best ... the best tutorial I have ever seen.... thanks

[@CECIL248]

Extremely informative!! Thanks Rob for simplifying this for a layman such as myself..

[@MiguelKooreman76]

Rob, you're the best man! THnx for laying this out for all of us. Much appreciated!

[@VenusOnEarthxoxo]

Thank you for the great tutorial! Definitely getting this for my live performance. One thing i am still a bit confused though is what equipment will be needed if my other bandmates want to hear the click track too? Would really appreciate if someone can help me out 😅 Many thanks!

[@capnblack3721]

I want to thank you SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH for this video. It really helped me get my set-up all dialed in.

[@christiancanalita6487]

Thank you Rob! I've been doing tracks at my church and at other churches. This was very helpful especially the part about the dual DI box with the Thru connection. I'm going to get one. Cables are very important. I had a situation where the tracks were going in and out and we determined I had a defective cable (the weakest link).

[@bengriffin8905]

Very helpful video there. The second part was exactly what I was looking for. So I can just plug my headphones in to the mixer and hear it and it will still send to the effects out?

[@wayanoiddrummer2998]

Hi Rob, just find this video. Very insightful, love it! I just wondering, after five years, do you have any update/improvement regarding this set up? If so, love to see the video about it :) Greetings from Indonesia!

[@theroadshow5865]

Rob Brown you’re the man brother!! Thanks for all of your videos! Always Great advice that young modern drummers want to know and always very educating!!

[@MusiciansIgnite]

Please let me know if I understand this properly. When you said that the click is panned hard left and the track hard right, are you saying that the track file in Soundcue has the click panned hard L and the track hard R? And that the splitter cable takes the signal and splits it into L & R signals so when you plug it into the dual DI, you've separated the click from the track? Then by plugging the 1/4 inches into the Thru's on the DI and into the 802, you can now adjust your own volumes of both signals? Is that an accurate understanding?

[@DepressedCapitalist]

Hi. I think you have to create your track from the very beginning panning the click to the left and the rest of the music to the right. They have to be 100% left and 100% right so there is no "bleeding" of click and music. Then you export the stereo (from pro tools, nuendo or whatever daw you have) in that way. So you will have the left ONLY with a click and the right ONLY with music. Then with th Y cable you go to the mixer and you can control left and right volume independently. I hope this helps.... Cheers

[@brucew.5177]

Nice video . Only question I have is what is on your 5 pages of "backing Tracks " ? I know the click is on the left but what do you recommend having on the right and what is its purpose.? I haven't played live for over ten years . Thanks

[@Deraco1]

Nice basic and to the point video! We (church) don't use back track but I do have click and monitor feed going through a very basic Behringer MicroMIX MX400 with some stereo 1/8 to mono 1/4 adapters

[@Kruegerchiropractic]

Deraco1

[@najibpestman81]

Does the click sound automatically comes from the left side splitter cable or from the song insert in the ‘sound que app’

[@_gaviek]

In a case that I use that same Mixer as a main mixer. Where XLR from Direct Box goes? Back to the mixer, in some of the Chanels? Or?